Jon Joseph

The frozen tundra will be difficult to navigate, no doubt.

UGA in the semi-final game in the Rose Bowl most certainly did not shut down Riley's O. It slowed the OK O down in the 2nd half and in OT but OK and Baker Mayfield put up plenty of points on the Dawgs.

Excellent point. I unfortunately have no idea how much more $ the game 'at' UGA will net Oregon more than would an opening home game against San Jose State? I'm sure it is more but that much more than an extra home game, that would be an opening game sell out especially with the new coaching staff? I know Oregon would be paid less media-wise but how much less? Also, how much more will Oregon gain if it has a loss 'at' UGA instead of a W over SJS and a much easier path to the Final 4. Lose at UGA and Oregon is on playoff life support. The difference between at UGA and at Ohio State? Ohio State agreed to a home and home series. UGA backed out of a home and home series. I also note that Mullens agreed to this game in 2019, before covid had ravaged society and CFB. So IMO he does not get a 'covid pass.' With the covid-money problems, it is hard to believe that there is no consensus on expanding the playoff field before 2026. ESPN has said it will pay more for 'this' and will allow different media entities to bid for telecasting the opening playoff round and 2nd round if the field went to 12. 100's of millions of dollars are being left on the table.

Cincinnati Bengals +3.5 at Tennessee Titans - 4:30 CBS Last week the Bengals won its 1st playoff game in 31 years when Cincy held off a last possession drive against Derrick Carr and the Raider. In the history of the franchise Cincy is 0-7 in road playoff games. The Titans were the 8th worst team in the NFL against the pass this season. Burrow throwing to LaMarr Chase and the other quality Bengals WRs is a scary proposition for the Titans D. RB Derrick Hill will play for the Titans today after sitting out close to 2 months with an injury. How effective will he be? The Bengals have the better QB in Burrow over Ryan Tannehill. I like Cincy straight up at +160. San Francisco 49ers +5.5 at Green Bay Packers - 8:15 FOX Kyle Shanahan's 49ers are 25-17 ATS as underdogs. 11-6 as road dogs outside of the NFL W division. I see this as more of 1 FG game than I do the Packers winning by 6 or more points. I like the 49ers +5.5. This will be the only game today or tomorrow that features a Pac-12 player, Aaron Rodgers, CAL, starting at QB. Sad for me to say but the SEC has the most starting QBs in today's and Sunday's games: Burrow - LSU, Stafford - UGA + Tannehill - A+M. Do not count on having Won, bet for Fun.

247 Transfer Rankings post-Dye. SC up from 3 to 2; Ducks down from 40 to 42. Riley signs C Williams, SC will move to 1 and be hard to catch. I also think a number of guys would follow Williams to SC.

SmithRiverDuck - thanks again for the great take. I disagree with the idea that because Ty and Butterfield haven't left yet this means they are not going to leave. I think at least 1 of the 2 are likely to enter the portal after spring ball? One reason I am fairly certain that at sometime we will hear, "the QB competition is very close and will continue right up to the opening game."

Riley is a far more dangerous opponent than was the clueless Clay Helton. Having paid @$100M to buy Riley from OK I think all systems are go at an awakening blue blood, including a big increase in the recruiting budget. Riley recruited well at a blue blood school in a state that doesn't produce many top 4/5* prospects. Every top guy from TX who went to OK was also pursued hard by TX and SEC schools. He now is in fertile recruiting ground. Who is going to be a big time challenger to Riley recruiting-wise in the Pac-12? Hopefully Lanning + the very good staff Dan has assembled. Anyone else? The man took his team to the playoffs. The man produced Heisman winners. I'm not prepared to sell him and his team anywhere near as short as I read in many of these comments. He gets Caleb Williams and SC will be a contender for the south title in 2022.

But some Pac-12 teams need to succeed so we have 2 top 10 teams squaring off in the champ game. This kind of rankings is why the SEC put 2 teams in the champ game this season and why year after year at least 3 SEC teams make NY6 money while the Pac-12 gets 1 team in the money ball mix. This just in. Play 8 and not 9 conference games. Oregon vs Utah in the penultimate regular season conference game next season? Raise foot, shoot same. My always say Dye in 2021 has died. But the guy has a good agent along with his future spouse and with this move will be picking up big NIL $. SC starts pulling in OL and DL guys and look out. With a transfer from UVA, 2nd team all ACC OT, SC is picking up big bodies along with skill players. War is right. And SC just benched a flawed general and replaced him with a guy who went to the PO once as assistant + 3 times as an HC.

Good call. But what the networks want and what makes sense vis-a-vis Playoff participation is two different things. I doubt that playing an extra OOC game vs a B1G or ACC opponent will have much to do with the pay out calculous? OR ST at Duke makes that much of a difference? I doubt it. Playoff Committee values wins no matter the opponent vs Ls.

Excellent appearance for GK following an appearance from Cristobal. GK made it clear that the Pac-12 is not holding back playoff expansion be it a 4 to 8 or 4 to 12 playoff field.. The Rose Bowl In the years that count, when hosting a PO game, playing a quarter or semi-final in Pasadena. want the 1/1 5PM start for the Rose Bowl but is otherwise flexible. The Pac-12 is in favor of PO expansion. The ACC is not and the B1G insists on 5 P5 champ automatic qualifiers and that the RN always be play. GK wants on 1/1 at 5 PM for the RB. Excellent showing by GK. Finebaum was nothing but gratuitous in his praise for GK. Mario, SSDD.

