Pennsylvania Duck

CollegeWire Pac-12 writers selects Heisman and conference winners After this season, the five CollegeWire writers who cover Pac-12 sports and our respective teams will no longer be able to get together and discuss how the Conference of Champions is going. Oregon and USC are moving to the Big Ten and Colorado is going back to some old stomping grounds in the Big XII. So to celebrate, or more like, commiserate, we got together to talk about how the 2023 Pac-12 season will go. In separate articles, we went over each schedule (USC, Oregon, Colorado) and picked the winner of each game. We also discussed who is going to win the Heisman Trophy and which two teams will meet up in Vegas and win the very last Pac-12 football title. It’s hard to believe that is the case, but here we are. CollegeWire Pac-12 writers selects Heisman and conference winners DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM CollegeWire’s Pac-12 writers gathered together to discuss the final Pac-12 football season and who will win the Heisman.

Three takeaways from USC's 56-28 victory over San Jose State If the first half of the first game of the season was any indication, it’s going to be a long year on the Trojans’ beat. But you hoped to see USC impose its will on a team with a fraction of the talent. That didn’t happen. Tackling was still suspect. Grinch brought a blitz on a third-and-22 that Cordeiro was able to beat and scramble for 28 yards. (San Jose State scored on that drive to tie the game at 7-7.) A coverage bust led to SJSU receiver Nick Nash being left completely alone in the corner of the endzone for a touchdown that cut the game to a seven-point USC lead eight seconds before the halftime break. Three takeaways from USC’s 56-28 victory over San Jose State SATURDAYOUTWEST.COM USC opens up the 2023 season with a big win that had plenty of sizzle, but left some questions unanswered.

'We're going to follow him': Oregon quarterback Bo Nix leads the Ducks' offense and more The evolution of Bo Nix is ongoing as Oregon’s starting quarterback enters his fifth season of college football. But this much is certain: when Nix straps on his helmet for the 15th-ranked Ducks’ opening game against Portland State Saturday afternoon at Autzen Stadium, Oregon’s high hopes and lofty expectations rest predominantly on the shoulders — as well as right arm and legs — of its senior signal caller. “It’s no secret we have a really good quarterback,” coach Dan Lanning said earlier this summer. “We’re going to lean on him.” By all accounts, Nix, 23, is up to the task. 'We're going to follow him': Oregon quarterback Bo Nix leads the Ducks' offense and more WWW.REGISTERGUARD.COM With expectations high as Oregon enter its final season in the Pac-12, can quarterback Bo Nix lead the Ducks to the College...

Is Dan Lanning being overlooked as a coach going into 2023? In his first year as a head coach at any level, Dan Lanning succeeded. Sure, there were a couple of bumps along the way, but Lanning led the Oregon Ducks to a 10-3 season in a strong Pac-12 conference, capping it off with a bowl game win over the North Carolina Tar Heels. After a reality check win Week 1 vs. the defending national champion, and eventual two-time defending champion Georgia Bulldogs, the Ducks were able to rattle off eight straight wins before an injury to QB Bo Nix derailed things late in the year. Yes, losses against your two rivals, Washington and Oregon State, are always hard to get past for fans, but in the grand scheme of things, Lanning proved in his first year at the helm that he is extremely capable of doing great things with the Ducks. So is he being overlooked going into his second year? Oregon Football: Is Dan Lanning being overlooked as a coach in 2023? DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM Lanning’s first year in Eugene was successful, with a 10-3 record and a lot of positive momentum built. Despite that, he’s getting...

Blake Purchase, Collin Gill earn early praise from Dan Lanning in fall camp One of the most common refrains from coaches and players in college football is that when a high school prospect finally arrives on campus and joins the team, you can throw the recruiting stars out the window. What you did at the previous level might have helped you get to where you are, but they don’t mean anything going forward. Some players leave high school with all of the accolades and hype, while others weren’t recruited as prominently, but still find a spot on prominent teams. How successful they are at the next level is up to them. No two players better depict that journey on Oregon’s roster this fall than true freshmen Blake Purchase and Collin Gill. While both had different recruiting processes in high school, the pair have earned some high praise so far during fall camp. Oregon Football: Blake Purchase, Collin Gill earn early praise DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM Blake Purchase, Collin Gill earn early praise from Dan Lanning in fall camp

