After having looked at the twelve Big Ten teams that did not make my “Top Five” list, let’s look at the teams I think are about to make life harder for our Duckies. I have listed them here in order of degree of difficulty as I see it starting with least to most. Even Mr. FishDuck paused from his gaming ...

The Five B1G Teams About to Make Life Harder for Oregon

Don, I loved the first article, and like that one...I have a little disagreement. I believe we need to see more proof of rising, and being formidable and thus I would remove USC and Michigan State from your list until they have done it.

Two teams I would add are your Iowa, and Illinois because they have proven to win nine games last year, and both beat SEC teams in bowl games furthering solidifying my concern about them. (They beat Vandy and Tennessee)

I love the discussion!

Thanks, Don, for a terrific follow-up article.

LeVar Woods. I believe there may be method in this seeming madness?

A recent article on The Athletic predicted the coach of every P4 team in 2030. Woods was ticketed for the Iowa job with the author suggesting that LaVar's experience would be broadened by working in the conference for another defense-oriented coach.

To absolve themselves from blame in the hazing scandal, Pat Fitzgerald was the administration's scapegoat. As part of the settlement of Fitzgerald's Wrongful Termination suit, he was absolved of all blame and received a settlement payment estimated to be around $100 million.

However, does Michigan State have the money to field both a champion-contending basketball and football team? Will Fitzgerald be able to recruit quality high school and portal players at the level of Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, and USC?

Mark Dantonio succeeded at Michigan State by developing lesser-talented players who played for Sparty for the entirety of their college football career. Can a 'development program' compete for championships today?

IMO, Jedd Fisch's coaching prowess is underrated. But like Fitzgerald at Michigan State, does he have the resources to win Big Ten titles? His record in Husky Stadium is excellent, but on the road? He is 0-2 in Seattle versus the biggest B1G boys, Ohio State and Oregon.

Michigan. Say what you will about Harbaugh, but the guy returned his alma mater to championship level. When it comes to organization and discipline, the Wolverines under Whittingham are being compared to Harbaugh.

Under the new OC, Jason Beck, I expect we'll see significant improvement in QB Bryce Underwood, and I know we will see a better scheme on offense with better play calling.

Michigan will always have the money and the desire to compete for Big Ten and national titles. Having to play Ohio State in Columbus in early November and playing Michigan in Autzen the following Saturday will test Oregon's championship bona fides.

USC? Riley won B12 titles and many games at Oklahoma, but consistently failed in the postseason. Entering his 5th season with SC, Riley has not taken SC to the playoffs or competed for a B1G title. No doubt that under GM Chad Bowen and AD Jen Cohen, SC NIL money has been aligned, and the recruiting is on par with any program in the country.

Shouldn't a guy making ten million a season to coach a brand-name Blue Blood have been able to figure this out on his own, as did John McKay, John Robinson, and Pete Carroll? I think SC has everything going for it, but for the guy at the top. This is a prove-it season for Riley. Will he come through?

Gary Patterson put great Ds on the field at TCU. He will be facing better competition in the Big Ten than he did in the B12. Does he have the Jimmies and the Joes and the coaching moxie after four seasons away from the game?

Jim Knowles was great when coaching future pros in Columbus. Knowles flamed out at Penn State, especially at UCLA, after holding the Oregon offense in check. Matt Patricia improved Ohio State's defense. Patterson is in the College Football Hall of Fame, but will his defense be that much better than what D'Anton Lynn put on the field?

Perhaps Riley will get SC to the top of the B1G and CFB, but I have my doubts. He has picked up a win from trading Notre Dame for take your pick of San Jose State, Fresno State, or the team formerly known as La-La. San Jose in Week Zero is why SC has two byes this season, the first coming in Week 8.

SC is at Rutgers the Saturday before hosting Oregon. Oregon plays Portland State at home before heading to LA, as close to an off week as a team can get.

Kirk Ferentz and DC Phil Parker's coaching chops will be tested in 2026. Iowa is 104th in returning production. But I still expect Iowa to be a tough out for every opponent.

Thanks again, Don. It's so good to be B1G. 😍

Moore on Michigan moving on from a half-wit to Whitt.

Maize n Brew

Kyle Whittingham’s Michigan staff is ‘strict’ and similar...

Michigan safety Rod Moore said that Kyle Whittingham’s staff has similarities to the Jim Harbaugh era.

