Oregon lost close games to UW and OSU, both solid programs.
Bo Nix played injured in the last 2 games, knocked off Utah at home and couldn't overcome a complete special team meltdown against an opportunistic OSU team.
Oregon will be playing for its tenth win with a team that clearly likes its coach.
Already gave the reason...prima donna expectations. Both expected CFP; neither got CFP. Both are staffed heavily with transfers that have no allegiance to a team (that's what you get when you build a team with transfers). They may like their coaches but they like themselves better and will sit out, transfer (again), and/or prepare for the draft.
And by the way, I graduated from UO law school long ago ('83) and will openly root for OSU to win its bowl game. I was sorry UO lost to OSU, but OSU has a hell of a program this year.
You're a bigger man than me. I graduated from OSU in 1981 and I wouldn't root for the ducks no matter who they were playing. That's what being a fan(atic) is all about! I think the players are fine young men and the teams have quality coaches but I would still never root for them.
I know too many Beaver fans just like you & because of that I will always root for OSU when they aren’t playing U of O. That is my definition of a true fan. People like you are just full of spite & frankly it’s unhealthy. Go Ducks Always 💛💚
It's just not mine. I've had seasons tickets since the early 80's, live in Texas and love coming out to games when I have the opportunity. When I don't, I have no shortage of family members to use the tickets, so I am never giving them up. I am annoyed for 3 or 4 days after a loss and then move on. In other words, I think I am a fan(atic) as well, in my way.
I've always liked Mike Riley (amazing coach) and admire Smith as well.
It's no skin off my back if OSU does well and frankly I root for them in every game, except when its in the Ducks best interests for OSU to lose.
You nailed most Duck fans! I tip my hat to OSU this year....hard not to root for J Smith. I hate like hell to lose to them but like the kid in the Dr Pepper commercial says to the psycho parents...in the end its just kids and an abling ball!
I always root for the outcome that’s best for my team. When PAC-12 teams play out of conference, I hope they win because it’s better for the Ducks. That’s even true for the Beavs and Huskies, but no longer true for SC and UCLA.
With all due respect, that's ridiculous and frankly you have no business calling any of these kids prima donna's. Nothing I saw of these kids (at least at UO ) this year suggested they were anything but fighters and good character kids.
You do realize OSU has multiple transfers as well. So does UW and even WSU. That's how the world works now.
UO started the season humiliated at Georgia and went out and played great football, winning 8 of 10.
We'll have to see who opts to play or not play. It has nothing to do with loyalty, but rather common sense and what is in their best interests at this point.
I seem to recall a 2013 Ducks team with sky high expectations-won a lot of games, but ended up in the Alamo Bowl-they had every reason to not play. They played hard and won.
The 2018 Ducks team fought and won against Michigan State- before that WSU loss, they were clearly in the running for the Rose Bowl. They didn't quit.
OSU has very few portal players, Jam Griffin the only one this year. Otherwise only Jucos which is how you rebuild a team that was decimated by a bad coach (Anderson) and indifference by the previous coach (Riley).
Chance Nolan, TreShaun Harrison, Jack Colletto, Marco Brewer, John Dunmore, Tristan Gebbia, Heneli Bloomfield, Andrew Chatfield, Ryan Cooper, Deshaun Fenwick, Joe Golden, Kyrei Fisher-Morris, Brandon Kipper, James Rawls, Simon Sandberg, Makiya Tongue, and Rejzohn Wright were all contributors, and mostly difference makers, in addition to Jam Griffin who were transfers. Trey Lowe and Alton Julian would have been but for injuries. So don't start with the no transfer portal player non-sense.
Its about finding players who can fit into the system, the culture, and the community of whatever team, wherever you find them, be it a high school or another college.
Good take on transfers. They must be used judiciously or you end up with a team without an identity and selfish play. ASU was loaded with portal players. How did that work for them?
I'd say 6 of these 7 games are "must see", which is a great rate. Happy to root for the pac in most of these, but nobody should root against Tulane this year. And we'll know by the game whether UCLA is leaving for sure. If they are, no reason to pull for them.
5-2 for the PAC12. UO loses to NC and UW loses to Texas. Big game for OSU. Beating Florida is a statement game for them. Huge for recruiting as well. Go Beavs!
