AnotherOD

2004 against Oregon State 🙂

Tough to not pick Haloti. Running down a screen against 1,300 yard RB Wendell Mathis in 2005 at 340 pounds.

As well, if one were to put together a rough best-guess second team on defense, it would be 11/11 Blue Chip recruits, all top 275 nationally (247 Composite). Depth. Rushing (#45), Breyland (#58), Robinson (#262), Wyatt (#202), Nix (#178), Williams (#199), Offord (#17), Scott (#36), Woodyard (#116), McNutt (#73), Benjamin (#123).

This is a big one 🙂🙂

Good stuff. One of those questions that keeps coming up, but I don't know if there is a consensus answer? What has happened the last two seasons against Ohio State and Indiana in the playoffs? Not losing those games so much, but showing up and getting blasted. I have been looking at theories (better than rewatching the games) and I haven't found much so I have sort of settled on just simple physical and mental wear (and thus players being more susceptable to being injured or at least banged up). Two possible causes come to mind. • Long intense practices with regular hitting combined with what often appear to be many full day practice schedules The 2024 Jabbar Muhammed was quoted (who had been in practice systems at Oklahoma State and Washington before Oregon): "One thing I wanted to get better at was my physicality and you have no choice but to do that here, so it was a perfect match for me." When further asked about the difference in environments between Oregon and his other stops he said: "It's way different, you are hitting and rat-a-tat-tatting every single day, so it's much different. It's a tough schedule. It's legit all day. I know you see the Tik-Toks and everything, but our camp is really all day. It's lenient in some other programs, but this one is kinda tough." Anecdotally many have possibly noticed in series like Under Construction, Ducks versus Them, and Meet the Flock, there does appear to be a lot of time spent in a variety of activities and meetings. That could be in error, but it does match Muhammed's comments. Compared to maybe Curt Cignetti who has said any practice over 90 minutes is too long and a reported "go home" culture (rather than requiring players to be in the football facility constantly, he prefers short and organized meetings, and when the day's tasks are complete, telling the players and coaches to go home, recover, and recalibrate). There is a video of a former Cignetti player talking about sometimes 80 minute practices that never exceeded 1:50 and some practices being walk through only. The former Les Miles player interviewing says all their practice were in pads and M/H were always 2 to 2 1/2 hours and U/W were all 3 hours with full contact. There is another Cignetti video with Urban Meyer where he says he has never used more than 13 of his 15 allowed Spring practices and never used all 25 of his allowed Fall practices. He says simply "I'm trying to keep them fresh and healthy." Chip was also I believe known for preferring short-paced high energy practices, with Oregon being overall relatively healthy from 2009-2012, highlighted by only about a handful of lost starts from the 22 starters all of the 2010 run. • Air travel In 2024, when Oregon arrived at the Rose to play tOSU, it had put in 17,250 air miles on the season (with relatively short trips to Oregon State and UCLA). In 2025, Oregon arrived in Atlanta to meet Indiana with 24,280 air miles. Oregon's 5 away games in 2026 have 15,560 air miles. With post season travel, it again could be 20,000+. In 2027, Oregon's 5 B1G games require 13,400 air miles without the now replaced Waco trip. With the trip it would have been 16,700. In 2024, with tOSU having made the trip out to Eugene, had 7,555 air miles traveled at Rose Bowl kickoff to 17,250 for Oregon. The Eugene trip alone was 55% of their travel total. In 2025, despite Indiana also coming out to Eugene, it was 11,010 to 24,280. Indiana's trip to Eugene trip plus their Rose Bowl trip to play Alabama was 67% of their total. Pure fan message board kind of talk, hope the staff is looking at how much time is spent on things and weighing the longer term benefit of dialing it back a bit? Especially when considering being stuck with all the flight miles. If the season is going to go from August to the middle of January, maybe get them some more rest and kick them out of the facility more at least through October (first 8 games). I don't consider this a DL fault, maybe a still younger coach with a lot of energy, that naturally sees the time available and wants to thrown in anything he thinks will help, when the best help might just be boring old free time and rest. Again fan perception, in late September Dan had the team with its hair on fire ready to run through a brick wall in State College for Penn State. By January 9 in Atlanta, it really looked different: flat, banged up, and even Dan looked a bit subdued and even tired in his pregame interview. That and 7,600 air miles flown over like 9-10 days to get to Miami and back and then back down to Atlanta for the Peach Bowl kickoff.