Thanks for the article Don.

I remember the trepidations when Chip landed at ucla. I am hoping for the same results with all the "newcomers".

Witt scares me the most followed by Campbell and no worries about Fitz basically since he is a Mich St. This is a much different world than his run at NW.

Riley, how long will we have to "wait and see"? Tough schedule this year without the ND L. If he doesn't make the playoffs this year, next year will probably be his last in LA if he fails again. Which probably means back-to-back 9-3 will doom him. Also, with the college football unregulated free agent system, his teams will be ripe for cherry picking.

Fisch, long distance romances don't seem to work too well. I think he is a short timer there and if that happens it sets that program back even more.

Keep Going Ducks

On 3/26/2026 at 10:40 AM, Jon Joseph said:

Thanks, Don, for a terrific follow-up article.

LeVar Woods. I believe there may be method in this seeming madness?

A recent article on The Athletic predicted the coach of every P4 team in 2030. Woods was ticketed for the Iowa job with the author suggesting that LaVar's experience would be broadened by working in the conference for another defense-oriented coach.

To absolve themselves from blame in the hazing scandal, Pat Fitzgerald was the administration's scapegoat. As part of the settlement of Fitzgerald's Wrongful Termination suit, he was absolved of all blame and received a settlement payment estimated to be around $100 million.

However, does Michigan State have the money to field both a champion-contending basketball and football team? Will Fitzgerald be able to recruit quality high school and portal players at the level of Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, and USC?

Mark Dantonio succeeded at Michigan State by developing lesser-talented players who played for Sparty for the entirety of their college football career. Can a 'development program' compete for championships today?

IMO, Jedd Fisch's coaching prowess is underrated. But like Fitzgerald at Michigan State, does he have the resources to win Big Ten titles? His record in Husky Stadium is excellent, but on the road? He is 0-2 in Seattle versus the biggest B1G boys, Ohio State and Oregon.

Michigan. Say what you will about Harbaugh, but the guy returned his alma mater to championship level. When it comes to organization and discipline, the Wolverines under Whittingham are being compared to Harbaugh.

Under the new OC, Jason Beck, I expect we'll see significant improvement in QB Bryce Underwood, and I know we will see a better scheme on offense with better play calling.

Michigan will always have the money and the desire to compete for Big Ten and national titles. Having to play Ohio State in Columbus in early November and playing Michigan in Autzen the following Saturday will test Oregon's championship bona fides.

USC? Riley won B12 titles and many games at Oklahoma, but consistently failed in the postseason. Entering his 5th season with SC, Riley has not taken SC to the playoffs or competed for a B1G title. No doubt that under GM Chad Bowen and AD Jen Cohen, SC NIL money has been aligned, and the recruiting is on par with any program in the country.

Shouldn't a guy making ten million a season to coach a brand-name Blue Blood have been able to figure this out on his own, as did John McKay, John Robinson, and Pete Carroll? I think SC has everything going for it, but for the guy at the top. This is a prove-it season for Riley. Will he come through?

Gary Patterson put great Ds on the field at TCU. He will be facing better competition in the Big Ten than he did in the B12. Does he have the Jimmies and the Joes and the coaching moxie after four seasons away from the game?

Jim Knowles was great when coaching future pros in Columbus. Knowles flamed out at Penn State, especially at UCLA, after holding the Oregon offense in check. Matt Patricia improved Ohio State's defense. Patterson is in the College Football Hall of Fame, but will his defense be that much better than what D'Anton Lynn put on the field?

Perhaps Riley will get SC to the top of the B1G and CFB, but I have my doubts. He has picked up a win from trading Notre Dame for take your pick of San Jose State, Fresno State, or the team formerly known as La-La. San Jose in Week Zero is why SC has two byes this season, the first coming in Week 8.

SC is at Rutgers the Saturday before hosting Oregon. Oregon plays Portland State at home before heading to LA, as close to an off week as a team can get.

Kirk Ferentz and DC Phil Parker's coaching chops will be tested in 2026. Iowa is 104th in returning production. But I still expect Iowa to be a tough out for every opponent.

Thanks again, Don. It's so good to be B1G. 😍

First of all: Don, Don, DON!!!! I haven't looked at the first article-I will-but this one is FANTASTIC. I disagree on a few points, but you got me cooking, and your analysis is usually on point-you are correct many a time. Thanks for the juicy topic.

