We invite you to always explore the “News” on the menu bar in the header.

When you click on the word “News,” you will see an index of multiple links to sports news sites for your enjoyment!

From now on, except for a very few circumstances, our threads will be just one page. Advertising only appears on the first page and we want to make as much money as possible for the site.  The bonus in doing this is that it will be easier for everyone to move around the thread.

You will always be able to refer to the previous thread for reference.  To see the previous thread for this topic click Here.

This Thread is for News Articles ONLY.  You can always start a new thread with any of these articles for discussion.

We invite you to always explore the “News” on the menu bar in the header.

When you click on the word “News,” you will see an index of multiple links to sports news sites for your enjoyment!

During the football season, podcasts were included with the game for that week. Podcasts still are taking place, just not as often. 

I also have noticed that the podcasts now are covering more than just football. For instance, the one following includes some talk about basketball. 

Those podcasts will now be posted under this thread as they occur. To see the previous podcast thread click Here as we will keep the thread to no more than 50 podcasts at a time.

Check back often for some informative listening.

This Thread is for Podcasts ONLY.  You can always start a new thread with any of these podcasts for discussion.

We invite you to always explore the “News” on the menu bar in the header..

When you click on the word “News,” you will see an index of multiple links to sports news sites for your enjoyment!

From now on, except for a very few circumstances, our threads will be just one page. Advertising only appears on the first page and we want to make as much money as possible for the site.  The bonus in doing this is that it will be easier for everyone to move around the thread.

You will always be able to refer to the previous thread for reference.  To see the previous thread for this topic click Here.

Visit this thread often for new articles.

This Thread is for News Articles ONLY.  You can always start a new thread with any of these articles for discussion.

We invite you to always explore the “News” on the menu bar in the header.

When you click on the word “News,” you will see an index of multiple links to sports news sites for your enjoyment!

From now on, except for a very few circumstances, our threads will be just one page. Advertising only appears on the first page and we want to make as much money as possible for the site.   The bonus in doing this is that it will be easier for everyone to move around the thread.

You will always be able to refer to the previous thread for reference. To see the previous thread for this topic click Here.

This Thread is for News Articles ONLY.  You can always start a new thread with any of these articles for discussion.

We invite you to always explore the “News” on the menu bar in the header..

When you click on the word “News,” you will see an index of multiple links to sports news sites for your enjoyment!

From now on, except for a very few circumstances, our threads will be just one page. Advertising only appears on the first page and we want to make as much money as possible for the site.  The bonus in doing this is that it will be easier for everyone to move around the thread.

You will always be able to refer to the previous thread for reference.  To see the previous thread for this topic click Here.

This Thread is for News Articles ONLY.  You can always start a new thread with any of these articles for discussion

This week I look at my concerns for the 2026 season. I don't actually have that many.

https://open.substack.com/pub/marshduck/p/three-causes-of-concern-for-oregons?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=8foswi

Let me know what you are concerned about heading into next season.

I was slack-jawed at two recruiting surprises today, as first....Dakota Guerrant was elevated from 4-Star to 5-Star by Rivals, which is fantastic. As you know, I favor the Rivals ratings because, 1) they are tougher with their rankings, which ultimately becomes more accurate over time, and 2) because they are consistent. I can go back 20 years and trust their rankings and it helps when comparing recruiting results of the present to the past.

But the other surprise was how he was the ONLY 5-Star recruit with Rivals! You can see it right here, and it is astounding the Xavier Sabb is not a Rivals 5-Star, nor Rashad Streets?

But I have to remember something; the Duck football staff is superb at recruiting players with upside, and it is common that every season we have many players elevated in star status. Last year I recall how Jordon Davison was elevated to 5-Star on Rivals, and was also named the Max-Prep Player of the Year for the entire state of California at the end of the year, and it was largely unnoticed. I was blown away, since it is so darn hard to get that fifth star from Rivals.

I was shouting from the rooftops to "watch out for this guy," and we know how well it turned out. (One of my 50% of the predictions that turns out right) It is my belief that we will have one, if not two 4-Stars get elevated to 5-Stars over the course of the upcoming high school football season.

In particular, we have EIGHT players who are 3-Stars with Rivals, and we routinely have multiple players get elevated to 4-Star over the course of the season in the past. My thoughts? I am thinking that three get elevated, and hope for four. (Most rational observers would say that asking for three to be elevated is a stretch, but then--I am not a rational Duck fan.)

Right now, we are No. 4 in the National Recruiting Rankings right here, and we will add a few more before December. However if my wish-list above with star elevation occurs--Oregon could move up the rankings on simply our players with upside rising in the rankings.

How many do YOU think will get elevated, and where will we end up in the HS recruiting rankings after the signing in December?

I LIKEY....Dakota Guerrant

We invite you to always explore the “News” on the menu bar in the header.

When you click on the word “News,” you will see an index of multiple links to sports news sites for your enjoyment!

From now on, except for a very few circumstances, our threads will be just one page. Advertising only appears on the first page and we want to make as much money as possible for the site.  The bonus in doing this is that it will be easier for everyone to move around the thread.

You will always be able to refer to the previous thread for reference.  To see the previous thread for this topic click Here.

This Thread is for News Articles ONLY.  You can always start a new thread with any of these articles for discussion

We invite you to always explore the “News” on the menu bar in the header.

When you click on the word “News,” you will see an index of multiple links to sports news sites for your enjoyment!

Sometimes there are articles of interest, but they really don't merit their own thread...Those articles will now go in here.  These postings will relate back to OBD in some way.

From now on, except for a very few circumstances, our threads will be just one page.  Advertising only appears on the first page and we want to make as much money as possible for the site.  The bonus in doing this is that it will be easier for everyone to move around the thread.

You will always be able to refer to the previous thread for reference.  To see the previous thread for this topic click Here.

Be sure to come back often...You just might find something of interest to ponder...

This Thread is for News Articles ONLY.  You can always start a new thread with any of these articles for discussion.

Sports Illustrated names and ranks college football's 50 best players.

SI

These are the players from the Pac-10 and Pac-12 conference, and the players from the Big Ten who made the list.

I did not watch all of these exemplary players play ball, but I did watch many of them, including No. 1 on the list, RB Jimmy Brown, who played his college ball at Syracuse, also ran track, played basketball, and was a lacrosse All-American.

50. Bubba Smith - DE Michigan State - Spartan officials tried to but could not quell the 'Kill Bubba, Kill!' cheers.

43. Dave Rimington - C Nebraska - Will Poncho win the eponymous award this season?

42. Marcus Allen - RB USC - In 1984, I was blessed to be in attendance at the Super Bowl in Tampa Bay where Allen led the Los Angeles Raiders to a 38-9 upset defeat of the Washington Redskins.

