Jon Joseph

If they do have another Kupp, get him into the portal and beam him to Eugene.

Kind of like SEC football?

Who knows who stays or goes but the Wildcats was one of the youngest CBB teams in 2022. And with a 1st year coach.

Lemon-Lime, your picks are divine. But I'm not as sure that BYU will so readily supine? Back to back Cougars wins would indeed be most fine. What are your thoughts on the current UGA line? Please maintain that sugar high at all times. Your comments my friend are a gold mine.

They scored fewer points than the opponent? KIDDING! Down to the dinged up Bruins playing UNC in Philly.

Guess they need to get off of their bass?

Charles, another terrific 'Lanning take.' Thank you. I always had a disconnect with Mario. The players insisted that Mullens hire Mario but then, where was the love? The on-field play was bafflingly inconsistent for a group of guys who supposedly loved their coach and loved the 'family atmosphere.' Under Mario, we often witnessed an on-field dysfunctional family atmosphere. I dearly hope that under Dan, the 'love' expressed by this player will translate to the field of play. That this is not more smoke and mirrors. We hear the words 'players coach' thrown around. Is Nick Saban a 'players coach?' So excited to see the product that Lanning and friends will put on the field. I do hope we'll see that football being fun = far more Ws than Ls.

TKK , I could not agree more. When the conference decided to stay as is and GK said, 'The Pac-12 is an exclusive club,' I wanted to ... [fill in however you so like.] It's all about the Benjies today. A nd has been the case since the Conference of Champions threw the Rose Bowl into the BCS mix for trinkets.

Agree with all of your points 30. I share your concern. Will the 3 Pac-12 'money ball teams,' those ranked in the top 25 financially in CFB, go down with the Pac-12? The 3 being the 2 you so noted, OR and SC, plus UW. If nothing else I hope that President Schill and Mullens will keep their powder dry? Do not pledge Oregon's future media rights to the Pac-12 before knowing the deal(s) GK is able to secure. And Oregon and SC in particular, should give GK a negotiating bottom line. And particulars in regard to broadcast times, games shown on the Pac-12 network, games not bumped for truck races, etc. Also, SC and Oregon need to seriously consider whether an equal share of the revenue they receive should go the other conference members. Especially, to the schools that come nowhere close to what SC and Oregon spend on CFB and CBB. Remaining as-is, what is the plan to save the Pac-12 network? To at least save Oregon's and the other member schools capital invested in the network? It may have been and probably was, a low ball bid from ESPN to take over ownership and operation of the network. But I do not see how the Pac-12 is better off having rejected this offer? Especially, with the conference later deciding not to move into the Central time zone. Under ESPN's aegis, the network would have been professionally operated and managed and available coast-to-coast. IMO, the deals these people have and have not made, should confound and confuse anyone with a scintilla of business sense.

Sad and so very true. At least the conference is (finally) escaping Larry's SFO box.

Thanks Charles great post and great comment by you! "Some interesting nonconference scheduling going on?" In other words, some OOC schedules are brutal and then there is this: Bowling Green, Alabama State, South Alabama. All 3 opponents playing UCLA in the Rose Bowl. Yeah, Michigan backed out of a H+H series with the Bruins when the B1G went from 8 to 9 conference games, but that was years ago. THIS = chicken feces. But it also likely equals an AP Poll top 20 or better ranking after UCLA goes 3-0. This is the kind of 'stuff' that makes a 4 team CFB playoff field idiotic. 5 P5 champs should be in for any so-called playoff to have legitimacy. You know, like its done in every other college sport. After 3 OOC games, a 2-1 Oregon and even a 1-2 Oregon will likely be a better team than UCLA.

