This analyst in her thinking is flawed. What do you say?

Maldonado isn't wrong in pointing out that the Ducks have a minus-four point differential in the fourth quarter this season. But where she does stray from the truth is in the finer details of that mark, as Oregon was outscored by 11 and seven points in the final stanza by Northwestern and Rutgers, respectively. The Ducks were ahead by a combined 84 points entering the fourth quarter in those games, with the contest effectively over and backups and third-stringers all over the field.

If not for that combined minus-18, Oregon would be plus-14 in the fourth quarter this season, weakening Maldonado's argument.

But at the end of the day, none of this matters to the Ducks. Whether or not they're fragile will be tested in the coming weeks, as they're set to take on No. 17 USC and Washington on the road in the season finale. If they come away with wins in those games, they'll be in the CFP and will have to prove themselves as able to work through chaos and adversity. And if not, their season will be over rather quickly.

Only time will tell if Maldonado is correct. 

Oregon was listed as a fragile team. Her reasoning: "Early execution, but late-game anxiety. The negative fourth-quarter margin says everything (minus-4)."

ESPN/ABC has completely “jumped the shark” this year and has no more credibility when it comes to covering the SEC.

My advice to their top college football analysts would be to leave the network before their professional reputations are permanently damaged.

Someone asked why ESPN is no longer pushing one of their favorite metrics (FPI). Perhaps it’s because the top 3 teams in college football are B1G teams by their own metric?!

ESPN

2025 College Football Power Index - ESPN

View the 2025 College Football power index on ESPN. The FPI is the best predictor of a team's performance going forward for the rest of the season.

Edited Tuesday at 02:13 PM1 day by OregonDucks

Oregon fragile? Now that is something. This is the issue when someone just looks at statistics and doesn’t watch games.

Running for over 7 yards per carry in the pouring rain and beating one of the most physical defenses in the country in the final two minutes just screams “fragile”.

Just now, GeotechDuck said:

Oregon fragile? Now that is something. This is the issue when someone just looks at statistics and doesn’t watch games.

Running for over 7 yards per carry in the pouring rain and beating one of the most physical defenses in the country in the final two minutes just screams “fragile”.

Not to mention the fewest defensive yards allowed per play in all of college football.

Fragile teams roll over when faced with adversity. Oregon is 9-1 and has showed that they can win in any conditions or type of game. Bring it!

Pretty silly. Dante has played a very small percentage of forth quarter minutes due to huge leads.

I think she's just talking specifically about the Penn State, Indiana and Iowa games. She's saying that Oregon hasn't shown the ability to slam the door in the 4th quarter while holding a one-score lead or a tie.

Silly.

A team (🤔) that went 2-7 against opponents they were on par with or exceeded for spending per player on their roster, yet still manage to keep choking, THAT is fragile.

Fragile teams don’t win on the road.

Edited Tuesday at 04:24 PM1 day by JabbaNoBargain

Fragile is the wrong word, I get what she is trying to say, but I wouldn't call them fragile, I'm not sure what the right word would be for what she is getting at. I think Oregon should be a little concerned that they haven't shown an ability to simply slam the door shut in the 4th quarter in close games.

We survived PSU and Iowa, we had opportunities in those games to stamp out any chance for the opposition, but we gave up long drives to both teams after shutting them down for the most part, have to play better in those moments. To Oregon's credit they responded to that adversity by responding and winning the games, we didn't get gifted anything in either game, we earned both wins.

It's just sensationalist writing.

Edited Tuesday at 05:07 PM1 day by spartan2785

Where did Maldonado play her football? I'm certain Mal was the best candidate for the job, right?

Maldonado translated to English = 'ill-favored', or 'badly given.'

I rest my case. 😁

Every Single Prediction Neutered.

On Saturday, I hope no one shows for Pat's prepubescent attempt at humor, a needless kicking contest, a grumpy old coach dropping a cuss word or two because he can, Steve making us all wonder how in Hades he was accepted at Stanford, Des, babbling like a head of Pez, and 'I was the Captain of my Buckeyes team', Herbie, saying he really wants to get behind the B1G but look at the unbiased (🤪) AP rankings.

Just like he got behind undefeated FSU (with a PO knief) and in front of Sweet Home Alabama.

The program has become a parody of itself.

Gentlemen, the volume at which you voice your statements does not improve the value of your statements.

Anyone with that last name has as much success writing, as the field goal kicker for had for Oregon in the big moments. I will never forget a 37 yard FG missed from straight-on, no wind vs. USC in 2011 for the win...

She is pulling a "Canzano," in trying to generate some reactions for her article.