Allen's MVP Day: 20 carries, 191 yards rushing, including a 74-yard TD run, and another TD.

34. Tommy Frazier - QB Nebraska - Only injuries could hold Tommy down.

33. Matt Leinart - QB USC - Loved it when the Bush-push wiped the smile off the faces of Charlie Weiss and Brady Quinn.

32. One who got away, Portland, Oregon's Ndamukong (who played like King Kong) Suh - DT Nebraska - In 2009, Suh was CFB's outstanding player, and he should have won the Heisman Trophy.

29. Bronko Nagurski - RB/DT Minnesota - I'm old, but not old enough to have watched Bronko run over the opposition.

24. O. J. Simpson - RB USC - Later in life, OJ transferred to Penn State, er, State Pen. 😁

21. Archie Griffin - RB Ohio State. CFB's only 2-time Heisman Trophy winner.

Cal RB Chuck Muncie had a better season in 1975, the year Archie won his second award, but 'character' truly mattered in 1975, and Chuck was (in)famous for being on campus only for football practice and the games on Saturday.

18. Charles Woodson - CB/WR Michigan - Charles was Desmond Howard well before Howard showed up at Michigan. But Charles won the award playing mainly on the D side of the ball. He also had a great career in the NFL.

15. Reggie Bush - RB USC - Stripped of his Heisman Trophy for 14 years because of extra benefits; if he played today, he would have made millions of NIL dollars a year.

USC going on probation the year the Pac-12 Network launched is one reason the conference cratered.

10. Orlando Pace - OT Ohio State - A great player for the Buckeyes.

The 1st pick in the 1997 draft, Pace had a 13-year NFL career and appeared in seven Pro Bowls.

9. Red Grange - RB/DB - Illinois. I did not watch the great Grange play ball. The Galloping Ghost disappeared from tacklers and graced the football field before my time.

7. Dick Butkus - LB/C Illinois. I watched Butkus in the 1964 Rose Bowl, where he helped the Illini to a 17-7 victory over UW 😁. He was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 1965.

In 1964, Butkus was named the Player of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association.

Butkus epitomized the toughness of the Chicago Bears. He was the NFL D Player of the Year in 1969 and 1970.

He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969, and to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983.

.................................................................................

Should SI have named a Duck or two to the list?

This week my thoughts on how Oregon has built the talent, recruiting machine and hype of a championship program. Now comes the harder part: carrying the weight of expectations.

Today on the Sidewalk weight loss, travel, pressure, and what lasting chage truly requires.

api.omarshehata.me/substack-proxy/articles/ducksports-substack-com-p-sunday-sidewalk-what-the-system-can.html

We invite you to always explore the “News” on the menu bar in the header.

When you click on the word “News,” you will see an index of multiple links to sports news sites for your enjoyment!

From now on, except for a very few circumstances, our threads will be just one page. Advertising only appears on the first page and we want to make as much money as possible for the site.  The bonus in doing this is that it will be easier for everyone to move around the thread.

You will always be able to refer to the previous thread for reference.  To see the previous thread for this topic click Here

This Thread is for News Articles ONLY.  You can always start a new thread with any of these articles for discussion.

We invite you to always explore the “News” on the menu bar in the header.

When you click on the word “News,” you will see an index of multiple links to sports news sites for your enjoyment!

From now on, except for a very few circumstances, our threads will be just one page. Advertising only appears on the first page and we want to make as much money as possible for the site.  The bonus in doing this is that it will be easier for everyone to move around the thread.

You will always be able to refer to the previous thread for reference.  To see the previous thread for this topic click Here.

This Thread is for News Articles ONLY.  You can always start a new thread with any of these articles for discussion

Thank you, Steven A, for posting this article under BIG, Info, Predictions, Etc.

Although the article appears on Ducks Wire, the B1G predictions are courtesy of Mother Ship USA Today, a site that generally underrates Big Ten teams. But USA Today predicting five Big Ten teams to finish with five or fewer wins would be an improvement over last season's six teams that were not bowl eligible.

https://duckswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/ducks/football/2026/07/11/oregon-football-big-ten-record-predictions-win-loss-2026/90858145007/

FWIW, here are my thoughts on these predictions. I hope other Forum Friends will chime in.

1. Ohio State - 12-0/9-0 - UNDER - 11-1 or 10-2. With its 2026 schedule, at Texas, Indiana, USC, Nebraska, and Iowa, and home vs. Oregon and Michigan, and with the losses on defense to the NFL, I do not think OSU will go undefeated.

This is a far more difficult regular season schedule than Ohio State played in 2025.

In the 2025 postseason, Indiana and Miami showed that the way to defeat Ohio State is to put QB Julian Sayin under pressure. There are several opponents on the schedule, including OBD, that have the talent on defense to duplicate the Hoosiers and Hurricanes game plans.

I do see Ohio State finishing no worse than 10-2 and returning to the CFB playoffs.

2. Oregon - 11-1/8-1 - UNDER - 10-2 - Predicting Oregon to lose at Ohio State is not out of line considering Oregon is 2-10 against the Buckeyes. The schedule does favor Oregon in that Northwestern will be the opponent with the game in Autzen the week prior, while Ohio State plays at USC.

After a Week 5 bye, Oregon plays eight B1G opponents without a break, and has to travel to the Eastern time zone twice in November. I think this means a second loss for Oregon, but at 10-2 the Ducks return to the playoffs.

2. Indiana - 11-1/8-1 - EVEN -The Hoosiers' schedule is more difficult this season than in Curt Cignetti's first two seasons, but is still easier than the Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, and USC schedules.

Both Ohio State and USC visit Bloomington, with the Hoosiers' most difficult games on the road at Michigan and UW. In two seasons under Curt Cignetti, Indiana has not lost in Bloomington. (And also in Atlanta 🤬.)

I think Indiana returns to the conference championship game and the playoffs. So long as Oregon is a top 8 playoff seed, I'd as soon see OBD miss the champ game and have a 1st round game in Autzen.

In the two seasons of the 12-team playoff, teams with a first-round bye are 1-7, including Georgia and Kirby Smart going 0-2 in the Sugar Bowl. Only Cignetti has cracked the long 1st-round bye code.

The B1G question for Indiana: Will TCU transfer Josh Hoover come close to duplicating Heisman Trophy winner Mendoza's play at QB?

