Ever since Mike Bellotti was able to recruit mega-donor “Uncle” Phil Knight 30 years ago into the Oregon fold, no “outsider” has won the national championship. When I say “outsider,” I mean a program that is either not a traditional blue-blood program, or at least lacking a rich football history. Tennessee in 1998 is maybe the low man on the ...

Oregon's Biggest Nightmare: Indiana Winning It All

Playing Colorado in the 2002 Fiesta Bowl, rather than Miami in the Rose Bowl (who stomped a Nebraska team that couldn't handle Colorado in their own conference) could easily be on that list many believe that Oregon may have been the only team with a legit shot to be competitive with that Miami squad.

Ask yourself this question. If it's Indiana vs. Alabama in the NCG who are you pulling for? Indiana winning the national championship would prove the point that any team in the country can now win it all. It would mark the official end to the blue blood monopolization of CFB. Therefore, I would have no problem with this the Hoosiers becoming national champions.

Not. Going. To. Happen.

Each season is it's own entity and identity. Different skill sets of players, depth on the squad, different levels of experience for the coaching staff and injuries.

No 2 seasons are alike, no 2 sets of circumstances are alike from year to year.

Cignetti has decades of coaching experience. Dan Lanning is still cutting his teeth! He has had great mentors and is building his pedigree.

Will Stein has great play calls but does not make in game adjust at times. Dante does not have 61 or 62 starts, he has less than 20.

This teams tackles cannot pass block. When the routes come open Dante is already scrambling or sacked.

If IU wins the title, then good for them!

OBD's will win the title eventually. Maybe even this season. However, opportunity and preparedness must meet at the same place and time.

For example, until last seasons format change, tOSU would not have even made the CFP. Ryan Day would have been fired after the Michigan loss. But the Buckeyes were prepared to meet the opportunity that presented itself!

I am just hoping we win out to have an opportunity this season.

Go Ducks....

Indiana is a great team with a great coach and I believe they could beat anybody on any given day. I also think that beaten the best teams in the country week after week would expose depth issues that would be too difficult to over come. If they do manage to make the championship game, then Lanning's streak of only losing to championship game participants since his first year would continue.

My only issue with Indiana winning the title is the fact that in 2004 i went to my friends house to watch my Ducks play his hoosiers. He graduated from IU, loves their basketball team, lives for IU sports. Needless to say, it was not a good day for me.

Now, this year, light smack talking over texts, (hes in Alaska, I am now in Kansas). Once again I suffer through watching OBD fall to the hoosiers.

Granted, it is personal but I don't know if I can live in a world where indiana wins a CFB championship before OBD.

If it came down to IU versus alabama though, there is no way I can root for bama.

Edited 7 hours ago7 hr by ABNMoose

Thanks, Darren.

If OBD doesn't win it all, I definitely want another Big Ten team to win it all. The B1G has won the last two national championships and is disrespected in the final AP Poll before the 1st PO committee poll.

Iowa and UW at 6-2 should both be ranked. Nebraska at 6-2, with a win over No. 17 Cincinnati, has a case for being ranked. Michigan is No. 20, and an SC team that defeated Michigan at No. 23.

Why in Hades did Michigan play a game at Oklahoma and USC a game at Notre Dame? Where would a 6-1 USC with a home game victory against Washington State, and a 7-1 Michigan with a home game victory over Miami of Ohio, be ranked?

Don't laugh. Miami of Ohio is 5-3, 4-0 in the MAC. No. 7 Ole Miss defeated Wazzu in Oxford by three points. No. 15 UVA defeated Washington State at home by two points.

Indiana is ranked 2nd and played the Universities of Thin Air out of conference. Thus, the voters must believe that Indiana's wins in the Big Ten are impressive, right? Wait a minute! Where is the same appreciation for wins by two-loss SC, Iowa, UW, and Nebraska?

All of the 'Experts' believe the B12 will only advance its champion to the playoffs. And five B12 teams are ranked?

What message are the voters in the AP Poll and Coaches Poll sending?

How about: "Tony Petitti's Automatic Qualifier Playoff proposal is the only format that makes sense for the Big Ten conference."

Please pay attention to where Vanderbilt and Texas are ranked after their game this Saturday. Ditto for Oklahoma at Tennessee. Where are 3-loss Texas and Oklahoma ranked? Where is a Tennessee team with two losses at home ranked? How about a 2-loss Vandy? How much of a bump do the Dores get from beating a team that had to go to OT to defeat Kentucky and Mississippi State?

Tony Petitti's format makes B1G sense. The B1G winning, I don't know, five or six championships in a row will advance the B1G above the SEC? Don't count on it. Don't underestimate the influence of ESPN.

