Jon Joseph

Much too early? Yes. Using 2022 Won-Loss Records to determine Strength of Schedule (SOS) for the 2023 obvious Final 4 contenders? Dubious, I know. Nevertheless, let's first look at SOS for the putative contenders using this method 9. Ohio State 21. Texas 31. Alabama 35. Clemson 37. Utah 55. Washington 58. Michigan 63. LSU and Georgia are tied. 78. FSU 90. Penn State 97 Oregon 98 - USC Next, let's see how Oregon's 2023 opponents are SOS ranked - Portland State - Not ranked at Texas Tech - 14 Hawaii - 123 Colorado - 29 at Stanford - 15 Idle at Washington - 55 Washington State - 113 at Utah - 37 CAL - 12 USC - 98 at ASU - 20 Oregon State - 63 Based on its SOS (97) the Ducks' schedule is not that daunting but we all know that in 2023 the Pac-12 is deep and will be competitive and 3 road games versus teams ranked in the preseason top 25, playing in Lubbock, Seattle, and Salt Lake City and 2 in Eugene against a closing stretch of USC and Oregon State separated by an always dangerous trip to the desert, will not be a bed of feathers. So, here is my far-out Final 4 prediction. Rose Bowl - 2. Penn State versus 3. LSU Sugar Bowl - 1. Georgia versus 4. Oregon Please feel free to disabuse me of this notion and please, do not take this to the bank.

The B1G 20? Oregon, UCLA, USC, Washington Illinois, Ohio State, Northwestern, Purdue Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Rutgers Maryland, North Carolina, Penn State, Virginia In addition to pods, rivalry games outside of pods, Ohio State versus Michigan for example, would be protected. Good thoughts. The problem? Stay in the Pac-10 and fall $30M plus a year behind the B1G and SEC in media income? Size goes to size in B1G business and I think, unfortunately, further college football consolidation is inevitable. IMO, if the B1G/Fox comes with somewhere around $40M to $50M a year for Oregon the Ducks should move to the B1G. Being covered by the B1G network would be a B1G deal. And there would be far more eyeballs watching Oregon play B1G teams than will be watching Oregon playing the majority of Pac-10 games. Adding San Diego State and SMU or other G5 teams will not change this calculus. Caveat. The right streaming deal with the right streaming partner could in the long run be very beneficial media money-wise for Oregon and the Pac-10. But this would be the bird in the bush risk instead of one of the Power 2 birds in hand.

Don't sleep and UGA and its chance to make 3-peat history. GRRRRRRRRRRR!

Perhaps the B1G powers-that-be should get into the same room? This is completely counter to the recent take by the Illinois president who said that at this time the B1G is staying as-is. These B1G wigs can say whatever they like but if Fox (and/or junior media partners CBS and NBC or a streaming source) do not step up with the money all of this is meaningless. The B1G and the SEC have lots of other people's money. They do not own a printing press pumping out B1G Bucks or SEC Shekels.

My bad. The NCAA was also named a 'defendant' in the claim filed by the NCAA. I wonder what appetite after the Supreme Court ruled 9-0 against the NCAA in the Allston case the NCAA will have to counter this action by the NLRB.

Gotta love this article. " ... a slimy scandal slithering through LA." And Kevin Warren called out as the backstabber that he is. Doesn't get much better than this. What Mike Bohn’s shocking USC resignation means for Trojans now and long-term FANSIDED.COM Mike Bohn shockingly resigned as the athletic director of the USC Trojans on Friday afternoon. The most successful USC athletic director in quite some time...

More kudos to Oregon and Dan Lanning and I love the author pointing out that Mario's recruiting is not missed in Eugene. Oregon football lands elite 4-star DL Xadavien Sims over Oklahoma, MSU SATURDAYBLITZ.COM The rich just keep getting richer. Oregon football had a top-10 recruiting class for 2024 heading into decision day for four-star defensive lineman Xadavie... The rich get richer is something we have heard forever about SEC teams. This is great for our beloved Ducks!

The USA Today (via Ducks Wire) has the 2024 Oregon recruiting class ranked at 20! Something is simply wrong with USA Today's ranking algorithm. On3 recruiting has the Ducks ranked 8 before adding the two 4* additions. 247 composite has the Ducks ranked at 6. Rivals also have Oregon ranked at 6. USA Today and Ducks Wire, Go To Your Room!

DL and staff are simply killing it. I think on 247 composite rankings these 2 commitments will move Oregon up to 5 in the nation. DL most certainly has not taken a recruiting back seat to Mario. Top247 DL Xadavien Sims announces commitment to Oregon 247SPORTS.COM The Ducks continue to add top targets to one of the nation's top recruiting classes.

