Jon Joseph

It's a home game, but Chesney's Bruins are rolling, and the Oregon D has been suspect, especially against the run in Stillwater. From what I've seen, this is a much more difficult opponent than an underachieving SC team. Oregon is the toughest opponent left on the Bruins' schedule. Chesney's JMU squad never stopped competing in the 2025 first-round playoff game. The UCLA D is better than the G6 D Chesney brought to Eugene. Will Oregon cover the -12.5? Not if the team that had a close call against Boise State and the team that played in Stillwater show up. Like Boise and OK State, this is a team, not a collection of unfocused 4- and 5-star guys who could have lost to a UW team with one player who is a threat on offense.

However, Miami's ranked opponents are MIA. With Miami's schedule, I think OBD would be undefeated.

Why would he come back? He's closer to his New Hampshire home and is turning around a program instead of reporting to Dan and trying to match the top stats put up by the last two OCs, who are now head coaches. Been there, done that.

The Week 6 AP Poll is out. With Penn State and Michigan floundering, six Big Ten teams are ranked. Saturday, No. 21 UCLA visits No. 13 Oregon. During the Off Week, both teams moved up two spots. Wisconsin dropped from 26 to 28. No. 30 Northwestern should be in the Top 25. No. 31 Nebraska awaits a visit from No. 7 Indiana. PJ Fleck chugged from the 123-year-old Little Brown Jug; surprisingly, he's not in the Minneapolis General Hospital Emergency Ward. This is the first time the Gophers, who won 20-14, have captured the Jug since 2014, and, three stadiums later, the first win in Minneapolis over the Wolverines since 1977. No. 37 Minnesota is taking a well-deserved Week 6 break. Ohio State ranked 5th behind Notre Dame and Miami teams; both 0-0 against the Top 25 is wrong. And if a QB and not Jeremiah (last name not needed) wins the Heisman 🤬. OBD, 2-1 against the Top 25, ranked behind three B12 teams, is wrong. Pat Narduzzi whined enough to have Pitt ranked 25th. Virginia Tech outgained Pitt 499 yards to Pitt's 295, but four turnovers and a college kicker situation allowed Pitt to escape with the win. Turn Those Review Machines Back On? Rather than spending the night listening to cowbells, Kalen DeBoer had the Tide players up at 6 AM and rolling on a bus to Starkvegas on game day. DeBoer was 20-0 in games where his team had two or more turnovers. He's now 21-0 after Mistake State turned the ball over twice in the first period. No. 7 Alabama should be ranked ahead of the Domers and the Canes. No. 2 Georgia visits Tuscaloosa on Saturday, where the Dawgs have not won since 2007. Miami hosts Florida State and Notre Dame hosts a Stanford team trying to recover from an Irish Wake. 🤪 Coaches who won big in old places are not winning B1G in new places. Big 12 players are not coming through at Penn State. The Michigan D should sue its multi-million-dollar QB and a pathetic O for non-support. I think Fitz will be a good fit in E. Lansing, but not this season. But a guy who won big at James Madison and at lower-level programs, Bob Chesney, has UCLA off to a great start with a prove-it game Saturday in Eugene. Hopefully, the proof will not be in a Ducks pudding. Hats off to Coach Drink for spanking a ranked team. At least the voters dropped the Gators out of the Top 10. The SEC, with this season's top crop of QBs, will continue to cannibalize one another. With losses by VA Tech, Florida, Mistake State, Iowa, and Cincinnati, 13 FBS teams remain undefeated. Tosh lost another game, this time in Vegas. Cal does not have to make plans to be in Las Vegas on January 25, 2027. This is no fine for Will Stein: The biggest comeback in Kentucky Wildcats history, a 35 to 34 OT victory on the road at South Carolina, and Kentucky falls out of the Top 25?🥸 On3College Football Rankings: AP Poll Top 25 after Week 5 re...The latest AP Poll Top 25 rankings are here now that Week 5 of the college football regular season has concluded. There were some shakeups throughout theRUIN THE BRUINS!