On Tuesday night, if the PO Committee follows the AP voting pattern, DUCK!

3 hours ago, woundedknees said:

Playing Colorado in the 2002 Fiesta Bowl, rather than Miami in the Rose Bowl (who stomped a Nebraska team that couldn't handle Colorado in their own conference) could easily be on that list

many believe that Oregon may have been the only team with a legit shot to be competitive with that Miami squad.

Great post. But I am among many who believe that Miami was a great team and a step above all CFB teams that season.

However, I am also among those who know the computers screwed over OBD, and Oregon, based upon humans watching the games played, should have been in that Rose Bowl.

So it goes. The BCS system that screwed Oregon over was changed the next season. The PO format that screwed Oregon over last season was changed by a unanimous vote.

And an Ohio State team OBD defeated in the regular season finishes in fourth place in the Big Ten and wins it all. 🤬 MERCY!

2 minutes ago, Jon Joseph said:

Great post. But I am among many who believe that Miami was a great team and a step above all CFB teams that season.

However, I am also among those who know the computers screwed over OBD, and Oregon, based upon humans watching the games played, should have been in that Rose Bowl.

So it goes. The BCS system that screwed Oregon over was changed the next season. The PO format that screwed Oregon over last season was changed by a unanimous vote.

And an Ohio State team OBD defeated in the regular season finishes in fourth place in the Big Ten and wins it all. 🤬 MERCY!

I totally agree about the strength of Miami, that season...but I also believe that of the three teams, OREGON was the only squad that potentially had a puncher chance to be competitive, or even defeat Miami that year.

Losing that earlier game kept the world from learning the truth.

It gave the computer an excuse...

How Nebraska ended up in that game still infuriates me.

Edited 6 hours ago6 hr by woundedknees

1 hour ago, OregonDucks said:

Not. Going. To. Happen.

I get your POV, but please get back to me after the Big Ten Championship game. I have not seen a dominant, sure thing CFB title winner this season.

I have watched Indiana show up and win every game, including road games at a should-be-ranked Iowa and No. 6 OBD, with the opponents playing good defense and without its offense firing on all cylinders. Ohio State is the other most consistent team I have watched.

The Texas A&M defense was rolled over in South Bend and by Arkansas.

If not Oregon (or BYU, my 1b team), then I'm rooting for Indiana to win it all . . . or some other relative underdog.

Indiana's story is too similar to Oregon's to not root for them. A HC "savant" with a coaching staff that's been together for years at multiple teams. Shows how continuity, consistency, scouting, and development can make an impact and overcome programs with far superior talent and resources . . . such a cool story.

Wouldn't Clemson be considered part of the "outsider" group to win the championship? At least relating to the last few decades?

21 minutes ago, Jon Joseph said:

If OBD doesn't win it all, I definitely want another Big Ten team to win it all.

Darren...your ponderings gave me indigestion from the thought of IU winning it all. But in the end...I agree with Jon's point above...

Frankly... Yeah it would suck to see Indiana win it all in year two of their coaching change.

Oregon has been toiling to get the pieces put together to make a run at it for decades and hasn't gotten it done yet. Indiana as an institution has not done that, they made one great hire which is at times all it takes.

I think Ohio State will probably prove too much for them when they meet in the B1G championship. I don't see either team losing two games and missing out on that game at this point. I think Oregon can only sneak in at this point if Ohio State drops a game and Oregon wins a tie breaker against them as Indiana owns the direct tie breaker on us.

I don't feel confident Oregon makes much of a run in the playoff this year but I also feel there is an extra gear or two just waiting to be found for this time. If they can unlock that then the Ducks absolutely could do it. I think we are seeing Indiana at full form and they've been at full form all year.

I wouldn't be surprised if we meet Indiana against this year and beat them.

Doesn't even make my top 10 nightmare natty teams:

1. Fuskies (obvious reasons)

2. Domers (perennially overrated)

3. Miami (obvious reasons)

4. tOSU (still sick of the "Pac-1" jokes when USC was dominant)

5. Rodents (sure never gonna happen, but man would that suck)

6. USC (see Domers)

7. Scumbag programs like FSU, LSU, etc.

8. Georgia/Alabama, they don't need any more

9. Indiana or any other progrum not OBD that doesn't have a natty

Edited 6 hours ago6 hr by noDucknewby

3 hours ago, woundedknees said:

Playing Colorado in the 2002 Fiesta Bowl, rather than Miami in the Rose Bowl (who stomped a Nebraska team that couldn't handle Colorado in their own conference) could easily be on that list many believe that Oregon may have been the only team with a legit shot to be competitive with that Miami squad.