It is too bad ESPN doesn't even try to hide their bias any more in favor of SEC football. They don't use the FPI stat this season because it doesn't fit their narrative. They will use it again, when it agrees with their narrative.

22 minutes ago, Jon Joseph said:

Where did Maldonado play her football? I'm certain Mal was the best candidate for the job, right?

Maldonado translated to English = 'ill-favored', or 'badly given.'

I rest my case. 😁

I thought it was Spanish for "Wide left".

There didn't seem to be much, if any, support info to Mal's arguement or point of view.

I would ask her if she actually watched any of the Duck games or the 3 she commented on?

Most likely she did......or she would have seen, for example the 3's and 4's playing in many 4th quarters. What weak butt commenting.......

As an avid Duck for what feels like centuries, I admit I was disappointed that the team let PSU and Iowa back in the game. CLOSE THESE TEAMS OUT!

However, if anyone watched those games, the word fragile would not come up. PSU, Iowa and Oregon all showed grit, fight and determination. Fortuneately, OBD's prevailed.

The Ducks and IU were tied at 20-20 midway in the 4th. WS had a brain fart 4th quarter on play calling and let his team down. Nothing fragile about that! Just impatience on Steins part. Lame comes to mind!

On this thread the only thing that was fragile was her homework on her comments and my comments.

That fragile article and premise should be on the bulletin board in and out of the Duck locker room.

Go Ducks.....

And yet, Texas A&M is not considered "fragile" even though they had to squeak out a miraculous 1 point victory over a hapless 3 & 6 SC team?

This writer is not only clueless, she is blatantly biased.

And yet, Indiana is not considered "fragile" after allowing a 3 & 6 Penn State team to score 14 points and take the lead in the 4th quarter, with a back up quarterback at the helm?

This writer is...

"These are the teams that look great on paper until you force them to respond to adversity," the description for the fragile teams tier read. "They fade in the second half, shrink in the fourth and survive games but don't control them."

"Oregon was listed as a fragile team. Her reasoning: "Early execution, but late-game anxiety."

Thank you Pamela, for giving Dan Lanning excellent bulletin board material.

ESPN jumped the shark about 15 years ago. They should go back to showing darts and billiards and drop every talking head opinion shoutdown show.

More ESPN Ocho!

Pamela, early execution, late-game anxiety? Please, keep your love life issues to yourself. 😁

Cheer up my Duck brethren.

That article might well have done us a favor. Funny thing about fertilizer...it often has a knack for making the grass even greener.

Almost makes me wonder if it was paid for... 🤔

On 11/18/2025 at 8:47 AM, Jon Joseph said:

Where did Maldonado play her football?

.

22 hours ago, Jon Joseph said:

Pamela, early execution, late-game anxiety? Please, keep your love life issues to yourself. 😁

20 hours ago, bbmichaels said:

Cheer up my Duck brethren.

To everyone on this thread, please stop the obviously gendered insults.

You can make your points without them.

23 hours ago, idontrollonshobbas said:

ESPN jumped the shark about 15 years ago. They should go back to showing darts and billiards and drop every talking head opinion shoutdown show.

More ESPN Ocho!

Curling is their Forte...

1 hour ago, Dr Hilarius said:

please stop the obviously gendered insults.

I'm not easily offended, but I actually take a lot of offense to this. My comment had nothing to do with the gender of the writer, nor was that ever even on my mind. My point was simply that the article will make for motivated players.

Brethren felt like a comical word to use in addressing my fellow posters on this site. My apologies if that made anyone feel left out as that was not my intent. Please substitute buddies or comrades or whichever term you prefer. I literally googled the definition of brethren before I used it, and leaned into the humorous usage shown at the bottom of this post.

But i take offense to the claim that my use of that word in that context makes my comment an "obviously gendered insult."

Dictionary

Definitions from Oxford Languages · Learn more

breth·ren

/ˈbreT͟H(ə)rən/

noun

1. fellow Christians or members of a male religious order.

   • humorous

     people belonging to a particular group.

     "our brethren in the popular press"

Good points by all, and perhaps we leaned into some gender territory a bit much. My Duck-Buddies...we have so few rule violations these days, that it is natural that we all slip-up on occasion. My apologies to all the great female OBD members, and readers.

We all blow-it sometimes, and last week--I addressed something in a thread with an OBD member that should have been done in private, by email. I broke my own protocol, as even the guy who makes the rules...can stumble. (No excuses....I simply forgot as it had been so long!)

We have been correctly notified, and let's move forward, both genders, as passionate Duck fans in a great community.

1 hour ago, bbmichaels said:

members of a male religious order.

‘Nuf said…