Thanks, Log. My tears are for the all-time winning coaches at their former programs: Matt Campbell, Pat Fitzgerald, and Kyle Whittingham (can you bench a QB making 4 Mill a year?). Cheers for David Braun, who now has a better winning percentage at Northwestern than Fitz in his first three seasons. And for OC Chip Kelly and QB coach Jerry Neuheisel. Who is that guy disguised as Aiden Chiles? And avant-garde coach Kelly brings back the Southwest Conference Veer offense. Wow! Mega-cheers for the new Ryan Field design team and for the team heading directly to the Standing Room Only student section at the game's conclusion. Cheers for PJ Fleck, who reclaimed a jug while his defense mugged Bryce Underwood and Michigan's offensive offense. Cig? Two RBs over 100 yards and two WRs over 100 yards in what a beatdown of Rutgers should look like. SC and UW? SC is a waste of talent. Other than QB, UW has no talent. Does Fisch have the $ to compete at the B1G top? Bob Chesney - Great start, but Incomplete. Grade coming on 10/11/26. Ditto for Matt Ruhle, with Indiana coming for a visit; also Incomplete. Luke Fickell - It is alive! On the other hand, Mike Locksley? DMV? No! DMW. Yes! Barry Odom off the B1G schnid. Brett Bielema, go to your room! I - Ohio State, Indiana - B1G game of the year, Week 7, Ohio State at Indiana. II - Oregon - Scheme? Important. Attitude? More important. Does Oregon have the chops to shut down UCLA's run game? Northwestern: Should have beaten Indiana? Another game where Oregon better buckle the chin strap. III - Iowa: bad loss to Ohio State. Minnesota: terrible loss to Miss State. UCLA & Nebraska: Legit? Wisconsin: Bouncing back and jumping around. IV - A B1G mess. Blackout the Whiteout game? Ruin the Bruins!

Thank you, Mike, I always enjoy reading Charles and your educated thoughts. (Instead of my WAGS 🤪.) Is there a program or programs, out there today, running schemes you like on O and on D? WAG Warning: Boise State, OK State, Northwestern, Indiana? Is Georgia still using the MINT D? Has the game slowing down and analytics calling for more tries on 4th down impacted Os and Ds both? The HUNH has been replaced by using much more time between play calls. One reason Ohio State lost to Miami, the Buckeyes couldn't pick up the tempo and score points. Thanks again!

SSDD - CFB Eligibility Insanity - https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/breaking-news/article/kentucky-appeals-court-dissolves-injunction-that-granted-38-players-including-thomas-castellanos-seth-trimble-and-mark-mitchell-a-fifth-year

A nonpareil opening act. 👍🤞😍 Hats off to the Ryans, everyone on the design team, the fired-up student standing-room-only section, a reborn Aiden Chiles, Chipper, Jerry Neu, David Braun, and a smash-mouth O-line and D-line. Buckle the chin straps. Teams with B1G run games are headed to Autzen. Iowa State East? A good B12 squad isn't cutting it in the Big Ten. And the former Nit Lions coach is no longer undefeated. Pitt 35 - VA Tech 33. No easy day. Bring it on!

National Stats: Oregon through Week 4 - Total D 68 / Total O 12

"We didn't get run out of the stadium." $12 million a year for this? Pathetic! On3Lincoln Riley on USC's loss against Oregon: 'We didn't ge...USC head coach Lincoln Riley is focusing on the positives of the team's two-score home loss to Oregon. On Thursday, Riley shared his thoughts on Oregon

Northwestern and head coach David Braun are coming on. NW is spending the money to hire OC Chip Kelly, improve the roster, and improve facilities. The renovated stadium opens tonight with a game against Penn State. NW is 6-16 vs. Penn State; however, the last win sent Jimmy Franklin packing. SIIndiana Created a Blueprint for an Impossible Turnaround....The Wildcats have invested in a new stadium, solid leadership and their roster with ambitions set on going from the losingest program to one on the rise.

