GatOrlando

Thirteen years ago this guy was seen as the future. There was a large push to hire him in Gainesville following Urban's departure. Looking back at his success, and his recruiting classes ranging from the high 20's to low 30's, he would have been what Mullen turned out to be. Dan was pulling in top 20 classes, but he succeeded with scheme. Urban Meyer was an ace recruiter, but he needed Dan to run the offense. I ask you, my friends at Oregon. Was Chip overated? How well did he recruit, and if he had never left Oregon. Would he have gotten you that elusive championship by now?

There is a bias against Washington and Oregon. I would say the west coast, but USC would be top four, probably number one if they were undefeated. Of course they would have a road win against Notre Dame, and wins against top 25 squads Arizona, Washington, Utah, and Oregon. Moving to the B1G will help Oregon and Washington far more than USC. USC had the world in it's hand's. They wanted more money, exposure, and to leave Oregon behind. As Meatloaf said "Two out of three ain't bad." I don't know if USC will agree. Perhaps they'll hire Phil Parker as their new defensive coordinator. He's an Ohio guy, but USC is now in the B1G. Maybe he'll bring that Midwestern grit.

At some point when things appear equal, you have to ask yourself who is better. Texas has struggled against Kansas, Kansas State, and will have lost to a three loss Oklahoma if both make it to the Big 12 title game. Oregon has sandblasted everyone, and will have avenged their only loss if both Washington and Oregon win out . Texas has QB issues with Ewers lingering injury. But yes, Texas did schedule a game at Alabama . The committee obviously feels this is important. How else could they justify having Ohio State at number one the first two weeks? It's the main reason Florida State is ahead of Washington. Florida State beat LSU in their first game. Washington pounded Michigan State on the road. LSU is much better than Michigan State. I feel this is the reason the playoff should have been 8 teams all along. Most years you have this argument, and there were five power conferences heading into 2014. So there was always going to be one left out, even if their champion was worthy. There are eight squads that have a legitimate claim this year. Georgia Ohio State Michigan Florida State Washington Oregon Texas Alabama After that you start getting into squads like Louisville that lost to a two win Pitt.

I think the cleanest option is Georgia winning out. Ohio State/Michigan winning out, Florida State winning out. Washington/Oregon winning out. Georgia is either the one or two seed. Ohio State/Michigan is whatever Georgia isn't. Undefeated Washington is third seed, one loss Oregon is four seed. Florida State is whatever Washington/Oregon isn't. Texas is five, Ohio State/Michigan is six. The rest is irrelevant at that point. A real headache occurs if Alabama wins out, Texas wins out, and Washington loses a nail biter to Oregon. A one loss Ohio State with a narrow loss at Michigan. At that point you have one seed Michigan, two seed Florida State as the lone undefeated squads. Then you have one loss Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Washington, and Ohio State. Georgia has one narrow loss to Alabama, Ohio State has one narrow loss to one seed Michigan.. Washington has one narrow loss to Oregon, but also a win over them. Then you have Texas with a loss to Oklahoma, but a double digit win at Alabama. Then you have a one loss Alabama that has just beat Georgia to win the SEC. Washington would have a great argument, saying their only loss is to the very team they already beat. So again the easiest path would be three undefeated squads, possibly four. But if Oregon knocks off Washington, it's over imo. Washington would still likely trumpet their lone loss as nullyfing due to the going 1-1. But Oregon would have the conference title, and it would be on a neutral field. Plus all the stats tell us Oregon is better.

Can't see a one loss Oregon get left out, if Oregon State beats Washington then it's two straight top ten wins to end the year. A one loss Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan without a conference title isn't getting in ahead of Oregon. Neither is Texas. Nobody can tell me Texas is better than Oregon right now.

Oregon State is in the same league as Iowa State, and Washington State. I was gonna say Oklahoma State and Kansas State as well, but those two have stacked good years together. Let's just be real here. Oklahoma, Iowa, Oregon, and Washington will never feel like their state brethren is anywhere near their level. Oklahoma left their "brothers", Iowa surely wouldn't vouch for Iowa State to get into the B1G. Oregon State has had a good two year run. Ranked tenth, they could ruin the season of Oregon if the Ducks aren't careful. But they lost two games to teams they shouldn't have beaten. If they were undefeated right now, GameDay would be in Corvallis. But they gotta do the thing where they say GameDay is for everybody, even James Madison.

