I guess that would hold true, if you think the better team always wins, and there are never upsets or abnormalities. I believe playing the other 3 top teams in the country, two that are basically road games, will be far more difficult and provide far less margin for error than playing the other teams on pure neutral site.
Transfer Portal opens tomorrow: less than 3 weeks for the portal. Lots of pressure to make quick decisions if a player wants to be eligible for winter term/semester and spring ball
Are we moving the goalposts now? Did someone say this format is worse than the BCS era? I certainly haven't. I'm discussing the flawed point some are attempting to make that to win a championship you have to beat all the good teams. The idea of allowing the 12 best teams to play in a bracket is surely an improvement from a 4 team bracket. Seeding the bracket so 3 of the top 4 teams are on one side, and all in the path of the #1 seed, is silly at best. I'm not sure how one can objectively look at the bracket and say it is put together well and provides a reward for each seed in the order they finished.
Another flawed design by the NCAA to have all this happening during the playoffs. Unfair for the players who want to finish out their season, but also want to seek out a better opportunity elsewhere next season.
What a compliment, given that his son had a "lesser" role at Oregon than he had at K-State. Says a lot!
I don't think it's as much flawed as it is a concession to the realities of academic calendars by the way, as you probably remember I do have a friend who is dialed into the goings-on at Oregon. Probably more to the chatter in the AD's office than the coaching staff. I talked to him earlier today and he told me the buzz around the country is that a lot of programs have noticed what Oregon's transfer portal success has led to. So the expectation at Oregon is that there will likely be a lot more aggressive work by several teams in the portal. He's convinced the Ducks will try to leverage the portal quite a bit (not as much as last year because they probably won't be adding a QB). He wasn't sure at what positions but the guesswork is that the Ducks want to add experience at CB and safety (like one of each), more help on the DLine and edge (since they lose so much. And more depth on the Oline; and a TE if a really good one is available like last season, the Ducks may direct some NIL into keeping some juniors for another year. His hunch is that Harmon will be gone for sure. Connerly and Jordan James probably 50-50 at best
I'm not saying it's perfect. Only that I'm excited about it and happy for the new format. I'm not concerned with who we have to play because if we're the best we'll have to beat the best. Again, I'm not suggesting it's perfect and should never be changed, just that I'm happy it's so much better. And if they win it all they'll certainly deserve it. Any team who wins it all will deserve it.
There are upsets no matter what. So just win. It's that simple. Your team is the #1 seed. The best in the country. Has been for weeks. Follow the teams lead and just win on the field. All this other stuff is a waste of time. "Oh no we have a harder path" win. "We should have lost to get a better path" well you're a better team than everyone else. So win. "Upsets happen all the time" and each and every time it's the team that got upsets fault. So win. It's really sad to complain about it being an unfair path when you're the #1 seed. Just. Win. There's no other argument, and if there is an argument, that's on you and I'll just laugh at you and say "just win".
Exactly. You think Dan Lanning is scared? He WANTED this. He doesn't have this scared ass mentality and excuse mentality. You earned this. Now earn the last few wins. This is competition, not "hope we just have an easy path". Guarantee this is what Oregon wanted. Prove this shit. Get motivated.
A week after UT and tOSU clash, they get to face a rested Oregon squad at the Rose Bowl. Not only is Pasadena far closer for UO fans to attend, but they're buying tickets to that game today... are UT or tOSU fans? The Rose Bowl is pretty much going to be a home game for the Ducks STOMP
My thoughts as well. However they very well may have to play the next game should they win at the Rose Bowl, in a very hostile environment.
yup. Oregon is a long ways from most places & these "neutral site" games are generally going to be rooting against them going forward. But along with rabid fans of particular teams, big game events like these also attract a lot of corporate types who don't do much cheering. I don't think the environments will ever reach the levels of a true home field advantage like Autzen. STOMP
Sure but it looks like Texas in the cotton bowl in Dallas Texas. Yes you got to win in tough situations. That will be a very tough situation. Clemson is not going to beat Texas and I highly doubt ASU will either. The good side of this is the Ducks will have 3+ weeks to prepare for the Rose Bowl.