Fact - The Pac-12 decided not to expand after the SEC added and the B12 lost, Oklahoma and Texas Fact - The B12 is adding BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF Fact - Media renegotiations are upcoming for college conferences in this order - B1G, Pac-12, B12. The SEC has already concluded its new deal with Disney/ESPN. The ACC, unless Notre Dame joins the conference as a full time football member, is locked in with Disney/ESPN through 2036; a deal that provides each ACC school with only $17M a season. Fact - The B1G and the SEC distribute a good deal more money to their member schools than does the ACC, B12 and the Pac-12. These two conferences will increase their financial advantage after the new round of media negotiations. Finance-wise, it is the Power 2 and everyone else. Fact - The ACC, B1G and the SEC each have their own network. FOX owns 51% of the B1G Network. Disney/ESPN own 100% of the ACC and the SEC networks and 'profit share' with the 2 conferences. All three networks are well in the black; especially, the BIG and SEC networks. The B12 does not have a network. The Pac-12 has a network owned by conference members that is financially insolvent and has never attained even the lowest projected revenues. Fact - The Pac-12 will score a better media deal in the near future, a better deal than the ACC's, likely better than the B12's deal, but nowhere close to the B1G/SEC deals. Query - Would it financially behoove the Pac-12 to merge with the B12 and form the Coast to Coast Conference (CTCC), structured as follows: Pac-8 Division - CAL, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington, Washington State Big 8 West Division - Arizona, ASU, BYU, Colorado, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Utah Big 8 East Division - Baylor, Cincinnati, Houston, Iowa State, TCU, Texas Tech, UCF, West Virginia While not ipso facto germane to media negotiations, in 2021 the CTCC would have had 4 NY6 bowl teams - Cincinnati - lost playoff semifinal in the Cotton Bowl to Alabama/ Utah - lost in the Rose Bowl to Ohio State/ Baylor defeated Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl/ Oklahoma State defeated Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. Instead of $6M in NY6 direct playoff participant money going to the 12, Pac-12 teams, $26M would have gone to the 24 CTCC teams. This money does not include the significant, additional money that the CTCC would have received from broadcast rights and other bowl related income. 2021/2022 NCAA CBB Tournament to date - Pac-12 alone - 3 teams - 4 -1. CTCC - 9 teams -- Pac-8 - 2 teams - 2-1; Big 8 West - 2 teams - 4-0; Big 8 East - 5 teams - 8-2. 6 CTCC Sweet 16 teams. 2 Pac-12 Sweet 16 teams. The above is simply a snapshot. But I believe it shows that the Pac-12 schools in the money ball sports would not suffer financially per capita and would likely benefit financially per capita, if in the CTCC. FACT - The CTCC would cover all 4 continental USA time zones. The CTCC would add much needed subscribers to the Pac-12 Network and as the CTCC Network, the network would likely find an equity media partner and be available on all cable outlets coast to coast. The Pac-12/B12 would not merge without a detailed evaluation first being preformed by an Investment Banker(s) including an analysis by media experts. As was the case when Maryland, Rutgers and Nebraska joined the B1G, revenue adjustments could be phased in or valued annually and distributed according to what each respective school delivered to the bottom line. From a management and human analysis prospective, Bob Bowlsby, at 71 years of age is close to retirement, thus setting the stage for George Kliavkoff to be the CTCC Commissioner. The Pac-12 is already planning to move its headquarters and network operations out of San Francisco. ($92M in rent paid to date!) In the event the CTCC was formed, the current B12 offices in Dallas would make sense as the HQ for the CTCC. I doubt we will see the CTCC come to fruition. But I believe the money spent to study such a merger would be well worth the expenditure and that such a merger, if the numbers proved up, would keep the CTCC within reasonable financial distance of the B1G and the SEC, and move the Pac-12 Network into the black. Your thoughts?

Surprise? Only to Mario and McShade.

Wrathis, my thought is directed to the entire team and not a position group. I want to see the Ducks show up ready to ball out in every single game. I want the team to play to its standard and not down to the level of the opponent. I echo your take on the coaching; or, more correctly, the absence thereof under Mario. I want to see Lanning et al not just talk the talk but walk the walk. I appreciate that playing 2 top 20 teams OOC and playing 5 conference road games in 2022 is a tough ask for any coach, especially a first year coach. But this does not mean that you cannot play with effort and energy in every game and on every play.

Very interesting and I expect 'this beat' will go on. Next? Player's wearing patches on the uniform recommending Billy Bob's B-B-Q? Per the Pro Golf Association: You wear more than 4 advertisements out on the course and you have to buy all of the post-round cocktails.