The transfer portal has allowed Washington and Oregon to be title contenders this year. But both Penix and Nix weren't seen as sure things. You gotta give credit to the programs having talent evaluators , and coaches who made them better. Schools like Texas, Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama, and Oklahoma have seen prized recruits leave through the portal, they stack five stars. Arch Manning is likely next on that list. I don't think it's pure luck landing a guy like Manning, Ewers, Hurts, Williams, Fields, Murray, or one of Ohio State's backup. It's just an extended recruitment. At Florida we got Mertz through the portal. No offense to the young man, he plays hard. But he isn't a guy that was ever gonna become the next Joe Burrow. Penix is a Florida kid, we also could have gotten Gabriel from UCF. But we didn't. Dabo Sweeney is learning that this transfer portal thing isn't going away. Florida State supplemented a'lot of guys from the portal, that's one of the reasons they have made such a turnaround the last couple years. I don't buy much stock in luck, some yes.

I think six power leagues was perfect. I bet Miami is nostalgic about the Big East. With this upcoming twelve team playoff you could have the top four champions get a bye. The two lowest ranked power 6 champions would be assured a home playoff game. Assuming a'lot here. Top 4 would be Georgia, Michigan, Florida State, and Oregon. First week playoff games would be Texas hosting as the Big 12 Champion. Louisville hosting as the Big East Champion. Ohio State hosting as the top ranked at large. Washington hosting as the second highest at large. Tulane plays at Texas Penn State plays at Louisville Oklahoma plays at Ohio State Missouri plays at Washington

I doubt the B1G wanted any of the logistics nightmares they now have. The SEC didn't want to expand, Texas came to them. It was the upcoming television deal that convinced these leagues to expand. It's a cool idea to be coast to coast I guess, but it's just a headache for all the office people trying to create even schedules, protect rivalries, and have compelling matchups every year. The B1G has done a good job imo, but imagine all the work and research that's come from creating two versions of that flex schedule. First in July, then last month.

As Charles has said over and over again on here. Enjoy this season, you have what may be your most complete team ever, and you guys are recruiting at a top ten pace. You are going to the B1G, not the Big 12. So what if Texas A&M wants your coach. They have money, so do you. They have "potential" being based in Texas. But recruiting isn't the issue. History? They have 777 total wins, 3 national titles, and 2 Heisman winners. Oregon has 703 total wins, 0 national titles, and one Heisman winner. I don't know how relevant those titles they claim since they were won before I was born. Minnesota has seven titles btw. At some point a guy is gonna realize he can win where he's at. You guys lost Mario because he's a Miami guy. I would be concerned if Alabama or Georgia came calling perhaps, but nobody else. Getting back to the start of my post though. Enjoy the good times now. Soak it in, watch the games with your kids, friends, or crazy Eddie. In ten years this is gonna be a season you feel nostalgic for. Too many times in life we don't enjoy the moment, we are too busy working towards the future, or clamoring for the past. Today is yesterday's future, it's tomorrow's past. Roll on, but enjoy every second of it my friends. It's a great time to be a Duck football fan. You can always make more money, but you can't ever buy more time.

Outcome of the game isn't in doubt imo. Real question is does USC get one stop the whole game? Over/Under on 3 stops?

Oregon pulls away in the 4th. Puddles better get ready for some pushups. Oregon 56 USC 30.

Enjoy this time my friends. Success is never guaranteed, unless you're Nick Saban. Clemson fans are feeling this. Notre Dame, Miami, Nebraska, USC, Texas, Michigan, Florida, LSU, Florida State have all fired multiple coaches. But do the one thing that's eluded you, and the one thing USC fans will always point to as the reason they are so superior. Win the National Title!!!! Beat Ohio State or Michigan in the semifinal. Then beat the crap out of Florida State or Georgia in the Championship game. You can do it, not next year, or down the road. Do it this year!!! Do it convincingly as well. Let Puddles show off that championship to all your new conference mates, and your three old ones that are going with you. "Heck with you Brutus Buckeye, Hal-in Husky, Tommy Trojan, Bobby Bruin, Walter Wolverine. This is Puddles Pond Now!!!!"

Is it harder for a defensive minded head coach to have a great offense, or vice versa? Alabama has changed it's philosophy from Saban's early years to now. Ohio State has seemingly flipped back to pre Urban days with this year's squad. Great recruiting helps obviously, but USC tried to get a quick fix with the portal. They've actually regressed. If I were USC, I would go after Parker at Iowa. Look at what Knowles has done for Ryan Day. Jokes aside, look at what Harbaugh has done. Finally using a 21st century offense. Clemson has fallen back since they lost Venables, and Dabo being a dummy that refuses to adapt. Lincoln Riley needs to go get somebody that can bring a toughness he doesn't provide.

If I were to rank teams based off seeing them for a half of a football game. Oregon would be my number one. Quarterback? Bo Nix is a first round talent. Coaching? Sure Lanning makes mistakes, but his team starts fast, and they close the door. Defense? Fast, physical, made a Utah squad that just put up over fifty, look like a Brian Ferentz coached Hawkeye squad. In SLC btw. Michigan would be the other squad I would put in there, except for the fact they haven't beaten anybody yet. I also expect this story to keep growing off the field, and that is going to be a distraction when they play somebody with equal to superior talent. Ohio State starts off too slow, and Kyle McCord just isn't good enough imo. Defense is, they are really good. Georgia is always my go to, but they haven't looked as dominant as Oregon. Still the betting favorites. Washington has gone undefeated, but looked far less impressive. In a rematch I see them losing to Oregon. Florida State just isn't consistent enough to me. The ACC is terrible as well.

