Jon Joseph

A sleeping giant 'with a terrible resolve' has awakened.

This will move USC now ranked No. 3 by 247 Sports in its 2022 CFB Transfer Rankings, up the ladder. USC had 10 transfer commits before Dye decided to go to LA. (Other Pac-12 programs in the top 50 of this ranking + no. of commits: 10. AZ - 7; 13. UCLA - 5; 23. ASU - 8; 29. WA ST - 4; 40. Oregon - 3; 43. CAL - 3; 50 Utah - 3. Dye goes home and likely gets a big NIL check? And likely may be recruiting other Ducks to portal south and get paid?

Great take. However, I could care less about whatever the SEC claims or does not claim. We already know that the SEC only loses OOC games because while it just matters more, it matters less to defeat inferior schools an SEC team cannot expect to be interested in playing. I certainly get the 1997 point, but I thought CFB was fine with co-champions; and I was also fine with regular season games ending in a tie.

This game was scheduled by Rob Mullens in 2019 with BYU already on the schedule. BTW: UW just signed a H+H series deal with Tennessee. Georgia earlier backed out of a H+H with Oregon. The opening game 'at' Georgia is pure and simple a money play by Mullens. Oregon has one of the most difficult if not the toughest OOC schedule in the country in 2022, and then has to play 5 conference road games.

Mario is not a 'Mastro' when it comes to hiring assistants. Anyone in Miami having 2nd thoughts?

VERY COOL and good to see the Madden game, with NIL, making a comeback. (RIP John Madden.)

Baylor and the Ducks already have a H+H series scheduled beginning I believe in 2025? I also believe that Baylor, among other B12 schools, should be a member of the Pac-20. (SIGH.)

Man, how I'd love to sock-it to Livin' Larger Larry.

Well stated. End athletic scholarships? Drop from P5 football to no football or Ivy League football? Terminate many the varsity sport that is today 'paid for' by football? One problem with the 'pure academic' approach is that for the most part, Pac-12 schools have nowhere close to the endowments of the Ivy League schools. The statement you make regarding an employer wanting employees paying them (I'm sorry but I do not 'get' the 'customer' reference) was the plaintiffs argument against the NCAA in the Alston case. The NCAA lost 9-0; thus, state laws approving NIL have the authority of the Supreme Court behind said laws. Now, should a group of boosters be able to use NIL legislation in Texas to pay an incoming recruiting class $70M+? That's the rub. I'm not certain that I would go so far as to call the current model a 'failure of character?' I think a number of people in good faith are trying to balance the old model against adequate compensation for the players involved in the 'money-ball' sports.

Perhaps an all-in salary cap for coaches, assistant coaches and support staff would pass muster? But restrictions on salary in general and a person's freedom to switch jobs at will is heavily restricted by state and federal law. And in the case of HCs and many assistant coaches, you already have 'liquid damages' built into their respective contract; the 'buyout clause.' Not that my article is that well articulated but if it did reach GK, that would be great. Although my guess is that GK and B1G commish Warren, have discussed where the so-called playoff is headed at length? The problem for the Pac-12 is that it is financially behind the curve which limits its negotiating leverage.

I get it. I understand your POV and it is most reasonable. Your 'plan' would make CFB players employees of the university. With that comes FUCA, FICA, SS and Oregon retirement benefit payments and all other emoluments granted University of Oregon employees. Like the NFL, the free flow of labor would be restricted by contractual agreement. The NFL contractual restraints on free agency have been tested by the courts and upheld. You also would have salary caps. You would have a player's union that might well agree to certain positions receiving a designated income. With this I also expect that you would have a HS draft. What you would not have is unfettered capitalism wholly in the favor of the players and the players managing the business. Would UO want to be part of 'this?' Many schools now playing P5 CFB would drop the sport or stop giving CFB scholarships. This is turn would negatively effect women's sports in particular and lead to sports such as golf, becoming club and not varsity sports. I have no objection to NIL if it is used to benefit an 'individual' for his/her athletic performance and not used as a disguise for pay for play. I have no objection to a player transferring within reasonable guidelines that allow for a roster to be created and maintained during the season. If any player notwithstanding being 'paid to play' in the postseason and having loss of income insurance provided did not want to participate they would not be forced to play. But as is the case with a player entering the portal, any player with eligibility left who elected not to play could have his scholarship pulled. Again I understand your POV but if literally put into place I think you would see many the CFB 'baby' thrown out with the bath water? Personally, I do not view CFB players today as indentured servants. I don't see big time CFB as an oppressor. After all no one is forcing any player to play ball or attend school on a full scholarship.

Thank you. I respectfully decline as I only have so many golf shots left.

FYI - The NCAA Constitution 'Transformation Committee' is co-chaired by SEC commissioner Greg Sankey (I'm shocked!) and Ohio University AD, Julie Cromer. What could go wrong?

