EastBayDuckDad

Very good news. When Bear was on, he dominated the middle. Another year in DL's (and presumably, Hampton's) system and he's a second to third round pick. No longer a head case, he'll be head of the pack. Hoping for more return dominoes to fall, like Theinemen, Tuioti and Matayo. I think Washington is gone, but he will be a round 1 or 2 pick.

Maybe Oregon picks up a safety to replace Theinemen, but with the 2026 class adding a Washington, Jackson and Benjamin, it will be "money" to go along with the returning secondary players.

Not really apples to apples since the CFP expanded from 4 to 12 teams, but contrast ND's behavior now with Oregon's after the 2023 PAC12 CG game where the Ducks missed the playoffs by 3 points. Oregon went to the Fiesta Bowl to play Liberty and Bo Nix stayed on to see the season to the end. No entitlement or whining. An opportunity for an extra month of practice and building a team that one year later went 13-0 and won the B1G. The Domers are taking a short term view, as are several other programs declining bowl berths. The coaching carousel is a pretty weak excuse for taking a pass on an additional game. Yes, this may be the harbinger of the death of traditional bowl games. Expansion of the CFP to 16 (or more) may obviate this kind of petulance with the entitlement of old school bluebloods. But who is being penalized here? The CFP committee? The individual bowls not in the CFP? Or just the players, and their fans, that want to travel for an earned post season contest.

Ducks v JMU @ Autzen Date TBD

IU tOSU UGA TTech OBD Ole Miss TA&M OKLA Alabama is in @ #9 Miami in @ #10

I would switch UGA and tOSU, but agree that the beatdown Bama took in the SEC CG leaves them out. In a perfect world ND, Miami and Bama all get relegated to the Weed Whacker Bowl.

I can't imagine Novosad not following WS to Kentucky. He knows the offense that Stein would design and would likely already be starting at a bunch of P4 teams not named Oregon. This could change if Dante declares and the 2026 qb #1 is an open battle between Novosad, Moga, Smith and Beaver (still getting used to that name in green and yellow). I suspect that since Thomas rose to be the #2 this year, that there was either a fall off in performance from the scholarship qbs or injury issues. Regardless, if Dante stays I imagine Stein takes Novosad with him and Oregon works to develop the successor internally. If he declares, DL hits the portal for a plug and play qb while working to have Moga, Smith or Beaver ready for 2027, and Novosad is still gone. While it would likely derail Oregon's CFP run if Moore goes down and Thomas takes the helm, there is precedent for a recent NC won by a team with a walk-on qb and a very good defense. Think 2022 Georgia with Stetson Bennett at qb and DC Dan Lanning.

Man, Bucknutt defense is elite. IU did diddly-squat after that pick. At least they got 3.

Just can't see that happening. Group of 6 is guaranteed a spot and that will be the #12. Unless tOSU or Indiana loses badly, Oregon will stay at #5. If Bama stays in, it will be the #10 or #11.

TT still having some red zone and capitalizing after turnover offensive issues. Giving whoever they play in the quarters plenty of tape.

I don't see TT moving up to #3 if UGA wins and the B1G CG is close. A single loss to #1 OSU is much better than TT's loss to ASU and Indiana drops to #3 at worst. BYU keeps giving TT the ball. Mistakes Oregon won't make.

BYU has a sieve for an O-line and minimal downfield passing attack. TT just has too much talent and speed on both sides of the ball.

Tech looks to be the better team, up at the half 13-7. BYU qb is gimpy on a bad ankle and TT's front seven is handling BYU's O-line. Their LB Rodriguez is a load and their best defensive player. Tech's qb is a bit undersized but evasive, like UW's Williams. Given a clean pocket he is fairly accurate but gets sloppy when rushed or pressured without an easy scramble out. He has thrown two balls that could/should have been picked off. They have two good and tall WRs (#1 and #7) and the BYU DBs are a bit over-matched. The RB (#8) is solid but he coughed up a fumble that should have been a TO and instead bounced right to a Tech WR that got 10 more yards on the FG drive before the half. Interesting that three of TT's drives on BYU's side of the 50 stalled out and resulted in 3 FG attempts with 6 total points. Oregon will match up much better than BYU both on the D-line and in the back end. I'm pulling for a TT win so they stay at #4, OBD stays at #5 and they meet up in the quarters. I think Oregon wins that contest. Go Ducks!

If the Mehringer and Hampton promotion predictions are accurate, then having Tosh and Will stay through the CFP maintains full season coaching continuity and a launch on both sides of the ball for 2026. Call me an optimist, but I like it! It beats the heck out of what is going on at Penn St, LSU, Ole Miss and most programs spinning in the coaching carousel.

Sounds like Mehringer. If DL believes in him and the players buy in, as they appear to have done, then it's time to get on board. James Crepea is reporting Chris Hampton will be the new DC. Works for me as does finding an expanded role for Wadood with the DBacks.