What is the minimum Oregon has to do for you to consider the season a success?

I ask this question now because I assume most of us would have been disappointed with the season had the Ducks not made the playoffs. Now that they have, I'll bet there's a little more diversity of thought about how to define a successful season.

Winning one playoff game isn't enough for me. I view the game against JMU as a "non-conference warm-up game". If this game is anything less than a warm-up game (i.e., close game), I have far bigger concerns.

Winning two playoff games is my minimum requirement to consider the year a success. The Ducks can't go out against a BIG 12 team; can't happen.

The Ducks need to make it to the Semi-Final game . . . otherwise I'll be a Negative Nancy.

Edited 8 hours ago8 hr by WTD25

How can making the CFP not be termed a successful season? I certainly consider this team and season a success.

Now a second season begins of post season playoff games. The only success in post season is to win the title. I will term two wins as “a good showing” in the playoffs. Beyond that a “final four finish, runner-up, or a national championship winner”.

It is what it is, and is pretty straight forward.

Even though I am a rabid fan who wants very much for OBD to become the national champions, for me, a successful season is graduating young men of character. I am happy for the program if that happens.

Well, obviously the goal is a national championship, so anything less brings with it a bit of disappointment. Oregon has one of the best coaches and is one of the top programs in the country, so not winning it all should bring a little disappointment.

However, I do think getting to the semifinals should be considered a successful season, so long as Oregon is competitive in said semifinal game. I can’t imagine that Oregon wouldn’t be competitive in any game, so long as they don’t just have an uncharacteristically terrible game.

So for on the field success, I say get to the semifinals. While in truth I’ll be a bit disappointed for the Ducks if they don’t win it all.

One thing I’d love to see but is also my worst nightmare is Oregon and UGA playing for it all! If that happens I’ll be much worse than a nervous wreck come January 19th!😂 I do very much hope it happens though!!!

This season has already been a success! 11 B1G wins to one B1G loss (to the #1 ranked team no less). Our OC and DC both get hired as HC at KY and at Cal.

Respect from CF talking heads. Home game in the CFP, Multiple players selected to all B1G teams. Outstanding recruiting class on tap.

Every win from here on is just icing on the cake!

Sure, I’d love to see a string of wins in a run to the Natty, but the 2025 version of OBD has already delivered us fans a very successful season.

That is a good question and my answer is one that I had planned on stating in a previous topic "Semifinals or Bust for the Ducks". Since you have asked the direct question of "Define success for Oregon" I will state my opinion here.

I will always feel Oregon had a successful season if OBD makes the playoffs. I never want to become a fan that thinks OBD had a bad season when they have an 11-1 regular season record with the only loss being to the #1 team in the country.

I also feel OBD can have a successful season but end up with a disappointing playoff finish. If we lose to JMU, I will be disappointed but I will still consider it a successful season.

In 2016, while watching the hated UW stomp OBD 70-21, I wondered if we would ever see the glory days of Chip Kelly again. Now that Dan Lanning has us consistently in playoff contention, I will consider a playoff appearance as a successful season and be thankful that OBD recovered from that horrible day.

Being that I have a "fairly low" definition of a successful season, that being Ten wins each and every season before any playoff concideration, this is my thoughts.

Looking at the youth of this team. The loss of both OC and DC coordinators, who have been here for a few years. Lanning still "learning?" the aspects and nuances of playoff football at the NFL-Lite level as The Head Coach. The fact you have to win 4 games vs. the two or single game on the previous iterations of the "playoffs" to be crowned champion. All this makes it that I would be satisfied and concider it a success when the Ducks reach the semifinals and are two games away from that elusive Natty.

Honestly, I thought our run would be next year but if there is any true "dark horse" in this year's playoffs that has the ability to plow through to the National Championship, It Be Our Beloved Ducks!

(Then we can make Next Year our first "repeat champion" of the D. Lanning era. 😁)

🦆🏈🪨'S

Psychologically, the previous year is always the baseline for determining success, and we always want to do better the next time.

So par for the course is losing in the quarterfinals AGAIN, and I'd be really disappointed. So success to me is winning a quarterfinalists game or better.

It won't be enough to stop other fans from calling us the zeros, but I don't really care.

I think we are a legit 5 seed, and would be favored to beat all but 4 teams. Texas Tech’s schedule seems less daunting playing in the BIG 12. Therefore, I truly would like to see us advance to the Peach Bowl.

Whether we win the Peach Bowl comes down to whether DM learned anything about handling pressure from the Indiana game. If he has become a better QB because of that game, then we are a formidable team, if not then there is always next year.

As I said in the other post, it’s all about context.

Going into the year without any context, I was expecting 10-2 with a home playoff win. We seem to be on our way to that and then some.

That being said, now that we have some context, I’d be very let down if we can’t beat Tech.

Tournament play is a crap shoot though…any of the top 10 could get hot and win it.

