Jon Joseph

Thank you for the kudos. It's not easy for the Ducks to have to open Pac-12 play at WAZZU after playing BYU. I think with Ward at QB and his HC at Immaculate Word coming to WSU as the HC, WSU is being underrated coming into 2022. I do believe that Utah has a very good chance of winning at Florida. Many the key player returns for Utah. Lloyd is a huge loss at LB. But picking up LB, Diabate, UF's leading tackler in 2021, was a great portal get. Both top RBs are back and Rising is the undisputed starting QB with 2 of 3 top Utah TEs returning. And 2 good TEs coming to SLC from the portal. I think UF will be surprised at how physical the Utah team will be. Can Utah fix the CB position? The position that cost it a Rose Bowl win? USC has a very favorable OOC schedule but SC has to play at Utah. 20-16? I love your enthusiasm. This has to happen, at least, for the conference to be nationally relevant post September. At the very least, the conference has to win more than 50% of the MW games and cannot lose the match-ups vs the MAC opponents.

I know it's an old line, but there's always a hook.

The following is my ranking of the Pac-12, 2022, OOC schedules. I have ranked the schedules by degree of difficulty, as I see it, from 12 being the easiest 1 being the most difficult. I also have made some observations regarding the 36 OOC games the Pac-12 will play. Next to each teams OOC schedule is the number of conference away games, 4 or 5, said team will play in 2022. This is one person's WAG; many of you I am certain will have a different take on these rankings and it would be great to see where you may disagree with me. 12. UCLA - Bowling Green State University (MAC), Alabama State (FCS), South Alabama (Sun Belt) - 4 - OK, I know THIS is the result of Michigan canceling a home and home (H+H) series with the Bruins and MAC member Central Michigan did defeat WAZZU in the Sun Bowl 24 - 21, but this OOC schedule puts the Cup on the Cake. Plus, the Bruins are one of 6 Pac-12 teams to play 4 conference road games. 11. OREGON STATE - Boise State (MW), at Fresno State (MW), Montana State (FCS) - 4 - The two Mountain West opponents are far from easy outs but nevertheless, no P5 opponents OOC. 10. CAL - UC Davis (FCS), UNLV (MW), at Notre Dame - 4 - At Notre Dame (IND) is a one-off payday game for the Bears. I do not like to see these 1 off games on any Pac-12 schedule. 9. WASHINGTON - Kent State (MAC), Portland State (FCS), Michigan State (B1G - 1st of H+H) - 5 - Sparty is a B1G time opponent but UW does play Sparty in Seattle. 9. WASHINGTON STATE - Idaho (FCS), at Wisconsin (B1G - 1st of H+H), Colorado State (MW) -4 - How did the Cougs manage to schedule a H+H with the Badgers? I think playing in Madison is probably tougher than playing Sparty in Seattle. 9. ASU - Northern Arizona (FCS), at Oklahoma State (B12 - 1st of H+H), Eastern Michigan (MAC) - 5 - I see playing OK ST in Stillwater as a tougher test than UW getting MI ST at home and equal to the Cougs playing in Madison. Across the board, I see little to differentiate the three OOC schedules above that I have tied at 9. 6. USC - Rice (CUSA), Fresno State (MW), Notre Dame (IND) -5- In Lincoln Riley's 1st season this is far easier than some of the OOC slates Helton faced including playing Bama and Notre Dame in the same season. Also it is nice for Troy to be playing all 3 OOC games at home. 5. STANFORD - Colgate (FCS), at Notre Dame (IND), BYU (IND) - 5 - I consider BYU to be a P5 opponent. BYU will be ranked in every preseason Top 25 poll, including the AP preseason poll. 4. ARIZONA - at San Diego State (MW), Mississippi State (SEC - 1st of H+H), North Dakota State (FCS) - 4 - If you are going to schedule an FCS team, why schedule the best FCS team? At San Diego State is far from the easiest game to start the season. 3. UTAH - at Florida (SEC - 1st of H+H), Southern Utah (FCS), San Diego State (MW) - 5 - Great scheduling to gat a H+H with historically reluctant to travel Florida. UF comes to SLC in 2023. Utah wins in The Swamp, TCBs vs SDS and a Final 4 birth may be doable? 2. COLORADO - TCU (B12 - 1st of H+H), at Air Force Academy (MW), at MInnesota (B1G 2nd of a H+H) - 4 - The Buffs need an OOC schedule like this we all need more visits to the dentist. 2 good P5 opponents and one of the best teams in the MW for a team leaking portal transfer oil. Brutal! 1. OREGON - Georgia (SEC in Atlanta), Eastern Washington (FCS), BYU (IND) - 5 - Welcome to head coaching Mister Lanning, and have a really nice day. WOW! You open against the defending national champion 90 miles away from its campus in Athens, Georgia, play a tough FCS opponent, followed by a game against a top 20 BYU squad. Then Sir, you get to go on a 5 game tour of the Pac-12. Has any head coach of a team that plays 3 games OOC ever had a more difficult OOC schedule than Dan Lanning and the Ducks face in 2022? Counting BYU as P5, that's 13 of 36 OOC games vs P5 schools. 3 vs the B1G, SEC and Notre Dame. 2 vs the B12 and BYU. 0 vs Alliance 'buddy' ACC. 8 games vs the Mountain West. Last season, including the bowl games, the Pac-12 had a losing record vs the MW. 10, a large number for the Pac-12, games vs FCS schools. Notwithstanding 10 FCS games this is a tough OOC slate. Hopefully, The Conference of Champions will finish .500 or better OOC in 2022, but I have significant doubts that this will be the case. Hats off to a number of Pac-12 schools outside of LA getting H+H series with B1G and SEC teams.