4. Penn State - 10-2/ 6-2 - EVEN - Matt Campbell is welcomed to the Big Ten with a dream schedule. No Ohio State, Oregon, or Indiana on the schedule, with USC visiting Happy Valley.

Road games at Michigan and Washington will be challenging.

With a joke of an out-of-conference schedule and a strength-of-schedule in the 50s, will a 10-2 record qualify PSU for the playoffs?

5. Washington - 9-3/6-3 - OVER - UW is a tough out in Seattle. UW plays on the road at Purdue, Nebraska, and Michigan State and plays Penn State and Indiana at home.

I do not believe UW will defeat OBD in Autzen. The key game in the season is the game at USC. Washington has a terrific scheduling break playing SC in Week 5, the week after OBD plays SC in LA.

Will USC be fired up for the game against UW after a victory over Oregon, or down in the dumps after losing to the Ducks, as I expect will be the case?

Even with a victory over Oregon, can SC's defense carry it to back-to-back wins against two of the Big Ten's most talented QBs?

Win the game vs. SC and split with Indiana and Penn State in Seattle, don't choke away a road game it should win, and UW is a playoff dark horse.

But that's a lot of Ifs. WOOF!

6. Iowa - 9-3/6-3 - UNDER - Iowa will again be one of the best 4-loss teams in CFB. QB is a huge question mark.

7. USC - 8-4 - OVER - With Fresno State replacing Notre Dame on the schedule, I think SC has a good chance to go 9-3 with home losses to Oregon and Ohio State and a road loss at Indiana.

I think the home game against Washington will decide whether the Trojans finish with three or four losses.

I'm hoping for 9-3 so Riley carries on as SC's HC.

I don't see Gary Patterson producing a better D than D'Anton Lynn, now the DC at Penn State.

Maiava is a solid QB, but his two top receivers, including the Biletnikoff winner Makai Lemon, are off to the NFL, as is solid TE Lake McRee.

Many talented freshmen in South Central, but they are freshmen.

8. Michigan - 7-5/5-4 - OVER, with a home win against Oklahoma and a chance to finish 10-2 and qualify for the playoffs.

However, the schedule is one of the top 10 most difficult in the country, and how much will QB Bryce Underwood improve with better coaching?

9. Illinois - 7-5/4-5 - OVER - At least 8-4. Stop underrating Bielema and the Illini.

10. UCLA - 7-5/5-4 - OVER - At least 8-4 and with one of the easier conference schedules, a chance to go 9-3. A Week 6 game against the Bruins coming off a Week 5 bye is a possible trap game for OBD.

Bob Chesney's JMU team did not stop scoring in Autzen in the 2025 1st-round playoff game.

11. Wisconsin - 6-6/5-4 - OVER - With Joseph at QB, the Badgers win at least seven games. 😁

12. Minnesota - 6-6/3-6 - OVER - 7-5.

13. Michigan State - 6-6/4-5 - UNDER - 5-7 or 4-8. It will take some time for Fitz to turn Sparty around. OBD best beware of a Friday night game in East Lansing on November 20th, with an 8 PM Eastern kickoff, coming between home games against Michigan and Washington. OUCH!

14. Maryland - 5-7/3-6 - UNDER, and so long, Coach Locksley.

15. Nebraska - 5-7/2-7 - OVER - QB Anthony Colandrea, who was the 2025 Mountain West Player of the Year at UNLV, is on paper at least a decent replacement for Dylan Raiola.

I think Nebraska finishes no worse than 6-6, after going 3-0 out-of-conference and again qualifies for a bowl game. Will this be good enough to save Matt Ruhle's job? Ruhle is 2-24 vs ranked opponents in his career, 0-8 at Nebraska.

16. Northwestern - 5-7/2-7 - OVER - 6-6 and bowl eligible.

17. Rutgers 2-10/0-9 - OVER with at least three wins but not bowl eligible.

18. Purdue - 1-11/0-9 - OVER with three or four wins. It figures that the team at the bottom of the B1G plays 11 P4 opponents, including Notre Dame and Wake Forest out-of-conference.

Thanks again, Steven, and Beat Boise!

Oregon’s New Football Facility Looks Striking in Construction Update

This update provides a real check in point, as the expected finish date is 2027.

Oregon Ducks On SI

We invite you to always explore the “News” on the menu bar in the header.

When you click on the word “News,” you will see an index of multiple links to sports news sites for your enjoyment!

From now on, except for a very few circumstances, our threads will be just one page. Advertising only appears on the first page and we want to make as much money as possible for the site.  The bonus in doing this is that it will be easier for everyone to move around the thread.

You will always be able to refer to the previous thread for reference.  To see the previous thread for this topic click Here.

This Thread is for News Articles ONLY.  You can always start a new thread with any of these articles for discussion.

We invite you to always explore the “News” on the menu bar in the header..

When you click on the word “News,” you will see an index of multiple links to sports news sites for your enjoyment!

From now on, except for a very few circumstances, our threads will be just one page. Advertising only appears on the first page and we want to make as much money as possible for the site.  The bonus in doing this is that it will be easier for everyone to move around the thread.

You will always be able to refer to the previous thread for reference.  To see the previous thread for this topic click Here.

Visit this thread often for new articles.

This Thread is for News Articles ONLY.  You can always start a new thread with any of these articles for discussion.

We invite you to always explore the “News” on the menu bar in the header..

When you click on the word “News,” you will see an index of multiple links to sports news sites for your enjoyment!

From now on, except for a very few circumstances, our threads will be just one page. Advertising only appears on the first page and we want to make as much money as possible for the site.  The bonus in doing this is that it will be easier for everyone to move around the thread.

Visit this thread often for new upcoming videos

This Thread is for News Articles ONLY.  You can always start a new thread with any of these articles for discussion.

Oregon Ducks offer QB 'prodigy' Jayden Wade in class of 2028

One of the most important aspects of recruiting in the world of college football is being up on the future stars before others have had a chance to build a relationship with them. That’s exactly what Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks appear to be doing, extending a scholarship offer to Jayden Wade, a quarterback in the class of 2028.

At the moment, Wade is a 14-year-old who plays for IMG Academy. He has been dubbed a QB “prodigy” by analysts and fans who have watched his development over the years. In late December, Wade picked up his first major scholarship offer from the Georgia Bulldogs, but he also holds offers from the Utah Utes, Washington State Cougars, and Arizona Wildcats.

According to his social media, Wade stands at 6-foot-4, 190 pounds (my goodness, at this age?).  At the moment, the Ducks don't have any other offers in the class of 2028, but they have extended several offers in the class of 2027.