Fitzgerald is a solid hire. And NW paid him-they were wrong, somebody had a beef, and that person probably lied. You don't settle for 100M if you believe the allegations. I am reserved to wait and see on Fitz because this conference is now very loaded top to bottom.

On Harbaugh: In my opinion he didn't have to cheat. And frankly, for me it didn't matter. He was going to defeat Ryan Day anyway because at the time-he was the better coach. I say this because Harbaugh finished what he started at Stanford. Harbaugh took down Chip, and Shaw sent Chip packing as far as I am concerned (despite Chip wanting to go pro). Harbaugh knew how to put a staff together-something Day finally started to replicate. No matter what people say about Harbaugh, the guy is a proven winner at both levels. Nobody can dispute those facts-Harbaugh is a winner. A very successful one at that.

About MSU-I think Tucker was a great hire. He screwed up. He junked their re-emergence. That program was about to make osu2 and UM earn victories. My take of course, but Tucker was doing the right things for the program and he literally screwed himself chasing tail. No woman is worth ruining your career legacy (same for women by the way- no man is worth killing your legacy and your rise). Smith crashed and burned. He didn't follow his formula, and he didn't figure out how to use his potential clad QB (something Chip will be able to do unfortunately- Chip knows how to manage that type of QB).

PSU-I don't believe Iowa State talent will handle the B1G talent. I still like the hire. Campbell must get a QB. His current iteration cannot manage his way to outscoring the lethal offenses in this conference. Campbell does have some remnants of the PSU hard hats that will give offenses problems, but that offense must score 30 on the Tier 1 defenses. He doesn't have that presently.

UW and USC-I will say this forever: USC and UW absolutely MUST elevate. It will not only elevate the B1G to SEC circa 2000 to 2023 level, Dan Lanning will rise to another level. Those two, and others, do not mean OBD will fall. It is not a mutually exclusive situation. USC is stealing some of Lanning's recruiting thunder-it has not and will not stop Lanning. Lanning is going to win a Natty. I repeat: DAN LANNING IS GOING TO WIN US A NATTY.

On 3/26/2026 at 1:16 PM, Steven A said:

Thanks for the article Don.

I remember the trepidations when Chip landed at ucla. I am hoping for the same results with all the "newcomers".

Witt scares me the most followed by Campbell and no worries about Fitz basically since he is a Mich St. This is a much different world than his run at NW.

Riley, how long will we have to "wait and see"? Tough schedule this year without the ND L. If he doesn't make the playoffs this year, next year will probably be his last in LA if he fails again. Which probably means back-to-back 9-3 will doom him. Also, with the college football unregulated free agent system, his teams will be ripe for cherry picking.

Fisch, long distance romances don't seem to work too well. I think he is a short timer there and if that happens it sets that program back even more.

Keep Going Ducks

Steven A, you're a jewel. I have a difficult time refuting any of your take. And I disagree with some of it. What you said is completely true in my opinion. Riley has his hands full despite a very good hire for DC. Fitz has his hands full in a much elevated conference. They guy is good, but it requires being excellent now. It is still a good hire, but he will have to be better than he ever has been before.

Witt scares me because he has the kind of QB that can do some damage. I believe Underwood is a year away because he wasn't developed last year. Witt is deadly with a performing QB. He has that now. So UM is going to be a problem.

Fisch wants his kids to have a "normal" experience in high school. I am not sure the Long Distance romance is a problem. He can fly them up every Friday if he wants (I absolutely would-and bring the kids' friends to boot). If he is as committed to his family as he is to his program, and if his wife is as well-it will work out fine. IF. That being said, look out, because all the Fuskies have to do is execute. Fisch has figured Lanning out. He knows the conference landscape. He is dangerous. As I said, that is good. Fusky big money, like USC, needs to elevate the program. That means huge bucks for OBD AND the B1G.

Campbell is the right fit for PSU. He will need to score points. He will have to adjust his philosophy. He is the kind of coach that will consider it. That is why he is a threat.

Great take Steven A. I like it.

One team I think is under the radar because it will take some time is Purdue. That was an excellent hire. Barry Odom is under rated. He needs better talent. by mid season, they won't self destruct anymore. With better talent, teams will have to stay on point. Purdue is going to make life tough for Rutgers, Maryland, and the Tier 3 teams looking for an easy win (UCLAs, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan State).