Yes, that one crossed my mind, but the Ducks technically were not in the "championship game," although they should have been. Of course, that Miami team was loaded, the Ducks woulda had a punchers' chance, but also a chance at getting totally blown out.

2 hours ago, DrJacksPlaidPants said:

Ask yourself this question. If it's Indiana vs. Alabama in the NCG who are you pulling for? Indiana winning the national championship would prove the point that any team in the country can now win it all. It would mark the official end to the blue blood monopolization of CFB. Therefore, I would have no problem with this the Hoosiers becoming national champions.

I would, I would root for the Hoosiers. But, also with a great feeling of "crap, it wasn't us."

2 hours ago, OregonDucks said:

Not. Going. To. Happen.

Probably not, Ohio State still looks dominate. But, they have the dawgs at the line of scrimmage, so they have chance.

2 hours ago, HappyToBeADuck said:

Each season is it's own entity and identity. Different skill sets of players, depth on the squad, different levels of experience for the coaching staff and injuries.

No 2 seasons are alike, no 2 sets of circumstances are alike from year to year.

Cignetti has decades of coaching experience. Dan Lanning is still cutting his teeth! He has had great mentors and is building his pedigree.

Will Stein has great play calls but does not make in game adjust at times. Dante does not have 61 or 62 starts, he has less than 20.

This teams tackles cannot pass block. When the routes come open Dante is already scrambling or sacked.

If IU wins the title, then good for them!

OBD's will win the title eventually. Maybe even this season. However, opportunity and preparedness must meet at the same place and time.

For example, until last seasons format change, tOSU would not have even made the CFP. Ryan Day would have been fired after the Michigan loss. But the Buckeyes were prepared to meet the opportunity that presented itself!

I am just hoping we win out to have an opportunity this season.

Go Ducks....

Yup, the change to a playoff has altered the equation.

2 hours ago, The Kamikaze Kid said:

Indiana is a great team with a great coach and I believe they could beat anybody on any given day. I also think that beaten the best teams in the country week after week would expose depth issues that would be too difficult to over come. If they do manage to make the championship game, then Lanning's streak of only losing to championship game participants since his first year would continue.

Yeah, The Hoosiers will need to stay healthy.

1 hour ago, ABNMoose said:

My only issue with Indiana winning the title is the fact that in 2004 i went to my friends house to watch my Ducks play his hoosiers. He graduated from IU, loves their basketball team, lives for IU sports. Needless to say, it was not a good day for me.

Now, this year, light smack talking over texts, (hes in Alaska, I am now in Kansas). Once again I suffer through watching OBD fall to the hoosiers.

Granted, it is personal but I don't know if I can live in a world where indiana wins a CFB championship before OBD.

If it came down to IU versus alabama though, there is no way I can root for bama.

I feel your pain. Indiana "having our number" though is kind of like us having Michigan's number right now. Hopefully, that continues next year.

41 minutes ago, Jon Joseph said:

Thanks, Darren.

If OBD doesn't win it all, I definitely want another Big Ten team to win it all. The B1G has won the last two national championships and is disrespected in the final AP Poll before the 1st PO committee poll.

Iowa and UW at 6-2 should both be ranked. Nebraska at 6-2, with a win over No. 17 Cincinnati, has a case for being ranked. Michigan is No. 20, and an SC team that defeated Michigan at No. 23.

Why in Hades did Michigan play a game at Oklahoma and USC a game at Notre Dame? Where would a 6-1 USC with a home game victory against Washington State, and a 7-1 Michigan with a home game victory over Miami of Ohio, be ranked?

Don't laugh. Miami of Ohio is 5-3, 4-0 in the MAC. No. 7 Ole Miss defeated Wazzu in Oxford by three points. No. 15 UVA defeated Washington State at home by two points.

Indiana is ranked 2nd and played the Universities of Thin Air out of conference. Thus, the voters must believe that Indiana's wins in the Big Ten are impressive, right? Wait a minute! Where is the same appreciation for wins by two-loss SC, Iowa, UW, and Nebraska?

All of the 'Experts' believe the B12 will only advance its champion to the playoffs. And five B12 teams are ranked?

What message are the voters in the AP Poll and Coaches Poll sending?

How about: "Tony Petitti's Automatic Qualifier Playoff proposal is the only format that makes sense for the Big Ten conference."

Please pay attention to where Vanderbilt and Texas are ranked after their game this Saturday. Ditto for Oklahoma at Tennessee. Where are 3-loss Texas and Oklahoma ranked? Where is a Tennessee team with two losses at home ranked? How about a 2-loss Vandy? How much of a bump do the Dores get from beating a team that had to go to OT to defeat Kentucky and Mississippi State?

