Yes, I know. And I will happily embrace the name change you might be thinking of: Lou Farnsworth should now be known as “Homer Duck.” So with that preliminary bit of honesty settled, let’s look at the data, which actually gives objective support to my claims of a dynasty in this article’s title. I recently wrote about our chances of …
Would an Eight-Team Playoff Be All That Great?
“All we are saying, is give us a chance.” In 2025, the current agreement that governs the College Football Playoff (CFP) comes to a close. The final CFP National Championship under the existing format will be played in January 2026. Concurrent with the end of the Playoff, the lucrative ESPN Playoff media rights agreement also expires. Thereafter, the majority of …
Oregon ‘Natty Notions: Is This THE Year?
The National Championship. The CFP Trophy. The Holy Grail for every college football fanatic in the country. The pinnacle that us Ducklings have been oh so close to achieving twice (2010 and 2014), but have ultimately fallen short of. Oh, the horror of those last few minutes of the Auburn loss! My esteemed fellow FishDuck.com writers Mike West and Jon …
Time to Pac-Up: Should Oregon Follow the MONEY?
How do you fit five pegs into four holes? The obvious answer is, “You don’t.” You leave one out. AZcentral.com and SEC born-and-raised Andy Staples have another solution. You whittle one of the pegs down to nothing, pick up a few of the scraps and glom them onto one of the four remaining. Naturally, the one that gets carved up—according …
Will the Ducks’ Schedule Cost Them a Shot at the Playoff?
Enemies to the right of me, Enemies to the left of me, Into the Valley of Jerry Rode Mario and the Ducks. We have met the enemy! And they are us? How about giving Coach Mario Cristobal, his staff and the student-athletes they coach, a fair shake? Let’s review this BCS 2.0, the so-called College Football Playoff. Half a decade …
Saturday’s Upsets Put Oregon in Prime Playoff Position
What a day for Oregon Football … Sorry if I gave you a scare, but don’t worry; you didn’t sleep through the game. While the Ducks got some much-needed rest this past Saturday, a few of the necessary dominos fell to give the Ducks a shot at the College Football Playoff. Miracle in Minnesota The first matchup was a clash …
Playoff Rankings Are Coming! Is Oregon Set to Crash the Party?
“Telegram! Singing telegram for Coach Kyle Whittingham!” “I’m your man. I’m Coach Whittingham. What’s up, my man?” “I have a singing telegram for you, Coach, from Puddles in Eugene. Without further adieu, this is for you and your team, too.” [To the tune of “See You In September?”] Will I see Ute in December? Will I see Ute when the …
2036: A College Football Scheduling Odyssey
“I know I’ve made some very poor decisions recently, but I can give you my complete assurance that my work will be back to normal. I’ve still got the greatest enthusiasm and confidence in the mission. And I want to help you.” – HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey (although it could be any guy pleading with his wife …
Mario Cristobal Is Changing the Game
In 2008, Chip Kelly created the “Blur Offense,” the likes of which had never been seen. Not only did Kelly’s system propel the Ducks to championship-level heights, but it left a major mark on the entire college football landscape. Today, nearly every team uses some form of up-tempo offense, largely due to the success of Kelly’s Ducks. Now, a decade post-Chip, …
“Welcome to My Parlor,” Said the Tiger to the Duck
It’s time to check in on our friends from the South. Surely, the SEC hasn’t been dominating your news feeds or been fawned over by ESPN enough this offseason, right? So, I thought it fitting to put together a little something to give some much needed love and attention to the most underappreciated conference in the land. The following is …
CFP vs. BCS: A Curmudgeon’s Perspective
Lately I’ve felt a little … curmudgeonly. Perhaps it has something to do with the spring equinox. Or maybe it’s the proximity of this weekend’s Masters Tournament (once again, my invitation to Augusta appears to be lost in the mail). Regardless, I hoped a little research into the history of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and the College Football Playoff …
Move Over Washington, It’s Oregon’s Turn to Run the Pac-12
All good things must come to an end. Unfortunately for Washington fans, that sentiment may apply tomorrow afternoon, as the Huskies’ status as the premier program in the Pac-12 is in jeopardy. There’s no doubt that Washington currently sits atop of the food chain in the Pac-12. They’ve completely overhauled what was an underachieving roster and transformed it into a juggernaut. …