HappyToBeADuck

The ACC does not have the high powered conference members to help challenge the Canes. Or improve its SOS. ND has gone out of its way to eliminate blue bloods from their schedule, USC, Michigan, etc. They schedule 5 ACC teams and feast on G6 competition Both teams will be rewarded for their lightweight scheduling and get a,CFP invite. The BIG Ten (18) schedulers could learn from this. They went out of their way to sabotage their big national brands (tOSU, Oregon and USC with challenging schedules. Very little room for more than 1 loss. All 3 of those schools could have a strong season and be rewarded with 3 losses. Self cannibalism is not the ticket to the CFP. JJ or Jon Boy thank you for your research and articles.

I love this forum...... I agree with JJ. 10-2 floor and 12-0 ceiling. It all depends on the Oline and can the offense play balanced ball by week 4. Then get better every week. To go 12-0, the defense must win the day against tOSU. The NFL talent filled D roster must show up, show out and show off. Control the LOS...... Go Ducks.....

If tOSU Buckeyes are the last team standing, after the CFP, then they will be beyond worthy.......... JJ, thank you for all this great information. Appreciate your constant effort. OBD's schedule is tough but nothing like tOSU. Scheduling is a tall task for each league office. PSU sure has an easy schedule, too. If ND and PSU make the CFP then they will be playing against some battled tested teams. Go Ducks...

IMHO, Washington, PSU, Michigan, Illinois, USC and Iowa could make the case to go 11-1 if they had Notre Dames schedule. tOSU, Indiana and Oregon could and probably would go 12-0. Ask yourself if the Domers would beat tOSU and Michigan on back to back weekends? I am not convinced that OBD's can do it with an almost complete blue-chip roster. I agree with JJ that I would rather have ND's middle of the pack SOS match ups.

David, thank you for another spot on article. Appreciate all the writers and posters on this one of a kind Forum. My optimism for the Ducks in 2026 is very high. The schedule will be challenging with at least 3 or 4 teams with CFP potential on the schedule. My wish is for a balanced offense that can run or pass with lethal execution. The 2025 Oline could plow the road for the run game. This forced the opposing D to crowd the line of scrimmage....... This repeatedly opened the Duck offense up to take the top off of the defense. And it worked. On replays we could see Duck tightends and WR's wide open, past the defenders....... However, as you mentioned David, pass protection broke down often and Dante was sacked or scrambling and the opportunity was missed. Hopefully, the 2026 Duck Oline can deliver when called upon. If they do, the skilled position players will light up the scoreboard. How the Oline delivers will be the difference between 12-0 and 10-2. Can't wait! Go Ducks.....

Eventually greed has its own day of reckoning. To early in the game to know. tOSU gains part of its immense payout from the value of the conference. Ask yourself this: How come Oregon received $48 mil for a partial share in the BIG, but would have struggled to reach $30 mil with a full share in the PAC? Stronger partners in a stronger conference. Along with poaching most of the cream from the PAC. Rest assured, tOSU and others will do what they feel is in their best interest. And I guess that is okay.

Coach W is spot on! It will take money, truck loads of money. Then with that money you need to spend it on great talent that improves and compliments your roster. Then coaching, great coaching......... First to evaluate and acquire that great talent. And the chops to coach up that talent thru the long game and on game day. But Coach W speaks from a lifetime of coaching experience. As a fan, I would ask how can the NCAA or any governing body place restrictions on the NIL market value of any player. Plus, the better a player performs each season then the higher the NIL value. The players are not employees, they are student athletes. They are paid thru NIL Collectives based on their market values. Any form of salary cap on a school would restrict what a player could be paid. I am confident a quality lawyer or even an ambulance chaser could find potential damages in this scenario. Schools will need to be committed to budgeting out the frivolous expenditures and investing in their athletics. Just a few mindless thoughts.

My first question is: Who started the buzz that Bri wrote her article about? I may have missed it, but didn't see any name mentioned. Conjecture by bored sports writers, pod casters, anybody? I don't feel that Dylan or any athlete should have to respond to anything other than the eventual outcome. Gosh how I get frustrated with the long off-season...... No matter who leaves the program, DL and staff will find a replacement. Other than the rare generational player, ask yourself, is there much difference in the top 300 players coming out of high school or the top 100 on the portal? DL and the Ducks bring in their fair share. Go Ducks........

In the last 4 seasons: Riley - 35-18 No games against tOSU and IU in 2024 and 2025. 0-1 against Huskies 1-1 against MIchigan 0-1 against PSU Are you impressed? Lanning - 48-8 2024 and 2025 2-0 against Huskies 1-0 against Muchigan 2-0 against PSU 1-1 against tOSU National Champs 2024 0-2 against Hoosiers National Champs 2025 In 2022 the Ducks 0-1 against Georgia National Champs In 2023 the Ducks 0-2 against the Huskies National Runner up Are you impressed In 4 seasons the Ducks have 1 bad loss to Beavus in 2023. Troll away Trojan fan..... Scoreboard is what counts! Go Ducks! Go DL....

Good topic and a bit difficult to offer anything substantive. A few of my opinions: ● The players had no fight in them in their last game of the season. Both 24 and 25. Could coach be driving them too hard. All of us have that point that we can reach where there is no gas left in the tank. Coach play more players throughout the season to keep players fresh and do practises need to be as physical and violent as summer camps? ● DL and his staff lack a certain level of in game adjustment experience. In reality they did not game plan well before, during or after the game. This must change and change soon. ●Injuries and transfers out caused turmoil. Who transfers out when you are 2 games from a Natty shot? The mojo, rythmn and continuity were broken, maybe? ●DL is an ever changing beast. Each year the team gets better. I expect year 5 will be better and in year 6 the trophy will come home to Eugene and PK's office until he leaves this earth. Win or lose, I like this version of the Ducks over the 70's and 80's Ducks.

Sir Charles I am 3 and a half years into my intermittent fast journey (16/8 program) Lost over 50 pounds and 8 inches in the wasteline. Stick with your plan and it will work for you. I am 31 minutes from having lunch and ending my weekly 24 hour fast. Those initial gravings will soon go away. This old graybeard is rooting for you and the Ducks!

Who do I think the Oregon Ducks are? What an interesting question, Mike! Just my opinion: The Ducks are an elite level CFP team, with talent 2nd to none. 2nd to none. At this point, while the coaches have upped their in game adjustments in the regular season they have not had the answers against the eventual champion. DL and staff were out schemed and out coached by tOSU and Cignetti and the Hoosier staff. .. The players did not lose their talent, skills and experience. DL and his staff had no answers when the Ducks got schooled. When that changes, the Ducks will get their Natty. GO DUCKS!

Alex, thanks for the article. Really appreciate you listing the key returning players on both sides of the ball. That is a loaded and talented list. Are they hungry? As for the way to early ranking? Top 5 seems right. However, as all the Forum members know the games are played one game at a time. The talent is there for 11-1 and a 3rd place finish in the BIG. I expect Indiana and tOSU to play for the BIG Crown. GO DUCKS..

OBD's certainly have the talent to win the Natty next season. ..... However they first have to gel together, navigate a strong conference schedule and minmize injuries to key players. Then the young coaching staff needs to continue to improve their game planning and in game adjustments in the CFP. It took Cig 4 decades to win his Natty. DL is in his 5th season. Can he learn and adjust when it matters? I believe he will, just don't know what season......

Thanks, Charles This old blind squirrel got lucky, threw out a number and came close! I nevet come close when picking on OBD games because i pick from my heart with a side order of wild passion. Charles thanks for the great forum. GO DUCKS!