The ranch? No. But I'm tired of feeding the parakeet; so, the bird goes. If only Toledo didn't live in a glass house!

Great take. I hope Flowe is not on the same 'career path' as Cam?

Thanks Joshua. Always enjoy reading your articles. Between Stroud, Young and Williams, Stroud has by far the best and deepest group of returning WRs. 10 WRs on the Buckeyes spring roster. All were top 150 recruits. There is a reason Bama went after one of UGA's best receivers. After Metchie and Williamson went down, none of the young WR's on the Bama roster came through; especially, in the champ game and as so noted by Coach Saban. WR recruiting at Bama has missed the mark the last couple of seasons. I agree that LB Anderson was perhaps the best player in CFB in 2021, and he is going to wreck havoc this season. But I sense that the gap is closing between Bama and the rest of the SEC W? If the Tigers do not go on probation, watch out for LSU. No matter what one may think of Brian Kelly, he is a heck of a coach. Williams? London is gone. Who will step up at wideout for SC? The 'other' Williams coming in from OK to play WR is the obvious choice to emerge as Caleb's go-to guy. With Jones coming in from Stanford and Dye (sigh) from the Ducks, SC looks to be in great shape at the RB position. Thompson? It would be great if Ty can win the starting job. He could not beat out journeyman AB last season, but was he given a true shot at the job? If Nix' ankle is healed it will be a tough ask to beat out a guy with Nix' game experience and his experience playing in Dillingham's system. If Ty or Butterfield cannot beat out Nix, who has 2 years of eligibility left, I hope one or both do not portal out. The portal is one reason I expect the starting QB not to be named before fall practice. Flowe? As you so noted if he can stay healthy he has AA potential. But from what we have seen it's a big ask for Flowe to make it through the season without being injured.? Definitely need one of the RBs to break out in 2022. Definitely need the OL to help the run game and to start consistently playing up to their respective recruiting rankings.

The Zeros, those there were left, were also good at crashing into enemy vessels in a useless attempt to defeat the American Navy in the Pacific. Apt comparison to where UW football is today? Notwithstanding the terrible 'leadership' from the AD and the Jimmy Lake Experience, the UW football program is still in the Go Banking Rate list of the 25 most financially successful CFB teams over the last 3 seasons; the rankings exclude the 2020 COVID season. The other Pac-12 members in the financial top 25, the Ducks and USC. SC's move to grab Riley is being noted nationally. SC's spring game will be broadcast by ESPN; the other games will be broadcast on Larry's Network. Thanks Axel for another great take.

Sure hope you're right on Zona and UCLA. We need the dues!

Terrific comment. However, can you force schools to give athletic scholarships? If no males are on athletic scholarship where is the standing for females to bring suit? This is why I believe CFB/CBB will be outsourced? At my D3 college there are no athletic scholarships. As a matter of principle, many women's sports are played. Many the male sport was eliminated by Title IX and no suit against the same happening was sustained. If CFB/CBB scholarships go away but baseball, T+F, swimming, etc. do not, T9 will still apply. But there will be fewer number of scholarship sports. Many sports will return to being club sports. Colleges and universities have been in existence far longer than athletes have received scholarships based upon their athletic ability. As to the future, your thoughts are at least the equal of mine. I just do not see many the school wanting to become the employer of money-ball athletes to save a number of sports, male and female, from being cut? Once upon a time all of the sports played today were 'after-school,' voluntary activities for members of the student body who so wanted to participate. And today, the majority of NCAA member institutions do not grant athletic scholarships.

