Jon Joseph

I think he's good for at least 1 more season? Tough guy for a number of reasons to fire after 1 year.

And Bryant had no cap on his roster size. Bryant did do 1 thing Saban never will do, he won an SEC title at Kentucky.

I would have gone with a kidney punch, followed by a knee drop and a kick to the back of your head. But I'm a Super Greybeard, we have to fight dirty! So happy you lived to right this fine take. Lake has entered: Save Your HC Butt Phase 1. Along with Dan Mullen at Florida, he is jettisoning assistants. "See. I am willing to make moves for The Team. Wait until next year after I bring in all-CFB assistant coaches. You will not hear this: "It's not my fault! It's the fault of the guys who I hired; guys who report to me. So get off my back! Or, hand me my multi-million dollar exit fee and I'm gone."

Absolutely, without doubt. the worst thing about football is the injuries. latracey's take is spot on. However, it is rare to lose your OC to emergency surgery. At least Puddles is still standing. On its undefeated run under Joe Burrow, when Coach O was worshipped in Baton Rogue, in 12 of 15 games that season the Tigers played its original starting lineup. In the other 3 games it was only 1 starter down. When it comes to injuries luck matters. This was extraordinary good luck for that LSU team. No team is immune. Bama lost its starting center early in the game vs LSU last Saturday and the Bama OL was mauled by the LSU D, a D with many guys out due to injury. Bama had a net 6 yards rushing against a team that UCLA ran roughshod over. As Steven A notes, Next Man Up. Remember the team won in Columbus without Mr. T and Flowe. And Always Say Dye is handling the extra reps and playing the best ball of his career. And also credit J M's excellent play calling and the outstanding play of a banged up OL. Oregon owned both LOS in Seattle. "We few, we very few. We band of brothers." The heavily outnumbered Brits won at Agincourt. Ducks will do the same. On to the Cotton/Orange Bowl!

If you do not think Saban is the GOAT you best not be looking at the stats? With a young and beat up OL, 6 yards rushing vs LSU, and a 1st year starter at QB this season, this is one of his best coaching efforts. Nick does not just win on signing days, he coaches the 4 and 5* guys up.

And as a result, no harm to ESPN?

Mike, good stuff. Bama rushed for 6 yards vs LSU. I do not think that Bama beats UGA this season.

Saban had 1 losing season at Bama, his first. And when he arrived at Bama he had already won a title at LSU. He won a title at Bama within his first 4 years as the Tide HC.

I believe this prediction matches what I predicted? But Oregon will be 3; the Ducks are not jumping the Tide. Why? Because of Bama's and LSU's reputations and the conference both play in. And also for failing to put up at least 1 more TD in Seattle. Good news for the Ducks was both Baylor and MSU losing. The Wake loss means the ACC is PO out. Oklahoma is at Baylor Saturday and I expect a 4 Q game in Waco. Oklahoma taking an L could really benefit OR down the road. IMO, a 12-1 OR with a W in Columbus gets in over a 12-1 OK with no signature OOC W and a 'bad win' vs Tulsa. I do not think a 2L Bama is in and I don't see this Bama team, 6 yards rushing vs LSU, defeating Georgia. UGA has had more than 14 points scored on it in a game but the D has not surrendered more than 14 points in a game all season.

Get beat by CU and heads SHOULD roll. The Beavers sans the game at SC are not the same team on the road compared to the way they play in Resar.

It ain't easy. Clemson slipped badly this season + Clemson still has lots of studs on its roster. The QB position in CFB really matters. Easier to win if you have a Watson and a Lawrence at QB. To date, Mario has not exactly been a quarterback whisperer. Herbert was not allowed to play to his potential and OR has a bunch of rating ranking stars in the QB room who cannot beat out a competitive but journeyman QB in Brown. To win a PO these days you need a QB who will be playing at the next level.

Thanks for the correction. I guess he has elected the lower over the full formula payout?

MORE CATS! LOVE IT! Do you see Lake winning a Pac-12 title and a Rose Bowl vs a quality B1G opponent? I don't. On this rare, rare occasion I have to give the nod to Clay.