Oregon Ducks offer QB ‘prodigy’ Jayden Wade in class of 2028

DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM

---

The Oregon Ducks have extended a scholarship offer to Jayden Wade, a QB in the class of 2028.

A Better USC Team Than the Record Showed

According to Yahoo Sports, USC finished 9-4 in 2025 but was arguably better than that record suggests. Fiutak points out that USC actually ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten in total offense last season, averaging 465.5 yards per game, with Oregon checking in second at roughly 13 yards behind.

USC also finished fifth nationally on third downs and near the top of the country in pass protection. Yahoo Sports notes the Trojans’ four losses came against Illinois (a late heartbreaker), Notre Dame, Oregon — both true road games — and a bowl collapse against TCU in the Alamo Bowl.

Fiutak frames it bluntly: USC has no excuses left. The talent, coaching staff, and returning experience are all in place for Riley’s group to take the next step in 2026, even if the schedule doesn’t do them many favors.

Maiava and the Offensive Pieces Return

Quarterback Jayden Maiava is back under offensive coordinator Luke Huard, and Yahoo Sports highlights that he led the Big Ten in passing yardage last season, averaging 285.5 yards per game — well ahead of Oregon’s Dante Moore, who averaged 238. Maiava also threw 24 touchdowns and ran for six more, per the preview.

Four starters return on an offensive line that Yahoo Sports says was among the best in the country in pass protection last year, paving the way for over five yards per carry on the ground. Defensive tackle Jide Abasiri is singled out as the key returning piece up front for a defense that racked up 31 sacks in 2025.

Why This Still Matters for Oregon

Oregon fans don’t need reminding that USC’s 2025 campaign included a loss on the road in Eugene, one of the results Fiutak cites as evidence the Trojans belong in the “elite” conversation despite missing the Playoff. If USC’s offense is even more dangerous in 2026, as Yahoo Sports suggests, that only raises the stakes for whenever the Ducks and Trojans meet again.

Fiutak’s best-case scenario for USC is a Big Ten title and a spot in the national championship hunt, while the worst case has the Trojans settling back into also-ran status in a stacked conference. Either way, Oregon remains one of the measuring sticks Riley’s program has to clear to prove it belongs among the Big Ten’s true contenders.

Related: National Pundit’s USC Playoff Pick Hinges on Getting Past Oregon

Read the full article here...

Athlon Sports predicts the 2026-27 college football (CFB) playoff (PO) field.

https://athlonsports.com/college-football/playoff-12-team-preseason-projections-predictions-2026

Forum Friend Stevan A. posted this article that was reposted by Sports Illustrated in an article with the lede: Oregon Fans Will Love This Prediction.

Are you whipping me? Athlon again predicts that five SEC teams will be in the 12-team PO field and that Oregon will again be knocked out by Texas in Arlington, Texas, in the PO semifinals.

Why, especially with the championship being played in the Pacific time zone for the only time under the current format, would Oregon fans be pleased with a 2025 re-run?

With the talent on both sides of the ball Oregon brings back in 2026, this OBD fan finds the Athlon predictions and the Sports Illustrated article offensive; another semifinal loss would be a Duck treading water.

Five SEC teams in the field with the SEC going to nine conference games? After an unworthy 3-loss Bama team and an unworthy Oklahoma made the field last season?

A loss in a conference champ game should not eliminate a team from PO contention. Using this criterion, 3-loss Bama made the field and not 2-loss BYU.

BYU lost twice to a PO team, Texas Tech; one of Bama's losses came against a bad Florida State team, and Georgia avenged its regular-season loss to the Tide and decisively defeated Bama in the SEC conference champ game.

3-loss Texas deserved a spot in the PO instead of an Oklahoma team the Longhorns defeated 23-6. Alabama's 1st-round PO win at Oklahoma was illusory, as evidenced by Bama suffering a historic Rose Bowl humiliation.

Notwithstanding the Big Ten winning the last three PO titles, and Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan defeating Greg Sankey's PO-worthy SEC teams in 2024 and 2025 bowl games, played with few opt-outs except for Michigan defenders in 2024 when Michigan defeated Bama, the middle of the SEC continues to be preseason ranked well above the middle of the B1G.

Athlon, with its headquarters in Nashville, has delivered another SEC-centric PO projection. Athlon is far from the only site to favor the middle of the SEC over the center of the Big Ten.

Who cares except for the fact that the PO committee does the same when seeding the PO field? However, no one knows the voodoo practiced by the Grapevine Gurus behind closed doors.

Notwithstanding ESPN and Bill Connelly's SP+ 2026 preseason rankings that have Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana respectively ranked 1st, 2nd, and 5th, the SEC dominates the top of the rankings with 13 of its 16 teams ranked in the SP+ top 31; the Big Ten has eight of 18 teams ranked in the top 31.

Illinois is ranked 32nd, behind 16 Tennessee and 25 South Carolina teams the Illini defeated in the last two postseasons, including last season's win over the Vols in Nashville.

While still hoping to find a life (😁), I totaled the SP+ team rankings and strength-of-schedule rankings for the Power Four conferences to determine the average team and SOS rankings.

ACC - Rankings - 44.70/ SOS 48.47.

B12 - Rankings - 44.25/ SOS 50.93

B1G - Rankings - 35.11/ SOS 25.16

SEC - Rankings - 22.25/ SOS 12.18

Georgia, with an SOS of 25, has the lowest SOS ranking in the SEC. Thus, every 2026 SEC team in the preseason plays (in a stentorian voice) 'A Gauntlet Not Faced by Teams in the Lesser Conferences; The Schedules Just Mean More! Teams like Illinois and Iowa would be fortunate to win five conference games in the SEC!'

All righty then. However, we don't see these results when the teams meet on the field of play.

And in my opinion, Tony Petitti, in not whining over 3-loss Big Ten teams not making the PO, holds the high ground, and many who laughed at Tony's 24-team PO proposal, except for ESPN and Grag Sankey, have come around to the B1G point of view.

To reiterate, Oregon fans will not be pleased if Oregon loses a semifinal game against Texas in Arlington, Texas. It's condescending to suggest that a semifinal loss is all that Ducks fans expect.

Steve Sarkisian's team qualified for one 12-team PO appearance; his PO record is 2-1. Dan Lanning is 2-2. Ryan Day is 4-1 with a title. Curt Cignetti is 3-1 with a title.

Kirby Smart is 0-2. No SEC coach has more than two PO wins.

On the way to winning it all in Las Vegas, start with a win over Boise State!

