OregonDucks

Charles: I always look forward to your weekly articles. Can't wait to see your thoughts on this! Happy: No doubt that Burch would have made a difference in this game and Oregon's defensive line did get pressure later in the game. Harmon is unblockable and Matayo was getting in the backfield, especially when Ohio State's OT went down with an unfortunate injury. Perhaps Oregon's coaches didn't think they needed to bring pressure with a healthy line and Burch was injured so late in the week (Thursday?), it was too late by then to make adjustments to the game plan? David: That is correct. By my unofficial count, Ohio State blitzed even less than Oregon did. However, I believe that was more of arrogance on Ohio State's part (i.e., we have an NFL line and no one can block them). I wouldn't be surprised to see more blitzes by Ohio State in a potential rematch, as you can't let DG sit back, comfortably in the pocket, and pick you apart. P.S. - I'm also surprised that we didn't see more DG runs (other than the long TD, which was a brilliant call). Perhaps the coaches are trying to keep him healthy and will unleash him, if Oregon makes the college football playoffs (like we saw with Herbert)?

From what I saw, Oregon rushed 4 defensive lineman most of the night against Ohio State with stunts and a handful of linebacker blitzes mixed in. Is anyone surprised that we didn't see more "simulated pressures" in the Buckeye game that Charles so expertly highlighted in his 2023 article below? Was it because Jordan Burch was out of the game with injury? Were Oregon's coaches concerned with the matchups against Ohio State's running backs and tight ends? I expected a more aggressive defense, in certain situations, in such a big game. Will Howard was comfortable, most of the night, and, when he had time, picked Oregon apart. Of course, if Burch were healthy and full go, it would have been interesting to see if our front 4 would have wrecked more havoc in the game. Thoughts?

FYI, Coach Lanning said that they sent this play in to the B1G Conference, during his press conference this afternoon and the conference admitted that they got the call wrong. Unfortunate that it resulted in an offset to the Ohio State penalty, but at least the conference is B1G enough to admit that they got the call wrong.

Coach Lanning was asked whether the 12 men on the field was intentional during his press conference this afternoon. He didn't outright admit or deny it but said that the team prepares for all situations and you can see the result. LOL. It was totally intentional. Well done, sir. Freakin' genius!

Then they have to go on the road to beat Penn State. Certainly not a gimme.

LOL. Some good ones in there.

Playing those close games early in the season, may have paid dividends in the Ohio State game and going forward. The team is battle tested and has the confidence that they can win a close game. Hopefully, we won't need to the rest of the season (for my heart's sake). Can you say the same about Texas?

No, Ohio State and the officials will blow it, again. Ohio State doesn't lose...

Josh Pate is one, if not my favorite, college football analysts. He loves college football, is well informed and clearly articulates his point of view. College football is lucky to have him covering the sport.

Coach Lanning said that he thought all close calls were automatically reviewed by the review officials and he didn't want to burn a time out so early in the game. I'm sure that Ohio State ran the next play before those upstairs could tell him that he should review the call. Next time, I wonder if he'll hesitate to call a time out...

Kudos to the o-line: No sacks and no fouls against the offensive line against Ohio State!

SCO Ducks!!!

After watching the re-play, Oregon left a lot of points on the field (e.g., missed FG, botched extra point, the wide open play above, the failed 4th and goal conversion where we ran right up the middle for no gain). I'm really impressed with how Oregon matched up against "the most talented team in the history of college football." Derrick Harmon and Matayo Uiagalelei were the best lineman in the game and consistency blew up the line of scrimmage - hurrying the QB or tackling the RB for a loss. Can you imagine what we would have done if Jordan Burch was healthy?! I'm sure that both coaching staffs are confident, if the two teams face off again down the road. Oregon has to continue to get better and play a clean game to beat a program like Ohio State but they proved that they could match up and get the victory on Saturday evening.

Not knowing the clock rules and time management, inside one minute to go, is inexcusable.

Oregon received verbals from two 2026 4-star defensive tackles after the Ohio State game! Must have liked what they saw against the Bucks. And we are not done, yet.... Coach Lanning: "If you see any good players, tell them to come [to Oregon]."