$1.6 million and $850,000? Ok, goodness. Interesting definition of "spending" and "going all in" from Canzano. I had to dig up the clip. It doesn't seem like making outrageous offers (I guess Trent was making about $2 million in the end and Tinkle $3 million). I suppose use Canzano at your own peril? 🫤 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXAzqDEDyXm/ (need to click on "Continue on web") Trigger warning: Canzano 🙂

Well that was an interesting post I made last night. My first OBD's pocket post? 🙂 I was contemplating asking if anyone else found the whole timing of the Oregon State AD thing a bit weird? Now, I don't follow Oregon State that closely anymore; but, it seems like they had been sort of nudging Barnes out the door for a while now? The Trent Bray hire, sticking with 176-206 Tinkle for so long (with two 4th place finishes tops over 12 years), the rowing coach wrongful termination lawsuit, the controversial Blueprint NIL deal, and so on. Why let your departing AD pick your new football head coach and basketball head coach on his way out the door? It seems a bit odd to make the commitment to a younger more out-of-the-box AD (which is fine, maybe even good); but, then saddle him with two first time head coaches he didn't have a hand in selecting? I think I recall Canzano (I know Canzano) reporting Barnes also opened the pocket book up for both these hires? Seems like an even worse situation for the young AD. Spending freely on what Canzano essentially called a "Barnes legacy play" that the new AD not only has to fund, but might not even be his guys. I know when head coaching jobs become open, a school can't exactly wait around for it to sort out its AD situation; but, you know, 8-9 months ago, it does seem like the possibility of two new HC hires was on the horizon. Maybe my reading of the situation is off?

0p

I don't get it either. It certainly understand it is pretty tough for Oregon State (and WSU) dropping to the G6; but, you know, here we are. Top programs really aren't passing on one extra home game's worth of revenue to play a 1-for-1s or even a 2-for-1s with G6 teams anymore. Ohio State isn't signing up for 1-for-1 with a MAC team, Alabama isn't signing up for a 1-for-1 with a Sun Belt team. The last 25 seasons, I don't think Georgia has played a single OOC road game against a G6 opponent. I think Ohio State has had one, a weird 1-for-1 with Navy (and the Navy home game was played in Baltimore's NFL stadium). Alabama has had one, a weird 2-for-1 with South Florida (and the USF home game was played in Tampa Bay's NFL home stadium). Michigan has had one, a weird 1-1 with UConn (where they tried to move the UConn home portion to MetLife or Gillette and UConn refused). Texas used to sign a bunch of 2-for-1s and 1-for-1s but stopped about 15 years ago when they got tired of return games in the likes of Laramie (Wyoming), El Paso (UTEP), and New Orleans (Tulane) for a one time OOC home game. Since the 2009 game in Laramie, I think Texas has only had one G6 OOC road game, and that was a 2-for-1 with BYU (if being Independent back then counted as G6). If Oregon State returns to the P4, I could possibly see an argument (not unlike Georgia-Georgia Tech or Florida State-Florida). Until then, going 1-for-1 with the G6 isn't thinking like the rest of the programs you aspire to keep pace with (Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan, Texas, and so on). LSU? One OOC G6 road game since 2001 (Tulane in 2007 as part of a 3-for-1).

Makes you wonder where the AD has been? Seems like as an AD you have to be either all-in or all-out with your football/basketball HC? If there is money for a basketball GM, if you are Altman, why would you turn down the help? Odd.

