EastBayDuckDad

Not a fan of this, I'm afraid, as it would penalize the two strongest conferences: B1G and SEC. The second best team in each would be out with a loss, giving a pass to at large and potentially weaker ACC and B12 teams. Last year PSU deserved to be in the CFP even though they lost to Oregon in the B1G CG. Different matter if the loser already had enough losses to need to win to get in, but I imagine that wouldn't be the case for the Power 2 most years.

I will say that #54 Mixon had a gear that I didn’t think he did when he ran down Lemon on that swing pass. The outside contain that Oregon showed against U$C was outstanding and shut down most of their options. Fusky doesn't have as many deep or lateral weapons as the Trojenz and if the edges can keep Williams from busting loose from the pocket it will be a lot harder for him to find targets against the Duck secondary. D Jackson has the speed to be a spy but would have to play with a discipline that he hasn't always shown. Theinemen certainly can as long as it doesn't leave a safety sized gap in the middle. Mixon might very well be able to be that spy if he stays on the field for passing downs.

I read Bill McGurn's WSJ article and he makes the salient points that anyone following FBS CFB has known for ages. He is correct about Brian Kelly and in identifying the wild west character of the crazy money and dissociation from traditional collegiate sports. He is error when he thinks that the NCAA should police and oversee the new landscape, not recognizing that it was the NCAA missteps that in large part created the current situation.

If Dante does skip to the NFL next year, it could put JKS in the driver's seat to start and might change that equation. Either way, my guess is he stays at Cal.

Not to wish ill on Cal (my alma mater) but might JKS be willing to transfer and serve as Dante's backup for a year before taking the reins? His talent ceiling is higher than Novosad, Moga, Smith and incoming Beaver and he could follow as the next in line to the NFL. He would have a far superior O-line and skill players in Eugene and better coaching even if WS moves on by that time. Dante has risen back up draft boards after the last several good performances. The negatives from his Indiana game have dissipated some. No recent word on his supposed inclination to return to Oregon next year, but it would appear to be in his best interest to do so. JKS would be a good heir apparent. And if Dante leaves, he would likely be odds on favorite to win the starting job in 2026.

That was Josh Pate's prediction, Oregon playing it's best game of the year. It's a bummer that both DAK and Bryant are out but its not like they are a last minute scratch. Benson, Lowe and JMac are solid, have made great catches in previous games and have been working together the past few weeks. Sadiq is essentially a super-size WR that can beat you deep or knock you out of your shoes. He is more than a load for any LB and can smoke most safeties. Saleapaga and JJohn can block and catch so 13 formation is a very viable option in passing situations with multiple threats. Unanimous nods from the ESPN crew makes sense and Oregon should be ok.

Oregon 38-35 2 TO 2 Sacks 210 yds passing Closer than anyone would like. Lemon gets his and exposes the secondary some, but it's not enough. OBD leans into the ground game to win.

This game feels different than that Indiana game. Oregon's offensive identity has sharpened in part because of the WR injuries forcing WS to modify the game plan, the talent advantage at the TE position and the O-line improvement after moving Pregnon to RG. Samples utilizing Davison, Whittington and Hill Jr as the RB by committee sledgehammer is the difference. Unlike what happened in the Autzen loss, the path to victory against U$C is clearer: Run. The. Damn. Ball

I'd buy one but not both. We lost at home to the #2 team by 10 points, beat then ranked Iowa on the road and just blew out the Gophers. Okie lost big at home to now out of it Texas and by 8 to Ole Miss. Beating Bama with Mateer having a so-so day will mean something, but not enough to leapfrog OBD. The ES(EC)PN bias will come in with leaving Bama just above Oregon. They did squeak by Georgia at home, but also lost at home to a dismal FSU that lost at home to the 'Furd. In a just universe devoid of Paaawl Finebaum, SEC bias and ESPN talking heads, the Ducks would be ranked above both. I'll be satisfied with splitting the difference. Doesn't matter anyway as Oregon must win both remaining games to hopefully end up at the 6th seed sweet spot.

I'm anticipating Bear and Pregnon will have some insights on the Trojenz trenches. Not to mention an extra gear in their giddy-up going against old teammates.

They might have shut it down as now Wrightster and Fentress do one for Oregon Live.

Oregon 35-13 2 TO 2 Sacks 210 yds passing Pass and run both join the 200 club. Balanced offense.

I thought that I could eat it in all one bite, but I ended up choking on it!

