OregonDucks

Georgia looks as good as any team in the country (note: I picked a Georgia vs. Oregon championship game). Unfortunately for them and Ohio State they are both on the same side of the bracket. Right now that looks like it could be an epic semi final and either team can easily win that game. We’ll have to see how everything shakes out.

The SEC teams were playing the players the most money pre-NIL. Now that it’s legal, the playing field has been leveled. That and the transfer portal is why Saint Nick retired - he was no longer guaranteed to have the best roster top to bottom anymore - and he knew that sustained success was going to be much more difficult to achieve.

I blame Nike! Seems like Oregon players have been slipping more than normal this year…

Coach Whittingham said he was stepping down as Utah’s head coach, not that he is retiring. He is reportedly open to coaching again in the future, according to sources close to him (unlikely Canzo). https://www.sltrib.com/sports/utah-utes/2025/12/12/why-utahs-kyle-whittingham-might/

In his final college football playoff prediction, Josh Pate picked Ohio State over Oregon in the national championship game. He said that Oregon is peaking and getting healthy at the right time. Indiana’s DL injury will hurt their chances of beating Oregon a second time but Ohio State is the best overall team. For the record, I would pick Oregon and Georgia to play in the national championship game and believe that that game would be a coin flip on who would win.

You’ve also seen a recent resurgence of NFL QBs who were not successful at their first stop and have found new life on new teams (better organizations). For “older” fans, Steve Young (Tampa Bay to San Francisco) comes to my mind.

Hopefully Coach Dilly stays at Arizona State.

Someone said that Whittingham was open to coaching. It sure it makes sense for Michigan. Maybe 10 years ago…

Lanning was asked how he managed to sign every single commit after BOTH coordinators announced they were leaving and he tells recruits that if Oregon is successful then his coordinators will have opportunities for other jobs and that his goal is to make sure that his coaches and players are able to achieve all of their goals. [Or something along those lines.] Think of the coordinators that have left and where they have gone: • Kenny Dillingham - ASU (alma mater) • Tosh Lupoi - Cal (alma mater) • Will Stein - Kentucky (parents are season ticket holders) It’s not like they are leaving for some random jobs. I’m sure that Coach Lanning is providing advice on the types of programs they should be targeting to be happy and successful.

George Wrighster indicated that he has heard that Sam Leavitt’s teammates do not like him. Luckily Coach Lanning has a pretty good relationship with ASU’s HC so I’m sure he’ll get honest feedback on whether he would be a good locker room fit…

Someone mentioned that Raiola transferred to 4 high schools (played at 3) and committed to 3 college teams before enrolling at Nebraska and playing for 2 years. This indicates that he is restless and is always looking for something else. No, thank you.

Is it just me or does it seem like interest in Oregon from top blue chip recruits, from coast to coast, reached a new level once Coach Lanning turned down the Alabama job? Perhaps it piqued their interest and made them want to check out Oregon for themselves, a little bit more …

I would also add the hiring of Chief of Staff/GM Marshall Malchow, who served in a similar capacity at Texas A+M, Georgia and Alabama. Lanning understands that building a championship-caliber team today goes far beyond the football field. “This isn’t the same college football it was ten years ago,” Lanning recently told reporters. “You’ve got to build an organization, not just a team. And that means having the right people in the building.” https://www.lexsportnews.com/2025/07/14/dan-lanning-talks-gm-model-nil-and-building-a-powerhouse-at-oregon/

I just hope that this isn’t a distraction in the playoffs. Same with both Oregon’s coordinators working 2 jobs.