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Thank you Jon, for staying on top of the very important topic for everyone in the forum!

It appears the PO expansion to 24 is near. Hats off to Tony Petitti, who speaks quietly but carries a B1G stick. On3College Football Playoff nearing deal to expand to 24 teamsThe College Football Playoff is expanding once again. According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, a deal is being neared to expand to 24 teams. The format is

An excellent post with superb analysis, but in the end....I personally disagree. I do not believe we have the O-Tackles for a power-gap look at this time, and I believe the passing game will be altered, and stepped up this week. This is all very interesting to watch for, and welcome back!

Dante in at No. 25, but the No. 7 QB. Arch at No. 6. Jamari No. 2 TE behind Green LSU Spoiler alert, no OLinemen 2027 NFL draft Big Board rankings: Mel Kiper's top prospects - ESPN

Hi all, For those that don't remember me I'm a former OBD board member and FishDuck.com writer. My post below intended to focus us on some of the root causes of the offensive drop off and lay a positive path forward for Duck fans. All is not lost, please give this a read and keep steady your Duck faith. Following a disastrous offensive showing, Duck fans are in an uproar, asking where the fault really lies. Is it offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer, offensive line coach A'lique Terry, or backup quarterback Dylan Raiola? Some are even questioning the talent, heart, and effort of the offensive line players themselves. While finger-pointing at players and coaches is easy, it causes you to miss the forest for the trees. After Oregon’s disappointing 3-2 start to the season, marked by a catastrophic performance in the run game and lingering weaknesses in pass protection, Dan Lanning is faced with a critical choice: Does he stick with the finesse, horizontal RPO and zone-blocking scheme, or does he roll it back and embrace the downhill, power-gap identity of the Kenny Dillingham era that once gave Oregon a dominant rushing attack? When Dan Lanning first burst onto the scene in Eugene, many fans remember a defining early moment—facing a highly ranked BYU team known for stout interior line play at home where the Ducks entered as underdogs. Dillingham’s physical offensive scheme came out and completely overwhelmed BYU at the line of scrimmage, setting the tone for a dominant win and establishing an unmistakable identity in the trenches. The Philosophical Pivot and Its Fatal Flaw The move away from Dillingham’s downhill identity was deliberate. When Will Stein was hired to run his horizontal RPO, zone-blocking system, Dan Lanning sought precision and control over the chaotic checks given to Bo Nix. The logic was sound on paper: use pre-snap reads to count box numbers, minimize execution error, and rely on a high-percentage, short passing game to eliminate turnover risk. That strategic shift coincided with the exit of assistant head coach, run game coordinator, and offensive line coach Adrian Klemm. Klemm’s departure felt symbolic—a coach schooled in power-gap physicality walking away rather than teaching a finesse, lateral-stretch scheme. Under his successor, A'Lique Terry, the offensive line produced high statistics and Joe Moore Award nominations, yet warning signs persisted beneath the surface. When Lanning needed guaranteed physical yards—like leaning on a 15 runs in 16 play sequence late in Madison to grind out a tough win over Wisconsin—the offense dropped the finesse and imposed its will. But against elite defenses, Stein’s scheme repeatedly stalled: Pac-12 Championship Game, Big Ten & Playoff Struggles: Washington completely shut down early, holding Oregon’s running backs to minimal yardage in the first half and neutralizing the offense. Defenses from Ohio State to Iowa and Indiana cracked the code, refusing to respect vertical threats and crowding defenders within 10 yards of the line. Opposing defensive coordinators no longer fall for the RPO numbers game. By slanting defensive linemen into specific gaps, they force double teams at the line, keeping interior guards occupied while linebackers run free. Behind them, safeties roll into run support late or jump perimeter screens and slants. Opponents are at times deliberately baiting Oregon into the exact looks they want to defend—leaving Lanning with only one logical escape: return to power-gap football. The Band-Aid Fixes and Strategic Admission Watching Oregon through five games, it is clear Dan Lanning and his staff recognize the scheme’s limitations and have attempted to make adjustments to shore up the ground attack. They’ve turned to heavy 12 personnel packages and tight bunch formations in a bid to create favorable numbers at the line of scrimmage. Yet, the results have been mixed at best. The definitive tipping point came during the second possession of the second half against UCLA. Oregon rolled out a heavy 13 personnel Power-I formation, putting an extra offensive lineman in an eligible #80 jersey to line up at fullback with the quarterback directly under center. This was a clear philosophical retreat—and an implicit admission of the current scheme's failure to generate consistent push and leverage in the run game. The Recipe for Success: A Power-Gap Blueprint Going forward, my prediction is that Oregon will return to the heavy power-gap schemes that defined the Dillingham era. Fans will remember the physical dominance of guard-tight end pulls with Ryan Walk out front as a lead blocker, or guard-tackle combinations with Big Sala pulling across the filed and going 12 yards downfield to obliterate defenders. By pivoting back to this concept, Lanning achieves several critical advantages: Simplifies and Empowers the Line: It unleashes an offensive line room stacked eight-deep with blue-chip talent, allowing them to rely on pure athleticism and physical dominance rather than overthinking complex lateral reads. Dictates Pace and Punishes 4-2-5 Defenses: Downhill power creates overwhelming numbers at the point of attack, punishing lighter Big Ten 4-2-5 nickel defenses built purely to defend spread concepts. Stays Ahead of the Chains: Consistent early-down yardage keeps Oregon ahead of the sticks, eliminating predictable third-and-long passing downs where pass protection has broken down. Unlocks the Tight End Room & Play-Action: Oregon's elite tight end unit—Jamari Johnson, 5-star freshman Kendre Harrison, and Andrew Olesh—becomes a weapon. Slipping Andrew Olesh into the backfield at H-back/fullback gives Oregon a hard-nosed lead blocker who can seamlessly leak out on play-action into the seams behind aggressive linebackers. Hijacks Opposing Game Plans to Stop the RPO Game: Defenses expecting a soft, horizontal zone-RPO will be forced to adjust, committing extra defenders and heavier personnel to the box—opening up Oregon to counter, much like Kenny Dillingham would, with edge sweeps, perimeter screens, or going five-wide empty. Conclusion: Time to Go Dilly-Dilly It is my firm belief that Oregon will make this switch because Dan Lanning is backed into a corner. To salvage the season, he needs a dominant ground attack that guarantees a 200-yard rushing floor each week—sheltering the offensive line and protecting the quarterback room, especially with Dante Moore's status uncertain. Furthermore, a physical power-gap identity is built for the cold, rainy weather awaiting the Ducks down the stretch. Dan Lanning is not a quitter. I still believe Oregon can make a strong run and achieve a successful season—if we just embrace the trench warfare and go Dilly-Dilly.

