EastBayDuckDad

Desert Duck, I couldn't agree more. Once we hit that 'golden' age of 60 the risks pile up for cardiac disease and not just for those of us of the coarser gender. Family history, high cholesterol or LDL, hypertension, smoking (or history of) or being a bit fluffy. Check a few of those boxes and add in a little exertional chest tightness or shortness of breath (SOB, as we appropriately used to call it), fatigue and sleep apnea. A cardiac stress test is smart if you have some symptoms. And if you don't, but check some of those those boxes, a cardiac CT calcium study is worthwhile as a screening test, even if insurance won't cover it. It identifies possible dangerous coronary disease. There is a reason a left anterior descending artery blockage is called "the widowmaker" Sorry to sound like a heart health PSA in the middle of Charles telling us about his friendship with 30Duck. I'm a retired surgeon that still thinks about this stuff and has a wife that pushed me to identify my heart issues before she became a 'widow'. Most of us are now at the age where we are seeing friends pass and if a little knowledge will maybe prevent a passing or two, hopefully I can be forgiven for my soapbox medical advice.

I love the top prediction but reading between the lines, there are too many B1G teams that would make the playoff. By my count he has Oregon, Washington, U$C and Indiana all in. What about a Michigan team that beats OSU in the 'shoe'? Does a three loss OSU get left out? Can any three loss BIG team get in? So maybe five B1G teams in the CFP? I can see the snowflakes falling in Hades, hear the outraged whining from SEC land and the hurricane roar from Pawwl F's ears flapping.

Gonzo is doing his part as is the rest of the Pat D. Maye and the offense not so much.

In order of impact: Out: Blake Purchase, Kingston Lopa and Tionne Gray In: Koi Perich, Iverson Hooks, Carl Williams IV and Andrew Olesh

Ok, I'll bite, even though I have no dog in the fight and my Niners, the Broncs and Bolts are out. I would like to see Gonzo get a pick and a ring. Pats 24-14 1 TO 2 Sacks (Maye is tough to bring down) 255 yds Seahawk passing (c'mon, it's Sam Darnold for heaven's sake) The highlight will be the Budweiser clydesdales stampeding Bad Bunny at the half and pulling higher ratings.

Great article, Don. The margin between victory and defeat is frequently razor thin and can hinge on a single missed assignment or coverage read, a bad snap or slightly wrong angle. Those errors can be minimized by repetition but never eliminated. A key injury or blown officiating call is out of the control of the players and coaches and can swing a game. Duck fans have seen each of these things play out in high stakes games. Something that maybe doesn't get talked about quite as much is momentum. A setback can flip a player, coach or team's attitude enough to alter confidence and execution. The "Big Mo" can turn on a dime in the wake of a sack, fumble, pick or special teams catastrophe. There is a snowball effect when things go wrong. Was Oregon really that much worse than Indiana? No, but when you throw a pick six first play then follow it with devastating turnovers in your end of the field, you turn that snowball into an avalanche that buries you and gives all the momentum to the other team. Players and coaches may not give up (like FSU, Jameis and Jimbo did against OBD a few years back), but you dig a hole you just can't climb out of against a good team, and the rout is on. Regardless, football remains a game of inches, and one day soon Oregon will gain just enough of those inches to win it all.

Lincoln Riley selling the U$C AD and the donors on his contract extension while branding the team. Ok, I'm done now...

Seems to me that condoms and U$C go together like... Trojan-ENZ and Trojans! I see a fever dream where Oregon, after the 2025 win, goes on to beat Trojan ENZ in La-La-Land this fall, then wins the rubber match in the B1G CG. Disgruntled Troy fans, wearing their prophylactic raincoats in anticipation of foul Indianapolis weather leaving Lucas Oil Stadium, just saw Tommy sheath his sword for the last time. Sorry, had to do it...

I don't blame the kid, Baton Rouge is a lot closer to his Wash DC home and likely comes with the biggest bucket of NIL cash from the Geaux Tigers donor base. Shame he has to have Lame Kitten as a role model. Yes, Oregon could have used him at LT to protect Dante's blind side. He is a notch better than the talent there currently, but one never knows how he would have fit with Pancho and the crew. Crader and Wilson are solid tackles and starting them avoids the dropoff in efficiency that afflicts an entire O-line when transfer players are added. There is solid depth behind them. Incoming freshmen Iheanacho and Tofi are huge and talented kids, and it's possible that one (probably 'Nacho) could start inside at OG, or at least provide additional depth while they develop. Every day the O-line will match-up against four future NFL, and probably two first round, players in practice. That will expose any weaknesses so DL and the Law Firm can then adjust and shift personnel to get the best starting four around Pancho. Pregnon will be tough to replace, but World and Harkey maybe not so much. I'm 'glass half full' in my belief that the 2026 front can be as good, if not better, than the 2025 version.

Track fast and football fast are related but not the same, particularly for WRs. Those ten pounds of helmet and pads make a difference. In line speed is great and in the open is the deciding factor. Football fast takes advantage of that little shimmy fake, tight break, precise route running and stop and go to create separation. IU's Becker (Sarratt and Cooper as well) impressed with football fast moves and the use of the back shoulder throw. It quite honestly won them the NC. You don’t need to vapor trail past the DB, but do need to run a precise route, sell the defender on the go and not telegraph where the ball will be until the last second, have a QB that can deliver it there and go up and get it through contact. Mendoza did a good job at that throw. Moore has the skill to do the same but needs the judgement to know when it is the right play. Oregon has the WRs to make those plays but has underutilized them to this point. The addition of Bair gives them the 6'3" player they need, but he will have to learn the position and how to use his size and speed. If he is football fast and not just track fast.

