AnotherOD

Really a fan of Tez and enjoyed his time at Oregon. While probably not "kids" after several years in college, they still are pretty young dudes. I even kind of get what he was trying to say there (and probably express some frustration); BUT, when you get your behind kicked like that in a game on that stage, I think about all you can do is tip your hat to your opponent. If you are prepping your guys for combine interviews, you tell them to stop there. If you must say more, talk about where your own team might have fell short, not direct anything that might be perceived as a slight towards your opponent. I can see little good coming from trying to change the perception of a throttling that everyone who watched saw with their own eyeballs.

Jon has it right. Maybe Connerly should find a die hard Duck fan to run his takes by before publishing. As great as it looks on paper, few covering 134 teams, as I have seen, has the pulse of a program as well as that a 10-15 percenter, who lives and dies with the team that knows their stuff.

Maybe a bit interesting that the Cowboy's RB coach is expected to be slotted at between $400,000 and $450,000. Tashard Choice is already making $700,000 at Texas and Samples I believe is set for a bump to $650,000 at Oregon if he stays. Certainly it isn't always about the $ as both coaches interviewed for the job with likely knowledge of what Jerry Jones and Dallas is going to be offering. Just more to where college football is at, the $ involved, and the continued blurring line between college and the NFL. All that said, I could very much see how coaches might tire of recruiting, NIL, the portal, having to work year around on roster retention, and the realities of player poaching. Life in the NFL, with its other non-monetary benefits, might be looking more and more appealing.

"Probably more than anything else it's the players." "The defense he coached in his last year had 8 (EIGHT) players drafted, 5 (FIVE) in the 1st round. Two of the five 1st rounders were D Tackles, that is my dream for the Ducks: NFL D-Tackles." From what I've been able to gather, the "Mint" or "Tide" front is working as it is supposed to. Against opponents Oregon was thought to have a fair talent advantage, it was fine, and the defensive numbers all good. It mostly looks overall to me to be an attempt at an updated "bend but don't break" with a few pressure tricks up front. The problem, that appeared pretty clearly this year against teams with more talent, is the only way the scheme appears to continue to function well, is to have even more talent in key spots. A rather simple "secret sauce". In the front, I'd say 3-4 future NFL players with at least a pair of first or second round draft choices, at least a pair of round 1-3 LBs, and a sprinkling of later round draft choices (or at least athletic very good and experienced college guys). Also have to throw in a day one or early day two lock down CB (and at least one future NFL safety). Without the personel, there appear to be holes all over the place talented teams will exploit. Lesser talent seems often to be scrambling around, often confused, a few (to often several) steps late. The schemes answer to defend that is just largely have great players who cover those gaps. Five DB base defenses have taken over college football, so it isn't like other variations aren't getting roasted as well. I think what we are really seeing play out it this particular version just is extra "bend but don't break" and the current front DL/LB guys, while good, haven't been Georgia (when they were good) kind of good. In the bit of Georgia I watched this year, I actually felt I saw some of the same sort of struggles at times (especially I guess with some injuries). Birch, Harmon are thought to be day 1-2 talent, Matayo certainly looks to be future NFL lock, Caldwell and Muhammed are supposed to be late picks, Bassa seems to have played his way into being picked at the Senior Bowl, and BB is now seriously being looked at as a draftable player next year. That is at least 7 NFL guys along with 4 seniors. It does seem like the defense, on paper, probably should have been a bit better even against the offensive talent of tOSU, Penn State, and Boise State. As others have commented, I think the "problem" lies in the key front 6 positions plus NB, where there were only 2 likely day 1-2 choices (and I'm not convinced one of them ever got back fully healthy). If the Ducks are sticking with it, as I am sure they will, the answer is more top, top talent, especially in the front 6-7 (preferably guys also grown up in the system). Or, I guess, continue to have success defensively against most of the schedule and find a way to outscore everyone else.

"Not to mention, they way we lined up against Washington last year was an open invitation for last year's Michigan to simply pile drive our defense (the Fuskies used a similar defensive front against the Wolverines in the Natty last year and got obliterated - until that game I thought Washington would win hands down). I personally believe it's time to overhaul the entire philosophy on defense. I don't get paid for these things, and I'm just a hack, but I totally believe the best coaches in the business completely know how to take down Lanning 's scheme on defense. It's just apparent to me we can out physical lower grades teams, but when it boils down to elite competition, they know exactly who to attack, and what Formations to use to neutralize a pretty damn set of talented players." Well argued. Appreciate!