Don't know? Nick is getting 750 Large from the State of Oregon every year, teeing it up at Eugene CC and it looks like he is also having fun as a commentator? Post football season my guess he has somewhere nice to hang out south of Eugene?

A "bit" harsh? I'm happy to be teeing it up on the back 9.

I think the Ducks whip WSU. But if the Ducks don't win no one east of your sports bar will likely see the game? Other than for insomniacs and alcoholics in bars back east that stay open late. Honestly, I am not that worried about WAZZU at home? WSU gave BYU a game in Pullman. But unlike Baylor in Waco, did not close the deal vs BYU. Mario has but 1L in Autzen. And I think, hope and pray that after being booed he is starting to 'get it' and is improving as a HC? At Utah will be a big tell as to where Mario is as a coach.

What a second! You don't have the Ducks beating the Dawgs in Indy for the 2021 title? OK, maybe that's a little too optimistic?

Excellent take on what lies ahead. Although you did miss the Bama vs New Mexico State home game this Saturday. (I am happy that you did not bother with Cincinnati because there is nothing to see.) But pressure = FUN! It means the games count and reverberate across the country. Of course the games might resonate more if they kicked off before 10:30 eastern? The #3 team in the country, 3 is where Oregon will be ranked, kicking off at 10:30? Insipid! (Who was the fool who negotiated this media deal? What's that? OK, now I get it.) Looking at the upcoming games? Compare the Pac-12 opponents (thanks Utah Duck, great stuff) to the upcoming opponents in other conferences? Everyone outside the Pac-12 thinks that Oregon should simply roll against these lousy, not ranked opponents. Opponents that failed out of conference. People can beef about Bama/Ohio State always getting a mulligan from the Committee, but these 2 play nasty, in-conference top 25 ranked teams in November, when it matters. The in-conference opponents did not stink it up out of conference. B1G: No L's vs FCS teams and not a lot of Ls vs MAC schools; 2-1 vs the Pac-12 and wins against the ACC and SEC. The Pac-12? Other than for the Ducks and the Bruins win over LSU, not the L vs Fresno, the conference was terrible. In other words Pac-12 Football Brothers, how about a little help! GO DUCKS! One step at a time.

SPOT ON TAKE! I have been as critical of MC as has been anyone. Yet and despite my many doubts, he is really showing growth; growth, posted booed (as 1st so noted by Charles.) In 2021 with a game manager at QB (and no one in the QB room has overtaken AB) and with one of the youngest rosters in the country. to have the Ducks #3 Tuesday night? At the very least he deserves a Big Hug!

OF COURSE! Rattler must be considered over guys in the Ducks QB room who have not been able to beat out a 'gamer.' The Portal matters! Want to start a QB in his first game 'at' UGA in 2022 or start Spencer Rattler? Rattler would be in Eugene for spring ball. Maybe he would 'come home' to ASU IF the Sun Devils was not under the NCAA gun? He will be in demand.

Beavs is a different team on the road. Beat a BAD SC team on the road and that's it. Will be a hard fought game but the game at Utah IMO will be a bigger challenge.

Hope not. A+M has the top DL guy 'committed.'

In that weather, yeah except for a terrible INT, the ball was thrown 'well.' 'Well' may be a stretch but not by much considering the weather. Can't throw? Then smash mouth the opponent running the ball. Just like the Ducks did. ALABAMA rushed for 6 yards yesterday versus a D decimated since UCLA ran all over it. Yesterday was an excellent win on the road in bad weather against a most motivated opponent.

AMEN! Oregon put up 477 yards on O (UW 166) in terrible weather and with its QB having a very shaky game. And that 477 came against a very good D playing as hard as it could at home.

Here's how the O preformed in terrible weather against a far better than average D. Total Yards - OR 477 - UW 166 OR 22 1st downs - UW 7 OR - ran 25 more plays than UW Travis 'always say' Dye - 211 yards rushing - 7.5 a pop. And it was a very classy move by Oregon not to punch in for an additional rub it in TD but to instead let the clock expire.