Jon Joseph

Can the Ducks match a $7M to $9M+ per year salary? And there is no state income tax in Florida. COL and housing prices are lower than in Eugene. UF is a top rated university and Gainesville, unlike much of Florida, has good public schools. Close to his Mom and brother, a member of the Miami police force. Florida is a recruiting gold mine. Florida has recently improved its football facilities and renovated The Swamp. Close to 100,000 fans at every game. The chance to 'prove it' in the Big Boy Conference. And there 8 conference games and a game vs a struggling FSU and 3 OOC games vs cupcakes, if UF wants to schedule OOC in this manner. Interestingly, UF does have a 2nd P5 OOC game next season. In addition to FSU, the Gators play Utah in the Swamp. The first game of a H+H series.

Well, the Flaky Prediction Index did call the Utah win. If the Ducks are motivated they should defeat an Oregon State team that has 1 road win, at USC. Will Mario after the beat down in SLC have the team ready to play? How much does the Rose Bowl mean after being ranked in the PO CT top 4? Friday night's WSU at UW outcome could have a direct result on the game formerly known as The Civil War? If WSU wins the Apple Cup then Oregon State has no shot at the north division title. Still a big game for the Beavs but not as much to play for if WSU wins. A rematch vs Utah in Las Vegas could easily go the Ducks way. Everything that could go wrong including bad clock management at the end of the 2nd half, did go wrong. Brian Covey? This 'young' man has been with Utah since 2015.

Maybe Dye gets signed as a free agent? Looking at the draft boards, I don't think it would hurt Dye to play another season of college ball? OT - I wonder how many draft eligible players will be sitting out non-PO bowl games this season? I think the number of players sitting out will increase every year unless there is an NIL benefit for playing in a given bowl.

BINGO JON WILNER! The Pac-12 as currently constituted is being left in the financial dust. Me thinks Bob Bowlsby and the B12 would be happy to bring OR, UW, USC, AZ, ASU and CU on board? This would form a coast to coast conference. A conference with huge market size. Add OK ST, KS and K ST to the 'Pac-12 6' to form a W division?

LOL! Thanks Charles. I do think the P-12 is in trouble and I'm not kitten around.

I hope not? But AAU member schools Oregon, UW, Stanford and USC leaving for the B1G would be just ducky. Add Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin to form the B1G W Division.

Give thanks for this great forum!

Using the most recent CT rankings. All P5 champs in. At least 1 G5 representative. 6 teams at large (AL). Top 4 seeds receive a 1st round bye. 1 Georgia - SEC vs 9 Ole Miss - AL at 8 Baylor - AL 2 Ohio State - B1G vs 10 Oklahoma - AL at 7 Oklahoma State - B12 3. Alabama - AL vs 11 Oregon - Pac-12 at 6 Notre Dame - AL 4. Cincinnati - AAC/G5 vs 12 Pitt - ACC at Michigan - AL 3 SEC 3 B12 2 B1G 1 AAC 1 ACC 1 IND 1 Pac-12 In its current configuration, playing 9 conference games, and playing reasonable competition OOC, will a 12 team PO field be that big of a boon to the Pac-12? Certainly not to 'today's' Pac-12.

Thanks for the wonderful editorial assistance.

Thanks 30. As I mentioned before when considering the obstacles in front of him Mario Cristobal is the best recruiter in the nation. GK talks the talk but to date, he seems to taking the same walk as did Larry? First, why fight PO expansion when your conference does not, year after year, qualify for the PO? Adding a P5 PO game? In 2022 Oregon plays Georgia and BYU OOC. To add another P5 OOC game would mean dropping E. Washington for say, North Carolina? And adding another P5 opponent when playing 9 conference games is senseless.

Thank you. This to me is the KEY issue. By standing pat the Pac-12 is 'stuck' in its current footprint. If the Pac-12 decides to expand in the future where can it go? No Mountain West team expands the Pac-12's market place. New teams from the Mountain West simply overlap the existing footprint. No Mountain West team comes close to spending the money on football that Oregon spends and none make the income made by Pac-12 programs. Why would Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin consider leaving the lucrative B1G for the Pac-12? And as I noted, the four schools I identify as expansion candidates have very good basketball programs. Not so long ago Texas Tech won the NCAA Basketball Tournament. I just don't 'get' the Pac-12's long term strategy? If, it even has a strategy.