Early in his career, I wonder a bit if "five star" Donte Manning might not be a better fit moving to safety. Someone can correct it if in error; but, he came from Kansas in a high school league, that wasn't exactly known for throwing the ball all over the place. At the next level, possibly he needed to be developed a bit. Just a guess, my thought is Manning had such advanced physical tools, the risk at keeping him at CB was worth the potential risk of moving him to safety (that is, finding a "decent" elite level safety being easier than finding the same at CB). Reed had a fine year at CB; but, when it comes to NFL URFA, if anyone if gonna get a call, I imagine Manning would get more calls than Reed. Manning just never seemed to get past being a bit too "handsy". Tools were there but it never quite came together. It will be interesting to see what happens to Offord, lock down CBs are a thing, but so are, in modern college football, a fifth DB who can do a lot of things.

Appreciate the article. I think I've now made two attempts on different boards to defend Helfrich's recruiting. Was it great? No. Not entirely necessarily wanting to rehash it all again; but, Helfrich, in large, wasn't a failure due to recruiting at face value. He landed a fair percentage of highly rated kids, who, for the most part, were highly sought after. Helfrich's failure, IMO was having an unusual amount of busts with kids rated very highly, who just about everyone on the West Coast was after; and, recruiting a fair amount of highly rated guys who just ended up character misses. I did another post elsewhere about Mario, where I argued, based on relatively substantiated offer lists, that the "star chaser" label was a bit overblown. The "stars" Mario chased, were "stars" most other programs were also chasing. His "failure", if one wants to call it that, was getting a class with a lot of kids rated about 150-300 and not enough kids rated inside the top 80, based in large part to the "pan out" ratio versus "star points" ratio for recruits at a given rating point. Mario recruited well, just, given coaching deficiencies, was gonna need need more in the top 80 if he was going to make the next step. Top 80? Take a look at Ohio State 2024.

The two things that jumped out to me were: Top 200 recruits starting: Ohio State: 82% Oregon: 27% Top 80 kids starting: Ohio State: 56% Oregon: 18% If we consider the coaching staffs roughly even. In a rematch on a neutral site, where are you gonna place your money? It's not, IMO, heresy to tip one's hat and say talent won that day. That is sort of why I added the thought, even without potential future transfers, in two years, Oregon's starting 22 could look a lot like tOSU's this year. Could, of course, just interesting to look at. I look at the numbers and Will Howard was the lowest rated starter tOSU put on the field this year, the lowest. #128 spots behind DG, who many felt could be the difference in the game. Arguably, IMO, in that position, ultimately, it becomes a bit less about scheme, motivation, or intangibles, and more about the guys who will be making the plays.

