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Not good. Looks like safety Aaron Flowers could miss Saturday's game. https://www.centraloregondaily.com/sports/oregon_ducks/what-were-hearing-on-oregon-injuries-ahead-of-ucla/article_ba75d467-d4fc-5831-b32a-186f5f3eca8d.html

Thank you, David. A line of scrimmage and a 60-minute game for certain. This will be the most talented roster UCLA has faced, by far. I hope the offense can put points on the board early and get UCLA out of its run game. This season, Nico is also part of the Bruins' run game. Perich plays better, or bring in the Jett, Jett Washington. Integrate Jett with the starting D. Inferior safety play will be a problem Saturday and against Nebraska and Northwestern, and it gives OBD no chance to win, with a chance of being embarrassed at Ohio State. We saw enough of Jeremiah Smith blowing past Oregon's DBs his Freshman season in the Rose Bowl. 🤬 Enjoy your day off and Go Ducks!

I could go on one of my soliloquies. I won't. If Bob Chesney was USC's coach, we would have lost to the Trojans. Fortunately, Chesney has the talent the level of Purdue, Maryland, Rutgers and Cal. So for me, this is about fundamental, proper use of technique to win this game. It's time to go back to those basics and instilling a mentality that OBD lack: an Assassin's attitude. This should be week one creating that kind of team. Strategy and scheme are secondary in my opinion. And yes, I will drop a piece about that before Saturday.

I'd also like to see the safeties brought in closer to help cover the middle. Also it would be great for the LBs and DBs to stop staring at the opposing QB and pay attention to the receivers (as @Mike West has harped on many times).

Weekly Practice Report: Oregon spent all summer preparing for a week like thisDave Iuli says Oregon’s line spent the bye building for this moment as Dylan Raiola takes over, Dante Moore and Jeremiah McClellan sit out and Jalen Lott returns.Weekly Practice Report: Oregon spent all summer preparing...Dave Iuli says Oregon’s line spent the bye building for this moment as Dylan Raiola takes over, Dante Moore and Jeremiah McClellan sit out and Jalen Lott returns.

Dylan Raiola's calm leadership easing Oregon's transition at QB https://duckswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/ducks/football/2026/10/08/oregon-football-dylan-raiola-leadership-qb-transition-dante-moore-evan-stewart/92125203007/

Let's hope we do not lose any players over this. Oregon Ducks to keep an eye on as potential transfer portal departuresAltman's surprise retirement announcement has a chance to shake up the roster once more. Per NCAA rules, when a head coach is fired, moves onto another job or retires, players are given a two-week window to enter the transfer portal. The portal will soon open for members of the Ducks' 2026-27 roster to depart from the program and join another program, though it would be clouded with uncertainty for both sides as the season tips off in less than a month. https://duckswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/ducks/mens-basketball/2026/10/08/oregon-mens-basketball-potential-transfer-portal-departures/92138469007/

Sounds like a perfect day to me!

This pretty much validates the current state of college sports. In this nutty world of NIL, the amount of sheer effort needed to build and retain rosters is both mentally and physically exhausting more than ever...making this a young man's game. That makes it so much more difficult to build a winning program as you need coaches that both have the energy to keep up but also has enough years of relevant experience to win on the court/field. Dana just couldn't keep up any more and I don't blame him.

Not surprising. While it could have been worse, concussions are no joke either so I expect the medical staff to take their time with Dante. I wouldn't be shocked if he's out for up to 4 weeks.

I liked your defense evaluation, it would be nice to get more pressure on the QB. This should happen because of the lack of star power in UCLA's receiving room. I have been having an issue with so many people in the national news making such a big deal about how a back-up quarterback beat USC. Riola has more starts (22) at the college level than Moore (20). I understand that according to the roster he is 2nd string but in reality he is 1B and Dante 1A. Riola would probably start at 95%+ of the teams in the country. We are very lucky to have him, I will admit I was not a fan of getting him but I was wrong. I think we have our quarterback for 2027 & 28. (I was so hoping that Smith, Jr was going to work out)

While I'd like to see the front 4 be able to get home consistently on their own, I am not so sure this defense is capable of that against decent to elite O-Lines. If we can commit 5 to the rush on a regular basis, I believe our secondary is a better unit, in most situations, than the opposing receiving corps (exception: maybe Ohio State). The goal should be to put Nico on an accelerated internal clock and bottle up his receivers. I think our run defense has improved; this seemed apparent at USC. Koi Perich either needs to emerge or Lanning should start giving Jett Washington more field time. There are things that should looks very similar to the JMU playoff game (with some new wrinkles). We need to exploit our experience and talent on D!