Bill, being CONFERENCE OF CHAMPIONS bombastic, who knew?

Thanks Jordan. I am a bit confused by the conclusion of your article? Do the Ducks have to win the tourney and thus automatically advance; or, just have a good showing in the Pac-12 tourney? What do the Ducks have to do, short of winning it all, in the Pac-12 tournament to make 'The Show?' Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, Champ Game loss? I agree that the Ducks is not out of the NCAA tournament but it is going to be a close call. Maybe even a 'First Four' game spot? Thanks again. Nothing better to ponder as we approach March and the Madness.

Good take. However, I very much doubt that the 32 NFL owners consider themselves as individuals to be 'Marxist?' But spot on regarding the NFL being run as a collective. The league is run with restrictions and conditions that benefit all of the League's 'partners,' including the players. It was the Players Union that put a cap on rookie salaries and agreed to all other terms and conditions after negotiations with management, negotiations that are often heated. And of course, the contract with management is not perpetual but will be re-negotiated from time to time when an existing agreement expires. Of course, CFB players have no union. Gains in the nature of NIL have been the result of various state legislation and court decisions. If a CFB Players Union comes about, which I believe will happen, what entity will the Union negotiate with? It won't be the NCAA. The NCAA has handed off football governance to the G5 and the P5. I think CFB 'union advocates' are likely to win the battle but lose the war? I believe that many of the 131 G5/P5 (soon to move to 133) schools participating in 'scholarship football' today are unlikely to continue to do so once 'student-athletes' become employees of their respective school? (MLB does have a cap in the form of a 'Luxury Tax' that is a major reason for the current impasse between MLB players and management.)

It's sad. There are far more guys in the portal than there are scholarships available. Many walk-ons are in the portal but a significant number of guys who had scholarships will not get new ones. And being CFB, there is no one in central authority to advise these young men and a whole lot of guys giving them bad advice.

BTW. In Georgia you can be on the grass but it is illegal to be on grass. Great take. Love his son's response to seeing 'real' mountains and not just the Appalachians. Sure hope he makes it and after making it, enjoys Eugene and Oregon enough to stick around for a lot of seasons.