Yeah, he was given the mandate of averaging at least twenty points a game this season. At least that's what I heard. Hawkeye fans are at a crossroads right now. They know their slate is getting much tougher starting next year, but they don't know if they really want new leadership heading into the unknown. They've had some of the easiest paths to the conference title game with the three heavies in the East, but have made only two. Winning none. Next year there are no divisions. They're recruiting level is actually around where Washington is. But their offense is rated in the 100's. USC on the other hand has top ten classes, yet they can't field a top fifty defense? It's gonna be interesting to see who fixes their issues best this off-season. My only regret is we won't see a Grinch defense vs a B. Ferentz offense. This year a tilt between Iowa and USC would be the open gate vs the limping horse.

As bad as Grinch is at defense, there is an offensive coordinator in your new conference that had to be fired by the A.D because he was the coach's son. I won't name him, but fans are rejoicing at his announced removal last week.

Colorado is getting another primetime game against Oregon State as we speak.

The Big 12 could eliminate itself this weekend. Kansas State has the ability to knockoff Texas. Oklahoma State has made a nice comeback from 2-2 and getting beat by South Alabama 38-6. They have won four in a row, this is also the last Bedlam game for the foreseeable future. So watch out for the Cowboys to knock off the Sooners. LSU could eliminate Alabama. Georgia has a tough game against Missouri, but they are the one team that could most easily absorb a loss. As long as they win out. Florida State likely only has Louisville standing in their way. Ohio State and Michigan will fight it out for a spot. That leaves one spot. Washington wins out and they're in. Oregon wins out and they're in. My guess is Oregon takes the rematch in Vegas. Oregon made the first ever four team playoff. They'll make the last four team playoff. Florida State and Ohio State also made the first ever four team playoff. If Alabama wins out..... Well you know. In short I agree with Herbstreit. This is the best Oregon team since 2010. Finish the job and go into your new future with your first ever National Championship!!! I'll be rooting for you against the sign stealers, the bucknuts, or our two biggest rivals.

À,The NCAA having balls? They have baseballs, basketballs, volleyballs, footballs, soccer balls, and water polo balls in their offices. Regarding governance.... We all know they have selective courage. North Carolina basketball for two hundred Alex. They won't force the SEC, or B1G into anything. Look at the pandemic season. SEC played the whole year, the B1G reversed course, played half a season. The NCAA doesn't own a pair of boots, they have Elmo light ups that little kids wear on their first day of preschool.

Oregon isn't the blueblood program that Michigan is. But is that really a hindrance anymore. Oregon has facilities, big-time boosters, a good fan base, nil money, and a history of putting kids into the NFL. Oregon is now a B1G member(well next year). You guys lost your last two guys to Miami and FSU. It's a Florida thing with those guys. I can't really explain it, but there's a pride thing when you grow up in the state, or play for one of the big three programs there. Lanning isn't a Michigan man right? You aren't going to be relegated to Peach TV. Peacock sure, every program has to go on there once or twice. But you'll be on CBS, NBC, FOX, and sometimes the B1G Network. You've got your guy. Just watch out for guys that look suspicious claiming to be Oregon staffers. Many great fake mustaches are available today.

Your 2010 team scored 611 points, while allowing only 243. You had the 24th rated SOS. That was the year Stanford finished number 4, and went 12-1. You had your first ever undefeated regular season, and got your first ever #1 AP ranking. People seem to forget that team, to me this year's team reminds me a lot more of that squad. Your defense held Cam Newton down pretty much the entire game, and lost on a last second field goal.

Don't worry, Utah is gonna be in the B1G sooner or later. At least that's what Kyle Whittingham keeps insinuating. I personally think they are in a prime position to run the Big 12. Most fans are awesome in person btw. I've gone to games against Ohio State, Michigan, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida State(as a student there). All great people in my experience.

Just finish the job this time!!! This year's team is built to beat physical teams like Georgia, Michigan, or Ohio State. That 2014 had more flash, but Ezekiel Elliot wore that defense down in the second half. I don't see that happening this year. You guys are better than '14, or '10 imo.

Billy is doing everything he said. He said he would cultivate relationships with high school coaches in the state. He's done that. It just sucks getting pounded on the field by Georgia again. But he said it would take three years to build the talent up. I said it would take a win over somebody we weren't supposed to beat to show progress. Tennessee was that win. Beating FSU would be a much greater catapult though. Fingers crossed.