1 hour ago, Notalot said:

How can making the CFP not be termed a successful season? I certainly consider this team and season a success.

Now a second season begins of post season playoff games. The only success in post season is to win the title. I will term two wins as “a good showing” in the playoffs. Beyond that a “final four finish, runner-up, or a national championship winner”.

It is what it is, and is pretty straight forward.

Spot On! Especially, with 14 new starters and many injuries.

Success for me is the Ducks competing to their mental, emotional and physical best. The results for me are usually secondary when it comes to rooting for my favorite teams.

Above .500 and bowl game of some kind.

But mostly, a green-clad butt in every seat at Autzen.

I’m a simple man.

Beating Trojans, Huskies and Beavers in the same year. Anything else is gravy.

52 minutes ago, Jon Joseph said:

Spot On! Especially, with 14 new starters and many injuries.

I have read 14 elsewhere too but really I think it really is more like 19? I can't find 8 returning starters?

Stewart would be returning but I don't see how out-for-season can realistically be considered as actually returning? Tuioti played a ton but wouldn't have been considered a starter over Burch in the base 4-2-5.

I don't point it out to be a pain; but, rather 14 to me underestimates the amazing job by Lanning and staff. 🙂

Gabriel

James

Tez

Stewart

Holden

Ferguson

Conley Jr.

Cornelius

Laloulu

Harper

Strother

Burch

Harmon

Caldwell

Uiagalelei

Boettcher

Bassa

Muhammad

Reed

Savage

T.Johnson

B.Johnson

I try not to get ahead of myself. What’s already happened speaks for itself. What’s yet to happen just creates anxiety if it gets me into expectations. I prefer goals.

However, when it comes to what makes for a successful season, I can’t really separate the two without feeling like I’m not looking at the bigger picture.

So, my definition of a successful season is seeing the team carry on into the playoffs what they built during the regular season. No one can know how the unexpected will affect a game, but - win or lose - if the Ducks are playing their game, it’s a success.

Of course, that has nothing to do with desire. I want to see them beat the crap out of everyone.

5 hours ago, SoGaDawg said:

my worst nightmare is Oregon and UGA playing for it all!

My nightmare is tosu, but if Oregon wins the championship, I’d want it beating tosu . . .

5 hours ago, JabbaNoBargain said:

As I said in the other post, it’s all about context.

Going into the year without any context, I was expecting 10-2 with a home playoff win. We seem to be on our way to that and then some.

That being said, now that we have some context, I’d be very let down if we can’t beat Tech.

Tournament play is a crap shoot though…any of the top 10 could get hot and win it.

Great comment about context. Totally agree. I understand the view from other posts that say “how can an 11-1 season not be a success?”

My reply: A loss to JMU.

5 hours ago, Solar said:

It won't be enough to stop other fans from calling us the zeros, but I don't really care

It makes me laugh when I see those ‘letter-turned-into-number’ comments. They’re usually made by beaten, frustrated fans who - if they stopped to consider what they are saying - would make them less than zero?

I have a tough time believing OBD are "there" yet. This Oregon team hasn't even played a complete game yet. Not against teams that have enough talent to force them to. So that is what I truly mean. Play your very best. Force teams to take a victory from you (give them nothing). Make a team show they have more playmakers, that have to make incredible plays (that Indiana last second TD in Happy Valley comes to mind).

Play the kind of game like last October in Eugene, where you force the most talented team in football to play their very best, and force them into a few mistakes. Play the kind of game like like Alabama did tonight-showing resolve, the ability to adjust immediately, and bring your A game after a slow start. Like in Iowa City with the game on the line, and having to make extraordinary plays to win it. I am not sure how this year's team stacks up against Indiana, Georgia, what we saw from Bama tonight, Ohio State, and Ole Miss. Indiana and Georgia finally showed what they are when they play complete games. We haven't and neither have the rest of the teams I mentioned.

Success means to me OBD play 95% perfect. It doesn't matter the results then, because that is true success. That is excellence personified. You can't fault a team that loses to a better team if they play their very best ball. My dad used to tell me all the time: "Do your best son. Be your best". I have never regretted anything in my life when I have done my best. Results didn't matter. What mattered was I conquered the "worst in myself" That to me is true success.

OBD will probably play in the title game if they bring their best to the table this post season. They even have a shot at winning it all. Just bring your best damn it. Make us proud.

Success to me is playing every playoff game (however far they get) like a complete team that knows what it is doing out there.

That starts with eliminating the mistakes: penalties, blown coverages, dropped balls, missed throws, protection breakdowns, missed field goals, sacks that should have been made, bad play calling, etc etc etc

Winning the physical battles: tackling, blocking, breaking tackles

Being explosive: special teams returns, long runs, deep balls, int returns, big hits, winning jump balls, ferocious pass rush

It is how they play, not the final score. Oregon vs. Oregon. Reach that potential.