You have to hand it to Iowa, those explosives to the WRs, and particularly the TE, were unexpected given the weather and the limitations of their QB. I imagine the defensive game plan was to stop Gronowski from torching Oregon with his feet even on high probability passing situations, leaving wide open targets at times. Theinemen, Canady, Obidegwu and Boettcher all got burned. The zebras ignored holding on multiple occasions by the Iowa O-line, giving Gronowski just enough time to spot the neglected coverage. He never really threw what could be called a dime to those receivers (not like Dante's otherworldly toss to Malik on the final drive), but they were so wide open he could have shot-putted the ball for completions. Oregon also wasn't helped by the refs on the two airmailed throws to imaginary receivers on what turned out to be Hawkeye scoring drives. Calling them properly as intentional grounding would have deprived Iowa of at least a touchdown and probably 10 points.

And let's not forget🍾🥂 Larry in the conversation. His leadership and foresight was legendary.

Having re-watched the game, there is no way Iowa had zero penalties outside of the punt snap safety. Bear was held early and often. Their DBs were occasionally clingier than a needy GF/BF. The push off OPI and hands to the face by the D-line were no such thing. Gronowski threw away two 'Mr Wizard' passes that didn't have a receiver in the same area code, should have been called intentional grounding and would have stalled both of their touchdown drives. They ignored the fumble that the back judge should have easily seen if he had been where he was supposed to be. I won't go so far as to claim a level of bias, but maybe Iowa benefited from a dark uniform 'ninja' effect on a crappy conditions day where OBD white stood out like a beacon. Or maybe somebody had Iowa and the points.

That play was a great call and would have been a TD had Moore escaped Iuli's foot sweep. WS set it up with the serial runs. Saleapaga had done a feign block then go route towards the post. The DB had bit on the run fake, leaving #83 wide open. Saw it work a couple times last year with TFerg, but not with the QB under center. Everyone has those moments of doubt given the somewhat erratic nature of the offense and QB play this year..In this game Oregon was missing a starting WR, TE and RT, then lost another WR. To see Moore overcome that was a huge positive, particularly during the game winning drive. I'm going to call that glass half full

Don't look now, but PSU ahead of IU 24-20 at the 2:00 mark with the ball.

Oregon Ducks On SIConfusion Surrounds Oregon Receiver Dakorien Moore’s StatusOregon Ducks receiver Dakorien Moore has quickly proven why he was one of the most sought-after recruits in the country. The former five-star freshman has emerg SI.com just reported that the DAK injury posting was taken down, so who knows. Nothing more yet on Harkey.

Oregon 21-17 1 TO 2 Sacks 205 yds passing

When Theinemen was interviewed they asked him about Gronowski. With the 'delta' alignment that we have seen this year, it makes sense that he will be that spy for the Iowa QB. It is doubtful that Theinemen will be needed much to prevent them from taking the top off the DBs, who should be able to play a lot of man coverage. Stopping Gronowski on the ground will be the key to stopping the offense. Limiting his taking off with the ball, gashing the D, will be the priority in this game.

I agree with Alex that beating Iowa is critical but I disagree that it would need to be emphatic to matter. A win on the road at Iowa will count regardless of the score. Indiana escaped with a victory in part because Gronowski got hurt and the Hawkeye offense imploded down the stretch. Hoosier could have and maybe should have lost that game. If Oregon wins out, they are in, likely with a #6 ceiling. But they need to win to be a guarantee. 10-2 won't cut it unless the team that beats the Ducks finishes with 3 losses and beats other ranked teams along the way. A 10-2 B1G team that beats Oregon is likely in and OBD out barring some chaos in the SEC with a crap ton of 9-3 teams Indiana and tOSU will play in the B1G CG. Given a close game, Bucknutt wins and IU drops no lower than #4. Indiana wins and ditto for tOSU. The best Oregon can be is 11-1 and a 3rd place at large B1G bid. It is a narrow path to the CFP and one OBD can navigate, but they almost certainly need to win out.

If the PAC had survived it would have turned into the ACC and played second fiddle to the B1G and SEC. One, or at the most two, teams would have made the CFP each year. One loss would perenially put OBD on the edge of elimination. Now they at least get consideration for the playoffs even with two losses in the B1G. It certainly happens for the SEC and the ESPN/Finebaum honks that carry their water. Maybe the evolution of NIL and player reimbursement would level the field amongst the 'haves', of which Oregon is a card carrying member. But witness that a two loss Miami is on CFP life support, and this year it looks like only the ACC champ is guaranteed a spot. Is there any reason to believe a reincarnated PAC would be any different?

Mariø presser post SMOO: "We weren't physical enough. We needed to be more physical. We simply needed more physicality. We also needed more physicists (both quantum and classical), physicians, physiotherapists and physiologists. And a simpler play clock. One that one of our new quantum physicists could simply make relativistic or stop whenever I told them to. Oh yeah, and a quarterback that wouldn't take $4M and then throw a pick in OT."

Nothing cute. RTDB! (*run the damn ball) Feed Davison early and often and set the pass up so that Iowa will be hesitant to bring the house.