It is mid-July, and as I soak in the sun poolside with a cool drink in my hand, I am experiencing the annual conundrum of feeling excited about the beginning of a new football season, while simultaneously not wanting it to arrive too fast, as it signifies the start of the end of summer. I know — first world problems. ...

Ducks Short on "Household Names"

Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this sun of Pigskin. 😁(Sorry, Will.)

Thank you, Darren, for a summary of all the new faces in new places. I would love be with you so I could buy the next round of Mai Tais. In truth, I'd love to flip the calendar to August 30 so I could score my first 2025 OBD football fix. 🤪

This season, many of the preseason projected top teams will see many a newbie on the field on both sides of the ball. Top B1G conference contenders, Ohio State and Oregon, as you so noted, are reloading on both sides of the ball. This is also the case with Texas (although it does seem that Arch-Madness has been here for decades), Georgia, Alabama, and Notre Dame. Notwithstanding the turnover, all of these six teams are among those with the best odds to the 2025-26 title.

Seven of the top ten teams in the updated Sporting News preseason composite rankings will be starting new QBs. Clemson and Penn State return many starters, including experienced QBs, and both check this championship box: In the last eight seasons, no team that returned less than 11 starters has won a title. (I know, I'm one of those guys who loves his stats when he should be in the swimming pool. 😴)

In 2023, the B1G released conference football schedules from the 2024 season through 2028. OBD is fortunate that this season, with only five starters returning, the Ducks have the easiest conference slate of games in this rotation. Four games for the Ducks to get their feet wet before playing Penn State in a night out White Out.

Thanks again, Darren, and Blast the Bobcats!

Matayo for now, the rest will be rolling off our collective tongues, or fingers, soon enough. I can spell Thieneman without looking it up now! A payer named Bear! Makhi Hughes, Dakorien Moore, Dante Moore: Moore to Moore! Of course, Sadiq!!!

A roster full of unknown four star dudes with something to prove. I love it.

Just maybe we have a young enough team that nobody told them they were not supposed to beat favored teams. We have speed, and size, add a little discipline and luck, and we can roll with most teams.

I think we have solid talent, but we need some players to step up into starting roles and hold their ground on defense.