#2 Ohio State @ #3 Oregon (Oct. 12, Sat 4:30 PM NBC)

[pezsez1]

Saw somewhere that this was the most watched Big 10 regular season game since 2008! That's a ton of attention on an absolutely perfect showcase of Oregon football (and Autzen Stadium).

Before this game, we were talking on this forum about whether this was the biggest game ever at Autzen Stadium, and also talking about "biggest game" vs "most impactful." It's so hard to compare games in the contexts of different eras, but I really do wonder if this game will be this new era's version of "The Pick" in terms of setting the tone for the next 10-20 years. It was that good, and I'm well aware of the recruiting impacts the game has already had.

[StevensTechU]

which the Ducks have absolutely been doing. They should easily be favored in every game until the B1G championship, but we'll see what happens. We've already seen the impacts of the long travel across country, so that makes me a bit nervous for a couple of those road games, though they should win them.

I'm going to ask a question that's a bit blasphemous.

If Oregon does manage to run the table the rest of the way (I still don't expect them to, because winning is hard), I keep wondering what's the smart move for the conference championship game in terms of holding players out. You have to win it to get a first round bye, but if you lose, you're likely the #5 seed and host the first game ($$$), then play #4 in the semis and #4 right now is looking like BYU, Iowa State or Boise State so the ducks would be favored. Sitting out starters in the conference championship but then having a first round game means your starters end up playing the same number of games, but your backups get really valuable experience that can't be replicated.

The idea of sitting starters is blasphemous, and winning a conference title still sort of means something, but it's a thought experiment I've been on since the ducks beat the bucks on Saturday.

[duckpoint]

I don't know whether it's surprising or odd that so many OSU fans were dismissive of the intimidation factor of Autzen.

I thought that was settled as fact after Michigan visited in 2003.

Some quotes from that era;

"Autzen is known for its crowd noise. On October 27, 2007, during a 24-17 defeat of the USC Trojans, a record crowd of 59,277 fans was recorded at 127.2 decibels. A similarly-loud 31-27 upset of third-ranked Michigan in 2003 prompted a Michigan Daily columnist to write[5]

“ Autzen's 59,000 strong make the Big House sound like a pathetic whimper. It's louder than ... The Swamp at Florida, The Shoe in Columbus, and Death Valley at Louisiana State. Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die. ”
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr later said that Autzen Stadium was the loudest stadium he'd ever been in.[6]

In 2006, a Sporting News columnist named Autzen the most intimidating college football stadium in the nation.[7]

Lee Corso of ESPN College Gameday frequently says that; "Per person Autzen Stadium is the loudest stadium that I have ever been in my entire life!"[8] "

Josh Pate (Pate State) had a great review of the game including some Autzen commentary...

[dthomas=ddixon]

https://x.com/Tsunami_TS/status/1845895104319598804


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[droop10]

which the Ducks have absolutely been doing. They should easily be favored in every game until the B1G championship, but we'll see what happens. We've already seen the impacts of the long travel across country, so that makes me a bit nervous for a couple of those road games, though they should win them.

I'm going to ask a question that's a bit blasphemous.

If Oregon does manage to run the table the rest of the way (I still don't expect them to, because winning is hard), I keep wondering what's the smart move for the conference championship game in terms of holding players out. You have to win it to get a first round bye, but if you lose, you're likely the #5 seed and host the first game ($$$), then play #4 in the semis and #4 right now is looking like BYU, Iowa State or Boise State so the ducks would be favored. Sitting out starters in the conference championship but then having a first round game means your starters end up playing the same number of games, but your backups get really valuable experience that can't be replicated.

The idea of sitting starters is blasphemous, and winning a conference title still sort of means something, but it's a thought experiment I've been on since the ducks beat the bucks on Saturday.

I've had an even crazier thought, which would be much more risky and even more blasphemous. If the Ducks are undefeated going into the UW game, and guaranteed to go to the Conference Championship game, do you rest some of the starters (ie Gabriel) against UW? You still get the bye winning the Championship game, but do risk picking up 2 losses. The way this season is shaking out, I don't see any way the Ducks wouldn't make the playoff with 2 losses, 1 being in the conference championship game. Moore could get some game experience without really anything at stake, but we do also risk losing to the Huskies again, so I know that wouldn't be a super popular option amongst the fan base. I also see a realistic scenario where they could beat UW starting Moore and giving some younger skill guys more reps. I'm just spitballing scenarios here. I'm sure most people would absolutely hate the idea I proposed above, and I would understand why. I would just prefer less opportunities to lose in the playoff, so if I had to choose between the 2, I'd rest against UW (if it's an option) rather than the Conference Championship.

I'm sure in the end they just play every game as normal, but they have done a good job to this point of putting themselves in the driver's seat and setting themselves up to have options at the end of the year.

[73duck]

> Their DC is basically stealing from OSU getting 2 million a year. His seat should be scolding hot right now.

IIRC Oregon got their DC fired in 2021, so we could go two for two.

When CK was at UO he got about a half dozen PAC HCs fired. Compile a list of PAC coaches from 2009-2012, and you'll see something like a 46-7 loss to Oregon the year they got fired.

