Jon Joseph

Very interesting. No USC game in 2024. Instead, the Ducks play both Ohio State and Michigan. Ohio State in Autzen as was predicted, and in the Big House in Ann Arbor instead of playing at USC as was predicted. The Ducks will also get the chance to Jump Around at Wisconsin. UW will play the Ducks in Autzen and is a protected annual game. I was somewhat surprised to see that UCLA/USC are not annual protected games. I expect that the UW game will be the ultimate regular game match up for the Ducks. This is a tough schedule. Especially with having to break in a new starting QB. Ohio State, Michigan, and UW are currently ranked. Maryland is 5-0 and the Terps, not LSU should be ranked in the Top 25. It will be interesting to see how Maryland stands up in Columbus on Saturday. Wisconsin and UCLA are on the cusp of moving back into the top 25. Michigan State will be coming to Eugene with a new coach and Oregon State's J Smith and Washington State's Jake Dickert are both rumored to be in the mix for the MSU job. Like Oregon in 2024, Maryland, UW, and most likely Michigan will be breaking in new QBs. In 2024, Dante Moore will have a shot at being one of CFBs best QBs. With the opening game in 2024 at Hawaii, and with 5 B1G home games the Ducks will have 8 home games in 2024. OOC opponents Idaho, Texas Tech, and Boise State will be coming to Autzen. The highlight home game will, of course, be the game versus Ohio State. Ohio State QB McCord will be back. At Michigan is the highlight away game. Will Jim Harbaugh still be coaching his alma mater? Playing in Camp Randall Stadium versus Wisconsin will also be a great away game venue. It's going to be one heck of a first-season B1G ride. No divisions in the B1G in 2024. And, thank goodness, no games on the Pac-12 Network. Here's more on the schedule from CBS Sports Dennis Dodd. Big Ten football schedule: Conference releases opponents, protected rivalries for 2024-28 seasons - CBSSports.com WWW.CBSSPORTS.COM The Big Ten has set its football schedules for the next five years with USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington joining the league

Hope Jack gets back. But what is interesting regarding this D compared to 2022 is the D depth behind the starters. The Oregon D's improvement is one of the best stories in 2023. Now, keep it up against better competition.

'You are what your record says you are.' Bill Parcells. The rest of the season against a tough schedule will prove whether or not Oregon is elite. I'm optimistic but there is a lot of ball to be played in a loaded back end of the schedule.

Nebraska is the only school in the B1G that is not an AAU member institution. It was so when it joined the B1G but would not have received a B1G invitation if it was not an AAU member when invited. Come 2024, the Cornhuskers will be the only AAU member outlier.

With an injury waiver, which I believe is doable even though he played in 5 not 4 games, he could come back with 2 years and not 1 year of remaining eligibility.

BUMMER! Heal well Noah. Next man up.

UW, Utah, and USC will be tough. But don't overlook #13. Washington State playing at Autzen between the trips to Seattle and SLC. With Utah's O a rumor without Rising, I think WSU today is a better football team than Utah. And I can see USC with that awful D, as possibly being a 2L team when Troy visits Autzen.

Tough, tough schedule for the Ducks. But with SC playing at Notre Dame, and, Utah and UW in LA, SC has an equally difficult road. I found it interesting that 2M more folks watched the CU at Oregon game than watched SC at CU. The CFB QB, with the most starts in CFB, has to stay healthy. But the same can be said for Williams, Penix, and Cam Ward who could move up the Heisman list with a good game at UCLA this Saturday.

Using the AP Poll and assuming that the field goes with 5 highest ranked champs and 7 at-large teams in the field, the B1G would have 6 teams in the 2024 playoff. Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, UW, OREGON, and USC. #2 Michigan as the presumptive B1G champ would have a 1st round bye along with SEC champ #1 Georgia, ACC champ #3 FSU, and #4 MW champ Washington State. #12 Utah would represent the B12 and knock out Alabama. Georgia and Texas would be the two SEC teams in the field. Notre Dame would be in the field as an independent. The 6/6 to 5/7 change is likely with a Pac-2 and AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco in favor of the move to 5/7. #10 OREGON's 1st round game would be at #7 Penn State. Bring your long underwear. My guess, come 2026, when ESPN loses its exclusive playoff broadcast rights, a spot for the highest-ranked G5 champ will be preserved but otherwise, the field will be ranked as ranked by the Committee. I also think we will see a 16-team field with no 1st round byes. The season for all teams would start on what is now Week 0.

