Playoff Hunt/Pac-12 Update: Ducks inch closer to the Top 5

Evan Gilges FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

After the luck of the Irish fell short in Tallahassee and West Virginia exposed Baylor’s user-friendly defense, only three legitimate playoff contenders remain undefeated. Headed in the Playoff Direction No. 1 Mississippi State Bulldogs After a stellar first half of the season, the Bulldogs cruised into week 8 with their feet up on the dash as they enjoyed their bye …

College Football Nation: Upsets Galore and Mississippi Uprising

Jeff Hostetler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Arizona started the upset bus, and the state of Mississippi took over from there. Many had their top four penciled in for the playoffs, but after today they can just throw that list out. Thursday night, Duck fans were left to wonder when it will be their year, while Alabama fans are still learning to grasp the feeling and emotions …

College Football Nation: UCLA Got Game and Michigan Feeling Blue

Jeff Hostetler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

With the playoffs in place, every team is going to do its best to impress the voters. As each week goes by, most of the top teams are playing well below what we all expect of them. FSU has now survived a scare from Clemson and North Carolina State. Oregon barely beat a struggling Washington State team. Alabama got all …

Gateway to the Playoffs: Ducks Don’t Coug It; ‘Noles Survive Sans Winston

Evan Gilges FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Marcus Mariota shines under pressure in conference opener  The first road trip for the Oregon Ducks was not pretty despite managing to survive. Highlighted by seven sacks, the Washington State Cougars exposed Oregon’s obvious weakness in Week 4. With three starting linemen sitting out Saturday due to injuries, the Oregon running game never got going, and the health of Mariota became a concern. Luckily we have this …

Mike Merrell’s Three-and-Out: Winston, Bruins and Ducks

Mike Merrell FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

There are those Duck fans with the attitude that anything less than a three touchdown win is just unacceptable, and they are heaping criticism on the Duck coaching staff. Some even go so far as to say that the only reason Oregon beat WSU was a favorable non-call on pass interference toward the end of the game. One writer even …

College Football Nation: JW — Foot-in-Mouth Disease? and Tide Rolls

Jeff Hostetler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

These are the weekends we live for as college football fans. The drama off the field this week, however, was just as good as on the field thanks to Jameis Winston. This week showed a lot of top teams struggling for the victory while others took care of business. Let’s get into the Top-25 action from this weekend. 1. Winston needs …

College Football Nation: Ohio State Is Without Braxton and Jameis Is Snubbed

Jeff Hostetler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

  With kickoff less than a week away, the action is finally here. The only people who are probably wishing the season was further away — or even over – would be Ohio State. With the new playoff system upon us, more pressure will be put on teams to win and win big. Teams must leave no doubt in voters’ minds …

College Football Nation: It Pays to Cheat and “Roll Tide” Officer

Jeff Hostetler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

  Finally some more news to talk about thanks to the PAC-12, ACC, and BIG-12 all stepping up to the plate and holding their media days. We have commissioners telling us cheating is okay, coaches saying it is okay to steal and so much more. It was an eventful week. Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby fired off at the NCAA …

I’m Broke! Should I Be a Beaver?

Kim Hastings FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

I’m broke. I won’t always be broke. It’s a temporary condition due to spending too much on my own birthday and the fact that my stock options with FishDuck (FKU:NYSE) and 401k don’t vest for another year. But being broke, for no matter how long, makes one wonder, “Did I go wrong in my life? Should I have made better …

The Secret Factor in Mariota’s Heisman Bid

Jack Heffernan FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Throughout this upcoming season, fans and media professionals alike will debate every stat, game, and “Heisman Moment” in an attempt to determine whether or not Marcus Mariota deserves to win Oregon’s first Heisman Trophy. If people bother to consider performance off the field this season, it will distinguish Mariota from the past two winners. Both Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston …

College Football Nation: Jameis Winston Staying Put and Nut Free Northwestern

Jeff Hostetler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

In other news, the NCAA (court) trials are still making headlines. It looks like the NCAA’s chances took a huge blow when Jim Delany took the stand and pretty much ran wild with his ideas and backed up the plaintiff’s case. Right now the NCAA is just getting hammered with so many witnesses against them. Both this week and next, the NCAA …

College Football Nation: Thanks to Those Who Serve Our Country and ‘Free Soda University’

Jeff Hostetler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

  This weekend we will take a moment to thank our troops and all those who serve.  Thanks to them, I am able to write this article.  Thanks to them, you can read, comment, and argue about it all day on message boards about why the Pac-12 is the best conference … not the SEC!  So, thanks to the American troops …