[ducks5ever]

Hilarious to see the dichotomy between this board and Ohio’s. On this board, Stein is questioned for his play calling and complaints flying in as he puts up 32 on likely the most talented D in the NCAA this year. On their board, they’re talking about how their D coordinator was completely outcoached and they’re calling for his head.

Their DC is basically stealing from OSU getting 2 million a year. His seat should be scolding hot right now.

I already saw multiple OSU fans on their board make the same claim the fans on here did about not having a championship level team, because heaven forbid, they lost a 1 point game on the road. Here it was because the Ducks were only winning by 3 scores after a slow start to the season. There are no flawless teams in college football, and any of the top 10 teams can win on a given Saturday when playing each other. Both of these teams are absolutely capable of winning the championship. It's also possible to gel and improve over the course of a season, which the Ducks have absolutely been doing. They should easily be favored in every game until the B1G championship, but we'll see what happens. We've already seen the impacts of the long travel across country, so that makes me a bit nervous for a couple of those road games, though they should win them.

^^That's the real take. This game was pretty much a tossup at the end and we just came out on top. The message board narratives (which are a bit extreme in both directions) could easily be flipped even though the reality on the field for the other 59 minutes didn't change. There's still a lot this Oregon team can do better, and a lot of things that could go worse too.

[woundedknees]

Embedded Tweet

That’s a nice apology……. IMHO he still needs to sit next week. Spitting on someone is one of the most disrespectful and dehumanizing actions there is let alone in the face and is a criminal act.

When I worked as a deputy, spitting on a law enforcement officer (A practice which has escalated since then) was considered a felony, due to the potential health threat posed by the various infectious contagions we see now.

I ain't right to 'spit on your neighbor'...

[Duck07]

which the Ducks have absolutely been doing. They should easily be favored in every game until the B1G championship, but we'll see what happens. We've already seen the impacts of the long travel across country, so that makes me a bit nervous for a couple of those road games, though they should win them.

I'm going to ask a question that's a bit blasphemous.

If Oregon does manage to run the table the rest of the way (I still don't expect them to, because winning is hard), I keep wondering what's the smart move for the conference championship game in terms of holding players out. You have to win it to get a first round bye, but if you lose, you're likely the #5 seed and host the first game ($$$), then play #4 in the semis and #4 right now is looking like BYU, Iowa State or Boise State so the ducks would be favored. Sitting out starters in the conference championship but then having a first round game means your starters end up playing the same number of games, but your backups get really valuable experience that can't be replicated.

The idea of sitting starters is blasphemous, and winning a conference title still sort of means something, but it's a thought experiment I've been on since the ducks beat the bucks on Saturday.

I've had a similar line of thought as well. I think if you play in a CCG you want to win because it will lock us into a BYE since we'll obviously be one of the 4 highest ranked conf champs. There's also a small scenario where Boise State takes the auto-spot from the ACC or Big 12 if the Ducks and Broncos win out.

I think its also better to get that rest AFTER the CCG than before and that ultimately the CCG replaces that 1st round game from a wear/tear standpoint so we're getting extra rest at precisely the time others are playing beat-em up style games. For us this year, the late BYE before the poodles means we'll be fairly rested going into the CCG.

To the point of hosting a home game - right now that's not the goal with how the season has turned out and so I think that home game argument becomes a flow chart issue each year: Undefeated -aim for Bye.; 1 or 2 loss team - aim for hosting 1st round.

[UOducksTK1]

https://x.com/Tsunami_TS/status/1845895104319598804


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That’s pretty great

[ducks5ever]

The Ducks vs them film is out!

[GrantDuck]

Go Ducks! Amazing win.

Conerly was amazing.

Prayers for Burch and our other wounded ducks to heal up. We will need them down the road.

[Alan]

Love this ad, seems very fitting at this point, lol.

[greenyellow]

Ducks vs Them Game 6:

[DmoneyDuck]

which the Ducks have absolutely been doing. They should easily be favored in every game until the B1G championship, but we'll see what happens. We've already seen the impacts of the long travel across country, so that makes me a bit nervous for a couple of those road games, though they should win them.

I'm going to ask a question that's a bit blasphemous.

If Oregon does manage to run the table the rest of the way (I still don't expect them to, because winning is hard), I keep wondering what's the smart move for the conference championship game in terms of holding players out. You have to win it to get a first round bye, but if you lose, you're likely the #5 seed and host the first game ($$$), then play #4 in the semis and #4 right now is looking like BYU, Iowa State or Boise State so the ducks would be favored. Sitting out starters in the conference championship but then having a first round game means your starters end up playing the same number of games, but your backups get really valuable experience that can't be replicated.

The idea of sitting starters is blasphemous, and winning a conference title still sort of means something, but it's a thought experiment I've been on since the ducks beat the bucks on Saturday.

There's no doubt the 5 seed is a sweet landing spot (assuming the B12 team is guaranteed the 4 seed). But I think there are two big flaws to this strategy:

1 - You risk playing ANOTHER game. The fewest amount of games any team has to play in order to win it all is 16. Depth is going to key down the stretch and I don't know how many teams want to play more football, raising the injury risk even further.

2 - Nothing is given and I'm sure we will see a few 12-5 upsets over the next decade. We already saw Boise State push Oregon to the brink in Week 2 and these Group of 5 teams will be selling out to win even one playoff game.

I say just keep winning and it will all sort itself out.