It will be interesting to see. I've been thinking about it and I think it comes down a bit to Dan, at his core, being a (relatively) conservative coach on both sides of the ball (not unlike Kirby). I think Dan being young, coming from that 2021 Georgia team with its dominant high havoc/pressure rate defense, and going for it on 4th down a lot early at Oregon has led, in part, to a greater perception of Dan as a risk-taker. Instead, the "Oregon Offense" Mehringer references is largely an efficiency offense that runs the ball, distributes the ball to its players in space, tries to limit TOs, and tries to beat people with overall talent. Dan still does the 4th down thing a fair amount; but, I've always though it was more about a calculation of which side of the ball he trusts more, than a desire to play risky. Early on, he trusted his offense more than his defense and probably felt getting 2 yards on 4th down was a better bet than his defense holding up. Against Texas Tech, maybe it was more the opposite, he saw he could trust his defense enough that going for it to land the knockout score wasn't really a huge risk. I'm yelling at the TV "punt the damn ball they obviously aren't driving 80 yards for a score today" while Dan is thinking, if I go for it and score, the game is going to be out of reach, so the rest won't matter, and if we fail, our defense still is likely to hold. The defense IMO has always been heavily "bend-but-don't-break", five DBs, mixing cover 2 and cover 3, 6 man boxes, limited traditional blitzing. That 2021 Georgia defense was just so loaded with guys beating people up one-on-one with superior talent, it looked like the product of an aggressive scheme when it was at its core a pretty safe scheme with a bunch of future NFL guys winning their battles. With the talent at QB and WR, there is almost no way there won't be more explosives from the passing game. I think it likely won't be scheme change but having a bunch of future NFL guys making more plays in the passing game than abandoning the base philosophy. Plus, I think deep down Dante's wired with a bit of that gunslinger in him. It's interesting to see how Indiana does this year because I see Cignetti as a bit more of a calculated risk taker. Compared to the early 2010s, I think overall college football coaching is back to being more conservative (so Dan isn't alone).

This breakdown of Tommy Tofi's Spring game I thought was very encouraging. (Not sure if link is working. It comes up if one searches YouTube for Landon Tengwall)

257 players drafted. P4 schools: 239 players G6 schools: 13 players FCS: 4 players International: 1 player

I think the two misses were both from over 50 yards, he was good from 35 and 45. I think Hurych is thought to have a bit more leg than Sappington, today might have been the staff examining/testing that out? I think Sappington was only the third UO kicker to finish his career with an 80%+ career FG percentage in the last 50 years, so back-to-back would be a nice step.

Early line? Combat Ducks: -3.5 🙂

Lists at 5-11 and 180, about the same size as Jadon Canady (5-11 and 185)? Some similarities between Stanford's recruiting profile and Canady's draft profile. Nickel CB? Stanford: • Plays physical with wiry strength above listed size • Displays sudden acceleration in a variety of situations, pairing that with high-level awareness and anticipatory skill • Also shows quick-twitch redirection, whether running routes or breaking on throws • Boasts strong track numbers in the 60, 100, and 200 meter sprints: 10.71/22.06 Canady: • Twitch for short-area corrections to smother routes, sticky man coverage corner • Speed to deter throws over the top, speed in his backpedal and half-turn... quick to trigger and close on routes breaking in front, closing burst • Falls below most traditional size thresholds... Canady makes up for those shortcomings with his twitch, which allows him to stay sticky • All-State performer in track and field. He finished fourth in the 300-meter hurdles at the 3A state track meet in the 300-meter hurdles in 2019

I was thinking about that 2022 Oregon-Georgia game because, at the time, by typical "roster composition" measures, the teams didn't appear to be miles apart. Georgia was #2 and Oregon was #7. Maybe a belief Cristobal had closed the gap in recruiting and 51 overall blue chips to 68 didn't seem like a huge gap? After the blowout, a deeper dive showed, while Cristobal had improved recruiting, it still wasn't a lot of top 50 recruits. It also wasn't a lot of top 100 recruits. It was more a lot of guys ranked around 150-380 boosting the grade. Georgia in 2022 was a different story. At kickoff: Georgia: Top 50 recruits: 20 Top 100 recruits: 33 Their top 50 guys ranked: #1, #4, #4, #5, #8, #11, #17, #18, #19, #23, #24, #26, #27, #28, #33, #35, #36, #38, #45, and #46. Oregon: Top 50 recruits: 7 Top 100 recruits: 12 Their top 50 guys ranked: #6, #13, #16, #31, #33, #40, and #41 Today, Oregon has 19 top 50 recruits and 27 top 100 recruits (in this new era where stockpiling and stashing talent arguably has become more difficult).

