For 13 years, from 1984-1996, the NFL’s NFC conference dominated the league. They won 13 straight Super Bowls and mostly in commanding fashion. The NFC was just way better than the AFC in those days, as they usually had the four or five best teams in the league. Because of this, the NFC Championship (the semi-finals) had become the quasi-Super Bowl most years.
Because of this being ingrained in my simple brain, I can accept the initial 12-team College Football Playoff having a championship type game such as Ohio State-Oregon in the semifinals, but in the quarterfinals?
Unacceptable.
Hence, as we have all been complaining about for the past two weeks, the playoff needs some serious adjusting moving forward. Mr. FishDuck took time from his online fun at hidden jack to discuss this very hot-button topic with me, as he is in disbelief as well.
The Tear Jerkin’ Ohio State Story of Redemption
It sure would be something to see the embattled Ryan Day rise like a phoenix from the ashes to lead his team to win the national championship. The fans want him gone. The administration does not know what to do with him. And, he just sure as heck cannot beat Michigan.
We love a good underdog story here in America, and boy oh boy, what a great American comeback story it would be. I can see it now, a limited series on Netflix titled, “The Day of Redemption: The Ryan Day Story.”
There is just one problem; he cannot beat Oregon, either. The Ducks are going to beat the Buckeyes, again, and send Day off to sit next to Urban Meyer in 2025 on Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff.
Oregon does not simply want to hand Ohio State a defeat, the Ducks owe it to them.
Cal
Justin Wilcox just hired two football coaches to take over the Cal offense. Bryan Harsin, the former Boise State coach who then went on to flop at Auburn, is the new offensive coordinator. Nick Rolovich, who was canned in 2021 from Washington State, was hired as a senior offensive assistant.
I was pretty surprised at the choices, but then Cal does not really care about sports, especially the brutish game known as American football. But, I digress. Cal has been pretty awful on offense under defensive-minded Wilcox, so if you are in Berkeley, you should just be happy with anyone who can get results.
Schedule Bellyaching
The 2025 B1G schedule has come out, and of course, everyone has to complain about it, as if there is a “perfect” schedule to be had when the conference has to schedule for 18 teams with a gazillion factors that have to be met that the public usually has no idea about.
Some Oregon faithful are complaining about having to travel to Penn State with the Nittany Lions coming off a bye while the Ducks played the Beavers at home. I see what folks are saying, but is it that big of an advantage? The Ducks will be riding high after destroying the Beavers at home and ready to take it to PSpew (PSU).
And, I am sure Dan Lanning will find a way to make it a rallying point for his team.
Advantage: Ducks.
Darren Perkins
Spokane, WA
Top photo credit: Steven Chan
Natalie Liebhaber, the FishDuck.com Volunteer Editor for this article, works in technology in SLC, Utah
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Darren Perkins is a sales professional and 1997 Oregon graduate. After finishing school, he escaped the rain and moved to sunny Southern California where he studied screenwriting for two years at UCLA. Darren grew up in Eugene and in 1980, at the tender age of five, he attended his first Oregon football game. His lasting memory from that experience was an enthusiastic Don Essig announcing to the crowd: “Reggie Ogburn, completes a pass to… Reggie Ogburn.” Captivated by such a thrilling play, Darren’s been hooked on Oregon football ever since. Currently living in Spokane, Darren enjoys flaunting his yellow and green superiority complex over friends and family in Cougar country.