Blue Chip Ratio has been around college in some form since modern recruiting sites and rankings boomed along with the internet. It is most referenced in that no team has won the college football National Championship without a Blue Chip ratio of over 50% (basically at least half their roster or more need to be made up of four or five star recruits), which means in any given season, only about 15 teams have a shot. With the expanded playoff, I imagine this stat will continue possibly indefinately. Heading into the playoff, it was tOSU with a ratio of 90% (#1) and Oregon at 76% (#5), so tOSU loaded but Oregon with a puncher's chance. I was looking at some recruiting rankings of just the starting 22 for each team. Some interesting things popped out; and, perhaps some reasons to feel good about what Dan Lanning and company did this year (and looking forward perhaps two years). First point, I only used high school rankings. Transfer rankings seem a bit all over the place (and I don't think adjusting the ranking of a kid who has overachieved a bit or not lowering a higher ranking for a kid who mostly sat at his first school, etc., etc. adds a bunch to the basic argument). High school rankings seem a bit more established (and represent perhaps the better measure of overall athletic potential at their position). Just my thought heading in. So, tOSU's starting 22 for the Rose Bowl, with their overall national and star ranking. Going in, while "five stars" always stand out (usually 32-35 each cycle), I tend to favor emphasizing top 80 kids, as high four stars often pop (nearly as much as top 35 kids). 01. Jeremiah Smith (5 star): #1 02. JT Tuimoloau (5 star): #4 03. Jack Sawyer (5 star): #6 04. Caleb Downs (5 star): #7 05. Emeka Egbuka (5 star): #10 06. Sonny Styles (5 star): #12 07. Donovan Jackson (5 star): #19 08. TreVeyon Henderson (5 star): #23 09. Carnell Tate (high 4 star): #58 10. Gee Scott Jr. (high 4 star): #66 11. Jordan Hancock (high 4 star): #73 12. Cody Simon (high 4 star): #75 13. Tegra Tshabola (4 star): #104 14. Davison Igbinosun (4 star): #162 15. Tyleik Williams (4 star): #166 16. Lathan Ransom (4 star): #167 17. Carson Hinzman (4 star): #177 18. Denzel Burke (4 star): #199 19. Austin Siereveld (4 star): #302 20. Josh Fryar (3 star): #502 21. Ty Hamilton (3 star): #757 22. Will Howard (3 star): #882 So, a Blue Chip ratio of 0.864, with a remarkable 0.818 top 200 recruits. Oregon. 01. Evan Stewart (5 star): #6 02. Josh Conerly Jr. (5 star) #16 03. Jordan Burch (5 star): #17 04. Matayo Uiagalelei (high 4 star): #47 05. Jordan James (4 star): #164 06. Traeshon Holden (4 star): #187 07. Tysheem Johnson (4 star): #207 08. Terrance Ferguson (4 star): #216 09. Jeffrey Bassa (4 star): #334 10. Iapani Laloulu (4 star): #347 11. Marcus Harper (3 star): #714 12. Dillon Gabriel (3 star): #754 13. Derrick Harmon (3 star): #969 14. Jabbar Muhammad (3 star): #1043 15. Brandon Johnson (3 star): #1395 16. Tez Johnson (3 star): #1467 17. Nikko Reed (3 star): #1941 18. Nishad Strother (3 star): #2776 19. Ajani Cornelius (UR) 20. Kobe Savage (UR) 21. Jamaree Caldwell (UR) 22. Bryce Boettcher (UR) So, a Blue Chip ratio of 0.455, with 0.273 top 200 recruits. I guess this isn't news, tOSU was loaded, I just didn't realize how loaded. 8 five stars and over half their starters top 75 recruits. Oregon, at least according to the Blue Chip ratio, was never going to win the thing with a starting Blue Chip ratio of 46% and 4 full starters UR out of high school. Actually, I would say their is an argument Lanning and company overachieved their overall talent. Add into the equation, I think tOSU had 5 transfer starters and 17 original recruits while Oregon had 14 transfer starters and only 8 starters who began at Oregon, I think the argument looks a bit better (having guys grown up and developed in their system versus guys developed at least in part by someone else in a different system). Oregon went undefeated and won the B1G Championship with as many as half its starters kids it likely would never have offered out of high school. Good news is, just for fun, just based on kids already in the program, Oregon in two years could have a starting roster that looks a lot like tOSU this year. Of course so many young guys likely won't be starting, etc., etc. But, for fun. 01. Darkorian Moore (5 star): #4 02. Dante Moore (5 star): #4 03. Na'eem Offord (5 star): #10 04. Jurrion Dickey (5 star): #22 05. Kodi Green (5 star): #25 06. Brandon Finney (5 star): #28 07. Trey McNutt (high 4 star): #29 08. Elijah Rushing (high 4 star): #45 09. Matayo Uiagalelei (high 4 star): #47 10. Dorian Brew (high 4 star): #50 11. Ify Obidegwa (high 4 star): #52 12. Aydin Breland (high 4 star): #58 13. Jeremiah McClellan (high 4 star): #65 14. Douglas Utu (high 4 star): #72 15. Kenyon Sadiq (4 star): #122 16. Jordan Davison (4 star): #154 17. Jeremiah Johnson (4 star): #161 18. Brayden Platt (4 star): #190 19. Dylan Williams (4 star): #199 20. Iapani Laloulu (4 star): #347 21. Fox Crader (4 star): #349 22. Gernorris Wilson (4 star): #388 Also: Jahlil Florence (4 star, #157), Devon Jackson (4 star, #140), Kyler Kasper (4 star, #150), Rodrick Pleasant (4 star, #90), Blake Purchase (4 star, #294), Daylen Austin (4 star, #121), Aston Porter (4 star, #245), Xadavien Sims (4 star, #244), Aaron Flowers (high 4 star, #60), Dakota Fields (4 star #90), Kamar Mothdi (4 star, #215), Sione Laulea (4 star, #2 JC), Cooper Perry (4 star, #131), Nasir Wyatt (4 star, #176), Zac Stascausky (4 star, #261), Gatlin Bair (5 star, #27), Tradarian Bell (high 4 star, #32), Kendre Harrison (5 star, #9), Tony Cumberland (high 4 star, #57), and others. I completely agree with those who suggest a high ranking isn't a guarantee of success; and, I would also agree the fact Oregon in a lot of games it felt in control of, didn't exactly rush to get these highly rated kids some run. But, in regards to recruiting rankings, look at the points allowed by the tOSU defense and their ranking scores. Look forward to thoughts.