Tony Petitti's format makes B1G sense. The B1G winning, I don't know, five or six championships in a row will advance the B1G above the SEC? Don't count on it. Don't underestimate the influence of ESPN.

On Tuesday night, if the PO Committee follows the AP voting pattern, DUCK!

Some deep insight, appreciate it, Jon!

22 minutes ago, WTD25 said:

If not Oregon (or BYU, my 1b team), then I'm rooting for Indiana to win it all . . . or some other relative underdog.

Indiana's story is too similar to Oregon's to not root for them. A HC "savant" with a coaching staff that's been together for years at multiple teams. Shows how continuity, consistency, scouting, and development can make an impact and overcome programs with far superior talent and resources . . . such a cool story.

Wouldn't Clemson be considered part of the "outsider" group to win the championship? At least relating to the last few decades?

Yeah, I though about Clemson, but I always thought they kinda had the national name recognition like other blue bloods. More of a gut feeling by me. And, they did win it all in 1981. I put UW in the same vein, hence didn't mention them as an "outsider" who played in the championship game. Subjective for sure.

It would be difficult to stomach Indiana taking the crown this year. It just doesn't make sense to me. First of all, I don't think they're really in the great team category. But this year, no team really is. Every contender has flaws. Every single one. But to watch Indiana get more hype than OBD usually does infuriates me. Indiana or Bama, I'd have to swallow hard to root for the Hoosiers, but I already believe Bama is top three if not the best. I don't want to see an SEC team win a title for 15 more years, so Hoosier Daddy? is my moniker if they get there.

Sorry GatOrlando and Nevada Dog, I like both teams, but I am so sick of eSECpn hyping the conference to the degree even the eye test is being overlooked. The SEC is still Bama and Georgia until proven otherwise, and NO I DO NOT BELIEVE A&M is going to win a Natty.

Great article Darren...as usual

28 minutes ago, Charles Fischer said:

Darren...your ponderings gave me indigestion from the thought of IU winning it all. But in the end...I agree with Jon's point above...

If I'm giving folks stomach issues then I know I'm doing my job! 😁

27 minutes ago, David Marsh said:

Frankly... Yeah it would suck to see Indiana win it all in year two of their coaching change.

Oregon has been toiling to get the pieces put together to make a run at it for decades and hasn't gotten it done yet. Indiana as an institution has not done that, they made one great hire which is at times all it takes.

I think Ohio State will probably prove too much for them when they meet in the B1G championship. I don't see either team losing two games and missing out on that game at this point. I think Oregon can only sneak in at this point if Ohio State drops a game and Oregon wins a tie breaker against them as Indiana owns the direct tie breaker on us.

I don't feel confident Oregon makes much of a run in the playoff this year but I also feel there is an extra gear or two just waiting to be found for this time. If they can unlock that then the Ducks absolutely could do it. I think we are seeing Indiana at full form and they've been at full form all year.

I wouldn't be surprised if we meet Indiana against this year and beat them.

Agree, and of course NIL makes it easier to get good fast. As you said, the Ducks can get better, but will they? Hmmmmm.....

28 minutes ago, noDucknewby said:

Doesn't even make my top 10 nightmare natty teams:

1. Fuskies (obvious reasons)

2. Domers (perennially overrated)

3. Miami (obvious reasons)

4. tOSU (still sick of the "Pac-1" jokes when USC was dominant)

5. Rodents (sure never gonna happen, but man would that suck)

6. USC (see Domers)

7. Scumbag programs like FSU, LSU, etc.

8. Georgia/Alabama, they don't need any more

9. Indiana or any other progrum not OBD that doesn't have a natty

I like your style! It's kinda like mine.

10 minutes ago, Mike West said:

It would be difficult to stomach Indiana taking the crown this year. It just doesn't make sense to me. First of all, I don't think they're really in the great team category. But this year, no team really is. Every contender has flaws. Every single one. But to watch Indiana get more hype than OBD usually does infuriates me. Indiana or Bama, I'd have to swallow hard to root for the Hoosiers, but I already believe Bama is top three if not the best. I don't want to see an SEC team win a title for 15 more years, so Hoosier Daddy? is my moniker if they get there.

Sorry GatOrlando and Nevada Dog, I like both teams, but I am so sick of eSECpn hyping the conference to the degree even the eye test is being overlooked. The SEC is still Bama and Georgia until proven otherwise, and NO I DO NOT BELIEVE A&M is going to win a Natty.