Great points. And with the way of the world today, what will the portal look like after teams conclude spring practice? How many players who compete and don't get to start will be willing to stick where they are and continue to compete instead of bolting for the portal? How many FCS and G5 guys will be looked at in the spring and then be 'offered' to move onward and upward?

With that cap space the Chargers should be able to pick up a good free agent or 2 and sign a good kid out of the draft; or, am I off on what players are being paid in today's NFL? Like Charles, I am not that familiar with what's going on in the League other than knowing that the NFL had some great post season games this year. Sure seems like 2021 was a season when the concept of 'parity' really worked for the NFL. Meanwhile in CFB, I expect a return to the usual suspects in 2022. No G5 team in. Ohio State in and a good chance for 2 SEC teams to be in.

CRASH! BAM + BOOM! That's not the kind of record you want; my golf game can relate.

SIGH!

247 is very good at roster rating. The rating uses a number of factors but importantly, reviews the rankings after 'summer practice' and does a very good job of factoring in impact transfers. 1n 2021, the 247 rankings had Bama 1 and UGA a very close 2nd. THIS turned out to be pretty darn accurate. 247 coming into 2021, had Oregon roster ranked No. 9. For any number of reasons, the 2021 effort did not match the preseason ranking.

Thank you Charles. Through thick and thin, mostly it's all been thin, I think those of us who followed the Ducks when Chip was the OC/HC will have an interest, be it macabre for some, in how Chip is doing or not doing. Chip at UCLA at the same time as Helton was at SC, failed to Win the Day in LA. He just does not 'get' or simply does not care about, recruiting. His new assistant coaching hires are OK, but other than for Norton, as so noted above by willville, are not great recruiters. Then again, how many 'leaders' at UCLA and how many alum truly give a whip about UCLA football?

Great point. Even with UCLA as tenant I do not see the City of Pasadena coming with the money to update the stadium. The Rose is going to sell out no matter what so why bother. And the Rams/Chargers are both wedded to SoFi for a long time.

Chip went 8-4 in 2021. A big improvement over his prior seasons as UCLA 's HC. UCLA COVID-missed a very good and ranked NC State team in its scheduled bowl game. Hard for me to believe but in its 8 wins in 2021, the Bruins never defeated a team that finished with a winning record. Chip's performance in 2021 was enough to convince the UCLA AD to extend Chip's contract for 3 and likely, with the terms of the 4th 'option' year, Chip, on paper, will be the Bruins HC through 2025. 2025 is coincidently the current Playoff agreement includes. (2024 is the year the new Pac-12 media deals come on line.) It should be noted that the UCLA Athletic Department, that receives no general funds from the university (CAL football receives $20M a year in general funding) and has to pay rent to play basketball at its home stadium, is $60M+ in the red. Chip's buy out went to zero $ in January of 2022. But UCLA still would have had to pay big money if it wanted to hire a successful replacement head football coach who had a big buyout. And today, one wonders how much of a boost UCLA football is receiving from the program's boosters? In 2022, Chip has the luxury of his QB, DTR, returning for his 4th starting season. It is also good for Chip that Charbonnet returns at RB after transferring in from Michigan and having a very good 2021 season. Nevertheless, UCLA lost a lot of its production on both sides of the ball as a result of the end of eligibility for a number of talented players and many the Bruin player with remaining eligibility entering the transfer portal. And Chip, once again, does not have a great group of recruits coming to Westwood in 2022. In addition to DTR and Charbonnet returning in 2022, the Bruins in 2022, have one of if not the easiest of schedules in P5 football. UCLA opens against Bowling Green, Alabama State and South Alabama, with all 3 out-of-conference games (OCC) being played in the Rose Bowl. (This lightweight OCC schedule is in part, the result of Michigan canceling a home and home series when the B1G went from 8 to 9 conference games.) If UCLA is not 3-0 entering conference play, Chip should be sent to his room, without dinner. In total, 9 of the teams UCLA plays in 2022 were not bowl eligible in 2021. However, USC under Lincoln Riley, should be far better than the SC team the Bruins trucked in 2021. UCLA does get defending champ Utah at home in 2022, but in turn, has to play the Ducks in Eugene. I see a best case finish of 9-3. Worst case, 6-6. But I expect to see a repeat of 2021's 8-4 or, more likely, 7-5. With Chip at the wheel it is difficult foe me to see UCLA ever being a real contender for the conference championship What do you, my Ducks friends think about the prospects for UCLA's football fortunes in 2022? Am I being too harsh; or, am I right in the wheel house? PS - AS other posters have noted, it would benefit UCLA to switch from the run down Rose Bowl to the new SoFi stadium that is closer to Westwood. The on-campus real estate is too valuable for UCLA to build an on campus stadium and where would the money come from if UCLA desired to do so?