Ok, makes some sense. I didn't realize he was being interviewed by the same guy who asked Tommy Lasorda about Dave Kingman [from the files of dumb questions]. Warning: Language!! [Except Lasorda was probably a bit more gracious and good natured in his response]

Seems like Chip was pretty quiet going 0-5 against Oregon at UCLA and as OC at tOSU. There also were some pretty credible rumors Oregon requested and received permission to talk to Chip about returning to Oregon in December of 2021 before instead shifting gears and hiring Dan Lanning. Maybe that isn't it, but something seems to stinging Chip to be throwing out that comment two weeks after the Rose Bowl at a National Championship press conference. Chip, it's Notre Dame you are playing Monday.

I just hope WS doesn't "sterilize" what has made DM elite. (I looked up synonyms for "sterilize" and didn't find much). It's been a bit now; but, way back when WS was asked about DM, he said something to the effect of, "He is learning to not always look for the home run and to trust his playmakers and get them the ball out in space." And that is all well and good and has been successful at largely what the Oregon offense has been done well the last 3 seasons; but, that has also been, IMO, a bit subject to what the starting QBs at Oregon do well. DM, for better or worse is a gunslinger who has exactly no qualms about trusting his arm and throwing downfield (it is exactly that IMO that has made him elite to this point and wasn't exactly missing in his otherwise up-and-down showing with mediocre talent surrounding him and a Chip Kelly who couldn't wait for the next plane out of town). We didn't see much of DM; but, arguably he threw one of the three prettiest balls all season. My first thought is WS wasn't afraid to let it fly a bit at UTSA; but, to some degree a bit of a different stage. Where does he fall in 2025? Just maybe me but I long a tiny bit for the days the Oregon staff let it fly a bit more. Saw what it could do in the first tOSU game: and, ultimately, may very well be a big piece in what brings tOSU another title.

Early spring thought, it will be interesting to see how, and how much, we see of Jerry Mixon. You don't turn down another year of BB (what was he PFF top 5 at his position in 2024?); but, hard to not be excited about what we have heard (and a tiny bit of what we have seen), so far. Thought is the "Mint" or "Tide" verson of this defense requires LB at both spots that can do a lot of things well. If you don't have that, the scheme becomes vulnerable pretty quickly. While a "three star", at 6-2 and 240, JM IMO is a guy to keep an eye on. My super early, subject to more evaluation is, he might be a piece that will help this thing go, the way we think it should go.