He can and he will do so. If he bags QB Caleb Williams USC will be a big time player in the Pac-12 S. He has already picked up a starting OT from the portal. With Dye he now has 11 portal transfers and I think he is far from done. He picked a very good DL guy from LSU out of the portal. SC paid $100M to get this guy and the money is there for rich NIL deals. The Trojans lost the battle but is now ready ready to pay to bring Achilles on board.

12-0/13-0? A Pac-12 team has never accomplished this since CU and Utah came on board. 2 games at UGA and BYU is tough enough. Why GK hasn't pulled the string on 9 conference games, I have no clue. More people are going to watch a match up of bad Pac-12 teams instead of Oregon State vs E Washington,? I doubt it. I do know that is playoff senseless to have Oregon playing Utah in the penultimate game of the 2022 season instead of the Ducks playing San Jose St in Autzen. The conference needs help and not hurt from the conference powers-that be. The conference needs to stop shooting itself in the foot.

Recall that when the die was cast it resulted in multiple civil wars that Octavian won and became Caesar Augustus. The die today is rolling toward the B1G and the SEC. Where there ever be a leader who can reconcile the differences in today's CFB? I doubt it. Follow the money will leading to a Super League. I don't begrudge Dye one bit taking to todays money and changing course.

Or, a little bit higher when it comes to $?

Perfectly reasonable and understandable POV. Thanks.

A sleeping giant 'with a terrible resolve' has awakened.

This will move USC now ranked No. 3 by 247 Sports in its 2022 CFB Transfer Rankings, up the ladder. USC had 10 transfer commits before Dye decided to go to LA. (Other Pac-12 programs in the top 50 of this ranking + no. of commits: 10. AZ - 7; 13. UCLA - 5; 23. ASU - 8; 29. WA ST - 4; 40. Oregon - 3; 43. CAL - 3; 50 Utah - 3. Dye goes home and likely gets a big NIL check? And likely may be recruiting other Ducks to portal south and get paid?

Great take. However, I could care less about whatever the SEC claims or does not claim. We already know that the SEC only loses OOC games because while it just matters more, it matters less to defeat inferior schools an SEC team cannot expect to be interested in playing. I certainly get the 1997 point, but I thought CFB was fine with co-champions; and I was also fine with regular season games ending in a tie.

This game was scheduled by Rob Mullens in 2019 with BYU already on the schedule. BTW: UW just signed a H+H series deal with Tennessee. Georgia earlier backed out of a H+H with Oregon. The opening game 'at' Georgia is pure and simple a money play by Mullens. Oregon has one of the most difficult if not the toughest OOC schedule in the country in 2022, and then has to play 5 conference road games.

Mario is not a 'Mastro' when it comes to hiring assistants. Anyone in Miami having 2nd thoughts?

VERY COOL and good to see the Madden game, with NIL, making a comeback. (RIP John Madden.)

Baylor and the Ducks already have a H+H series scheduled beginning I believe in 2025? I also believe that Baylor, among other B12 schools, should be a member of the Pac-20. (SIGH.)

Perhaps an all-in salary cap for coaches, assistant coaches and support staff would pass muster? But restrictions on salary in general and a person's freedom to switch jobs at will is heavily restricted by state and federal law. And in the case of HCs and many assistant coaches, you already have 'liquid damages' built into their respective contract; the 'buyout clause.' Not that my article is that well articulated but if it did reach GK, that would be great. Although my guess is that GK and B1G commish Warren, have discussed where the so-called playoff is headed at length? The problem for the Pac-12 is that it is financially behind the curve which limits its negotiating leverage.

I get it. I understand your POV and it is most reasonable. Your 'plan' would make CFB players employees of the university. With that comes FUCA, FICA, SS and Oregon retirement benefit payments and all other emoluments granted University of Oregon employees. Like the NFL, the free flow of labor would be restricted by contractual agreement. The NFL contractual restraints on free agency have been tested by the courts and upheld. You also would have salary caps. You would have a player's union that might well agree to certain positions receiving a designated income. With this I also expect that you would have a HS draft. What you would not have is unfettered capitalism wholly in the favor of the players and the players managing the business. Would UO want to be part of 'this?' Many schools now playing P5 CFB would drop the sport or stop giving CFB scholarships. This is turn would negatively effect women's sports in particular and lead to sports such as golf, becoming club and not varsity sports. I have no objection to NIL if it is used to benefit an 'individual' for his/her athletic performance and not used as a disguise for pay for play. I have no objection to a player transferring within reasonable guidelines that allow for a roster to be created and maintained during the season. If any player notwithstanding being 'paid to play' in the postseason and having loss of income insurance provided did not want to participate they would not be forced to play. But as is the case with a player entering the portal, any player with eligibility left who elected not to play could have his scholarship pulled. Again I understand your POV but if literally put into place I think you would see many the CFB 'baby' thrown out with the bath water? Personally, I do not view CFB players today as indentured servants. I don't see big time CFB as an oppressor. After all no one is forcing any player to play ball or attend school on a full scholarship.

Thank you. I respectfully decline as I only have so many golf shots left.