Dan on needed improvement - Oregon Ducks On SIDan Lanning Identifies Biggest Fixes on the Oregon Ducks...The hit and ensuing injury on No. 15 Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore stole headlines in the win over the No. 18 USC Trojans, allowing the Oregon defense to

Update on the heat on Linc's seat - CFB-HQ On SIMajor Lincoln Riley, Mike Norvell and Shane Beamer Update...USC coach Lincoln Riley, Florida State coach Mike Norvell and South Carolina coach Shane Beamer all head into Week 5 under heavy pressure, and the next few game

Great ponder point! I don't know about Lincoln, but long-time college DC Pete Kwiatkowski had success at UW (😧), and in 2025, his defense at Texas finished fourth in the nation in Total Defense. This wasn't good enough for Sark. Will Muschamp's Texas D is ranked 13th in Total Defense. (OT - I see a lot of Riley in Sark, including having immature and undisciplined players on the roster. The last coach who called the plays on offense to win a title was FSU's Jimbo Fisher in 2013.) Former Boise State TE, PK, took a pay cut to coach the D-Line for the Arizona Cardinals. I don't know what kind of recruiter he is, but Texas brought in a lot of studs on defense when Pete was there.

No worries! During the bye week, my minions are on the road in their DeLoreans, searching for Doctor Emmet Brown and the Flux Capacitor. Others are scouring our planet for enough plutonium to provide 1.21 gigawatts of energy. I'm optimistic that by 11/7, OBD will reach at least 88% efficiency, return to 2021, and once again Flux Ohio State. 😁 Seriously, Charles, what a terrific and insightful look at the season to date. I was hoping we Ducks fans would have an easy ride on the Lazy River. Instead, we're on the Kingda Ka roller coaster. A terrible way for it to happen, but after the vicious hit on Dante, I think the team galvanized, and I hope the troops are ready to play to their potential and play as a team. Your Xs and Os review of the team to date is, as always, enlightening. I don't have the skill to detail deficiencies; I do know that the team better show up with a bad attitude and ready to ball out. Before the trip to Columbus, Oregon plays No. 23 UCLA, No. 33 Nebraska, then Illinois on the road, with the Illini having two weeks to prepare, and Northwestern at home. No easy day before Ryan Day. UCLA and Nebraska are the two back-to-back home games remaining on the schedule. Beginning with the Illinois game in Week 8, Oregon will be on the road every other week. This is a back-loaded schedule. Eight games without a break, with one trip to the Central and two trips to the Eastern time zones. Again, Charles, thanks for the detailed off-week analysis. Beat the Bruins!

This season's Indiana - Dan Lanning calls UCLA this year’s version of Indiana | S...The Ducks coach isn't downplaying the Bruins with a first-year head coach.

From a mile away, right? Can they both lose? 🤪

Linc is not missing as an OC. He's a terrific OC and a QB whisperer. But he gets a D or lower when it comes to defense. Losing D'Anton Lynn to Penn State was a big loss. He'd be an improvement over almost any other OC in CFB. But after SC pulls the plug (could it happen if UW wins on Saturday?) I think he's off to the NFL. But Oklahoma needs a new OC, so ... But I doubt he'd agree to report to Brett Venables. Oklahoma could want him back as a HC, but without the roster advantage he had in the B12, I don't see him taking the Sooners to the top echelon of the SEC. The Chargers and Justin Herbert could certainly use his services.😧 After the UW game: SC is at Penn State, at Wisconsin, home against Ohio State, at Indiana, home against Maryland, and at UCLA. Four road games for a guy who struggles on the road. I'll give SC the Maryland game, but Ohio State and the other four games? SC could finish 6-6 or worse. Recruiting is an issue, but finish 5-7 or worse, how many SC players will enter the portal? What new coach could keep the talented youngsters in South Central? Will a new coach be able to keep the GM on board and the boosters writing big checks? Calling the loss to Oregon program-defining is not an exaggeration. Too bad, right? 🤪

Hell's Bells for Bama? https://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/no_7_alabama_has_a_major_defensive_problem_that_may_get_worse_vs_no_16_mississippi_state/s1_13132_44370916?utm_source=mb&utm_medium=email&mb_edition=20261