So, been reading a lot of thoughts and reactions to the Rose Bowl against tOSU. Started following the Ducks closely enough since 1993; and, as tough as the game was, it only hit about loss number 10 on my Duck anguish list. Not sure why? Maybe because the game was over quickly, maybe I've gotten slightly less invested with the changes to college football in recent years (NIL, transfer portal, historical conference collapse, tv network schenanigans, etc.), maybe the losses just get a bit easier over time, maybe where the program has risen to where the stakes don't quite seem as grand (trying to get there as a program and not fall back versus being to a degree at least closer to "arrived")? Wonder where others are at? So, I pulled out my trusty Oregon historical scores and put together my list of the 25 worse Duck football losses since 1993. I actually came up with over 30, so my Top 25 has 32 (I guess to match 32 seasons since 1993)? 32. UTAH I (2021): 7-38 Ducks came in 9-1 and ranked #4, having won 5 in a row, with still a shot at the playoffs. Fell behind 14-0 but had a chance to take it half with that score, but allowed a late 1:35 minute 77 yard TD drive with 0:27 left in the half. The offense then went 3 and out only using 11 seconds of clock. Mario kicks to future NFL WR Britain Covey (who led the NCAA in punt return yards that season) and he goes 78 yards for a TD and it is 28-0 all of a sudden. Oregon never gets in the game, ending up 38-7 with under 300 yards of offense. 31. PENN STATE (1994 Rose Bowl): 20-38 I imagine some might have this game a bit lower, but back in 1994, to me this was a bit of David versus Goliath; and, with the remarkable run the team put on that season, a competitive loss wouldn't have seemed like a huge disappointment. After Ki-Jana Carter goes 83 yards for a TD on the first play from scrimmage, it looked a bit dicey; but, the Ducks battle back and actually get to 14-14 in the 3rd before a key interception and the Ducks run out of gas. Danny O'Neal throws a whopping 41-61 passes for 456 yards. 30. STANFORD (2021): 24-31 (OT) Oregon was 4-0 and with their win at tOSU was ranked #3. Moorhead was ill (and absent). Oregon trailed early but had taken a lead and punted Stanford down to their 13 yard line with 1:59 left. Two false starts in a row left Stanford at their own 4 with 1:44 left. Stanford then drives 96 yards to tie the game as time expires, aided by 3 calls against the defense (a P.F., a roughing the passes, a P.I.) all 3 many felt were pretty dubious (Oregon wins the next 5 and without that loss would have reached the Utah game instead 10-0 and likely #2). 29. OREGON STATE (2022): 34-38 34-17 seventeen point Duck lead after a Duck FG to start the 4th quarter. OSU gets a long KO return then scores a TD on 3 runs. Oregon gets a decent KO return but a holding puts them back to their 8, they stall, the punter drops the punt and OSU recovers at the Duck 2 and in two more rushes scores again. Up 3, Oregon goes for it on 4th and 1 from their own 29 and gets stuffed and OSU takes over and scores in 4 rushes to lead 38-34. Oregon drives all the way to the OSU 5, then fails to score in 4 plays and OSU takes over on downs with 2:58 remaining. With 6 more rushes, OSU runs out the clock. 15 straight rushes by OSU to win it. 28. STANFORD (2018): 31-38 (OT) This one is often sited as Oregon fans first proper introduction to the Mario era 4 games in. Oregon is up 31-28 running out the clock with about 0:51 seconds remaining at the Stanford 40 and it is 2nd and 3 and Stanford is down to one timeout. Take a knee on 3rd and it is 4th down with under 10 seconds. Oregon instead runs between the tackles and fumbles and Stanford drives 46 yards to kick a game tying FG as time expires. Stanford scores first in OT and a Herbert interception ends the game. 27. USC (2005): 13-45 #1 USC versus #24 Oregon. USC was coming off a National Championship and had won 24 straight games. Oregon jumped out 13-0, before being outscored 45-0. Oregon actually finishes the season 10-1 but doesn't seem to be taken too seriously (only climbing back into the Top 10 late in the year). USC was great that year but it was a frustrating game IMO for many Duck fans because it seemed like Oregon wasn't 45-13 worse than USC that day. Once USC got it going, they received what many felt were some favorable calls, including an Oregon TD taken off the board with a questionable block below the knees. Oregon had gone 5-6 the previous year, starting off 3-0 in 2005, a "measuring stick" game at home that slipped way away. 26. BYU (2006 Vegas Bowl): 8-38 BYU entered the game 9-2 and ranked #20 and Oregon was 7-5 and on a three game losing streak. However, BYU was Mountain West and Oregon Pac-10 and it was Oregon who got most of the attention in the game lead up (Bellotti I believe even got into a bit of hot water for some pregame comments about where BYU might slot if it was to play instead in the Pac-10). Oregon looked unmotivated and underprepared falling behind 31-0. Duck OL Geoff Schwartz later recalled: "While they're sleeping, we were partying." Also along with coach Bellotti called the poor performance "program changing" (as a wake up call). 