Jon Joseph

I miss at least 80% of my 5-foot putts. And often, it takes 2 putts to get the darn ball 5 feet from the cup. But it pressure pressure-packed! We are playing for 50 cents a hole!

By the ultimate PO Ct ranking on December 3rd, OR's SOS will be better by quite a bit than Oregon State's schedule and the Beavers win against UCLA may not be a top-25 win. And head-to-head in the Civil War will trump any SOS issues.

And, disagreement in regard to seeding. I believe that come 2026 we will not see the 4 highest ranked conference champions seeded 1-4. Seeding will be as determined by the committee as is the case with CBB. I also will not be surprised in 2026 to see a 16-team field with an assured spot for the best G5 team but no 1st round byes. Start the season in Week 0 and this can work. Sprinkle a decent-sized amount of PO money on the players, this could be accomplished via a NIL Playoff incentive, to overcome the # of games played criticism. With the exclusive broadcast rights for ESPN ending in 2025 the money for playoff rights come 2026 will be off the charts, including streaming entities throwing their hat into the ring.

Thanks, Alex. #4? Draft a kicker from the soccer team? I would have liked to have seen an FG attempt right before the end of the 2nd Q so the currently shaky Lewis could have seen the ball go through the uprights. DL - 'Cam Lewis is a pro.' SMH but there is no sense in throwing the guy under the bus. Right, Deion?

Per Jon Wilner. Post Oregon vs. UW - Oregon - 15-4 SU/ 10-8-1 ATS Versus Wazzu in recent games after UW, 2 No Cover and 1 Push. This augers well for a WSU cover but I think the Ducks show up with something to prove and will not be looking ahead to the game in SLC. Washington - 4-15 SU/ 6-13 ATS ASU has won 13 of the last 15 games vs. UW (!) including last season's win in Tempe. But ASU will not win in Seattle on Saturday. I loved the lead-in from Stewart Mandel in today's Mailbag article - "But first: Don't blink or you'll miss another USC turnover."

Upon further review and FWIW, how I see it playing out. Oregon State is off in Week 8. A nice late week for a bye. (Not as nice as SC's bye before a potential champ game appearance but I see SC finishing with at least 2 and possibly 3 conference defeats.) The hinge game for Oregon State? On the road in Week 8 in Arizona. The Oregon State D is very good in Corvallis and not so much on the road. Jedd Fisch, an unheralded hire, has done a terrific job turning Arizona around as evidenced by the close home loss to UW and the road beatdown of the Cougars in Pullman. I think OSU at AZ will come down to the wire but I think that OSU will win this game. Oregon State's next big test post-Arizona will come the week before the Civil War when it plays UW in Corvallis. OSU lost by 3 in Seattle last season while eschewing 2-chip shot FGs in favor of going for the TD on 4th down. OSU will come into this game off a home game vs. Stanford. UW will visit Corvallis coming off games at USC and vs. Utah. I think Oregon State will win this game at home. Oregon's biggest test before the Civil War will come at Utah in Week 9. The last Pac-12 team to win in SLC was Oregon behind Justin Herbert in 2018, a 30-28 Ducks victory. I think Oregon will win a hard-fought game vs. the Utes. If I am correct (always questionable) the final week of the regular season will see UW vs. WSU at home in the Apple Cup and the Civil War. All three teams IMO will come into the final regular season game with 1 conference loss. UW will defeat WSU. So, the Civil War will be the game that determines which Pac-12 team from Oregon trips to Las Vegas. This will be a brutal game with OSU coming into Autzen as a 2024 member of the Pac-2. OSU will be ticked off and fired up to crush the Ducks conference champ and playoff hopes. ESPN's FPI gives Oregon a big Civil War win percentage. This game will be played on Friday the day after Thanksgiving. The game will kick off at 8:30 Eastern and is certain to be a game watched by at least 5M viewers. And on November 24th in Eugene, the weather (even though It Never Rains in Autzen Stadium) could be a problem. This is a rivalry game (DUH!) that Dan Lanning, now 3-0 in the last rivalry games and 0-For on 4th down attempts in these games, very much needs a win in what could be the final Civil War game. I think the Ducks win a game that will go into the 4th quarter and have a slight advantage with one more day of rest before the conference champ game on Friday, 12/1, likely to have an 8 PM Eastern kick-off on Fox. But, there is a lot of football left to play in a deep conference, with every team having a puncher's chance.