A 10-3 Oregon with a close loss to Utah in LV could, depending on how things go, could be in the Fiesta Bowl. OKK defeats OK ST twice? OK could be in the final 4 and Baylor in the Sugar Bowl. I think there is a decent chance that a 10-3 Oregon could play Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, if Ohio State finishes 12-1. OK, OK ST and Baylor have no OOC win that comes close to Oregon's W at Ohio State.

Your record is what you are as coach. Mario's record at Oregon has been fine. Not great, fine. His recruiting has been excellent. Not very good, excellent. Scheduling matters. An 8 game conference schedule and the Ducks play Utah in Las Vegas and not SLC. And in 2022, Mullens has given Mario an opening game 'at' Georgia and a home game vs BYU, plus 9 conference games. This is silly PO scheduling. It's not like UGA and Bama continually battle and roll over top 25 teams. Check the latest rankings to see how many top 25 teams these 2 have defeated. UGA gets a bump because Clemson is is in the top 25. Any number of teams with Clemson's record could be in the top 25, including Fresno State. Dabo is in happier recruiting hunting grounds than is Mario. Dabo plays 8 conference games and not 9. Top to bottom the Pac-12 is as good as the ACC.

Bummer! Should not be behind 2L Baylor. This makes it harder to garner a Fiesta Bowl bid.

CHEER ON OHIO STATE. If Ohio State wins out, the Ducks defeat OR ST and lose a close game to Utah in Las Vegas, the ONLY shot a 10-3 Oregon would have to go to the Fiesta Bowl is if Ohio State finishes 12-1 and wins the B1G championship.

NO! The W in Columbus was the only reason after the L at Stanford why the Ducks was in the top 4. The 4th cross-over, 9th regularly scheduled game, on the road vs a top 25 team is what hurt the Ducks.

Wilner has Oregon #14 in his AP vote. I think the CT ranks OR at 9 or 10 tonight? This would mean a shot at the Fiesta Bowl if OR does not make it to the Rose Bowl.

But I wouldn't mind seeing Rattler at UO in 2022?

That was a 'perfect storm' in SLC. Reminded me of when the Ducks played WAZZU the Saturday Gameday finally visited flag waving Pullman. I want a re-match in Las Vegas. Utah is clearly not 31 points better than the Ducks. Your comment about Thompson is a good one. Both Bryce Young at Bama and CJ Stroud at Ohio State sat on the bench last season. In fairness, they did sit behind 2 guys now starting in the NFL. If Moorhead stays it will be interesting to see if McSorley made Moorhead or vice versa?

Good stuff. Unfortunately the Ducks tip off very late eastern time so I watch the video. Very interesting game tonight 10 eastern on ESPN when 1 Gonzaga plays 2. UCLA.

David and I am not in the least being facetious, I can't help but wonder if Mario and the team for that matter could be helped by a top drawer psychologist? Many individuals and teams have gone in this direction and seen improvement. Someone from the outside who could perhaps help Mario and the team play on a more even keel? The roller coaster performances are so puzzling. Mario does not seem to be learning on his own when it comes to having the team prepared to play to its ability every week. Perhaps this would help?

Thanks Ducked. The loss Saturday really, really hurt. But life goes on and the Ducks keep on quacking. Facing Big Blue and Harbaugh would be sweet. Have the Ducks played Michigan since Dennis Dixon baffled the Wolverines in Ann Arbor?

Although I did call Saturday's game in SLC a crucible coaching challenge for Mario, I find Wilner's take to be over the top. A loss at Utah defines Oregon's ceiling? First, Oregon has handled Utah regularly since Utah joined the conference. 2nd, the conference will smarten up and go to an 8 game conference schedule. The Ducks should have been playing Portland State in Autzen Saturday night and not a 4th cross over game on the road. Bama played NM ST a week ago Saturday. Kentucky played NM ST this Saturday among the cupcakes the SEC played and consumed on 11/20/21. Second, how does your PO upside improve at UF or Miami? Way Over The Top.