FYI, below are the SP+ rankings for B1G vs SEC in 2026.

No. 1 Ohio State at No. 6 Texas. No. 12 Oklahoma at No. 14 Michigan. No. 52 Mississippi State at No. 45 Minnesota.

Rankings for Oregon's out-of-conference opponents and a few other top contenders for the 2026-27 title.

Boise State - No. 38 / SOS 73 - Boise is the highest-ranked G6 team.

Oklahoma State - No. 39 / SOS also 39. Week 2 is the home opener for the Cowboys.

Notre Dame - No.3 / SOS 62 ... Miami - No. 8 / SOS 49 ... Louisville -No. 27 / SOS 60 ... Texas Tech - No. 7 / SOS 71, in a PO field with 68 FBS teams ... BYU No. 53 / SOS 53

But it's an even playing field, right? 🤪

Sorry, Pawall, but the middle of my conference can beat the middle of your conference.

We invite you to always explore the “News” on the menu bar in the header..

When you click on the word “News,” you will see an index of multiple links to sports news sites for your enjoyment!

From now on, except for a very few circumstances, our threads will be just one page. Advertising only appears on the first page and we want to make as much money as possible for the site.  The bonus in doing this is that it will be easier for everyone to move around the thread.

You will always be able to refer to the previous thread for reference.  To see the previous thread for this topic click Here.

Visit this thread often for new articles.

This Thread is for News Articles ONLY.  You can always start a new thread with any of these articles for discussion.

In their "About Us" area, they explain that, "Our reporters are AI agents — each drafts original, well-researched stories that are fact-checked and approved by human editors before publishing."

A new business model in the AI world? Let's see how it goes since it is a slow time anyway, and another article is fine. BTW...it published in the forum this morning automatically as it did before!

It goes to show that I have to remove all vestiges of the FishDuck name from my association, as I am "Mr. OBD" now! And it says that the site began in 2014? Wrong!

It was 2011...

Michigan enters 2026 under a brand-new coaching staff, but according to Addicted To Quack, the sweeping “clean slate” narrative attached to the Wolverines this offseason doesn’t hold up under closer scrutiny. For Oregon fans tracking Big Ten contenders, Michigan’s rebuild under new head coach Kyle Whittingham is worth understanding as the Ducks continue to navigate the conference.

A Coaching Overhaul, But Not a Scandal Story

Whittingham arrived in Ann Arbor bringing a batch of assistants from his Utah and BYU staffs, officially closing the book on the Jim Harbaugh era since no on-field coaches remain from Michigan’s 2023 national championship squad. Addicted To Quack, drawing on a podcast conversation with Jake Singer of Maize n Brew, pushed back on the idea that this transition was scandal-driven.

The site notes that everyone connected to the various NCAA and criminal investigations from Michigan’s past — including Harbaugh, Steve Clinkscale, Jesse Minter, Chris Partridge, Denard Robinson, Connor Stalions and Matt Weiss — had already exited the program well before the 2025 season. Last year’s staff, by contrast, wasn’t accused of wrongdoing. It was the firing of head coach Sherrone Moore at season’s end, tied to personal conduct issues rather than any broader scandal, that ultimately brought down that group.

Roster Stability Despite the Staff Turnover

Perhaps the bigger surprise, per the report, is how little the player personnel has actually changed. Rather than a roster fire sale, Addicted To Quack describes Michigan’s program as one of the most stable developmental pipelines in the Big Ten heading into 2026. There have been portal departures and additions — some with expected Utah or BYU ties given Whittingham’s background — but the overall churn is described as typical for the current transfer-portal era rather than anything dramatic.

Whittingham’s Real Value: Program Building, Not Playcalling

Addicted To Quack argues Whittingham’s true strength lies less in scheme and more in long-term program management and personnel decisions — meaning his fingerprints on Michigan may not fully show until 2027 at the earliest. The site suggests national media has historically misread Whittingham’s Utah tenure by crediting him for on-field concepts actually delegated to assistants, when his real skill was running the operation behind the scenes.

That management style is already visible in some of Whittingham’s early moves. He replaced Michigan’s entire strength and conditioning staff with people who worked alongside him for more than two decades in Salt Lake City, while dismissing several position coaches — including tight ends, receivers, offensive line, defensive ends, linebackers and defensive backs — along with both offensive and defensive playcallers. Notably, Sherrone Moore’s staff never had a dedicated quarterbacks coach at all.

At the same time, Whittingham kept the running backs coach and the defensive tackles coach (who later left for an NFL job), the recently hired special teams coach, and shifted the receivers coach into a front-office recruiting role. Addicted To Quack frames these retention decisions as a deliberate effort to preserve local recruiting relationships and institutional trust rather than a top-down purge — a distinction that matters as Oregon and the rest of the Big Ten size up Michigan’s trajectory heading into the season.

Read the full article here...

We invite you to always explore the “News” on the menu bar in the header.

When you click on the word “News,” you will see an index of multiple links to sports news sites for your enjoyment!

During the football season, podcasts were included with the game for that week. Podcasts still are taking place, just not as often. 

I also have noticed that the podcasts now are covering more than just football. For instance, the one following includes some talk about basketball. 

Those podcasts will now be posted under this thread as they occur. To see the previous podcast thread click Here as we will keep the thread to no more than 50 podcasts at a time.

Check back often for some informative listening.

This Thread is for Podcasts ONLY.  You can always start a new thread with any of these podcasts for discussion.

If you have time on your hands, here's ESPN's Bill Connolly's take on 138 FBS football teams.

How about the P4 saying goodbye to the G6 with the G6 having a playoff of its own?

The next time UTEP will challenge the P4 for a playoff title? In this version of the multiverse, how about never? Ditto our friends in the Pac 8 + Gonzo.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/49287901/bill-connelly-2026-fbs-college-football-conference-previews

If you read this article cover to cover, you may want to consider getting a life.

Except for the Boise take, this CFB junkie passed on the Groveling Group of 6.

The comparison is notable because Sayin enters the year with a flashier résumé. According to the column, Sayin was a Heisman finalist last season and led Ohio State to the Big Ten Championship Game and the College Football Playoff as a true freshman starter. But Huff points out that Sayin’s age showed in the biggest moments, with Indiana and Miami’s defenses rattling him enough to force losses in both games.

Moore’s Postseason Struggles Get a Different Read

Moore also had a strong season by the Trojans Wire columnist’s account, but he too stumbled in the postseason. Huff notes that Moore survived a shaky performance against Texas Tech only because his defense carried him, and that he could not overcome a dominant Indiana team in the national title picture.