Wherein I have no idea if we are going to win. And then the start of an era wherein I'm pretty sure we will win.

If the Price is Right for the Extra PO Games, the PO will expand to 24 teams. On3Can Greg Sankey's proposed College Football Playoff sched...From SEC basketball media days on Wednesday, commissioner Greg Sankey expressed perhaps his most optimistic public views of an expanded 24-team College

So 6-5 or 6-6 for the year then? Not sure we will go to the Civil War with that record. Incidentally, if the Beavs keep winning, they might make the playoff. Wouldn't that be something?!

Is this Ann Arbor, Baton Rouge, or perhaps Coral Gables? Michigan coach? Whit, Mario, or Lane Kiffin? A local judge deciding that these two players are eligible does not mean Michigan should allow them to play. I'd love to review the two transcripts of these student-athletes to see if they meet the standard of other transfer students Michigan accepts. Are other students allowed to transfer to Michigan when a semester has started? Where is Tony Petitti? This Male Bovine Excrement should not pass the B1G's smell test. What say you, Forum Friends? I won't be happy if these two guys are playing for the Wolverines in Autzen on 11/14. https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/michigan-alex-bauman-jeremiah-earby-transfer-portal/?ftag=SNL-04-10aaa0b&ET_CID=591520&ET_RID=52482716

I made mention to a fellow duck fan at work that this was the most 'Helfrich' loss I've seen since Helfrich was coach.

The NFL is filled with teams and players who stink it up on a weekly basis. One good example is a former Duck QB who earns eight figures annually.

I don't think Michigan's roster move should pass the Big Ten Male Bovine Excrement smell test. Is this Ann Arbor or Baton Rouge? I'd love to see these two players' transcripts; would they stand up to those of other students trying to transfer to Michigan? A local judge deciding these two can play despite the transfer portal being closed doesn't mean The Shysters, er Victors, should allow them to suit up. I thought Kyle Whittingham, and not Mario or Lame Kiffin, was the Michigan coach.🤬 https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/michigan-alex-bauman-jeremiah-earby-transfer-portal/?ftag=SNL-04-10aaa0b&ET_CID=591520&ET_RID=52482716