Well, that was fun!

I don't know how IU blocks those punts but they do!

For IU it's execution, execution, execution. Cignetti was right that there should have been a couple of PFs on Miami for slobberknocking Mendoza after the ball was out. More of the same in the 2nd half for Indiana and they'll close this out. It's not a Cinderella story anymore if she's wearing a Kevlar gown, barbed wire tiara and Muck boot slippers. Go Hoosiers!

Jon, you rank right up there with the other giants of sports prose, Yogi Berra and Bob Uecker Great take on the impeccable insight and wisdom that the football pundit gods display when ranking teams early. How long would they hold a job with that accuracy rate if they were pilots, surgeons, nuclear physicists or the person who cuts your hair? I know this is all unbridled sarcasm, and I never would have predicted Indiana at #1, a Heisman for Mendoza or Mariø in the title match-up. But I don't earn my living at it. Then again, who doesn't want to see Paaawwll F. with steam coming out his jug ears as his can't lose SEC misses another NC game. The bloviators far, far too early 2026 rankings have Oregon at #5 and DM 6th or 7th in the Heisman odds. Please, please keep them there as it sounds about right for a bit of facial egg on the pundits come next fall. Keep 'em coming, Jon!

This makes sense as he will be the 2nd or 3rd safety drafted after Caleb Downs, likely later in the second round. He probably wouldn't have elevated his stock much with another year at Oregon. Best of luck to him in the NFL, some team will be getting a true baller.

Interesting to me that Moore and Theinemen have waited to the last day to decide. I don’t think it is for dramatic effect. I believe both of them, especially Dante, are getting as much input as possible from family, coaches, agents and even NFL teams that could potentially draft them before making the decision.

Mike, that is the perfect summation of the season we just witnessed. I keep going back to the 10-2 and 9-3, or worse, predictions from the talking heads. Some that had Oregon missing the CFP altogether. An O-line replacing two tackles and a guard. A defensive backfield with few proven performers. A transfer QB with great skills but erratic freshman play. Plenty of youthful 4-5☆ depth but not a lot of experience. I've been an Oregon fan since I moved here in 1987. Attended tons of games at Autzen, three Rose Bowls, a Fiesta, Cotton and a NC (Dyer was DOWN!). I've watched Brooks to Bellotti to Kelly to Helfrich (sigh..) to Taggart to Cristobal to Lanning. What Dan Lanning has accomplished with OBD is remarkable. The culture, recruiting, assistant coach selection and leadership are arguably the best ever. And he is still a very young head coach who would probably be the first to tell you he has a lot to learn. The sniping about the bad endings to the last two seasons will continue and there is much valid criticism to be had. But I would challenge any and all critics to propose an alternative head coach and system that will get Oregon it's first National Championship ahead of the current one.

Isn't it foundationally inaccurate to put Oregon State and the word 'intellectuals' in the same sentence?

While I'd like to see Raiola's upside in the same light as Bo Nix's, they are such different players. Bo had stability and leadership characteristics that Raiola doesn't seem to possess, at least at this stage. Raiola is a straight back pocket passer with limited run upside who's rehabbing a fractured fibula. He will not be a running threat. Maybe the plan is to sit behind Dante for 2026, but this Duck fan is not yet enthusiastic about him leading the Duck offense if Moore goes to the draft. Interesting positive sidelight is that his father, Dominic Raiola, was a Rimington award winner at Nebraska who played in the NFL for 12 years and was an asst coach with the Detroit Lions. It's a pretty good bet that he's got a connection with Pancho, who spent a year at St Louis in Honolulu, where Dad Raiola (and MM) played. I'm more excited about the addition of Yale OT transfer Michael Bennett. He's a probable plug and play RT who grades out well in pass pro. Hopefully he will be a step quicker than Harkey was.

The good news is that the front four of a top-notch D-line is returning. The bad news is that a big group of developmental players are transferring out. Sorry to see Purchase and Gray leave as they were showing a lot of promise.

Or bending one over your knee, throwing it into the adjacent fairway and observing the boomerang effect.

I think the most disappointing part of Friday was playing so far below the standard and getting steamrolled by a more mature roster and coaching staff. Hard to admit it, but I'm convinced after watching the game that even without the avalanche of OBD turnovers, coaching drama, RB injuries and transfers, Indiana likely would have won. They may not have "better" players, but they executed with near perfection and are the better team. Looking at the IPA glass half full, Oregon will be fine going forward. I'm hopeful DM comes back as he remains the best option at QB. The raw talent is there and he only needs seasoning and a good OC and QB coach to thrive. Regardless of who returns, both sides of the ball should be ok. There is a lot of talent ready to step up and portal additions will fill in the gaps. At the start of 2025, many were predicting a 10-2 or 9-3 regular season. Making the CFP was the goal. The Ducks exceeded those expectations. The focus was on 2026 and still should be. Personally I'm going to let the sting subside and leave the wound to heal.

I concur with the sentiments here about Harris staying. He would have a role as the 3rd or 4th RB after Hill, Davison and maybe Riggs. He would be past of the thunder along with Davison. I expect Tradarian Ball will play some too, but Harris has shown his true colors to Oregon fans

It hasn't helped that Oregon has shot itself in both feet and right between the eyes. Perfect storm of disasters. Game isn't over but OBD must now play for pride and to not give up. For those who haven't given up on him, Dante will likely be back and that is a good thing. Good judgement comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgement.

Word on 24/7 is that Noah looks pretty good in warmups. Also that the crowd is 90%+ Indiana. Just a Happy Valley "white out" in Atlanta. OBD has been there and done that. This team plays better in a hostile environment anyway. FEBU time!