Added to the group Texas, Alabama, and LSU. Based on most likely suggested fall two deeps, I've got the 6 highest rated two-deep rosters: Georgia: 9 five star, 20 top 100, 38 blue chips Oregon: 9 five stars, 18 top 100, 37 blue chips Texas: 11 five stars, 17 top 100, 31 blue chips Ohio State: 6 five stars, 17 top 100, 39 blue chips Alabama: 8 five star, 16 top 100, 35 blue chips LSU: 6 five stars, 11 top 100, 32 blue chips TEXAS: QB: Manning (#1) / Lacey (#156) RB: Brown (#42) / Smothers (#379) WR: Coleman (#5) / Lockett (#18) WR: Wingo (#39) / Berkhalter (UR) WR: Mosley (#500) / McCutcheon (#103) TE: Masunas (#1053) / Townsend (#90) OL: Goosby (#414) / Chatman (#194) OL: Seymore (#183) / Sikorski (#1391) OL: Robertson (#601) / Christian (#606) OL: Baker (#32) / Cajoe (#824) OL: Siani (UR) / Coleman (#750) DE: Jackson (#21) / Terry (#12) DT: Terry (#129) / Johnson (#104) DT: Watson (#1220) / Sharma (#218) DE: Simmons (#18) / Orogbo (#104) LB: T.Smith (#350) / Atkinson (#30) LB: Biles (#922) / Cryar (#1014) CB: Mascoe (#846) / Roberson (#257) CB: Phillips (#27) / Black (#34) S: D.Williams (#49) / Filsaime (#37) S: McDonald (#70) / Johnson-Ruboll (#206) S: Littleton (#65) / Mack (#149) ALABAMA: QB: Russell (#3) / Mack (#73) RB: Hill (#121) / Riley (#136) WR: Williams (#8) / Scott (#303) WR: Morgan (#43) / Meadows (#126) WR: Brooks (#185) / Rogers (#54) TE: Pritchett (#286) / Edwards (#163) OL: Carroll (#12) / Miller (#16JC) OL: Sanders (#313) / Fields (#1097) OL: Delgatty (#2179) / Strayhorn (#519) OL: James (#2319) / Waldrep Jr (#365) OL: Lloyd (#45) / Brooks (#239) DE: Thompkins (#636) / Umeozulu (#146) DT: Green (#254) / Bingley-Jones (#152) DE: Simmons (#514) / E.Hill (#192) ED: Pierre (#31) / J.Hill (#60) LB: Reese (#841) / Metz (#288) LB: Woodson (#922) / Jones (#272) CB: Brown (#30) / Edmonds (#28) CB: Sabb (#96) / Taylor (#62) S: Hubbard (#316) / Miney (#27) S: Lee (#14) / McDonald (#51) S: Morgan (#294) / Kirkpatric Jr (#866) LSU: QB: Leavitt (#313) / Longstreet (#25) RB: Berry (#15) / Durham (#88) WR: Wilson (#109) / Watkins (#167) WR: Harris (#695) / Holloway (UR) WR: JBrown (#1403) / TBrown (#89JC) TE: Green (#105) / M.Thomas (#1591) OL: Seaton (#13) / Thomas (#41) OL: Bah (#353) / Thompkins (#627) OL: Moore (#748) / Satterwhite (#211) OL: Harper (#131) / Strey (#449) OL: Davis (#111) / Jones (#115JC) DE: Umanmielen (#218) / Ross (#22) DT: Green (#115) / Woods (#1749) DT: McKinley (#14) / Blocton (#434) DE: Reliford (#224) / J.Brown (#282) LB: Weeks (#154) / Keys (#402) LB: Dottery (#227) / Singleton (#151) CB: Pickett (#11) / J.Jackson (#56) CB: Woodland (#506) / Turner (#392) S: Cooley (#990) / Delane (#55) S: Spears (#96) / Jimcoily (#388) S: Benefield (#982) / Thomas (#355)