Game and Odds Info. Oregon Ducks On SIHow to Watch Oregon vs. Nebraska: Preview, TV Channel, Be...The Oregon Ducks face a critical test Saturday as the program welcomes Nebraska to Autzen Stadium for a nighttime matchup under the lights. After falling from t

Good observations, thanks. Dan was an assistant with Alabama when Kirby Smart was Saban's DC. Not much failure to deal with in this tour of duty. Dan was also an assistant at ASU, under Todd Graham, and at Memphis, under Mike Dorrell. ASU was not a world beater, and G5 Memphis was good but not Boise State-level good. Dan has dealt with losses in the SEC pressure cooker and elsewhere. And he and the team have bounced back from tough losses to Washington, Ohio State, and Indiana 3-2 after five games and no longer ranked is a new experience at Oregon for Dan and for younger fans. But I don't view this season to date as leading to a Clemson-like decline. Unlike Dabo, Dan knows how to play ball in today's world of CFB. Hopefully, the D will continue to play to its potential. The O-line? Will Dante Moore be able to play another game this season? The schedule has been more difficult than many expected. I believe Oregon is the only team to have played four ranked teams in the first five games. And three of the next four games are against 5-1 Nebraska that outplayed Indiana last week, a ranked Northwestern team, and at No. 4 Ohio State. And a road game at Illinois is not a layup. A lot of football remains to be played. Less than a handful of CFB teams do not experience a bump in the road from time to time. I don't see another coach out there who is a realistic candidate for the Oregon job that I'd rather have than Dan. I wholeheartedly agree that going for two was senseless.