Great thoughts David. I agree that the main thing to watch in this game is how much spice is added to line attack on defense. More pressure needs to be dialed up, line gaps need to be covered, edges need to be maintained all while DBs keep receivers in check. UCLA is dangerous but not overwhelming. This should be a great game for dialing up a few new wrinkles coming in and experimenting with adjustments on the fly. On offense, I just want to see some continued maturation on the line and just let the ball handlers do what they do. I expect Raiola to continue to be a problem. I predict the Ducks finally look like the top ten team we expected them to be.

Now UCLA knows they're prepping for one QB; not that it wasn't already the assumption. Time to let Dylan Raiola ball out in front of an Autzen crowd for the first time!

He seems like he is boiling under that calm demeanor. He seems pissed off. A good thing!

A bit melancholy about the entire situation. Absolutely Loved me some Altman Basketball teams. Enjoyed being a fan while getting an average of 24 Victories a season. Granted the last few years were "rough" but always thought Dana would turn it around. Coaching at this level in Any sport is hard, time consuming, life absorbing. I applaud Dana self reflection in knowing the "energy through passion" has wained and thus knowing he could no longer provide his best. That is called integrity. Like most previous positive experiences I have had, but are now memories because "time waits for no one", I will be able to look back at the Altman years with the same warm, nostalgic, uplifting memories that such experiences foster. Thank you Dana Altman for all you brought to Oregon Basketball and the young men you helped on their way in life. I for one will always be grateful for the quality of basketball you helped provide, and the quality of humanity you reflected in the way you carried yourself, OBD teams, and a solid representative for our state and university. You will be hard to replace but remember... ONCE A DUCK, ALWAYS A DUCK! Dana Altman and ,🦆🏀🪨's

One of my (Duck grad)kids is a sales manager at the local Lexus dealer. He told me a story about Dana a few years ago. Some Duck coaches get complimentary vehicles to use. One year Dana got a red Lexus. He brought it back the next day. He was almost apologetic. "Guys... I just can't drive a red vehicle..." So he ended up with a white one. My son said he was the nicest most down to earth man you'd ever want to meet. I personally always thought that the university should've offered him a lifetime contract.

Happy Thursday everyone, I just realized I'm posting this a day early. It's a four day week for me so it feels like Friday, but isn't. Anyways.... Some final thoughts before the game against UCLA on Saturday. Final Thoughts Before Oregon v UCLAWe had a bye week and one of the interesting stats I came across for Dan Lanning coming out of a bye-week is that he is 4-2.

On3Oregon coach Dana Altman reveals reason for retiring: 'I...Oregon men's basketball head coach Dana Altman announced his retirement on Wednesday and revealed the reason why he's calling it a career. While speaking

The weather report locally in Eugene on early Thursday morning for Saturday's game is: The range of temperature has ranged from 46 to 62 degrees the other day, and now it has dipped to 41 to 59 degrees. The chance at rain has dropped from 55% to 35% for the overall day, and the chance of rain during the game remains at about 10%.. Cloudy, with the sun breaking through, and I guess I won't need much sunscreen!

Seems the 12 Mil might not be guaranteed. If so, good for the Michigan contract attorneys. No slight on Underwood, I would say this about any athlete facing his situation. However, you can bet the student in the athlete will now use that knowledge to seek guaranteed contracts. Michigan football rumors: Bryce Underwood's $12 million contract could be terminated after season if Wolverines give up on him

Dan Lanning: "He's as good as they come." Both grew up in small town Midwest. 220 miles apart. Crete, Nebraska and Richmond, Missouri.

My preference is to add two teams to the conference, play the other nine in your division and three non-conference games. I am not so sure of trusting the Big-10 Conference office to "balance it out" for the west coast teams, especially Oregon, with your proposed two out-of-division Big-10 games. No SEC teams on our schedule unless CFB goes to a 24 team Playoff...if we do--epic games! We may disagree, but a great topic. Oregon vs. UCLA in the past...

If the Big Championship game continues, and it continues fixed in Indianapolis, that seems it would benefit the East division.

for the proposed West and East - not sure there would be anything comparable to Purdue, Rutgers and Maryland (East) as 3 annual in-division games in the West Most have 2 protected games though don't remember all the alignment details. Iowa has 3 but all 3 would be in the same West division. I believe Illinois vs Northwestern is a protected rivalry. That may be the only one which would cross divisions for a scheduling issue.