To date: • possible good news is Oregon is sitting with the current #7 portal in class • possible bad news is it lost the portal's #18 and #41 rated players and has replaced them with the #74 and #164 rated players (Dezdrick Lindsay and Pharaoh Compton both UR - 247 ratings)

I imagine most of us recall the post game after Dan Lanning's first game at Oregon on 9/3/2022, where Georgia whipped Oregon 49-3 and Kirby Smart remarked, "They'll bounce back from this, and he knows we have better players. He'll never say that, but he knows we've got better players." The thought at the time from Kirby for Oregon fans (I believe) was for them not to worry as Dan would eventually get his guys and close the talent gap (to be patient). So here we are on April 11, 2026, and I thought I would take a look and see where things stand? There of course are different ways to do this, such as blue-chip ratios and roster talent composition rankings; but, I was thinking about it and those usually use all commits (usually about 85 out of 105 which most schools seem to roughly be sticking to so far). Not a bad way, but really using 85 includes nearly 40 players (no kickers included) who likely mostly won't impact the upcoming season. A close look at talent composition that mostly impacts the season should probably be the 44 players in the two-deep. So, I took a look at rough best guesses for Oregon and Georgia, and threw in Ohio State for another comparison point. I think I have a pretty good best guess on Oregon. Ohio State I follow somewhat closely. Georgia not so much so I took a Spring two deep from a pretty good Georgia site and compared it to a second Georgia site (all 3 teams in a 5 DB base defense). What did I find? All 3 teams arguably are now nearly about even in talent, at least on paper. In each two-deeps: Oregon: 9 five stars 18 top 100 players 37 Blue Chips Ohio State: 6 five stars 17 top 100 players 39 Blue Chips Georgia: 9 five stars 20 top 100 players 38 Blue Chips The Spring rosters. Not the highest rated roster one could put together, but a best guess on the actual two-deep. National ranking 247 Composite. OREGON TWO DEEP QB: Moore (#4) / Raiola (#7) RB: Davison (#172) / Hill (#230) WR: Stewart (#6) / Bair (#27) WR: Moore (#9) / Lott (#33) WR: McClellen (#86) / Hooks (#1875) TE: Johnson (#190) / Dixon (#655) OL: Crader (#247) / Addison (#102) OL: Iuli (#191) / Rogers (#821) OC: Laloulu (#344) / Brooks (#445) OL: Utu (#161) / Iheanacho (#29) OL: Wilson (#388) / Ferguson (#962) DE: Uiagalelei (#47) / Rushing (#26) DL: Washington (#246) / Breland (#36) DL: Alexander (#101) / Robinson (#262) DE: Tuioti (#213) / Wyatt (#202) LB: Jackson (#109) ) Williams (#199) LB: Mixon (#718) / Platt (#178) CB: Finney (#47) / Offord (#17) CB: Iffy (#55) / Scott (#51) S: Perich (#72) / McNutt (#73) S: Flowers (#102) / Woodyard (#116) S: Williams (#600) / Brew (#98) OHIO STATE TWO DEEP QB: Sayin (#20) / St. Clair (#4) RB: Jackson (#213) / Rogers (#97) WR: Smith (#1) / Guilford (#75) WR: Innis (#35) / Parker (#53) WR: Henry (#24) / McCuin (#922) TE: Christian (#408) / Roberts (#203) OL: Sierveld (#300) / Lowe (#74) OL: Montgomery (#120) / Van Sickle (#283) OC: Hinzman (#188) / Cook (#378) OL: Daniels (#771) / Padilla (#228) OL: Moore (#168) / Armsteong (#388) DE: Jackson (#60) / Atkinson (#249) DT: Houston (#26) / Smith Jr. (#245) DT: Smith (#41) / Walker (#96) DE: Grady (#114) / Russaw (#64) LB: Pierce (#204) / Alliegro (#1271) LB: Pettijohn (#101) / Alford (#144) CB: Matthews Jr. (#148) / Calhoun (#397) CB: Sanchez (#5) / Kelly (#374) S: McClain (#375) / Rocker (#841) S: Moore (#1116) / Bing (#208) S: Little Jr. (#84) / Timmons (#47) GEORGIA TWO DEEP QB: Stockton (#124) / Puglisi (#114) RB: Frazier (#49) / Bowens (#225) WR: Canion (#194) / Wiley (#91) WR: Humphreys (#487) / Taylor (#20) WR: White-Helton (#444) / Roldan (#306) TE: Luckie (#145) / Williams (#455) OL: Greene (#45) / E.Oghoko (#72) OL: Uini (#94) / Calhoun (#113) OC: Bobo (#664) / Tolliver (#1102) OL: Glover (#321) / Short (#250) OL: Gaston (#52) / Jackson (#990) DE: Griffin (#3) / McLeod (#117) DT: Hall (#40) / N.Oghoko (#757) DT: Harris (#66) / Williams (#62) DE: Q.Johnson (#368) / Gibson (#9) LB: Williams (#5) / Kruah (#340) LB: Wilson (#28) / Cole (#29) CB: Robinson (#2) / Conley (#592) CB: D.Jones (#50) / Williams (#93) S: Bolden (#13) / Morgan (#274) S: K.Jones (#668) / Branch (#58) S: Dinkins (#363) / Barnes (#399)