The Oregon/UW line is now Oregon +3.5. Right where we want the line to make a win in Seattle even sweeter.

The QB battles down the road in this conference this season promise to be epic. Saturday in LA vs. UCLA, Cam Ward will have a chance to move up. I expect Caleb will put up ridiculous yards vs. Arizona.

My guess is Ty will be again battling another guy out of the portal. And Ty's backup was a very good recruit as are other QBs coming in. But replacing the guy with the most starts in CFB will not be easy. There will be a lot of quality players including QBs to recruit out of the portal in 2024. Last season DL was a master portal picker and with Division Street in the mix, Oregon will have a shot at a lot of experienced players. As we see from Clemson, you must be a good HS recruiter and a portal recruiter in today's game. And of course, Oregon will lose some quality guys to the portal. Just the name of today's game. The Ducks have and will have Blue Chip rosters. But to be considered as a Blue Blood you have to win championships. Oregon has been oh so close. Now DL, take the Ducks over the hurdle.

Thank you, David. Another winner. CU came into the game vs. USC having rushed for 224 yards for the season. The Buffs put up 193 rush yards vs. SC. And true frosh, Omarion Miller, set the CU frosh receiving record with 198 yards and a TD. Sheduer Sanders threw for more yards than did Caleb Williams. Williams had 6 pass TDs but Shedure had 4 and also scored running the ball for 5 total TDs. The Ducks penalty yards have dropped. At Arizona, UW had 125 penalty yards. More concerning for UW is that outstanding WR Rome Odunze was dinged up. He is probable for the Oregon game but may not be at full speed. As noted by many above, with the Ducks SP+ SOS 109 and UW's SOS 90, the rubber is about to hit the road for both teams as this will be a game versus 2 Top 10 teams (first time ever in OU/UW history) and the road ahead is full of ranked opponents. Hopefully, The Oregon D will play as well as it has played to date against lesser-ranked opponents. UW and AZ rush yards were a push - UW 111/UA 110. Penix put up 363 pass yards but did not throw for a TD. Arizona true frosh QB Noah Fifita threw for 224 yards. One good thing about UW, Oregon has been susceptible to running QBs. Penix is a great thrower but he is not a dual threat. Thanks again, David. Should be one heck of a game.

Don't sleep on WSU. Depending on how the UW game goes, WSU could be a trap game between UW and Utah.

If Oregon, or any other Pac-12 team, goes 13-0 this season, it will be a magnificent accomplishment. The back end of the schedule is brutal for OREGON, UW, USC, Washington State, and Utah. Oregon State and UCLA play one another, but compared to other Pac-12 teams both teams have an easier remaining schedule.

Sorry, Miami plays at UNC. Here's some love from College Football News. Oregon at UW is ranked as the #1 football game in October. Take that SEC! https://collegefootballnews.com/news/20-biggest-october-college-football-games