Oregon State, Washington State not expected to decide conference fate until around Labor Day The fate of Oregon State and Washington State in terms of their future conference alignment will extend until at least Labor Day if not longer, sources told CBS Sports. American commissioner Mike Aresco is expected to engage with both schools by Zoom next week. An in-person meeting to both campuses is expected soon after, sources said. Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez has already pitched both schools. That somewhat clarifies what has become a competition between the two conferences for the two remaining Pac-12 schools in the Northwest, though the interest of the MWC and AAC does not preclude another conference from potentially getting involved. Oregon State and Washington State are being advised not to make a decision until it is clear what revenue remains to be distributed from what appears to be the dissolution of the Pac-12. That windfall could be upwards of the mid-eight figures, sources told CBS Sports. It remains to be seen whether and how much of that revenue would be split with the other eight Pac-12 schools. Oregon State, Washington State not expected to decide conference fate until around Labor Day - CBSSports.com WWW.CBSSPORTS.COM Meanwhile, California, Stanford and SMU continue to seek ACC membership

Pac-12 Network crew makes predictions for 2023 football season This is not predicting games... Pac-12 Network crew makes predictions for 2023 football season PAC-12.COM Pac-12 Network analysts Nigel Burton and Max Browne made their predictions for the 2023 Pac-12 football season including who will...

WATCH: Handful of Oregon 2024 commits show out under Friday night lights The future of Oregon Ducks football seems to be in good hands. While we have to wait another week for Dan Lanning and his team to kick things off on Saturday afternoon against the Portland State Vikings, a long list of Oregon commits in the 2024 class got their senior seasons underway on Friday night in the first week of high school football. It should come as no surprise that a lot of the players completely showed out and displayed why they were high-level recruits coming in. Whether it was 4-star EDGE Jaxson Jones completely dominating, or 4-star QB Michael Van Buren showing what he’s got on ESPN, the future Ducks gave fans a lot to be excited about. Here are some of the best reactions and videos on social media... WATCH: Handful of Oregon commits show out under Friday night lights DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM Oregon fans have a lot to be excited about. The members of the Ducks’ 2024 class showed out this weekend.

Oregon football's defensive backs working to build chemistry Another overhauled unit for the Oregon football team through the transfer portal, the Ducks added five defensive backs from the portal and another nine through their 2023 recruiting class. That emphasis came from an up-and-down 2022 campaign for the Ducks’ secondary. Despite some highlights, more often than not Oregon’s backfield had a hard time keeping up with the best of the Pac-12’s passing offenses, finishing eighth in the conference in passing defense. But adding proven defenders like Evan Williams (Fresno State), Tysheem Johnson (Ole Miss), Khyree Jackson (Alabama), and Nikko Reed (Colorado), has pushed the defensive back competition so far this fall. Added on to longtime Ducks like Steve Stephens, Dontae Manning, Trikweze Bridges, and Bryan Addison has created a good problem for Oregon’s coaching staff. Oregon football's defensive backs working to build chemistry WWW.REGISTERGUARD.COM Oregon added five defensive backs from the portal and another nine through their 2023 recruiting class.

Stanford and Cal reportedly exploring the possibility of joining the Big 12 We are well aware of the Pac-12's embracing collapse, but there are still four programs left looking for a home. Stanford and Cal are in a peculiar position because in one sense they control what Oregon State and Washington State are able to do, but in the other they are also left waiting and hoping. The two Bay Area programs have been linked to the ACC for a couple weeks now, and while they were just one vote short and there have been financial plans discussed to add them, they have not yet been invited. The clear cut vibes coming from the two programs is that they want to be in a Power 5 program, but they need that interest to be reciprocated. On Saturday, we learned via a report from the San Francisco Chronicle that Stanford and Cal have begun looking into the possibility of joining the Big 12. The conference has already taken in four other Pac-12 programs, and has been one of the main aggressors in this latest realignment wave. MSN WWW.MSN.COM

Great place to advertise...You must click on lower tweet to see BODACIOUS ad...