My Goodness! Is it October already? College football (CFB): the longest offseason and the shortest season. This season is the longest in the history of CFB, ending on January 25, 2027, in, of all places, Las Vegas, Nevada. Sin City - A place where college athletic postseason contests were once verboten. AP Poll rankings. All times Pacific. Oregon began the season ranked 2nd. Played poorly against a G6 opponent and had an inexcusable loss at Oklahoma State. But wait a minute! That G6 opponent, Boise State, is ranked 22nd. The inexcusable loss? Hold your horses, Cowboy; Oklahoma State is ranked 19th. And the Ducks just went on the road and defeated No. 18 USC. Oregon is the only Power 4 team that played three top-25 teams in September. Based on this resume and not just the Eye Candy Test, Oregon's No. 15 ranking is too low. I'm not out on a limb here; Massey Ratings has Oregon at No. 11, and SP+ ranks Oregon 9th. Even with a second loss, Oregon's remaining schedule should result in a CFB Playoff invitation, and Oregon is in the running to win the Big Ten championship and capture the B1G's automatic bid. Off this week, No. 19 Oklahoma State. October 10th versus UCF. 4:30 PM CBSSN - Another strength-of-schedule buddy, the No. 22 Boise State Broncos, host Utah State. Keep on Bucking! Sending out an SOS: Apologies. But before SC pulls the plug on this dud, I'm not cheering for the Missing Linc to win another game. FRIDAY, October 2, 2026 - 5 PM Fox - No. 28 - 3-1 Penn State -2.5 at 2-1 Northwestern - The opening game at the renovated Ryan Field will be played 100 years to the date the original stadium opened on October 2, 1926. Argue over conference superiority all you like, but no conference has the Big Ten's traditions. SATURDAY, October 3, 2026 - 9 AM Fox - No. 31 - 3-1 Michigan -5.5 at 2-2 Minnesota - The Little Brown Jug game. Speaking of traditions, the Little Brown Jug trophy game is the oldest rivalry game in CFB's Football Bowl Subdivision. The first game between the two programs was played pre Big Ten Conference, in Minneapolis in 1892, with Minnesota winning 14 to 6. In 1903, Michigan coach Fielding Yost brought a five-gallon water jug to the game played on Northrup Field in Minneapolis. The coach was not happy about the water provided on the sidelines in previous games. The game ended in a 6-6 tie. Golden Gophers fans rushed the field, and the jug was left on the sidelines. Minnesota staff members found the jug and painted it brown instead of blue, with a block M in gold replacing the golden Michigan block M. In 1909, the programs agreed that the jug would be a traveling trophy, with the winning team painting the jug in its colors. In Minneapolis in 1909, Michigan won the game 15-6. Some of us Forum greybeards' parents danced to Glenn Miller's hit song, Little Brown Jug, recorded in April of 1939 and released as a 78 RPM single. (Don't ask about 78 RPM and Duck the waving cane!) Michigan has dominated the series 74-23-2. It's been 12 years since Minnesota last won, and the Gophers have two wins in the last 40 years. Perhaps last Saturday's win at Washington, Minnesota's first conference road win in two years, will inspire it against a Michigan team coming off a last-second improbable home loss to Iowa? (Karma for Western Michigan?) --- 12:30 PM CBS - No. 5 - 3-1 Ohio State -14.5 at 4-0 No. 14 Iowa. College Gameday will be in Iowa Citee for the first time in 20 seasons, with the same Hawkeyes head coach, Kirk Ferentz, on the sidelines. Ferentz, with 221 wins, 209 at Iowa, broke out in tears after Iowa's last second victory in Ann Arbor. Will he defeat the Big Ten's two B1Ggest brands back-to-back? The last time Iowa defeated the Buckeyes was in 2017, 55-24 in Kinnick Stadium. After this game, the rest of Iowa's conference schedule is 'manageable'. Win, or at least keep the game close, and Iowa is in the running for a playoff bid. --- 4:30 PM - NBC - No. 18 - 3-1 USC -8.5 vs. 3-1 Washington Something's got to give. The SC defense ranks 115th in Yards per Play surrendered. The Washington offense ranks 84th in Points Per Game. It's a good thing for SC and the Missing Linc that UW is not ranked. After the loss to Oregon😍, Riley is 5-15 against top-25 opponents. Compared to preseason expectations, Jedd Fisch's Washington team is one of CFB's B1Ggest disappointments. 