Apparently, Mario can stretch but he can't do knee bends.

Good thoughts regarding OSU and WSU and I concur. But I cannot write checks on behalf of ESPN and Fox.

He'll have to get by Utah to win the B12 and Arizona is on the rise. B12's 4 Newbies are 1-9 to date in conference play. No B12 teams other than the departees to the SEC are ranked. Power 2 and then the ACC and the B12. And how long the ACC will hold together. I think we'll see Notre Dame and UNC in the B1G in the next 5 years with 4 5 teams pods and Clemson, FSU, and 2 more teams, in the SEC. 20 teams each. Why dilute beyond this number?

Is Mario on the list?

Congrats! (Kind of.)

It would have been the Ducks carrying a big bushel of apples instead of going to the B1G. The correct and only sensible business decision was made by Oregon. Need further evidence. Watch the Big 10 Network. Outstanding coverage including of Oregon football and other sports before Oregon comes on board in 2024. Pregame and post-game coaches' pressers are terrific as is the wrap-up show, the Big 10 Final. Oregon is going to get pub it never received on Larry's Lost Network.

The Keystone Poster, PA Duck, has a post up that projects 2023 bowl games for the Pac-12. As always, thank you, PA. Here is a projection from Stewart Mandel of The Athletic. ROSE BOWL - 1. Michigan vs. 4. FSU - Michigan will not play a ranked team before it faces Penn State in Happy Valley on 11/11. This speaks for itself regarding the quality of 2023 B1G teams. As well as for Michigan's crummy OOC schedule. SUGAR BOWL - 2. Georgia vs. 3. Washington - All-World TE Brock Bowers is out for 4 to 6 weeks after undergoing 'tightrope surgery' on his ankle. The remaining slate for UGA is not as easy as predicted in the preseason. BYE, Florida, (QB Mertz had his best game of the season last week in UF's victory over South Carolina,) 20. MIZZOU, 13. Ole Miss, at 17. Tennessee, and at Georgia Tech. Without CFB's best non-QB player, this could be a tough stretch for the Dawgs. Cotton Bowl - OREGON vs. Oklahoma - I believe there is still a very good shot for the Ducks making the final Final 4. But this would be a nice consolation prize. Although it would be a game in a hostile environment. Independence Bowl - WAZZU vs. Oklahoma State - Even from Pullman, is playing a bowl in Shreveport, LA. a reward? LA Bowl - UCLA vs. Fresno State (Air Force Academy predicted to go to the Fiesta Bowl and play Texas.) Las Vegas Bowl - Arizona vs. Wisconsin Holiday Bowl - Oregon State vs. Miami Alamo Bowl - USC vs. Kansas State - USC's 6 wins to date have come against opponents with a combined record of 13-26. USC is no longer in Jon Wilner's AP Top 25. Sun Bowl - Utah vs. VA Tech - I'd flip Utah and SC. I don't see the SC D stopping the Utes run game on Saturday. This projection has 8 Pac-12 teams going bowling. If correct, this would be one heck of a swan song. ............................................................................................................................................................................... Ranking the Undefeated P5 Teams - Bill Connolly - ESPN+ 1. Michigan 2. Ohio State 3. Washington 4. Georgia 5. Penn State 6. Oklahoma 7. FSU 8. North Carolina Tom Fornelli - CBS Sports 1. Penn State 2. Ohio State 3. Washington 4. Michigan 5. FSU 6. North Carolina 7. Georgia 8. Oklahoma Connelly and Fornelli are not using the same crystal ball. .................................................................................................................................................... Week 8 Game of the Week - 7. Penn State at 3. Ohio State -5.5 Penn State coach James Franklin is 1-8 vs. Ohio State and 0-9 vs. Top 10 teams on the road. Penn State QB Drew Allar has thrown but 8 passes of 20+ yards this season. Allar is 1 of his last 6 'deep ball' attempts. Lee Corso picked against mascot favorite Puddles last Saturday. Will he also stiff the beloved Brutus? Pac-12 Game of the Week. 14. Utah at 18. USC -3.5. It's all good within the dome of Lincoln Riley. Lincoln tells us that the game at Notre Dame was an anomaly and that USC has the talent to win the rest of its games. Right? Last week against Cal, Utah safety Sione Vaki played both ways. In 15 carries from the RB position, Vaki put a shellacking on the Golden Bears with 158 yards and 2 TDs. Is USC's defense going to stop the Runnin' Utes run game? I don't think so. The O best come back to life or Troy is in for a long Saturday evening. ................................................................................................................................................................................ Vegas Insider - Current Odds to Win the 2023 Pac-12 Title (Vegas Insider shows odds from 7 sites. Below are the best odds (lowest payout) for Pac-12 teams in the hunt. Washington +125 OREGON +240 USC +320 Oregon State +750 Utah +1000 OREGON and UW are odds on to rematch in the conference champ game. Make It So! .......................................................................................................................................................................... College Basketball (CBB) Fans please help a former hockey player out. The CBB preseason Top 25 has only 3 B1G teams ranked: 3. Purdue, 4. Michigan State, and 25. Illinois. USC at 21. is the only Pac-12 to the B1G team ranked. No UCLA. No OREGON. Is this a poll-era all-time low for the B1G? For a CBB outlier, this seems to be very low for a conference that always sends 6+ teams to the Tournament. And is OREGON going to have another year of missing the Tourney? .......................................................................................................................................................................... GO DUCKS - TCB vs. WAZZU! I like the Ducks to win but -20 seems like a big spread.