ESPN+ (paywall) Bill Connolly is not disregarding or disrespecting the Ducks or the Pac-12 in his current ranking of undefeated P5 teams through Week 5. 3 Pac-12 teams are in Bill's Top 10 with 4 overall in the rankings of 17 unbeatens to date. (Note - Air Force Academy is Bill's top-ranked undefeated G5 team.) S = SP+ Ranking. FPI = FPI ranking. SOS = Strength of Schedule to date. Each ranked team's next big test, according to Connelly, is listed below each team. Note, that this early in the season, SOS is all over the map. Bill is using the eye test in addition to S, FPI, and SOS. All of the game times below are Eastern Time. 1. Michigan - S - 1 FPI - 8 SOS - 112 Week 11 at Penn State (Like most of us, Bill sees the B1G in 2023 as a 3-team conference.) 2. Ohio State - S - 2 FPI - 1 SOS - 42. Week 8 vs. Penn State. (But do not sleep on Saturday's game vs. undefeated #17 Maryland - Noon Fox. Tua's kid brother is likely the better QB in this game.) 3. OREGON - S - 6 FPI - 6 SOS -109 Week 7 at #4 Washington - 3:30 ABC 4. Washington - S - 7 FPI - 9 SOS - 90 Week 7 vs. #3 OREGON 5. Georgia - S - 4 FPI - 7 SOS - 104 Week 6 vs. #12 Kentucky - 7 ESPN 6. Texas - S - 3 FPI - 4 SOS - 32 (With these numbers shouldn't Texas be #1?) Week 6 #7 Oklahoma - Noon ABC Note - In an In Your Face to B12 Commissioner Brett Yormark, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey will be attending the Red River Shootout. Delicious. 7. Oklahoma - S - 9 FPI - 2 SOS - 96 Week 6 vs. #6 Texas 8. Penn State - S - 13 FPI - 5 SOS 79 Week 8 at Ohio State (Regarding the 2023 B1G, see above.) 9. FSU - S - 18 FPI - 10 SOS - 18 (Also seems low with these numbers. But lucky, lucky, lucky at Clemson.) Week 7 vs. Syracuse 10. USC - S - 10 FPI - 12 SOS 124 (!) Week 7 at Notre Dame Note - 6 2024 B1G teams in the Top 10 - 3 coming in from the Pac-12. 3 2024 SEC teams in the Top 10 - 2 coming in from the B12. 11. Miami - S - 12 FPI - 15 SOS 67 Week 7 vs. UNC - (Miami plays Clemson, UNC, (both at home,) and FSU in 2023. FSU misses UNC and plays Miami in Tallahassee.) 12. Kentucky - S - 21 FPI - 31 SOS - 110 Week 6 at Georgia. The Dawgs could not stop the Auburn run game. On paper, Kentucky has a better run game. 13. UNC - S - 23 FPI - 21 SOS - 72 Week 6 vs. Syracuse - 3:30 ABC or ESPN 14. Washington State - S - 20 FPI - 38 SOS 40 (Based simply on SOS, WSU has the best record to date in the Pac-12.) Week 6 at UCLA - 3 Pac-12 Network. (If a tree falls in the forest ... Cannot wait to say so long to Larry's Loser Network.)) 15. Louisville - S - 29 FPI - 27 SOS 117 Week 6 vs. Notre Dame - 7:30 ABC 16. Missouri - S - 27 FPI - 35 SOS - 76 Week 6 vs. LSU - Noon ESPN (Why is 3-2 LSU ranked #23 in this week's AP Poll? Brand name and SEC.) 17. Maryland - S S - 31 FPI - 25 SOS 125 Week 6 at Ohio State. Ohio State is -18,5. I expect Maryland to cover the spread.) While Oregon has a Work Week and UW has a bye week, at least 2 of undefeated Georgia/ Kentucky and Texas/Oklahoma will have a loss after Saturday's action. Washington State, Louisville, Missouri, and Maryland could also be going down in Week 6. Enjoy and prepare for Hate Week. Puddles is not flying under the nation's and ESPN's radar. Win in Seattle and the Ducks will be front and center. Especially with games vs. currently ranked Utah, Washington State, USC, and Oregon State coming up. GO DUCKS!

WOW! The line that had dropped down to -11.5 Ducks is now Oregon +3.5! That is an incredible flip. Almost like 'someone' woke up and said, 'What are we doing!' I'm more inclined to believe that the number up on the net was simply wrong. UW's O has been lights out. Oregon on both sides of the ball is playing great. But neither team has played a difficult schedule which makes this a tough game to handicap. In terms of motivation, I like the Ducks as the dog and the way to play the mangy dogs.

This sucks. Russ was one of my all-time favorite Pats players. Rest In Peace.

1. UGA - yes the schedule is easy but UGA will suffer a loss if it doesn't pick up its game on both sides of the ball. Auburn could not pass and still gained close to 200 yards on the ground. 2. Michigan and Ohio State will, of course, play one another in the last game of the regular season. And Penn State will test Ohio State in Columbus and be a very tough win for Michigan in front of a White Out crowd. And, I don't think Ohio State's game vs. Maryland and Tua's kid brother this Saturday will be a cakewalk. It would not shock me if PSU won the B1G E. If Notre Dame doesn't tank, a 1-loss Ohio State has a very good OOC win on the road. A 12-1 Michigan will not, if the Committee is at all objective, have a SOS close to that of a 12-1 Pac-12 champ. Michigan's OOC slate was embarrassing. 3. Texas could have its hands full on Saturday in the Red River Rivalry. Will Texas not suffer a single letdown against B12 teams during the regular season? And Texas will likely have to face Oklahoma again in the B12 champ game. 12-1 conference champ Texas with a win at Bama is a playoff lock. Not so much a 12-1 Oklahoma that played thin air OOC. 5. Florida State will be favored in every game before the ACC title game and probably in the champ game, but FSU was fortunate to escape with a W vs. BC and if Clemson had a FG kicker FSU would have lost at Clemson. That win over LSU is not holding up. However, FSU misses UNC and gets Syracuse, Duke, and Miami at home. Like the AP Poll, I believe the Committee today would have 6 Pac-12 teams ranked. 7. SEC teams are ranked. 3-2 LSU being ranked 23 is a joke but one of LSU or 21 Mizzou, will lose when LSU plays at Mizzou on Saturday. I do not think that Tennessee will finish with only 1 loss. 11 Bama (-3) has a tough game at A+M and 20 Kentucky ran roughshod over Florida. Will UGA be able to stop the Kentucky run game? Note to Kentucky DC - Triple team Brock Bowers. I firmly believe that a 12-1 Pac-12 champ will be a playoff lock.