Not making the Final 4 is disappointing but 'Game On!' Lots to play for. ROSE BOWL - The Ducks represent the conference if 9-2 Oregon defeats 7-4 Oregon State on Saturday, and then defeats Utah in Las Vegas. Both games are winnable. The Beavers have not been a good road team in 2021. Utah is certainly not 31 points better than Oregon. Opponent - Unless Michigan can defeat Ohio State in Ann Arbor on Saturday a 10-2 Michigan will likely be the B1G representative. FIESTA BOWL - A defeat of the Beavers and a close loss to Utah in the champ would give a 10-3 Oregon a shot at the Fiesta Bowl? This would mean another $4M for the conference. Watch where Oregon is ranked tonight? High enough, no lower than10, and a 3 L Ducks could get the invite as did a 3L LSU in the past. Opponent - Cincinnati if not in the Final 4 could be sent here? But I see a number #5 Bearcats team playing in the Peach bowl? More likely the opponent would be the B12 runner-up, Oklahoma or Oklahoma State? Although Notre Dame and Baylor could be in the mix? ALAMO BOWL - Defeat Oregon State and lose to Utah in the champ game. 9-3 may not be good enough to qualify for a NY6 Bowl? This will all come down to the whims and rankings of the playoff committee. Opponent - Oklahoma State and Oklahoma still have a reasonable shot at the Final 4. If one does make the playoff field, the Oklahoma school left out will play in the Sugar Bowl. This means Baylor would play a few hours south of Waco in the Alamo Bowl. What about an L versus the Beavers? Oregon would finish 9-3. With a W over a likely Final 4 team and 2 Ls versus unranked teams, one at home. I think this would mean the Holiday Bowl? Opponent - the opponent will come from the ACC. Could be Pitt, NC State, Wake Forest or even Clemson. Tough loss on Saturday. Let's hope the team rallies, wins the next 2 and plays in Pasadena?

What is Mario's Mendoza Line? How many years should Mario be given to reach the Playoff? How many years of losing to inferior teams on the road and scrapping by inferior teams at home will be acceptable? In how many big games will rushing for less than 70 yards and allowing 240 yards rushing be acceptable? How long will playing at altitude, injuries and the team's youth keep Mario off of the hook? How long will the team's retrogressing during the course of the season be acceptable? What you see today with Mario is what you will continue to see. A very good man. A very good recruiter. A baffling failure of the roster not playing up to its potential. An antiquated offense that will not win titles. A coach who has won around 60% of his games as a head coach. I asked if anyone saw 'progress' from the 2019 PO game failure at ASU, to the debacle we witnessed on Saturday night? A debacle that confirmed beyond doubt the 'experts' view of Oregon and the Pac-12. A blowout loss at the hands of a team that was 7-3, ranked 23 with losses vs BYU, Oregon State and San Diego State. Ls to teams ranked 14 and 19 and to a NR team. Oregon came in ranked 3 with a win on the road at the #4 ranked team in the country. A win against a team that earlier in the day blew out the #7 team. Fire him? With Mario's buyout does Oregon if it wanted to, have the money to fire him and pay the buyout of a replacement coach? So no, I would not fire Mario. But at the same time I would not give him a bump in pay and a contract extension before he earns it. Many seem to be perfectly satisfied with a division championship over multi-loss teams, a conference championship over a multi-loss team, a non-PO Rose Bowl or other NY6 bowl appearance; or, playing in the Alamo Bowl? Satisfied with the conference making the PO 2 out of out 8 years. Satisfied with the conference falling farther behind the B1G, SEC and based on today's rankings and records, the 'New B12.' conferences. Satisfied with the status quo but for an extra P5 OOC game vs a B1G or ACC team. If the above defines 'success,' then Mario is the guy. And I say this will all due respect to those who are happy with Mario and his performance to date. Not all aspire to be national champions, which is fine.