25. ARIZONA (2013): 21-44 Eleven games into the Helfrich era, probably the first real game that showed there might be more serious problems post Chip Kelly. Oregon was behind 35-9 in the third. Ka'Deem Carey rushed a whopping 48 times for 206 yards and 4 TDs as UA rushed for 304 yards on the day. 9-1 Oregon commits 3 TOs in route to its second loss. 24. COLORADO (1995 Cotton Bowl): 6-38 #7 Colorado (9-2) versus #12 Oregon (9-2). Coming off the Rose Bowl the year prior, Oregon had a shot at its first 10 win season and first top 10 finish. Oregon brought a reported 14,000 fans to Colorado's 6,000 to a cold and rainy Dallas. With a 7-6 score in the second, Tony Graziani throws a pick returned 95 yards for a Buffalo TD. Oregon goes on to commit 5 TOs. With 5 minutes to go leading 32-6 and running 7 straight times, on 4th down Colorado coach Rick Neuheisel calls a fake punt for a 28 yard pass catch. When Bellotti expresses some displeasure with the call and sportsmanship in the post game, Neuheisel responds, "Scoreboard baby". 23. UTAH II (2021): 10-38 The Mario has a foot out the door Pac-12 Championship game. Even with losing the first matchup, Oregon was still ranked #10 and Utah #17. For a second game, Oregon is essentially uncompetitve falling behind 23-0 at half and 38-3 in the 4th. Oregon only manages 221 yards of offense (and really doesn't seem to change much from the loss 13 days prior). 22. LSU (2011): 27-40 Coming off a BCS Championship birth, it was #3 versus #4 in the opener. The game was 16-13 into the 3rd. Oregon was banged up at WR and was struggling to put together drives, so it inserted DAT to his first college game. He fumbles at the Oregon 24 and LSU quickly scores. He then fumbles the kickoff and LSU quickly scores and the game goes to 30-16 in about 5 minutes of clock. This was all after Oregon survived a Kenjon Barner fumble of a punt at its own 3 which Tyrann Mathieu returned for a score in the first half. 4 Oregon turnovers and LSU scores 40 with 273 yards of offense (to Oregon's 335). The national narrative is Oregon again gets beat up by a big tough SEC team, when really it was a close and competitive game much of the way, decided in large part by TOs (and short fields). 21. OHIO STATE (2014 NC): 20-42 Disappointing but hard to really feel tOSU wasn't a bit more loaded that year. Couple that with Oregon scoring its fewest points in a game for the season (almost 4 TDs below its average) and allowing the most on defense all season (42), a tough recipe for a win. Oregon had a couple opportunities early (and at least 2 big drops); but, never really seemed to get after Cardale Jones (as it had gotten after Cam Newton in 2010); or, had an answer for Elliott and his 246 yards and 4 TDs. Lots of injuries too just adding up making a title run just that much tougher: Addison, Allen, Carrington (suspension), Johnstone, Yruretagoyena (retired), Fisher, Ekpre-Olomu, etc., etc. 20. OREGON STATE (1998): 41-44 (OT) Simonton 16 yards around the end to the endzone for a TD in OT and OSU fans rush the field for a second time, as Oregon has what once looked like a possibly special season end the regular season with a 3rd loss (team never looks quite the same with two key RB injuries). OSU gets its fifth win that year completing its best season since 1971. Two years later OSU is rolling ND in the Fiesta Bowl 41-9. 19. WASHINGTON (2002): 14-42 14-14 at half, UW outscores Oregon, who was still rated #23 at kickoff, 28-0 and Neuheisel and his players dance at midfield on the O at Autzen. Cody Pickett throws for 316 yards and 4 TDs and Reggie Williams catches 3 TDs. 18. BOISE STATE (2009): 8-19 First game of the Chip Kelly era. Zero points and zero first downs in the first half (only time Oregon doesn't go 3 and out is when Blount is tackled for a safety). Oregon ends up with 8 points, 6 first downs, and 152 yards of offense. Boise State actually finishes 14-0 and #4 in the country and Oregon turns the season around and makes the Rose Bowl. Still a tough loss at the time (and after the Boise State loss the previous year). 