I realize that there are different coaches, with different rules, but if LGB got a second change after punching an opposing player in the face, then I hardly think that spitting in the face of opponent (though disgusting and disrespectful) should be treated more severely. Just my $0.02.

You'd think that someone with half a brain would have seen those results and paused the release of the FPI rankings this week...

Same here. Missing the Ohio State game and writing an apology letter seems like sufficient punishment to me. I hope that he learns from it and moves on.

I respectfully disagree. I just re-watched the entire game. Sure, there might have been some missed calls against the Ducks but please show me the blatant/egregious calls that went against the Bucks. I can point out multiple that went against Oregon: 1. No replay review on Basa's interception in the first quarter 2. Missed defensive/holding PI on Evan Stewart with 7:16 in the first quarter (TV announcer watching the replay: "It looks like a lot of grabbing and holding there.") 3. Offsetting ineligible receiver down the field call on Oregon's offense with 7:16 to go in the 3rd quarter (I'm not a rules expert but I didn't see anything there, neither did the TV announcers, and the player who they called the penalty on wasn't even in the game) The officials also could have called defensive PI on the throw to T. Ferg. in the first quarter, since there was contact, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. There was also the play stoppage to review whether E. Stewart stepped out, when he was clearly in bounds, and Oregon was trying to go up tempo inside the red zone. Luckily, these calls didn't cost Oregon the game but when you are going up against an evenly matched or more talented opponent, it's hard enough to win. The officials need to make the obvious calls/decisions and the questionable/missed/judgement calls should balance out over a 60 minute game. I just don't see the offset to the above missed calls.

Question for those more knowledgable than myself -- wouldn't the man in motion (in this play Tez Johnson) be the first option on this play? I'm surprised the DG only looked inside on this particular play. You also have 2 CBs for 2 WRs (without safety help), which you think you'd like with Oregon's WRs... Hopefully, DG will learn from it, which will only benefit Oregon down the road.

Another questionable call by the refs came at the 7:16 minute mark in the 3rd quarter, when they called an ineligible receiver downfield on Oregon to offset a blatant PI call by Ohio State's defender. The Oregon player they called the penalty against wasn't even in the game, LOL. I'm not a rules expert but the announcers didn't see anything when they watched the replay. Luckily, Oregon converted on 4th down but this is just another example of the refs putting their fingers on the scale to the benefit the traditional B1G power, Ohio State. (Hopefully, Oregon's AD sends these plays into the B1G Conference.)

But in any model overall record should be more important than margin of victory, right? They have a two loss team (Ole Miss) ahead of an undefeated team with two victories over current top 15-20 teams (including the #2 overall team)?

Then with 1:25 remaining in the second quarter down 6, from around mid-field, on 3rd and 9, Coach Stein decides to take another deep shot to Tez Johnson, this time?! Of course, DG sits calmly in the pocket and tosses the pass to Tez in stride like he is playing catch in his backyard. Man, these coaches showed some big ones. I have no issues taking deep shots but the situations they decided to take them were B1G (as failure to convert would have killed drives and possible momentum). Ohio State also had all 3 TOs remaining. Kudos for Oregon's coaching staff for playing to win.

Yes, I can. Their model is clearly broken. There is no way that 7 college football teams are better than Oregon, including one they just beat in a head to head matchup! Does anyone else have 2 victories against current top 20 teams this season?

Rewatching the game, the play call to go deep to Evan Stewart was a ballsy call in the situation by OC Will Stein (note: the TV announcer said that he changed the play at the line of scrimmage, so he must of saw something in the coverage). It was 2nd and 12 on Oregon's 23 yard line, and Oregon was down by 8, early in the second quarter. Ohio State seemed to have all of the momentum at that point. If we missed, it would have been 3rd and 12 against one of the best defenses in the country. Kudos to Stein and Lanning for taking the shot and to DG for putting the ball on the money to an open E Stew. Great play! Then Coach Lanning decides to play dodgeball off the Ohio State up man on the pursuing kickoff. Think they were taking some shots and playing to win?!