The Athletic's Scott Dochterman who covers the B1G recently confirmed his 8/6/23 take on what Oregon, UCLA, USC, and UW's, (Pac-4) schedules will look like in 2024. I have added in the 2024 non-conference (OOC) games for the Pac-4. Opponents are listed alphabetically and not by scheduled play dates. Not confirmed yet but in 2024 the B1G is expected to drop Divisions in favor of a Permanent Opponent(s) Flex schedule. I agree with Scott that the Pac-4 will be permanent opponents of one another. This makes geographic sense for the Pac-4 and by playing one another an additional B1G team will not have to trip to the West Coast. OREGON - Because of the trip to Hawaii, the Ducks will play 4 OOC games in 2024. And the Ducks get the 5 B1G home game draw in the initial season in the B1G. OOC - At Hawaii, Idaho (having a very good 2023 season in the FCS,) Texas Tech, Boise State 3 OOC home games plus Ohio State (YES!,) Maryland, Minnesota, UCLA, and UW. An SEC-like 8 home games. Away - At Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, USC UCLA - OOC - At Hawaii (but not adding an additional game,) Fresno State, at LSU. Interesting that both LA schools play LSU in 2024. And both LA schools play Michigan. Home - Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, USC, UW Away - Iowa, OREGON, Michigan, Rutgers USC - OOC - LSU (Las Vegas,) Utah State, Notre Dame Home - Illinois, OREGON, Michigan, Wisconsin Away - Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue, UCLA, UW A lot of meat on this bone. The game is a tradition but will USC want to continue playing Notre Dame every year? Washington - OOC - Weber State, Eastern Michigan, (Replacement game for Ohio State) Home - Iowa, Penn State, Purdue, USC Away - Maryland, Michigan State, OREGON, UCLA, Wisconsin I think that the Oregon/Washington game will be the concluding game every season. This IMO, would be a terrific slate of B1G games for Oregon with the biggie of course being Ohio State in Autzen. And I think it is favorable with Oregon breaking in a new QB to have 4 OOC games before the start of the conference schedule and having 8 games in Autzen would be fantastic.

Is there a store in LA that sells buttons?

Give the guy his props. The Row the Boat guys did defeat Louisiana State (er, Monroe) on Saturday. Minny has a shot to win a bad B1G West Division. But drawing both Michigan, at Minn this Saturday and Ohio State in Columbus from the B1G E is tough.

GameDay has been to UNC. The game on Disney affiliate ABC at 3:30 Eastern should be an incentive for Rece et al to be in Seattle.

The schedule is back-loaded. Win and the accolades will come. Playing Stanford on the Pac-12 network is not going to receive a lot of national attention. Winning at UW on ABC at 3:30 Eastern will get a whole lot of attention. The only way the Stanford game would have drawn attention is if Stanford played 4 Qs as it did in the 1st Q. UW is getting the long ball love. Oregon has improved significantly in both ESPN's FPI and SP+ rankings. Oregon is now FPI favored to win the Pac-12 conference and with #4 best odds of making the final Final 4. And Vegas with Oregon at -12.5 for the UW is buying in. The oddsmakers pay attention. And Vegas is not ignoring the significant improvement on D. What counts is, kind of, the interim PO Committee rankings (1st 1 revealed on Halloween) and of course, the ultimate Committee ranking. And never forget that far more B1G and SEC fans are tuning into ESPN than are Pac-12 fans.