Here is a hype video put out by Oregon Football today. It is narrated by Tony Dungy who was a guest speaker at one of the team meetings earlier in the season. Be sure to expand the tweet, it is much better that way.

I thought the same thing after watching this. In the past, there was more action and excitement. Maybe better music too. I'm sure these will get better!

Path to the CFP, #9: Like Father, Like Son for Tuioti and Martin It’s hard enough playing a sport a parent has a vested interest in; the potential to over-meddle, let alone strike fear of perfection, is right there. Now imagine not only playing the same sport your father coaches but doing so on the same team, with hundreds of thousands of eyes on you to live up to the name and do so quickly. Thanks to their performances so far while in Eugene, that’s the situation facing Cole Martin and Teitum Tuioti. Path to the CFP, #9: Like Father, Like Son for Tuioti and Martin WWW.ON3.COM Teitum Tuioti and Cole Martin arrived before spring ball ready to prove they're more than just 'coaches kids'; they might be...

This Week in Pac-12 Football - Week Zero This Week in Pac-12 Football - Week Zero PAC-12.COM COMPLETE PDF RELEASE QUICK HITS CONFERENCE OF QUARTERBACKS: In 2022, the Pac-12 had eight different...

Bo Nix ranked among College Sports Wire's 25 most dominant players list A year ago today, the notion that Bo Nix would be in the 2023 Heisman conversation and have a billboard of himself in New York City would’ve been a laughable one. Expectations were not high for Nix’s time in Eugene. As a transfer, he was rated as a 3-star recruit by 247 Sports, despite being a 5-star recruit in high school. After a dismal start to the season against Georgia, the little hope most Duck fans had for Nix to start the season was washed away. They clamored for Ty Thompson or wrote the season off. Three weeks later at Washington State, everyone changed their tune. After a pick-six late in the first half, Nix was electric. He led the Ducks to a comeback victory in a game that would’ve derailed Oregon’s season if it had ended up a loss. He didn’t stop there, and continued to dazzle fans all season. Oregon Football: Bo Nix ranked as on of the most dominant players DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM Bo Nix ranked among College Sports Wire’s 25 most dominant players list

Dan Lanning outlines where he's seen most growth during fall camp When asked to list areas of improvement he's witnessed during fall camp, head coach Dan Lanning pointed to one item for each side of the football. Offensively, he's seen the overall operation executed at a higher level, and defensively, well, he's liked the way they've brought ball carriers to the turf. "I'd say defensively, we've tackled a lot better, offensively, executing at a high level," he told reporters on Wednesday, the final day of camp. Dan Lanning outlines where he's seen most growth during fall camp 247SPORTS.COM Oregon head coach Dan Lanning mentioned several areas he saw the Ducks improve during the month of August

OREGON ANNOUNCES FOOTBALL GAMEDAY ENHANCEMENTS The year begins with a classic afternoon of football in Eugene, and ends with the latest edition in an historic rivalry. In all, Autzen Stadium will host seven Oregon football games in the upcoming season, and the gameday experience at the home of UO football features several significant enhancements for 2023. Oregon Announces Football Gameday Enhancements - University of Oregon Athletics GODUCKS.COM Autzen Stadium will host seven Oregon football games in the upcoming season, and the gameday experience at the home of...

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The Big Ten has not made any decisions regarding the viability of Oregon playing Oregon State or for the Apple Cup to continue being played at the end of the regular season, but the conference has not ruled it out either. The status of the two Pacific Northwest in-state rivalries, which date back to 1894 and 1900, respectively, has been in question since three weeks ago, when Oregon and Washington announced they would be joining the Big Ten beginning next year. “We haven’t had too detailed a conversation with either of the two institutions about that,” Big Ten COO Kerry Kenny said. “All we’ve said early on is we understand that there are local conversations that you all need to engage in and we’re supportive of learning from those conversations as they play out and then having that be a factor in what type of schedule model that we create." Big Ten having ‘ongoing conversation’ about future scheduling of Oregon-Oregon State, Apple Cup rivalries WWW.OREGONLIVE.COM The status of the two Pacific Northwest in-state rivalries has been in question since Oregon and Washington announced they would...