I agree with a lot of what's being said here, particularly regarding the internal promotions and what I believe has been a serious regression in the overall quality of coaching. And while I think there are several areas that deserve scrutiny, the offensive side of the ball is where my biggest concerns lie. First and foremost, Drew Mehringer has to be squarely in the conversation. I understand the desire for continuity, especially when you've had success with a particular system, but continuity doesn't mean much if the results aren't there. We're watching an offense loaded with talent struggle to execute some of the most basic aspects of football. The play calling has been questionable, the adjustments have been inadequate, and there doesn't seem to be much of an identity. At some point, you have to stop looking exclusively at the players and start asking whether they're being put in positions to succeed. Then there's the offensive line. A'lique Terry has been here long enough that we should be seeing consistent development, particularly among the younger players. Instead, we're seeing problems with protection, missed assignments, and an inability to establish a reliable running game. Those aren't things that can simply be dismissed as growing pains. When you have the recruiting classes Oregon has been bringing in, you should reasonably expect to see improvement as those players develop. If that isn't happening, somebody needs to answer for it. The quarterback situation deserves attention as well. Koa Ka'ai was promoted from an assistant role, and while I'm certainly not suggesting he can't eventually become an excellent quarterbacks coach, I do question whether handing him that responsibility at this stage was the best decision for the program. Especially considering the expectations surrounding this team. Quarterback development is simply too important to leave to chance. And that brings me to something I've been thinking about regarding Dan Lanning himself. I genuinely believe Lanning's own upbringing in the coaching profession has a lot to do with his approach to staffing. Here's a guy who worked his way up from being a graduate assistant, moving from program to program, learning from established coaches, earning opportunities, and eventually becoming a defensive coordinator at Georgia before landing the head coaching job at Oregon. I think those experiences left a lasting impression on him. He knows what it means to have somebody believe in you, take a chance on you, and give you an opportunity to prove yourself. And I suspect he wants to provide those same opportunities to the people working under him. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, I think it's an admirable quality. But here's where I think he's making a mistake. Giving somebody an opportunity and giving somebody a responsibility they're not prepared for are two very different things. Not everybody develops at the same pace. Not everybody who excels in one position is necessarily ready for the next. A great position coach doesn't automatically become a great coordinator, just as a great coordinator doesn't automatically become a great head coach. Some people need more experience. Some need more time to develop their abilities, learn from their mistakes, and gain a better understanding of the responsibilities that come with the next step. And that's perfectly fine. I'm not saying these coaches will never be successful. I'm saying that, based on what we've seen this season, some of them simply don't appear ready for the responsibilities they've been given. They need more time to marinate, so to speak. Unfortunately, Oregon isn't in a position where it should be experimenting with whether somebody might eventually grow into a job. Not with the resources available, not with the talent on this roster, and certainly not with the expectations surrounding this program. We're supposed to be competing for national championships, not serving as a training ground for coaches who are still figuring out how to do their jobs at this level. And speaking of national championships, I noticed somebody mentioned that nobody wins one without a blue-chip roster. Well, Curt Cignetti and Indiana might have something to say about that. 😏 Indiana won the national championship with a roster that was nowhere near the traditional blue-chip threshold. Cignetti took a group of players who, on paper, had no business competing with the most talented programs in the country and turned them into national champions. Was it an anomaly? Absolutely. But it happened. And to me, that's one of the greatest examples in recent memory of just how much coaching matters. Recruiting rankings are important. Talent is important. Nobody is suggesting otherwise. But having a roster full of four and five-star athletes doesn't mean a damn thing if those players aren't being developed, properly coached, and put in positions where their abilities can actually make a difference. We've watched USC demonstrate that for years. Highly ranked recruiting classes, talented players everywhere you look, and yet somehow the results consistently fall short of expectations. It's practically become a place where recruiting stars go to die. And unfortunately, we're starting to see some uncomfortable similarities at Oregon. That's what bothers me most. It's not simply the losses. Teams lose games. Even great teams lose games. It's watching talented players struggle with things that should be getting better through coaching and development. Which brings me back to Lanning. I like Dan Lanning. I think he's done tremendous things for Oregon, and I still believe he's capable of leading this program to a national championship. I don't think anybody should ignore what he's accomplished simply because we're having a disappointing season. But I also believe that Dan Lanning needs to own his job, not his relationships. Loyalty is important. I respect loyalty. I think it's one of the better qualities a person can have, whether in football, business, or life in general. But loyalty cannot come at the expense of the responsibilities you've been hired to fulfill. Lanning is one of the highest-paid public employees in the state of Oregon. He wasn't hired and isn't being compensated at that level so he can surround himself with friends, reward relationships, or make sure everybody gets their turn. He was hired to build and maintain a championship-caliber football program. That's the job. And sometimes doing that job means making difficult decisions involving people you genuinely care about. Sometimes it means acknowledging that somebody you believed in isn't ready. Sometimes it means going outside your circle and bringing in somebody with more experience, a different perspective, or a proven ability to get the results you're looking for. That's not betrayal. That's leadership. And frankly, anybody who genuinely cares about Lanning, the program, or even their own coaching career should understand that. Think about it from the perspective of the assistant coaches themselves. What good does it do somebody to be promoted into a position where they're consistently struggling? How does that help their career? Nobody wants their resume to show that they were handed a major responsibility at a nationally recognized program and then watched that part of the team regress under their leadership. They want success. They want to develop their abilities, build a reputation, and earn opportunities to advance. Sometimes the best thing for somebody's career is to spend another year or two learning before taking that next step. There's no shame in that whatsoever. But there is a problem when personal loyalty starts taking precedence over the success of the organization. And let's not forget about the players. These young men committed to Oregon because they believed in what this program was building. They believed in the coaching staff, the opportunities, the development, and the chance to compete for championships. As long as they're putting in the effort and holding up their end of the bargain, they deserve a coaching staff that's equally committed to giving them the best possible opportunity to succeed. They don't have unlimited time. Their college careers are short, and for many of them, their performance at Oregon will have a tremendous impact on what opportunities they have afterward. They deserve better than being caught in the middle of somebody else's learning curve. And the same goes for future recruits. Oregon needs to remain a destination program. A place where talented young athletes want to go because they know they'll be developed, challenged, and given every opportunity to reach their potential. Not a place where highly rated recruits arrive with tremendous expectations only to watch their development stall and their opportunities diminish. That's how programs lose momentum. That's how recruiting starts becoming more difficult. And that's how all the progress made over the last several years can begin slipping away. I don't want to see that happen. I want Lanning to succeed. I want these coaches to succeed. I want every player wearing an Oregon uniform to succeed. But wanting somebody to succeed and accepting results that fall short of expectations are not the same thing. At the end of the day, I think Lanning has reached a point in his career where he needs to demonstrate that he's willing to make the difficult decisions necessary to take this program to the next level. That doesn't mean firing everybody or abandoning the culture he's worked so hard to establish. It means taking an objective look at every position, every coach, and every aspect of this program and asking one simple question. Is this the best person for this job, right now? Not whether they're loyal. Not whether they're a good recruiter. Not whether they've been here since the beginning. Not whether they might become a great coach someday. Are they the best person to help Oregon win football games and compete for national championships today? If the answer is no, then something needs to change. Because ultimately, the responsibility for the success or failure of this program rests with Dan Lanning. And if he's going to receive the credit when things go right, he has to be willing to accept the responsibility when things go wrong. I still believe in Lanning. But that belief shouldn't come with a free pass, and it certainly shouldn't mean ignoring problems that are becoming increasingly difficult to overlook. There's still an opportunity to turn this season into something respectable, learn from what's gone wrong, and come back stronger. But that starts with accountability. And sometimes the most important thing a leader can do is recognize that loyalty to the people around him can never be more important than loyalty to the program he's been entrusted to lead. Well, that's my two cents. Go Ducks. 🦆