Great take, Mic. But Oregon did put up 126 more yards than UW. Bo threw for more yards (but not TDs) than Penix. Chip Kelly disdained this stat but Oregon had the ball 9 more minutes than did UW. David makes a great point about the Jumbo formation disappearing. This OL that was a question mark prior to the season has played very well. But going against an 8 man front is tough sledding for any formation. As DL acknowledged, the 3rd down run prior to Oregon trying to seal the win on 4th down was a check down call that was not communicated properly. I won't argue with DL's take, I have neither the knowledge nor football IQ to do so, but against an 8-man box on 3rd down why not stretch the field? In the play that set up the tying FG attempt (SIGH), Ferguson was wide open down the middle. My main critique of the play calling was not doing enough to stretch the field late in the game. Troy Franklin was having a great game. Bryant disappeared but Tez Johnson came through. With the manner in which the Ducks ran the ball, drawing the UW D up to the LOS, I'm disappointed that we did not see more deep shots which seems contrary to the aggressive 4th down decisions. Great game. Oregon is still very much in the hunt for a Pac-12 title and a Final 4 berth. Thanks, David, for another great take.

After ESPN 'stole' OK and TX, there was no way Fox was going to allow ESPN into the LA hen house.

However, if you want to be aggressive how about with 8 UW defenders in the box on 3rd down before the ill-fated 4th down play, you look for Troy downfield in a one-on-one coverage situation? The UW D-backs could not cover Troy the entire game. I think that Stein went far too conservative in the 2nd half. There were pass plays downfield; especially, with how Oregon was running the ball. I agree with other posters, the late game calls reminded me of Mari(o) vs. ironically, Bo Nix in the game in Dallas against Auburn. Fortune favors the bold if the bold embraces fortune. Troy outplayed the UW receivers in this game and in my humble and amateur opinion was not going to be held down later in this game except for Will Stein, had Troy had the ball more often thrown in his direction. Going into a downfield shell while rolling the dice thrice does not, for me at least, compute. The guy who could win the Biletnikoff Trophy was underutilized.

MY BAD! I was referring to OREGON at Utah at 3:30 Eastern. I will stay up for the Beavers at Ducks. I'm never in doubt, but often wrong.

Charles, I checked and it shows a 12:30 Pacific kickoff. Love Ya, but I hope you are (for the 1st time in your life?) in error.