😁 --- 5:00 PM Big Ten Network (BTN) - No. 6 - 4-0 Indiana -24.5 at 1-3 Rutgers The Hoosiers 2026 Charmin-Soft schedule continues with a trip to New Jersey. However, Scarlet Knight's WR KJ Duff is second in the B1G with 550 receiving yards and is tied with Jeremiah Smith (617 receiving yards) with seven touchdowns. And RB Antwan Raymond is second in the conference with 438 rushing yards. And 4-0 UMass doesn't stink! --- 9:30 AM BTN - Michigan State at No. 26 Wisconsin Badgers QB Colton Joseph is from Newport Beach, CA, and played his high school football at Newport Harbor High School. 1 PM FS1 - Maryland at No. 33 Nebraska 1 PM BTN - Purdue at Illinois Illinois QB Katin Houser is from Long Beach, CA, and played his high school football at Don Bosco Prep. --- Big Games - 9 AM ESPN - No. 3 4-0 Notre Dame -21 at 2-1 UNC The Hoosiers are not the only team from Indiana with a joke of a schedule. Notre Dame is 3-0 vs. the B1G with wins against Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Purdue. 😧 9 AM ABC - No. 7 4-0 Alabama -4.5 at No. 16 4-0 Mississippi State The Tide rolls into Cowbell Hell for a battle between two of CFB's top 1st-year QBs. Last Saturday at home against Mizzou, Bulldogs fans set the record for simultaneous cowbell ringing. 🤪 (There's a record for this? 🤔) 12:30 PM ABC - No. 8 4-0 Florida -5 at No. 25 Missouri Mizzou is 1-9 in its last ten games vs. ranked opponents and continues to be ranked only because losses just mean less. In its last 19 games, BS - Before Sumrall, Florida is 0-19 on the road against ranked opponents. 4:30 PM ABC - No. 4 4-0 Miami -17 at 3-1 Clemson Can Dabo still do? The D is willing, but that O-no? The Wake Forest D woke up in the second half and did put up a fight against Mario and the Hurricanes. But holding down the Toney Award-winning WR and his QB buddy purloined from Duke? Whether Blue or Red, it's a Devil of a task to ask. --- Enjoy a stressless Week 5. Prepare for the game on 10/10 - 12:30 CBS - No. 15 Oregon - 12.5 vs. No. 23 UCLA - OBD's 4th-ranked opponent in five games. (I did send out a preseason warning - 😇)

Week 5 - Only Oregon has played three top-25 opponents - Ranked No. 15? Oregon Ducks On SIOregon’s Strength of Schedule Comes Into Focus With Lates...No team has experienced a more dramatic swing in national perception during the month of September than the Oregon Ducks. With the release of the latest AP poll

More kind words for Dylan from Joel Klatt. At 3-1 and 2-1 vs. the top 25, Oregon deserves to be in the top 10. CFB-HQ On SIJoel Klatt Makes Change Atop His Top 10 College Football...d d d 10. Utah Utes [4-0, 1-0 Big 12] Utah keeps rolling after a 31-17 road win at Iowa State and remains at No. 10 in Klatt's rankings for another week. Klatt

Another starting player dilemma for Dan? https://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/oregon_ducks_safety_koi_perichs_early_production_draws_criticism/s1_16787_44365862?utm_source=mb&utm_medium=email&mb_edition=20260930&mb_loc=right_h

Hats Off to Dylan Raiola! https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/article/oregons-most-savage-takedown-of-usc-had-nothing-to-do-with-dan-lannings-trash-talk-215023801.html

Riley Fails - Again 😁 https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/article/misery-index-lincoln-riley-usc-come-up-short-yet-again-trojans-defense-lets-them-down-053008213.html