17. AUBURN (2010 NC): 19-22 I am sure many would rank this lower as well, this perhaps another case where the other team might be a bit more loaded; or, perhaps over the course of the game was more successful playing to their strengths. Too long a layoff for both teams and both looked off early. Auburn does lead most of the game (and as much as I hate to say it, even if Dyer was down, Auburn would have been like 2nd and 5 from their own 45 with 1:55 and timeouts, about 30 yards from solid FG range with a kicker, Wes Byrum, that was 32 for 38 his last two years at Auburn). Loved Aliotti's game plan and how the defense got after it. Running at Auburn had gone poorly for teams all year, field didn't help, absolutely overall got hosed in the officiating. 16. WASHINGTON I (2023): 33-36 #3 Oregon versus #5 UW in Seattle. Most likely remember, 4th and 3 at the UW 47, with 2:11 left, a first probably wins the game. Nix misses a tough throw (to Tez I think), and the UW turns around and completes a 35 then 18 yard pass for a score and lead. UO drives down to tie but ends up missing on its last 2 passes then a 43 yard FG. UO wins most of the statistical battle, 541 yards to 415 and 31 FDs to 24 FDs, and +1 in TOs. 15. ARIZONA STATE (2002): 42-45 This one ranks up there IMO because Oregon had finished a unanimous #2 in the country the prior year at 11-1 with the Fiesta Bowl win and started the next season 6-0 and were ranked #6, and the wheels came off that day at Autzen. Oregon jumped out 21-0 mid second quarter and then sophmore ASU QB Andrew Walter proceeded to pick Oregon apart in a way fans had become unaccustomed to seeing, throwing for a then Pac-10 record 536 yards and 4 TDs, as ASU outscored Oregon 45-21. Oregon attempted a late game comback, ended with a Fife pick. Oregon had won 24 out of its last 26 prior to kickoff. 14. STANFORD (2013): 20-26 Under Helfrich, Oregon had started 8-0 and and #3 and was averaging 55.5 points per game (yes 55.5 points per game). Stanford was 7-1 and #5. In the 4th quarter it was behind 26-0. With the offense sputtering all night, Mariota, nursing a sore knee, attempted a bit of a come back (aided by an onside kick recovery and a 40 yard FG blocked and returned for a TD by Rodney Hardrick); but, ultimately were held to 312 yards of offense, -2 TOs, and 20 points. 13. CALIFORNIA (1993): 41-42 After an Independence Bowl loss the previous year, Oregon jumped out 3-0 and travelled to #17 Cal. It came out firing and built a 30-0 lead. Cal then proceeded to perform the then 2nd greatest comeback in D1 football history. Cal scored the winning TD with 1:17 left with a 26 yard TD to Iheanyi Uwaezuoke then a 2 point coversion in the corner of the endzone by Mike Caldwell. Danny O'Neal for Oregon completed 17 passes for 313 yards and 3 TDs, Derrick Deadwiler caught 11 of those for 234 yards. Post game coach Brooks, "It's got to rank up there with one of the toughest defeats in my life." 12. WASHINGTON (2016): 21-70 Maybe the game that sealed Helfrich's fate? Second most points allowed in Oregon history (it gave up 71 at Texas in 1941). Jake Browning threw for 6 TDs and ran for 2 more. Myles Gaskin rushed for 197 yards and a TD. Washington piles up 682 yards of offense with 378 rushing yards. 11. TCU (2015 Alamo Bowl): 41-47 (3 OT) #11 TCU versus #15 Oregon. TCU suspended its starting QB and Oregon and Vernon Adams jumped all over them 31-0 in the 1st half, outgaining them 376 yards to 142. Adams did collide helmets with a TCU LB and was out for the second half. TCU then outscored Oregon 31-0 in the second half to force OT. Oregon's second half offense was listed at 18 plays for 18 yards, while it was TCU that had 356. TCU scores 6 in the 3rd OT while Oregon fumbles on 3rd and 2, forcing a 4th and 8 where Lockie misses Carrington ending the game. 10. OHIO STATE (2024 Rose Bowl): 21-41 34-0 to start, 34-8 at half. 500 yards to 276. Jeremiah Smith 7 for 187 and 2 TDs. I did read the other day Oregon's 21 points still is the second most scored on tOSU this year (to Oregon's 32 in the first matchup). 9. WASHINGTON II (2023): 31-34 #3 UW versus #5 UO. Since the first game, Oregon had looked improved and the UW had some clunkers. Oregon was as much as a 9.5 point favorite. After a slow start, Oregon actually took a 24-20 lead late in the 3rd. The UW scores two straight TDs in the 4th, Oregon gets a late 63 yard TD from Holden but can't get the onsides kick. Penix throws for 319, Dillon Johnson rushes for 152 and two scores, and both McMillan and Odunze go over 100 receiving. Much like the first game, the UW's "star" players seem to have better days than Oregon's. 8. WSU (2003): 16-55 "Rich Cool, 4-0" the previous week (beating #3 Michigan 31-27). Following week defending Pac-10 and #21 ranked WSU came to Autzen and were up 38-2 at half. After having no interceptions on the season, Clemens throws 4 picks and Fife throws 3 and Oregon fumbles twice for 9 turnovers. Oregon adds 12 penalties. WSU "only" needs 399 yards of offense to put up 55. 