Best Record Since Covid Season (2020) • Georgia 65-7 (90.3) • Ohio State 59-10 (85.5) • Oregon 58-12 (82.9) • Michigan 57-12 (82.6) • Notre Dame 54-13 (80.6) • Alabama 56-14 (80.0) • USC 39-26 (60.0) Losses to Teams that Finished with Less than 10 Wins Since Covid Season (2020) • Oregon 1 • Georgia 1 • Ohio State 1 • Michigan 2 • Notre Dame 4 • Alabama 5 • USC 13 [ Oregon @ Stanford (3-9) 24-31 OT ] [ 2021 ]

Ok, more from SI. Maybe some missing context here? • The article uses "flipped" but I don't recall any indication Oregon ever really clearly was in the lead for Lang? In college football not getting a kid a program never really led for is pretty common. • Regardless USC has always recruited nearby Mater Dei well. They had 3 commits from there just last year. Since 2001, Mater Dei has produced something like 80 FBS players, somewhere around 57 being "power four". USC doesn't recruit them all. However, out of Mater Dei's 25 highest rated recruits 14 have picked USC. USC getting a kid from Mater Dei is about as shocking a headline as "Oregon lands recruit from Sheldon High". • Out of those nearly 60 power five kids since 2001, Oregon has gotten 5. Out of the 25 highest ranked players, Oregon has gotten 2, Aydin Breland (20) and Mase Funa (22). The other three being Lipe Moala (35), Austin Faoliu (39), and Jack Ressler (40). In 25 seasons what is that, one every five years? Getting Lang always was going to be a bit more of an upset for Oregon, while the article (and the USC tweet) sure seem to imply it being some kind of recruiting coup? [ Small edit: I did just realize Jordan Davison or Nassir Wyatt are missing. I believe the list used did not include 2025 Mater Dei recruits ] • Lanning and Riley both have been recruiting at their schools since 2002. So far, Oregon has ranked 6.6 in the 247 Composite and USC 22. Throw out the first class (where Oregon was 13 and USC had a small class rated 70); and, it is still Oregon ranked #5 and USC #10. Overall, Lanning's recruits have averaged 92.2 and USC 91.2. That matches 247's overall roster composition at kickoff last season of Oregon at 91.1 rated #5 and USC 89.7 rated #17. • Checking a USC board I sometimes lurk, consensus is USC was initially slow putting together NIL for high school recruits and didn't necessarily have a local emphasis. That has changed since GM Chad Bowden was hired. Now it is paying up and emphasizing local recruits (5/6 of their commits so far are from California). Pete Nacos of On3 stated (2/4/26) that USC was the top spender in NIL last year, noting overall #42 nationally rated TE Mark Bowman getting $5 to 6.5 million over his first 3 year. If mostly accurate, Lang to USC should not really be seen as any sort of big surprise.

