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!

Seahawks win 31-13 2 TO 3 Sacks 289 passing yards As always: GO DUCKS!

Without being in the coaches room and without any backdrop...... We could consider these promotions were made to keep them from leaving Oregon to take possible promotions at Cal and Kentucky? Doesn't diminish that both our new DC and OC aren't extremely qualified. Remember only 2 players with remaining eligibility left for the NFL. Those who remained knew who their OC or DC was going to be. Speaks volumes to me. GO Ducks.......

JJ, you go ahead and keep complaining about BIG scheduling......you being you is what's best for OBDF and its diverse group of members. You are correct the BIG scheduling woosies did a weak arse job. NO EXCUSES FOR THESE CLOWNS. The more I look at all the schedules there are some schools that are on the nice list and some being on the naughty list. Start the non con games one week earlier. There are no rules against and if there arw rules? Break em. Every school should have 2 bye weeks. This is best for the players health and affords better play. I was so excited to join the BIG. But the league officials seem petty in their actions. Please, someone, explain the polar opposites of PSU and Michigan's 2026 conference schedules? Same people in the room cranking out those conference schedules. GO Ducks....we got the short change on revenue splits, hec, might as well be one of the schools short changed on scheduling...

This is the 3rd time i have read this article and I don't see where the Ducks are BIG Winners in their 2026 schedule.... Where is the benefit of 8 straight games after the break? With 4k plus round trips to play, tOSU, Illinois and MSU? The schedule difficulty from school to school is too unbalanced, PSU and tOSU travel west just once. PSU schedule is so soft that they should be favored in all their games except Michigan, USC and the Huskies. They can go 1-2 in those games and hit 10-2. NO IU, tOSU or Oregon on their schedule? Michigan has PSU, IU, tOSU and Oregon on their schedule in 2026. And for a tune-up the Sooners come to Ann Arbor.....WTH? DL and the team will not complain and they will take that schedule one game at a time. Only good part of the schedule is OBD's have until November to gell before playing tOSU. Gonna be another nerve wracking season and I can't wait. 11-1 and a 3 way tie with IU and tOSU. Hope we lose the BIG tie breakers. Looking forward to a first round home game. GO DUCKS!

At this point, it might be a little early to look ahead to 2026! It sure is fun though. DL and staff have a few spots to fill at key positions. For example, linebacker, depth on defensive front 7 and O line. Filling those with portal players or will the 2026 recruits step up. Lots of top level players on the roster and 5 star recruits getting ready for spring ball. How those spots get filled and the team jells will determine 9-3 to 12-0. Also take the time to check out the weak-arsed schedules that PSU and Indiana have next year. A number of BIG teams could finish 11-1. 11-1 will get OBD's an invite as long as they are competitive in the shoe. Perception matters and 10-2 could be borderline for the CFP. The wild card is Dante and his protection. I dont know if Dante has depth perception problems or vision concerns. He misses seeing or throwing to wide open receivers for bird bombs. One miss could be costly. We all know Dante will work hard, grow and improve in 2026. He is still playing with a teenagers body. Dante can easily carry 15 to 20 more pounds as he developes his man body. And hone his skills. His talent and execution will land him in NY for the Heismen. Now all the Ducks need some passion. Bo and Tez had passion. Malik Benson had passion. And DL and his staff need to engrain the killer instinct into the culture. This is a Top 5 program and a top schedule. Who else plays, tosu, psu, michigan, iowa, illinois, usc and washington? Indiana and PSU don't....... Can't wait for the 2026 season because it has all the makings of a Natty.... GO DUCKS.........

Indiana has never won a Natty They must win this year to have an undefeated season.

FWIW and if so not much. Should Indiana win the Natty, then Indiana would join UCLA as the ONLY schools to have an undefeated Natty in football and an undefeated Natty in basketball . Hoosiers undefeated football and national title season came in 1954 if my info is correct. No small task! GO IU!

This on the surface looks like a solid portal signing for DL. If Dante foolishly heads to the NFL or the portal then Dylan R will have to navigate the Ducks learning curve in game day, real time! He has the talent and play maker skill set and unlike Nebraska, he will have talent all around him. If. Dante returns then Dylan will have a season to learn and prepare. Now DL needs to add some future NFL O linemen and a middle linebacker and the 2026 foundation will be strong. Go Ducks and welcome Dylan!

This along with TT and Bear returning should help all 3 improve their draft stock. Besides they all have unfinished business to handle! Hopefully some offensive players choose to return. Go Ducks......

No mourning with this old grey beard. Disappointed at the performance put forth in the Peach Bowl but not the actual loss. In the preseason many on this Forum, including me, felt 10-2 and a CFP spot would be good for a rebuild year. 10-2 may not have gotten OBD a spot. But the team didn't risk it. They won 6 in a row to finish the regular season. It was a wild and exciting ride. The Ducks demolished JMU and TT. Then in the 15th game of the season ( let that sink in) they lost to a team filled with 3rd, 4th and 5th year players. Average age 23. Their is a big difference between 18 and 19 year olds and 23 year olds. Talent took this Duck team to 15 games in 2025. Much of that young talent will be back in 2026. Seasoned veterans. For the 2nd year in a row, DL and his staff did not have the team prepared for the "biggest game"! We all know DL will learn and adjust. Main point is that DL teams beat the teams they should beat. And get the Ducks in the CFP....... Did the huskies get back to the CFP? Did PSU or Michigan? Did ND, ASU or BSU? NOPE. Just tOSU, IU and the Ducks. Darn good company! The future is solid for the Ducks. Maybe next year we don't have our OC and DC pulling double duty! Or see your room mates, great friends entering the TP. Or the running back room talent get decimated with injuries and departures. I cannot believe these situations were not distractions? Go Ducks!