Great observations. Regarding collusion, I should have added that conference members when they pledge their grant of rights agree to mitigated damages. Pay the applicable exit fee and you are free to go. Hard to believe that all of the members of the ACC including Clemson and FUS agreed to a $120M exit fee. Although as we saw when Maryland left the ACC for the B1G it litigated and settled at a lesser exit fee amount.

A collusion lawsuit has never been filed in CFB and I doubt that one will ever be filed. What media entity and others if any, did the Pac-10 collude with to take Utah from the MW and CU from the B12? Bob Bowlsby and the B12 may have had a winning suit against ESPN and the SEC but it was not filed. Litigation is expensive and without a certainty of winning are left behind member schools willing to pay the price? I think that CFB will continue to centralize and I very much doubt that the teams left behind will have a winning lawsuit. If Oregon does not sign on to the new media deal and pledge its broadcast rights to the Pac-10 the Ducks will be a free agent free to fly anywhere it so likes and is invited to.

It's likely violative of a number of laws and regulations but who in the world of college football has 'clean hands' and/or the desire to litigate? Today's president at Oregon is tomorrow's president at Northwestern. We are focused on college sports but this is really a small part of every university's budget.

A lot of the five are bold beyond reason. I agree that JS is not likely to leave for another college job but one day the NFL could come calling.

Consider the impact the portal is having on high school recruiting. https://athlonsports.com/college-football/college-football-transfer-portal-team-by-team-additions-tracker-2023 CU has brought in more players than the population of Rhode Island.

And the O line is a part of the puzzle that is also looking good. Oregon Football: Ducks offensive line stacked with talent, experience DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM There very well could be 5 new starters on the UO offensive line this fall. Despite the newness, the Ducks have the talent to be really good up front.

Kirk, great post. Stewart Mandel has an article up on The Athletic (paywall) that confirms that Bohn's resignation is due to far more than health issues. Another black eye for the Trojans athletic department. Folt best not hire a USC ex-jock to steer it into B1G country. IMO, the problems start at the top, Folt, and on down. It still fries me that Folt led the charge to kill expansion into the Central time zone and take the B12 off of the Power 5 chessboard. Possibly when she was playing footsie with the B1G and Fox. I am admitted to practice law in California (retired/inactive) but if she was in discussion to move to the B1G and failed to disclose this it is a breach of fiduciary duty and violative of a number of California's anti-fraud statutes. But it is academia and fans have no standing to bring suit so unfortunately the possibly egregious conduct will go undiscovered and unpunished.

If you are a subscriber Stewart Mandel has a very good article up on The Athletic. regarding the resignation of Bohn and the dysfunction that plagued SC athletics for years before Bohn came on board.

Great post. 'Money is not evil. The love of money is evil.' Go for the Gold? An encouragement to win the big game has been replaced by Go for the Greed. But with all of its foibles and upheavals, it's still a great game and Oregon is a great brand to follow and watch. I blame a decade-plus of conference mismanagement and also Fox and its spat with ESPN as much or more for the departure than I do USC. If the B1G/Fox offered Oregon $70M per annum in media rights and great coverage on the uber-successful B1G Network would the Ducks say no? I agree, just when the conference is the deepest in years it is going to break up? Sad.

Here are 5 interesting thoughts from John Buhler of Fansided. ( This article has 5 different screens, If you cannot navigate through all 5 here go to fansided.com for the full article.) How about his new moniker for the game formerly known as The Civil War? 'The Strife Aquatic?' I am down with a NO vote. Pac-12 Football: 5 incredibly early bold predictions for the 2023 season FANSIDED.COM Pac-12 football fans are here for a good time, but not for a long time with realignment coming. For at least one more year, we will have a healthy helping ... He is loving himself some Michael Penix and the rabid, flea-bitten dogs. I hope that we see a husky flop.

Below is a nice, positive take on Oregon's 2023 football prospects including an acknowledgment of how well DL has done bringing in quality players from the portal, especially on the D-side of the ball. Interesting that the author calls both games at UW and Utah toss-ups, I agree. But he makes no reference to the home game versus USC which is a bit puzzling. Oregon football: Realistic post-spring expectations for 2023 SATURDAYBLITZ.COM Dan Lanning's first season with Oregon football went better than planned as he led the Ducks to a 10-3 record and they were legit contenders in the Pa... GO DUCKS!

Good health is a blessing. Best of luck to the gentleman.

How about handing Larry a $1.5M severance check? This is most definitely grading on a curve.

He was simply awesome not only as a football player but also in lacrosse. I used to love watching Jim Brown play against the NY Giants' middle linebacker Sam Huff. RIP. A man who gave many fans lasting memories.