I would like to add that since composing this article playoff expansion appears to be stymied until the 2026 season. Before 2026 it takes a unanimous vote of the P5, G5 and Notre Dame to expand the field and the ACC in particular is not prepared to expand beyond 4 teams before the new NCAA constitution is in place (this has happened,) and NIL and player transfers via the portal are regulated. Regulation of NIL and the use of the portal has not happened and in today's climate of every conference for itself I don't know if it can or will happen? I do know that revenue-wise the B1G and the SEC are leaving the ACC, B12 and Pac-12 far behind. Which way will the B1G go? CFB as professional sport without control; CFB regulated somewhat by the B1G and the SEC; or a Run For The Roses Tournament or something similar as suggested in the article? I believe for the most part B1G presidents do not want to be seen opting for athletics over academics. I also can see B1G ADs saying, "we need the money!" To date, the B1G is unwilling to expand the playoff field without all 5 P5 champions in the field. The Pac-12 wants expansion to 8 or 12 teams now. Regardless the Pac-12 has to be very happy that one of the two 'rich conferences' is looking out for more than its own interest in the case of playoff expansion and hopefully, otherwise. FWIW - Pac-12 guru, Jon Winer, has released his preseason top 25. Using the Run For The Roses format discussed in the article and Jon's preseason top 25, the following would be the 2022 field. Pitt at Ohio State Michigan at Notre Dame Semi-final played in Indianapolis Oregon at Clemson Wisconsin at Utah Semi-final played in Las Vegas I believe media would pay significant money to broadcast these games and the remainder of the games in the tournament.

Great take. Utah. Only state with 3 teams ranked in the AP final Top 25.

Charles, this is one of the reasons that I believe CFB rights in the Super League will be assigned to 3rd parties who will own and operate the League and pay the players. The players will not be student-athletes of the assignor university. There will be a player's union, a HS draft and players will sign contracts limiting their right to transfer. In other words, the NFL at college level.

I think Harbaugh knows that he has checked the 2 boxes. He beat Ohio State and reached the final 4. I think he also knows that reaching the Final 4 is Michigan's CFB zenith? Jones to SC is big. No team has and will continue to suffer under the portal more than Stanford. If you don't go through the admissions process on The Farm you are not going to be allowed to matriculate. Guys can leave the Cardinal but guys cannot transfer to Stanford out of the portal.

What doesn't? Nothing exists before it is observed. And the observed 'thing' exists as we see it. The AII is in All and All is in The All. Nils Bohr et al tell us 'this.' One of the beauty's of this forum, we can with proper decorum tell one another how we see the 'same thing." I for one have learned so much from the POV of others.

Cheer Up! I'm a pecker who can't hunt.

New NCAA Constitution approved today by 80.4% of the membership. As expected. it's up to each division to regulate issues such as NIL, transfer portal, signing dates, eligibility rules, etc. Implied is that once rules and regulations are agreed upon, enforcement will be left to the 'divisions' and not the NCAA. Much Ado About Nothing? The P5/G5/Notre Dame cannot agree on playoff expansion that would add close to $1B to the bottom line. They are going to agree on all the above noted and other issues? Hello CFB Super League?

"Massive weight?" IMO, this is way over the top. A terrific competitor but stay or go it will not make or break the Ducks run game.

Recruiting Champ, Coaching Chump. But the Benji's spend in the NW and in Miami. Besides the game at Ohio State, did any Miami boosters watch any Oregon games?

1. A&M - Staying, WR Smith - A+M also lost starting QB Calzada to Auburn. IMO many the preseason top 25 are way too high on A+M. 2. Michigan - After finally defeating Ohio State and making the Final 4 coach Harbaugh may return to the NFL to coach the Raiders? 3. San Diego State - good news for Utah that lost at SDS last season but gets the Aztecs in SLC in 2022. 4. Georgia - Staying, Nolan Smith LB and starting QB and national champ winner Stetson Bennett is also coming back. 5. OREGON - KT, McKinley, Wright, Williams; plus the Ducks who have entered the portal. Possible big portal pickup? QB Bo Nix. 6. Ole Miss -Staying, OL Brocker 7. Purdue - no one of import staying. No boilermaker for the Boilermakers. 8. Alabama - happens every year. Staying, DB Battle, LB To'o To'o. Bama has already signed the top RB transfer out of the portal and one of top 3 WRs. 9. Notre Dame - Northwestern AA DB Joseph (I know it's shocking but there is no familial relationship) is transporting to S Bend. 10. USC - London gone on O and DE Drake is also gone. But Riley is doing a good job of plucking the portal and the Sooners in the process. Stetson back at Bama is no big surprise but this will make the Dawgs even bigger favorites over the Ducks in the 9/3/22 game 'at' Georgia. I also think this is another reason why Nix wins the Ducks starting QB job in 2022?

Many the UGA fan was not happy with Kirby's O before he hired OC Todd Monken 2 seasons back. He was Saban before Kiffin came in.

Why? Because it's a Pac-12 program. The programs the NCAA likes to chew on and spit out. When it comes to so-called 'enforcement,' the NCAA prefers pinot noir over grits.