Despite those postseason blemishes, Huff still gives Moore the edge over Sayin as the tougher out for USC. The reasoning leans on traits rather than raw statistics — the column concedes that Sayin is the better quarterback if you’re simply comparing numbers, but frames Moore as the player with the higher ceiling and the intangibles to become a “franchise quarterback” beyond this season.

Why USC Sees Moore as the Bigger Danger

The core argument centers on how each quarterback handles pressure schemes. Huff suggests USC’s defense could specifically target and rattle Sayin, and if that happens, even a supporting cast that includes Jeremiah Smith might not be enough to bail out Ohio State’s offense.

Moore, by contrast, is described as a quarterback entering 2026 with something to prove after his own postseason letdown, but one who possesses the pocket instincts to beat aggressive gameplans on his own. Per the column, “there is nothing the defense can do to stop him in the pocket” when Moore is playing at his best — a notable vote of confidence from a rival team’s outlet.

What It Means for Oregon Fans

For Oregon supporters, the piece is less about USC’s game-planning and more validation of Moore’s standing among the Big Ten’s elite quarterbacks heading into his sophomore-caliber season. Being mentioned in the same breath as a Heisman finalist by an opposing fan outlet suggests Moore’s national profile continues to grow.

Trojans Wire’s Huff also cautioned that USC defensive coordinator Gary Patterson can’t afford to focus on just one of the two quarterbacks, since both Moore and Sayin have shown they can win games largely on their own. That’s a reminder that Oregon’s matchup with USC will hinge heavily on how much time Moore is given in the pocket — and how the Ducks’ offensive line and skill players around him respond to whatever pressure packages Patterson dials up.

Related: Dante Moore, Dakorien Moore Recognized Among College Football’s Top Duos

Read the full article here...

The two writers exchanged playoff predictions ahead of the 2026 season, with Adams going out on a limb for Lincoln Riley’s program. Toppmeyer’s response was blunt, calling the pick a mistake and citing USC’s brutal slate as the reason it won’t happen. He specifically listed Oregon, Washington, Penn State, Ohio State and Indiana as the gauntlet standing between USC and a playoff berth, according to Trojans Wire.

Oregon Looms Large in USC’s Playoff Math

For Oregon fans, the mention is a reminder of just how much weight the Ducks carry in other programs’ playoff conversations. USC has not made the College Football Playoff since the event began in 2014, going 0-for-12 across the four-team and now expanded formats, per Trojans Wire. Riley has come up empty in each of his four seasons in Los Angeles, and the pressure to finally break through is mounting.

Toppmeyer’s skepticism isn’t rooted in doubting USC’s talent level — he even acknowledged that a lot of returning production and a potentially improved defense under Gary Patterson give the Trojans a chance. But he made clear that games against the Big Ten’s toughest competition, Oregon chief among them, are what will likely keep USC out of the field again.

A Rivalry Still Finding Its Footing

USC and Oregon have quickly become one of the more consequential matchups in the Big Ten’s West Coast era, and this latest exchange between national writers only reinforces how much that game could shape the conference and playoff picture. If Adams’ prediction is going to come true, USC will likely need to get past a Ducks team that has been a fixture in playoff and championship conversations of its own.

USC’s overall drought since Pete Carroll’s departure has been well documented, with the 2016 and 2017 seasons under Sam Darnold — capped by a Rose Bowl win and the program’s only conference title since Carroll left — standing as the lone bright spots. Whether Riley can change that narrative in 2026 may come down in large part to what happens when USC lines up against Oregon.

Related: Oregon Projected as No. 6 Seed, Bounced by Notre Dame in CFP Quarterfinals

Read the full article here...

We invite you to always explore the “News” on the menu bar in the header..

When you click on the word “News,” you will see an index of multiple links to sports news sites for your enjoyment!

From now on, except for a very few circumstances, our threads will be just one page. Advertising only appears on the first page and we want to make as much money as possible for the site.  The bonus in doing this is that it will be easier for everyone to move around the thread.

You will always be able to refer to the previous thread for reference.  To see the previous thread for this topic click Here.

This Thread is for News Articles ONLY.  You can always start a new thread with any of these articles for discussion

Thank you, Sir Smith, for posting this article under B1G Info, Predictions, etc.

Here's a chance for other Forum Friends to chime in with likely far more salient and articulate comments than what follows.

"A coach is only as good as his players and his schedule." Pepper Rodgers (RIP)

Oregon Ducks On SI

The opponents' names do not tell the entire story about the difficulty of the Ducks' 2026 schedule.

Success against Ohio State? Oregon is 2-10 all-time against the Buckeyes. Ohio State returns a Heisman finalist at QB, the best WR in CFB, and an attitude after going 0-2 in the 2026 postseason.

Ryan Day is 47-0 vs. the Big Ten, 2-4 against Michigan, and 1-1 vs. Dan Lanning.

Oregon is at Ohio State on November 11th, Week 10, CFB's 2026 premiere Saturday -

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/college-football/2026/05/162525/November-7-might-break-college-football

On the 11th, Miami and Notre Dame kick off at 7:30 Eastern on NBC. There will be one or more impactful SEC games kicking off at 3:30 or 7:30 Eastern. This means a likely 9 AM body-clock game time in Columbus with kickoff at Noon Eastern on Fox.

The good news is that Oregon will travel to Columbus after a home game against Northwestern, while Ohio State will return home after a game at USC, which is likely to kick off at 10:30 PM Eastern.

OBD does not have an easy opening game. Boise State has had more than modest success vs. Oregon. The Broncos are 3-1 against the Ducks. Boise State is the top preseason-ranked G6 team in almost every preseason poll.

Boise will be coming to Autzen with its hair on fire. The game, with a 12:30 PM Pacific kickoff on CBS, is Boise's Super Bowl. A chance to prove it is a playoff-worthy team in 2026.

With OBD breaking in a new O-line, it's unfortunate that Oregon is opening the season against the Broncos, and not the Portland State Vikings, a team that Oregon will play at home in Week 3. The one layup on the schedule.

After opening the season at nearby Tulsa, the Week 2 game at Oklahoma State is the Cowboys' home opener. Like Autzen, the noise at T. Boone Pickens Stadium exceeds the number of fans in the stands, with seats that are right on top of the visiting team's sideline.

OK State is a far different team than last season's Mullet-Mess that OBD spanked 69-3 in Autzen.