Great article Darren...as usual

Thanks, Mike. I agree with your points. I always root against the SEC. But, if Vanderbilt played Ohio State, I would go for Vandy!

40 minutes ago, Darren Perkins said:

Probably not, Ohio State still looks dominate. But, they have the dawgs at the line of scrimmage, so they have chance.

FWIW - The most recent odds from Bet MGM to win the 2025-26 championship.

Ohio State +250

Indiana +700

Alabama +800

OBD, Georgia Notre Dame +1000

Miami +1500

Ole Miss, Texas Tech +2000

Vanderbilt +2500

Texas +4000 - Bet MGM has Texas -2.5 at home vs. Vanderbilt on Saturday.

NOTE - Ohio State is odds-on to win it all by a large margin. Have we returned to: Defense Wins Championships?

Ohio State's D under Matt Patricia (not Jim Knowles 😁) is posting historic numbers on defense with four games left to play - Penn State, at Purdue, UCLA, and at Michigan 🙃.

Indiana's remaining B1G opponents, at Maryland, at Penn State, Wisconsin, and at Purdue, are 1-17 in conference play.

There will have to be one or two major upsets for the Buckeyes and the Hoosiers not to meet in Indianapolis on December 6th, with the after-market ticket prices through the enclosed stadium roof.

🤑🤑🤑

1 hour ago, Darren Perkins said:

I feel your pain. Indiana "having our number" though is kind of like us having Michigan's number right now. Hopefully, that continues next year.

Michigan visits Autzen next season. 😎 Which is nice.

Is the Apocalypse near? A Trojan Wire writer acknowledging that OBD is one of the B1G 3? 😇

And Indiana will win it all! Whoa Traveler!

But wait a minute! Oregon will not make the PO? Thanks, now I won't have to move into the bunker. 😁

https://trojanswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/2025/10/29/winners-losers-week-9-big-ten-football/86953071007/?utm_source=smg-trojanswire-strada&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SMGbaseline&

3 hours ago, HappyToBeADuck said:

Cignetti has decades of coaching experience. Dan Lanning is still cutting his teeth!

THAT!!!

I wouldn't feel bad at all if Indiana won it all this year. Cignetti is an awesome coach who wins! (Google him.)

Dan Lanning is still learning.

We have compared Dante Moore to Nix and Gabriel and concluded that Moore needs Moore experience to be on their level.

We can't say the same thing about Lanning comparing him to coaches who have had a couple decades of winning coaching practice???

I am rooting for the Ducks all the way... but if Indiana wins it.... GOOD FOR THEM!

I think most Ducks fans would have basically the same feeling Lions, Browns and Bills fans had when the Seahawks and Buccaneers won their first super bowls.

Oregon's biggest nightmare?

• How about "Dan Lanning Hired by Penn State"?

• How about "Phil Knight Embraces Scientology?"

• How about "Dakorian Moore, Jordan Davison portal to Ohio State"?

• How about "Huskies beat Oregon by FG, Join Playoff, Oregon to Play Houston in Alamo Bowl"?

Maybe my nightmares are worse than others?

In seriousness though:

"If Indiana (or any other 'outside' program) does win a national championship before the Ducks, Oregon fans will be left slack-jawed and misty-eyed, crying, 'That should have been us!'."

If Indiana, or Vanderbilt, or Texas Tech wins it all, good for them. It would be fine quite possibly enjoyable to see Indiana beat Alabama or Vanderbilt beat Ohio State.

It wouldn't have that much to do with Oregon. Oregon would have had its chances and not got it done. It happens. The system has now significantly changed. Someone else adapting faster and getting there first? Sure. Absolutely possible. Good for them.

As a Duck fan I have never felt Oregon was inherently owed to be the next "breakthrough National Champion". You have to win it or what's the point? No crying. 🙂

Next year-not this year. No worries here.

5 hours ago, Mike West said:

It would be difficult to stomach Indiana taking the crown this year. It just doesn't make sense to me. First of all, I don't think they're really in the great team category. But this year, no team really is. Every contender has flaws. Every single one. But to watch Indiana get more hype than OBD usually does infuriates me. Indiana or Bama, I'd have to swallow hard to root for the Hoosiers, but I already believe Bama is top three if not the best. I don't want to see an SEC team win a title for 15 more years, so Hoosier Daddy? is my moniker if they get there.

Sorry GatOrlando and Nevada Dog, I like both teams, but I am so sick of eSECpn hyping the conference to the degree even the eye test is being overlooked. The SEC is still Bama and Georgia until proven otherwise, and NO I DO NOT BELIEVE A&M is going to win a Natty.

Great article Darren...as usual

How about , "Hoosier DUCKY"?