Steven, no criticism of the above POV is directed at you. I used to be 100% down with this saying; one that is oft attributed to Al Davis. But it's 1 thing to just win a game in the NFL and another thing to keep a team like Stony Brook in the game. I think in CFB where rosters are so disparate, that you have to go for the kill shot and not get a small lead and attempt to hold onto same by playing 'small ball?" I think Mario's 'prevent offense' was killing the Oregon brand. Am I in favor of an air raid O? Heck no. Ne air raid team has won a playoff title. But I am certainly in favor of a 'modern offense' that attacks on the ground and through the air and does not stop attacking. One that is designed to provide good angles for guys on O to set up blocks, instead of just expecting the OL to smash mouth guys. As to the quality of the 2022 D? If Flowe stays healthy, Oregon likely has the best LB corps in the conference and one of the top corps in CFB. But, will the DL hold up against UGA, BYU, Utah? Can the DBs handle the air raid circus in Pullman? Is 1 spring and 'summer' practice enough for the D coaches to get their system installed and fully communicated? Intuitively and production wise historically, I see the LB corps as the strength of the 2022 team. To me, everything else is unknown and that includes an OL that for any # of reasons has yet to play up to the collective recruiting rankings. 2022? Be patient. It is a brutal schedule for young group of coaches, a still young group of players and an 'unknown' at staring QB. Is there another team in the country that plays 3 OOC games, playing the defending national champ, a team that will be ranked no lower than No. 3 and another top 20 team OOC? Then, add in 5 conference road games plus drawing the defending conference champion in a cross division, home game. PS- Regarding the Ohio State comments above. 2021 was the season to 'get' the Buckeyes. A team playing by OH ST standards, historically bad D. A continuing trend from the 2020 season when the Buckeyes D was exposed in conference leading to close OH ST wins and by Bama in the champ game. This is why Ryan Day is bringing in the DC from OK ST and lots of other new coaches on D, to Columbus. (Also, why Derek Mason, for less $, left Auburn and is now the DC at OK ST.) But Steven, again, please make no mistake, in general I agree with you Sir. At the end of the day all that matters is the W and not an L.

The key to responsible and fruitful debate is to disagree without being disagreeable. This maxim is most certainly not original on my part. I believe it can be attributed to Cicero? I miss the days when Tip O'Neil and Ronald Reagan would often meet for a beer 'after work.' With no hand held cameras photographing them and no one attempting to listen into and thereafter immediately report what the two gentlemen discussed. Technology is always a two edged sword. Instant communication is in many ways a boon but social media has provided many the coward to criticize, often in invective language, without revealing the critic having the courage to reveal him/herself to the person being criticized. In general, of OBD Forum, I have found it to be the case that when posters stray intentionally or otherwise, including most certainly, moi, that a gentle nudge results in a mea culpa. If it results in a poster fleeing the scene; well. so be it.

Fun off-season (there is such a thing these days?) take. "The reason why, I can't say. I have to let you go babe and right away!" The predicate to Mario being gone? So long as he left before he entirely destroyed the brand, the reason 'why' matters not to me. Adios, Mario, don't let the door hit you in your butt on the way out.