Agreed. I know there are some issues relating to the company named in the letter (Charlie Health) and the Oregon Health Authority over the renewal of their COA to operate in Oregon; but, if Dante's experiences help bring more awareness to the bigger issues, it seems like a big plus.

My ten losses: 10. OHIO STATE (2024 Rose Bowl): 21-41: 34-0 to start then 34-8 at half. Nearly doubled up on offense, 500 yards to 276. 9. WASHINGTON II (2023): 31-34: #3 UW versus #5 UO. Since the first game, Oregon has looked improved and the UW has had some clunkers. Oregon was as much as a 9.5 point favorite. After a slow start, Oregon actually takes a 24-20 lead late in the 3rd. The UW scores two straight TDs in the 4th, Oregon gets a late 63 yard TD from Holden but can't get the onsides kick. 8. WSU (2003): 16-55: "Rich Cool, 4-0" the previous week, beating #3 Michigan 31-27. The following week, defending Pac-10 and #21 ranked WSU came to Autzen and were up 38-2 at half. After having no interceptions on the season, Clemens throws 4 picks and Fife throws 3 and Oregon fumbles twice for 9 turnovers. Oregon adds 12 penalties. WSU only needs 399 yards of offense to put up 55. 7. ARIZONA (2007): 24-34: It started well (39 yard TD run from Dixon). Dixon's knee buckles as does Oregon's possible trip to the National Championship game. UA's Antoine Cason has a punt return for a TD and an interception return for a TD. Oregon goes on to lose 0-16 the next week to UCLA, putting up a total of 148 yards of offense and 4 TOs. 6. CALIFORNIA (2007): 24-31: 4-0 #6 Cal versus 4-0 #11 Oregon. Gameday in Eugene. Expected fireworks don't show up early and UO leads 10-3 at half. Cal behind Longshore and DeSean Jackson (11 catches for 161 and 2 TDs) takes a late 31-24 lead. Oregon roars down the field in 9 plays in 1:17 to the Cal 5. Cam Colvin catches a pass with 0:22 seconds left and reaches for the endzone and the ball comes out, fumbled through the endzone and the game ends. Cal is later headed to the #1 spot in the country when it has to insert back-up QB Kevin Riley against OSU, while late and in position to score, Riley scrambles too long and goes down and Cal, with no timeouts, can't get its FG team to tie. 5. USC (2011): 35-38: #2 Oklahoma State had lost earlier in the day and #4 Oregon was in position to move to #3 if it beat #18 USC at Autzen. LeBron was throwing passes to Carmelo on the sidelines in the pregame. Oregon falls behind 21-7 at half on a chilly evening. Oregon gets a late score from David Paulson and a 2 point conversion to Tuinei. USC drives down the field running out the clock and gets to the Oregon 11 with 2:31 left. Marc Tyler fumbles and Oregon recovers and drives 66 yards to about the USC 20. With about 0:20 left Oregon appears to settle for setting up a 37 yard FG to tie. Maldonado misses. 4. STANFORD (2001): 42-49: Oregon's only loss in its #2 ranked finish of the 2001 season. Stanford trails 42-28 into the 4th and then outscores Oregon 21-0 by converting one of two blocked punts, an interception, and an onside kick. The interception comes on 3rd and 2 from Oregon's own 30 with 4:20 on the clock with Oregon holding on 42-41. Oregon mounts a late drive to the Stanford 37 but 4 straight incompletions end the game. 3. OREGON STATE (2000): 13-23: #5 UO versus #8 OSU. Oregon wins and it returns to the Rose Bowl, a loss and it drops all the way to the Holiday Bowl. Harrington entered the game 13-1 as a starter but throws 5 interceptions (3 to Jake Cookus). Oregon ends up with 6 TOs and 12 penalties for 132 yards. Oregon outgains OSU 471 to 399 but OSU connects on a couple early scores and builds a 17-0 first half lead Oregon can't overcome. 