A Battle of B1G Receivers when No. 4 Ohio State visits No. 5 Indiana. https://apnews.com/article/indiana-hoosiers-ohio-state-buckeyes-receivers-9b30bc19835557f3df359c3791ee83f1?user_email=c7d8647c6247db8d08c59fe44bc30380a147aa90b9e33099045cd46ddc6a485b&utm_

Follow the pattern. Bst win. Okst loss Pst doesn't count. USC win UCLA loss Neb win.

Sure….Matt Rhule has a habit of stepping on himself in games like this one. Nebraska should win…he usually tanks these types of games. Feel better? Did not think so.

Lanning does poorly after a bye week. When opponents also had extra time off, Oregon is 3-4. Losses came against Kalen DeBoer’s Washington, Curt Cignetti’s Indiana, Chesney’s UCLA, and Ryan Day’s Ohio State. (Each coach played the Ducks twice, although Chesney’s two were 10 months apart and with two different teams.) Texas Tech got shut out, but maybe they don’t have the coaching depth? So our offense looks to be too easy to scout for elite coaches. And maybe Lanning doesn’t convey clearly to his 20-something millionaire players what “rest and recuperation” actually looks like.

I’m a new guy here. My primary allegiance is to the Ducks but I have a masters from Boise State and live in Boise. I’ve also been very close to that program in the past and can be a source of pretty good information if anyone is ever interested. I’m still kind of testy about that Stephens hit on Dante. My vengeful self says he should have received a two game suspension for the hit and another additional game just because he’s a Trojan. The Nebraska game is scary. They played Indiana really tough and honestly I still don’t have a good feel for the Ducks this year. I see the Nebraska game as a game that will define the rest of the season. Win it and there’s a chance for a pretty good year. Lose it and maybe the wheels fall off. Dante’s being out again is really concerning. I thought Raiola was an excellent backup. But now? Not so sure. Can someone comfort me a bit?

Dante Moore’s absence gives 3 Oregon QBs a shot, but one should start SaturdayAutzen ZooDante Moore’s absence gives 3 Oregon QBs a shot, but one...The Oregon Ducks head into Saturday Night's clash with Nebraska missing Dante Moore for another Big Ten clash. Wednesday Night's injury report revealed that Moo

Loyal to a fault: These 5 teams are paying the price for sticking with familiar faces in 2026Unproven internal offensive coordinators and standing pat under center have turned two preseason top-10 powerhouses into the biggest busts of 2026 https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/texas-a-m-oklahoma-oregon-texas-clemson-loyal/

Big Ten Releases Initial Availability Report for Oregon vs. NebraskaThe initial availability report for the Oregon Ducks against the Nebraska Cornhuskers was released Wednesday evening. Oregon quarterback Dante Moore will miss his second straight game since sustaining a concussion against USC in Los Angeles. Starting safety Aaron Flowers will also be unavailable and is “Done for the foreseeable future,” head coach Dan Lanning said Wednesday after the defensive back underwent surgery for a shoulder injury. Wide receiver Evan Stewart is a new addition to the report and is listed as questionable. The Ducks are already without Jeremiah McClellan, potentially for the rest of the season, after he suffered a broken foot in warmups for the Portland State game. The Ducks and Cornhuskers kick off at 8:00 PM PT in Eugene. The game will be broadcast on Fox. On3Big Ten Releases Initial Availability Report for Oregon v...The latest Oregon Football injury updates ahead of the Ducks facing the Nebraska Cornhuskers at home in Eugene this week.

Oregon reveals uniform combination for Nebraska gameSee the Oregon Ducks' newly-revealed uniforms ahead of this week's game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. https://247sports.com/college/oregon/contentgallery/oregon-football-uniform-combination-for-nebraska-game-reveals-ducks-291280051/

Oregon rules out Dante Moore for Nebraska game, Evan Stewart questionableOregon quarterback Dante Moore will not play against Nebraska this weekend. The Ducks will not have their starting quarterback for a second straight weekend, as he works his way back from the concussion suffered at USC last month. https://247sports.com/college/oregon/article/oregon-rules-out-dante-moore-for-nebraska-game-in-first-injury-report-of-the-week-evan-stewart-questionable-291280214/