Terrific points all around. The only boosters as incestuous in the program as the are the Auburn boosters can be found in Austin, Texas. Robby Ashford signed on but Auburn is being scorched by the number of good players, not just players per se, entering the portal. Nix was having a very good season before the injury. Bama barely defeated Auburn playing without NIx. Would the Tigers have closed the deal with Nix? "Nix is not AB!" Absolutely. Nix has played against far better competition in the SEC than AB saw in the ACC and in the Pac-12. What D in the Pac is Nix going to see that is superior to the Ds he faced in the SEC? How about, none. The one way he does compare to AB is that he comes in 'gimpy.' But Nix bonded well with Dillingham at Auburn, winning the SEC Frosh of the Year Award. In fairness to AB, he played at Oregon for different OCs, and in a system not friendly to the QB position that was micro-managed by the HC. Should be a fun battle but as I noted above how can one compare starting 3 seasons in the SEC with playing high school ball in Arizona? Best of luck to all the contenders at QB for the starting job in 2022 but if it is not too gimpy, Nix has a big leg up.

I tape and fast forward so it looks like a Pac-12 in 60 minutes game.

Auburn, as is LSU, is coached by a guy who Arizona fired for committing similar NCAA violations. Seriously Ethically Challenged.

Which is one reason why one-off games should not be scheduled. UGA home + home, perfectly fine with me. But playing UGA in Atlanta is NOT playing the Dawgs at a neutral site. Also, the Dawgs have often played in Mercedes Benz Stadium (MB) including playing Bama in MB in 2021. Interestingly, the Dawgs record in MB is not good. Georgia does have a Peach Bowl win over Cincinnati played in MB, but UGA has never defeated Bama in MB. Of course, when the usual opponent in MB is Bama in the SEC Champ game you are not likely to have a sterling record. Florida is one of the many SEC schools with upcoming H+H series agreements with Pac-12 teams. And UF will not be tripping to one of the LA schools in 2023, it will be visiting Salt Lake City and Utah. Washington State? It plays the 1st game of a H+H series at Wisconsin this season. Arizona has a H+H series scheduled with Alabama. No more excuses about SEC teams only agreeing to play away games in LA vs the Pac-12.

Boola, Boola. Even I am not old enough to have witnessed those great 19th century Eli teams; perhaps, Charles could be a resource?

Another great take. Thank you Joshua. There will be a hotly contested battle to see who starts at QB in 2022; otherwise, Oregon hired the wrong head coach. 3 years of starting in the SEC and being reasonably successful over this time, including SEC Frosh of the year on O and a win against Alabama (and Oregon, sigh,) definitely trumps putting up big numbers in Arizona high school football. Nix is one of the very few players on the Ducks roster who will have played in front of the type of crowd the Ducks will see in the opener in Atlanta versus Georgia. If Nix starts, it will be his 4th start versus the Dawgs. (Only Auburn and Tennessee have 'the privilege' of playing Alabama and Georgia every season.) Definitely spot on regarding the portal being the go-to place for many the school to find its starting QB. Arizona, ASU, CAL, Oregon, USC, Washington and Washington State could all have transfer QBs starting this season. A transfer QB will be starting at Oregon State and at Utah. As you so correctly noted Joshua, CFB today has 'free agency.' There is no control, to date, unlike in the NFL, over when a player can enter the portal and no control over the school a player transfers to, even if that school is a member of the same conference. You can bet that there is roster tampering going on coupled with NIL pay-for-play inducements to transfer. Roster management in P5 CFB today is far more difficult than managing a roster in the NFL. The NFL has a union to bargain with on pay and transfer issues; CFB does not. If a CFB Player's Union comes to fruition, what CFB entity will be there to represent 'management' in the bargaining process? At the P5 level, it will not be the NCAA. And can CFB players who belong to a union be considered to be anything other than 'employees?' Thanks again. May the best QB win.