2 UCLA (1998): 38-41 (OT): #2 UCLA (4-0) versus #11 Oregon (5-0). After Oregon's improbable Rose Bowl run in 1994, three seasons had passed and Oregon looked to be prepared to burst back upon the national scene. Akili Smith, Rueben Droughns, Tony Hartley, Damon Griffin, Jed Weaver lead a dangerous skill position group putting up 50.6 points per game and 540 yards. Droughns himself was averaging 165 yards rushing per game at 7.4 ypc. UCLA was on a 14 game winning streak and lead 24-7 at half. Oregon scored 24 straight to lead 31-24 into the 4th. UCLA went back ahead 38-31 but Oregon tied it 38-38 with a Griffin 2 yard TD pass with 0:22 seconds left. Oregon took consecutive sacks in OT for -12 yards then threw an incompletion then a desperation interception. UCLA won it with a FG. Game is partially remembered for Drougns battling for 172 yards on 25 carries; but, playing late into the game on a broken leg (he misses the rest of the season). He loses 3 fumbles, all which lead to UCLA TDs and Oregon ends up with 5 TOs. UCLA has a FG blocked and missed another from 21. At the end of the game UCLA head coach Bob Toledo comments, "Wow, that should be worth two wins." 1. STANFORD (2012): 14-17 (OT): probably Oregon's best Chip Kelly team, sitting at #2 at 10-0 with a probable National Championship date with ND waiting (tOSU was ineligible due to Tressel investigation). Ertz lands out of bounds in the back of the endzone with 1:35 remaining. The officiating booth decides to reofficiate the play rather than look for conclusive evidence to change the call. Stanford wins in OT. Oregon wins the Fiesta and finishes #2 AP. HM: TCU (Alamo Bowl 2015) 41-47 (3 OT), Washington (2016) 21-70, Cal (1983) 41-42, Stanford (2013) 20-26, ASU (2002) 42-45, UW I (2023) 33-36, Auburn (2010 NC) 19-22 Ten wins: 10 Michigan 2007 (39-7): 624 yards of offense and 36 unanswered points. 292 yards passing and 3 TDs from Dixon and 111 rushing from Stewart (Michigan, despite starting 0-2, still finishes 9-4 and ranked #18) 9 Stanford 2010 (52-31): #4 Oregon versus #9 Stanford. Oregon puts up 626 yards of offense behind 257 yards and 3 TDs from James. Stanford and Oregon both finish 12-1. Toughest test on the way to the 2010 NC game with Auburn 8 at Ohio State 2021 (35-28): #12 Oregon upsets #3 Ohio State at The Shoe as a 14.5 underdog. 20 for 161 and 2 TDs from CJ Verdell, tOSU's Stroud in his 2nd start 35-54 for 484 7 USC 2007 (24-17): #5 Oregon defeated #12 USC (and its 3rd ranked defense) and moved up to AP#4. A reported 120+ decibels at Autzen after the Harper interception with USC driving late 6 USC 2009 (47-20): #4 USC at #10 Oregon on Halloween night. Oregon puts up 47 points, 613 yards including 391 yards rushing. USC held to 327. The beginning of the end of the Pete Carroll era at USC? 5 Ohio State 2024 ( 32-31): #3 Oregon versus #2 Ohio State with tOSU a 3.5 point favorite at Autzen 4 Colorado 2001 Fiesta (38-16): Oregon finishes 11-1 and AP #2 after defeating AP #3 Colorado. 350 yards and 4 TDs from Harrington, 3 interceptions by Steve Smith. 500 to 328 yards in total offense, held CU to 49 yards rushing 3 Wisconsin 2011 Rose Bowl (45-38): Highest scoring Rose Bowl yet at the time, Oregon's first Rose Bowl win since 1917 2 Florida State 2014 Rose (59-20): 25-20 at half, Oregon outscores FSU 34-0 in the second half. 5 FSU TOs. 639 to 528 yards advantage 1 Washington 1994 (31-20): The Pick. Its been regularly identified as the game that changed everything for Oregon football HM: Wisconsin (2019 Rose Bowl) 28-27, Texas Tech (2025) 23-0, Kansas State (2012 Fiesta Bowl) 35-17, Washington (2000) 23-16, Texas (2000 Holiday Bowl) 35-30, WSU (2001) 24-17

A couple favorites at UCLA. Blocked XP Walkoff goal-line stand 1995