7. ARIZONA (2007): 24-34 It started so well with a 39 yard TD run from Dennis Dixon. Dixon's knee buckles and Oregon's possible trip to the National Championship game and even a possible Dixon Heisman do as well. UA's Antoine Cason has a punt return for a TD and an interception return for a TD. Oregon goes on to lose 0-16 the next week to UCLA, putting up a total of 148 yards of offense and 4 TOs. 6. CALIFORNIA (2007): 24-31 4-0 #6 Cal versus 4-0 #11 Oregon. Gameday in Eugene. Expected fireworks don't show up early and UO leads 10-3 at half. Cal behind Longshore and DeSean Jackson (11 catches for 161 and 2 TDs) takes a late 31-24 lead. Oregon roars down the field in 9 plays in 1:17 to the Cal 5. Cam Colvin catches a pass with 0:22 seconds left and reaches for the endzone and the ball comes out and if fumbled through the endzone and the game ends. Cal is later headed to the #1 spot in the country when it has to insert its back QB Kevin Riley against OSU who in position to score, scrambles too long and goes down and Cal, with no timeouts, can't get its FG team on for a short FG to tie. 5. USC (2011): 35-38 #2 Oklahoma State had lost earlier in the day and #4 Oregon was in position to move to #3 if it beat #18 USC at Autzen. LeBron was throwing passes to Carmelo on the sidelines in the pregame. Oregon falls behind 21-7 at half on a chilly evening. Oregon gets a late score from David Paulson and a 2 point conversion to Tuinei. USC drives down the field running out the clock and gets to the Oregon 11 with 2:31 left. Marc Tyler fumbles and Oregon recovers and drives 66 yards to about the USC 20. With about 0:20 left Oregon appears to settle for setting up a 37 yard FG to tie. Maldonado misses. 4. STANFORD (2001): 42-49 Oregon's only loss in its #2 ranked finish of the 2001 season. Stanford trails 42-28 into the 4th and outscores Oregon 21-0 in the 4th by converting one of two blocked punts, an interception, and an onside kick into 3 scores. The interception comes on 3rd and 2 from Oregon's own 30 with 4:20 on the clock with Oregon holding on 42-41. Oregon mounts a late drive to the Stanford 37 but 4 straight incompletions end the game. 3. OREGON STATE (2000): 13-23 #5 UO versus #8 OSU. Oregon wins and it returns to the Rose Bowl, a loss and it drops all the way to the Holiday Bowl. Harrington entered the game 13-1 as a starter but throws 5 interceptions (3 to Jake Cookus). Oregon ends up with 6 TOs and 12 penalties for 132 yards. Oregon outgains OSU 471 to 399 and 27 FD to 22 but OSU connects on a couple early scores and builds a 17-0 first half lead Oregon can't overcome. 2. STANFORD (2012): 14-17 (OT) Probably Oregon's best Chip Kelly team, sitting at #2 at 10-0 with a probable National Championship date with ND waiting (tOSU was ineligible due to Tressel investigation). Ertz lands out of bounds in the back of the endzone with 1:35 remaining. The officiating booth decides to reofficiate the play rather than look for conclusive visual evidence to change the call. Stanford wins in OT as Maldonado misses a 41 yarder and Stanford's 37 yarder is good. Oregon wins the Fiesta and finishes #2 AP. 1. UCLA (1998): 38-41 (OT) #2 UCLA (4-0) versus #11 Oregon (5-0). After Oregon's improbable Rose Bowl run in 1994, three seasons had passed and Oregon looked to be prepared to burst back upon the scene. Akili Smith, Rueben Droughns, Tony Hartley, Damon Griffin, Jed Weaver lead a dangerous skill position group putting up 50.6 points per game and 540 yards. Droughns himself was averaging 165 yards rushing per game at 7.4 ypc. UCLA was on a 14 game winning streak and lead 24-7 at half. Oregon scored 24 straight to lead 31-24 into the 4th. UCLA went back ahead 38-31 but Oregon tied it 38-38 with a Griffin 2 yard TD pass with 0:22 seconds left. Oregon took consecutive sacks in OT for -12 yards then threw an incompletion then a desperation interception. UCLA won it with a FG. Game is partially remembered for Drougns battling for 172 yards on 25 carries; but, played late into the game on a broken leg (he misses the rest of the season). He loses 3 fumbles, all which lead to UCLA TDs and Oregon ends up with 5 TOs. UCLA has a FG blocked and missed another from 21. At the end of the game UCLA head coach Bob Toledo comments, "Wow, that should be worth two wins."

Must agree with Charles. Davison a big dude, against excellent competition, looked pretty fast. LaGarrett Blount comes to mind. Blount, undrafted, lasted 9 years in the NFL and was a part of 3 Super Bowl winners. 6,000+ yards an almost 70 TDs Ds and left the game with a reported $7 million in the bank. It seems like it has been a while since the Ducks have had a hammer. Looking forward to watching where Jordan fits. The Trinity League in SoCal is considered the big stage in high school football.