OK State's QB Drew Mestermaker led the FBS last season in passing yards, 4379, and 34 TDs. Also joining new coach Eric Morris in moving from North Texas to Stillwater, OK, are the American Conference's 2025 leading rusher, Caleb Hawkins, 1804 rush yards and 29 total TDs, and the American Conference's 2025 leading WR, Wyatt Young, with 1264 receiving yards, 3rd in FBS and 13 TDs.

This game will be broadcast on ESPN. Kickoff is at 11 AM Central, 9 AM Pacific body clock time.

After playing a road game at what will be an undefeated and ranked USC in Week 4, Oregon is off on 10/3/26 before playing eight Big Ten games in a row.

This gauntlet begins with a new and improved UCLA at home on 10/10 and finishes in Autzen with a game against UW on 11/28.

The good news is that Oregon does play five B1G opponents in Autzen. The bad news is that Oregon plays the most difficult schedule in CFB in November, especially when considering the travel demands.

November 7th at Ohio State. November 14 vs. Michigan, Friday night; November 20th, 8 PM Eastern kickoff at Michigan State; November 28th vs. Washington.

This is cruel and unusual scheduling. The second time in three seasons that B1G HQ has OBD playing eight games straight against Power 2 competition. Ohio State, Michigan, and UW are odds-on to be ranked in the top 25 when they play Oregon.

(Northwestern plays 11 straight games (!), but the P4 gauntlet is broken up with a game against G6 Ball State in Evanston on October 10th.)

To win a CFB championship today means playing 16 or 17 football games. Knock on a wooden duck decoy that the rigors of the schedule do not visit devastating injuries on OBD.

So, eight straight, including a Week 8 road game at Illinois, with the Illini coming off a bye, at least one and quite likely two 9 AM body clock kickoff times, two trips to the Eastern time zone in November when the weather is likely to be cold, windy, with a good chance of snow, and a roster on both sides of the ball not likely to feature all of the players who start on September 5, 2026.

WHEW!

But it is what it is: BEAT BOISE!

https://open.substack.com/pub/marshduck/p/should-oregon-move-away-from-runningback?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=8foswi

Under the articles-only college football rankings topic, NJ Duck and others have done a great job of posting articles from many sources predicting the top teams in the 2026 season.

Because a team's strength of schedule (SOS) varies so widely, here's a look at how College Football News (CFN) ranks CFB's most difficult schedules. Also shown is a ranked team's most difficult out-of-conference (OOC) game, followed by a team's 2026 preseason SP+ ranking.

You'll note that many lower SP+ preseason-ranked teams are playing the most difficult schedules. For instance, SP+ No. 56 Purdue, in addition to a difficult Big Ten schedule, hosts both SP+ No. 3 Notre Dame and P4 No. 56 Wake Forest.

That's 11 P4 games for Purdue, a team that would benefit from playing no P4 opponent OOC, like in-state neighbor Indiana.

SOS Ranking/ Toughest OOC Game/SP+ Ranking -

1 Arkansas - at No. 24 Utah - SP+ 47

2 Oklahoma - at No. 14 Michigan - SP+ 13

3 Texas - vs. No. 1 Ohio State - SP+ No. 6

4 Purdue - vs. No. 3 Notre Dame - SP+ 82

5 Florida - at 35 Florida State - SP+ 19

6 OREGON - at 38 Oklahoma State and vs. 39 Boise State - OBD is ranked 2nd by SP+

7 Michigan - vs. No. 12 Oklahoma - SP+ 16

8 Alabama - vs. No. 35 Florida State - SP+ 11

9 Mississippi State - at 45 Minnesota - SP+ 52

10 Kentucky - vs. 27 Louisville - SP+ 53

11 Missouri - at 55 Kansas - SP+ 20

12 Tennessee - at 43 Georgia Tech - SP+ 15

13 Colorado - at 43 Georgia Tech and at 49 Northwestern - SP+ 65 - 11 Prime Time games for the Buffaloes - Brutal

14 Georgia - vs. 43 Georgia Tech - SP+ No. 4

15 USC - vs. 78 Fresno State - SP+ 13 - How's this for a scheduling trade: No. 3 Notre Dame for 78 Fresno

16 Michigan State at No. 3 Notre Dame - SP+ 67

17 Ohio State at No. 6 Texas - SP+ No. 1

18 LSU vs. No. 22 Clemson - SP+ 10

19 Stanford - at No. 3 Notre Dame - SP+ 77

20 UNC - vs. No. 3 Notre Dame - SP+ 58

21 UCLA - at No. 57 Cal - SP+ 46

22 Ole Miss - 27 Louisville in Nashville - SP+ 16

23 Maryland - vs. 40 Virginia Tech - SP+ 55

24 Syracuse - vs. No. 3 Notre Dame - SP+ 69

25 Boston College - at No. 3 Notre Dame - SP+ 74

Twelve SEC teams, eight Big Ten teams, four ACC teams, and one B12 team.

Notice that Notre Dame shows up six times as a team's most difficult OOC opponent. The Domers' SOS is ranked 42nd for a reason.

SOS rankings for playoff-contending teams support a 24-team playoff field; it is not a regular season scheduling fair fight.

Check out the SOS for teams OBD is competing against for a playoff invitation, with the understanding that to date, the CFB PO Committee focuses on wins and losses (unless you're Bama) and not on the difficulty of a team's schedule.

Big Ten - Indiana 50, Penn State 51, Iowa 55

ACC - Clemson 31, Louisville 35, Miami 59, SMU 66, UVA 68

B12 - BYU 33, Utah 54, Houston 64, Texas Tech 65

Pac 8 & Gonzo - Washington State 69, Oregon State 71

One game at a time: BEAT BOISE!

We invite you to always explore the “News” on the menu bar in the header.

When you click on the word “News,” you will see an index of multiple links to sports news sites for your enjoyment!

Sometimes there are articles of interest, but they really don't merit their own thread...Those articles will now go in here.  These postings will relate back to OBD in some way.

From now on, except for a very few circumstances, our threads will be just one page.  Advertising only appears on the first page and we want to make as much money as possible for the site.  The bonus in doing this is that it will be easier for everyone to move around the thread.

You will always be able to refer to the previous thread for reference.  To see the previous thread for this topic click Here.

Be sure to come back often...You just might find something of interest to ponder...

This Thread is for News Articles ONLY.  You can always start a new thread with any of these articles for discussion.

We invite you to always explore the “News” on the menu bar in the header.

When you click on the word “News,” you will see an index of multiple links to sports news sites for your enjoyment!