Great question. One of many that have and will be raised regarding CFB/CBB being unionized. Of course, unions do exist in right to work states. Whether an individual player joins the union or not, the agreement made with the union would still be binding on 'management.' Defining who or what 'management' will, of course, be a big part of this rub. Like in the NFL, I do not see any agreement restricting an individual's right to earn additional money from his NIL. But a 'salary cap' will likely be negotiated. And restrictions of free agency will likely be negotiated. But without a high school draft, how do you limit boosters via NIL from influencing recruiting? If the NLRB allows a players union to be formed, this will the ipso facto mean that the players are employees of the given school 'paying' the player via free tuition, room and board, and all other benefits. (A double edged sword for players who will be taxed on this income.) I do not see uniformity necessarily following players being union members. For example, the SEC is likely to have a far larger salary cap than will the Mountain West. Will WAZZU agree to the same salary cap as USC? Players unions for CFB/CBB come about and a number of institutions offering athletic scholarships today are likely to opt out of 'big time' sports and go the D3/Ivy League route. The Ivy League allows all sports except CFB to participate in NCAA post season tournaments. The NCAA of course runs a D3 CFB tournament. But tens of thousands of fans do not show up to watch Ivy League and D3 ball. And media doesn't shell out big broadcast money to the Ivy League and the D3. Many folks including yours truly, can project where they think P5/G5 is going. But no one from conference commissioners on down have concrete answers as to the ultimate impact NIL and CFB/CBB free agency will have on 'big time' college sports? My best guess? A Super League in Men's CFB and CBB is coming. And I will not be surprised if the money-ball sports are not outsourced by universities to a 3rd party(ies) that will be the employer of the athletes? I also think that where CFB/CBB are headed will be decided before the 2030's. You want to expand the CFB playoff to 12 teams? Fine. But it best include a plan to pay the players for their post-season participation. The decision to expand the playoff has to occur in the next 30 or so months in order for the playoff committee to bring a product to the media marketplace.(Will the current 11 'playoff stakeholders' be able to reach a post-2025 playoff consensus? I have my doubts.) Sorry to bloviate. My simple answer is that I am going to follow Charles' sage advice, I am going to follow Ducks sports wherever 'This Stuff' may lead.

Not a chance. It's Clemson or the SEC for the next sterling QB named Manning.

Great comments. Yes, Diaz was run off and if the two MI ST boosters paying Mel Tucker $9M a year aren't happy, Mel is gone. I question the above comments in regards to lack of ROI on a given player dampening the zeal of the 'fanatics' making these deals. These people have more money than sense and a few NIL misses isn't going to damper their zeal or reduce their pocketbook to cents. NIL cannot be regulated without a collective bargaining agreement; the kind of agreement we see between players and 'management' in every pro sport. I think it is odds-on that the NLRB will allow players on scholarship to form a union. Congress could act to 'standardize' state NIL legislation but Congress based on the Supreme Court's decision in Alston, cannot make NIL go away. Caleb Williams and his Dad before signing with the Trojans said that it is about the NFL $ and not NIL $. Other players will make the same kind of decision which is why it is imperative for the Ducks to routinely advance players in significant numbers to the NFL. Of course, Caleb Williams does not come from a horrific financial background; although, I imagine he is being paid quite nicely to play at SC? Many the recruiting decision of young men from less advantageous financial backgrounds will be driven solely by the NIL money. (What's new? CAM went to Auburn even though he could have made more money playing elsewhere?) Other than for a few teams, recruiting in the Pac-12 stinks. It was believed that NIL might bring more parity to CFB but I don't see it happening. Financially, college sports is clearly headed to a Power 2. Teams in the B1G and the SEC will have even greater market power over the other conferences. Whether NIL is ruining or will ruin CFB is a matter of personal perspective. If A+M wins the SEC and a Natty in a year or two I very much doubt that Aggies fans will be concerned that NIL bought the highest ranked recruiting class of all time. Enjoy 'the game' for as long as we can. The game, in a very short period of time, has already been materially altered from the manner in which it has been played for over 100 years.

I see last season as an 'off year' for Dana and his approach to CFB. Transfer players will not meld together every year. Still, the team finished with far more wins than losses and came through vs the Mountain West in the NIT. A+M was a team that was oh-so-close to being invited to the Tourney and deserved the NIT No. 1 seed line. I had zero confidence that Mario would ever take the Ducks to the CFB Final 4. I have every confidence that Altman has the coaching chops to get back to the CBB Final 4. If only the games didn't start so darn late on the Right Coast!