2024, using the Week 8 AP Poll and adjusting for conference realignment. ACC - 4 teams ranked. 4. FSU, 10. UNC, 16. Duke, and 21. Louisville. B12 - 1 team, 14. Utah ranked. Independent - 1 team ranked. 15. The Domers Pac-2 - 1 team ranked. 12. Oregon State. Add OSU and WSU to the Mountain West and with Air Force at 22, 2 MW teams would be ranked. B1G - 8 ranked - 2. Michigan/ 3. Ohio State/ 5. Washington (SIGH)/ 7. Penn State/ 9. OREGON/ 18. USC/ 24. Iowa/ 25. UCLA. SEC - 8 ranked - 1. Georgia/ 6. Oklahoma/ 8. Texas/ 11. Alabama/ 13. Ole Miss/ 17. Tennessee/ 19. LSU/ 20. Missouri. Does CFB (except for the ever-present Dinero) need a Playoff come 2026 (except perhaps for 'political' reasons) other than the best of the B1G vs. the best of the SEC? By 2026, Clemson and FSU could be in the SEC, and UNC and Notre Dame could be in the B1G. In this case, would any team outside of the B1G 20 and the SEC 20 (add 2 plus FSU and Clemson out of Louisville, Georgia Tech, Miami, or NC State to the SEC) have any shot at a title? I don't think so. I see no reason why either of the top 2 conferences would expand beyond 20 teams. Size goes to size and I am so happy that Puddles is landing in a B1Gger nest.

And in the Rose Bowl! WOW!

H Duck - great take. But I think it is more likely that Penix would have had 80 yards or less to go. Not 90. Keeping a punt inside the opponent's 20-yard line from your own 47-yard line is a big ask. And if it was the 20-yard line where UW started, you are 'gaining' but 33 yards instead of having a chance to ice the game. I'm down with going for it on 4th down but not down with the 3rd and 4th down play calls. Especially when seeing the catch Ferguson made down the middle to give UO the chance to take the game into overtime. The inexperience of 2 young coaches showed up in this game.

And yet, Michigan State is 1 of 3 B1G teams that made the Final 4, thanks to a Ducks loss in East Lansing (overthrow on a pass to Huff by a QB with a dinged finger, SIGH) and a Ducks win in Palo Alto. Then, Sparty said hello and goodbye to Saint Nick and Alabama. Stanford was a far better team than Sparty that season as was proved up in the Rose Bowl beatdown of Iowa. Stanford and Oregon did their utmost to keep one another out of the playoffs. J. Smith is making bank in Corvallis but the Mountain West vs. the B1G?

Those of us who live in No (Viewing) Country For Old Men, yet again say Thank You! I expect Cal and at ASU will be 10:30 Eastern KOs and that's just fine. Puddles has 1 game left to donate to Larry. It's a great way to start Sunday morning once I wake up. Recording? I'm a guy who watched CFB on black and white TV, 1 guy in the booth and no replays, thank you very much. We know the USC game will not kick off later than 7:30 Eastern, and on 11/24 the Beavers at Ducks should be a game the entire nation can watch, and if OR ST upsets UW in Corvallis, will watch coast to coast. Then, so long Larry! Puddles will be nesting where BTN has weekly coaching post-game and pre-game coverage. And. Puddles will be joining Scrooge McDuck in the B1G Bank come 2031.

Thanks, Jordan. I sure wish Somebody and not Oregon lost this terrific football game. And lost in the loss was Troy Franklin outplaying the UW receivers and a goal-line stand that could have been one for the ages.

B1G, some big-time Pac-12 help is on the way. "The lame kids who all just pretend to love horrific offenses and ugly games were all over Iowa at Wisconsin on Saturday." David Hale ESPN+ Iowa won 15 - 6. The player of the game for Iowa was the punter. 10 (!) punts for 506 yards. Iowa QB Deacon Hill was 6 for 14 for a robust 37 yards. Iowa is 5-1 which speaks to how crummy the B1G is top to bottom, and ranked for some reason #24. This Iowa team lost 31-0 at Penn State. Michigan State was up 24-6 heading into the 4th Q at home and lost to Rutgers. (J. Smith - Just Say "NO!") A Maryland team that put up a decent game against Ohio State lost to a putrid Illinois team. [And how about the B12? The 4 newbies are 1-9 with the win coming from Houston Friday night on a walk-off Hail Mary in Morgantown, W VA. With OK, and TX leaving town, the Utes should prosper in the JV Power 2. If, anyone cares?] Are all the B1G Regents happy? The B1G little 11 probably are not ecstatic to have 4 ranked West Coast teams joining the conference. But there are many happy campers at Fox, CBS, and NBC/Peacock. There is a big-time B1G game coming up this Saturday when 7. Penn State +4.5 heads to Columbus to play 3. Ohio State. Michigan continues its visit to the OOC/B1G bakery with a game at Michigan State.