From now on, except for a very few circumstances, our threads will be just one page. Advertising only appears on the first page and we want to make as much money as possible for the site.  The bonus in doing this is that it will be easier for everyone to move around the thread.

You will always be able to refer to the previous thread for reference.  To see the previous thread for this topic click Here.

This Thread is for News Articles ONLY.  You can always start a new thread with any of these articles for discussion.

Five-Star Oregon Commit Adds Perfect Reaction To Ducks’ Recruiting Surge

A preview of OBD's Week 1 opponent, Boise State. Boise is 3-1 all-time vs. Oregon and is as tough as a G6 opponent can get.

https://collegefootballnews.com/college-football/boise-state-football-preview-2026

SP+ ranks Boise No. 39 and Week 2 opponent Oklahoma State 38.

Oklahoma State's 38th ranking would be the 10th best in the Big Ten. Boise's 39th ranking would be the 11th best in the Big Ten.

Both out-of-conference (OOC) opponents are just behind No. 37 Nebraska and ranked ahead of 45 Minnesota, 46 UCLA, 49 Northwestern, 55 Maryland, 61 Wisconsin, 62 Rutgers, 67 Michigan State, and 82 Purdue.

Oregon is not playing No. 6 Texas in Austin like No. 1 Ohio State or No. 12 Oklahoma in Ann Arbor like No. 14 Michigan, but Boise in Week 1 and at Oklahoma State are not layups, especially when compared with the most difficult OOC game for No. 5 Indiana vs. CUSA Western Kentucky, No. 13 USC vs. P12 Fresno State, No. 17 Penn State at American Conference Temple, No. 21 Washington vs. P12 Washington State, and No. 37 Nebraska vs. the MAC's Ohio University.

BEAT BOISE! September 5, 2026, Autzen Stadium, 12:30 Pacific

Collierville (Tenn.) High School four-star athlete Tae Walden Jr. announced his commitment to the Oregon Ducks on Wednesday.

Walden chose Oregon over finalists Auburn, Georgia, LSU, and Ole Miss. He had roughly 40 total scholarship offers including Arkansas, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi State, Missouri, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Purdue, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, and more.

https://247sports.com/college/oregon/article/tae-walden-oregon-ducks-commit-commitment-football-recruiting-top-100-athlete--288091280/

Who Were Starters on Defense Last Year?

CB: Ify Obidegwu R-So, A 12 game starter at Oregon last year!

Safety: Aaron Flowers R-So, A 15 game starter at Oregon last year.

Safety: Koi Perich Jr, A starter and star safety at Minnesota.

CB: Brandon Finney Jr. So, A 15 game starter at Oregon last year.

LB: Jerry Mixon Sr, A 13 game starter at Oregon last year.

Rover/Star: Carl Williams IV + R-Jr, a starter and star at Baylor last year.

DE: Matayo Uiagalelei Sr, A 15 game starter at Oregon last year.

DT: A'Mauri Washington Sr, A 15 game starter at Oregon last year.

DT: Bear Alexander R-Sr, A 12 game starter at Oregon last year.

Edge: Teitum Tuioti Sr. A 15 game starter at Oregon last year.

TEN returning starters at Oregon or former schools? Holy Crap!

The Only Non-Starter Projected on the 2026 Oregon Defense?

LB: Devon Jackson Sr. A starter in two games last year, but has played a TON over the last three years, and been in the system for a redshirt year as well.

My gosh that is a ton of experience returning! My Duck-Buddies...have you ever seen anything like this before at Oregon?

Two Observations:

-That is an unbelievably rare defense...to have all that experience returning.

-That is a defense positioned to be a "Natty" defense.

Agree?

Baylor's Carl Williams Deflects the Pass

This article focuses on the good Washington, who, history tells us, never owned a husky or a malamute and was a Virginia Cavaliers fan. 😁

SI

“The program is focused on the pursuit of a National Championship and I would like to be a part of that. I have also built a great relationship with Coach Ross (Douglas), and I trust in his vision for me as an Oregon Duck.”

Other programs that offered Sabb included Alabama, Notre Dame and Ohio State.

“My favorite thing about Oregon is the culture and family atmosphere,” Sabb said. “I like how supportive the team is of each other, I feel it’s going to be a good fit for me on and off the field.”

Sabb is the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of New Jersey. As a junior he caught 59 passes for 897 yards and 13 touchdowns. He added two more rushing scores and returned a kick and punt for a touchdown en route to a state championship. Sabb picked off four passes playing defense.

Oregon's 5 Best All-Time Athletes per Sports Illustrated. Do you agree that these five are the five best athletes born in the State of Oregon?

1. Don Schollander - Swimming - 7 Olympic Gold Medals

2. Ryan Crouser - Shot Put - 3-time winner of an Olympic Gold Medal.

3. Bob Lilly - 11-time NFL Pro Bowl.

4. Danny Ainge - Great player at BYU and in the NBA.

5. Steve Prefontaine - Legendary distance runner.

A Glaring Omission: How about Ashton Eaton? Back-to-back decathlon Gold Medal winner - 2022 London Olympic Games and 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Born in Portland, raised in Bend, Oregon.

Terry Baker, Marcus Mariota, and Dan Fouts were all born in another state; however, in-state birth is not a requirement.

SI

https://open.substack.com/pub/marshduck/p/will-2026-be-the-best-passing-attack?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=8foswi

Go Ducks!

The bipartisan Bill co-authored by Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell that would provide antitrust protection for college athletic enforcement has a decent chance of passing and being signed into law by the president.

But not without debate and objection, of course.

Among other relief provided by the Bill would be a one-time limit on players transferring for any or no reason, except for being allowed to transfer when a coach moves on.

The Bill would also prevent tampering with a coach, as happened with LSU and Lane Kiffin last season, before the season ends.

[The photo below is of 'How are you Fixed for Blades' Ted Cruz, not Grandpa Munster. Someone, please, tell Ted to find a new tailor. 😁]

AP News

Las Vegas (Nevada) Bishop Gorman Top 100 recruit Hayden Stepp announced his commitment to the Oregon Ducks on Wednesday. He joins Tae Walden as two four-star cornerback commitments for Oregon in a 30-minute stretch.

https://247sports.com/college/oregon/article/hayden-stepp-oregon-ducks-commitment-from-4-star-cornerback-football-recruiting-bishop-gorman-288092143/

4-star ATH Tae Walden Jr. 12:30 PM, PST

4-star CB Hayden Stepp 12:45 PM, PST

4-star IOL Gecova Doyal 11:45 PM, PST (Expected to be a Husky)

Tae Walden has a ton of fast-twitch at 6'2"?