North Carolina barely beat Miami, Duke, Appalachian State, Virgina and Wake Forest. They have a competitive defense, but just managed to thread the needle this year in large part due to Mack Brown.
If enough UO players agree to play, UO will have a much better team that NC can even hope to field.
The Gators are a hard team to judge, but I would like to see OSU win and get their 10 wins. Like Oregon, OSU came so close to playing for the Conference title and Smith has done an excellent job. People don't realize, but he has done a good job with the transfer portal, bringing in multiple 4 stars.
Smith only brought in 3-star Jam Griffin this year through the portal and had a 134th ranked Portal class. What four stars did he get? He has brought in some nice JUCO transfers which is a different thing. Erickson showed him how to do that to rebuild a program
Beating the Ducks was a statement game. Florida went 3-5 in the SEC this year and 6-6 overall. They did beat Utah in the first game but fell off a cliff at the end of the year. OSU is a lot better based on record and ranking
Oregon will show up to play in San Diego. Those dudes have pride- and will appreciate the opportunity to finish on a strong note. Now, if Bo Nix opts out -as Chase Cota just did- this changes the calculus.
The season is not over and so many players opt out of these games now. If I were a coach I would lobby the player to stay and help mentor or coach his replacement to prepare him for the bowl game. If injury due to contact is a concern then only do conditioning during practice. This allows the players one last experience with his teammates and sets a good example of finishing and thinking of the team.
I agree. Given the number of seniors on UO's offensive line, that to me is the real wild card. If they play and Nix plays, UO will be able to put up some points.
For me, I aways hoped for a Utah Rosebowl during my lifetime. Now I want a Rose Bowl win. I grew up in the PAC8 footprint into San Joaquin Valley. Choosing Utah as my alma mater was a master stroke. I LOVE the PAC12, now and forever. Despite the playoff, the Rose Bowl matters!
Unless they change the rules and let the crowd take the field I don't think the "Why Texas will win" factor is very strong. I expect JC to have this one as one of the 4 wins.
Texas has a solid defense, lost to Alabama by a point and all of their 4 losses were by a TD or less, including against TCU. They held Alabama to 20 and TCU to 17. They also knocked off a very good K-State team.
In 2019, after UO stunned what looked like a powerful Utah team and went to the Rose Bowl, Utah went to the Alamo Bowl and was manhandled by a Texas team that was not nearly as good as this Texas team.
UW's offense was impressive but this defense is going to be much better than any UW has faced this year.
UW is going to win this one. Texas stud RB Robinson is unlikely to suit up. Texas QB Ewers is really good though. Gonna be fun for Washington to go up against 3 former coaches now @ Texas including Sark. Hope UW can quiet the ‘home crowd’ and lure back coach Kwiatkowski somehow.
This is an easy 2 hour drive down I 35 from Austin.
And people in Texas show up for football games. TX QB is a RS Frosh and cannot opt out. If TX' stud RB plays I see very little chance for UW to win this game?
BTW, ranked at 12 UW would have missed a 12 team PO in favor of Tulane. No way, except bias against the Pac, that UW at 10-2 should not be in the top 10.
Clemson with a beat down loss at ND and a home loss to USC(e) and playing in the ACC that was terrible in 2022 is ranked at 7? Come On Man!
This is the PAC12’s year. I think the teams from the PAC-12 will win all their games. There is something in the air. It’s an exciting time for every school in a bowl game. And with the positive changes in many of the other football programs, I see great things happening throughout the league. Go PAC-12!!!
I will root for any PAC 12 team playing in A bowl game. It’s time the PAC flexed some muscles and proved to the national media what we already know.The PAC 12 is one of the toughest conferences in the country…
Florida is going to get blown out in the Las Vegas Bowl. More than likely, Anthony Richardson, the Gators star QB, will opt out of the meaningless bowl game and prepare for the NFL draft. His backup, 19 year old Jalen Kitna, just got kicked off the team and is facing criminal charges for possession and distribution of child porn (you couldn't make that up). You have to imagine that all of that is going to affect the team in a very adverse manner. Lastly, the game is in Las Vegas, so you have to think that it'll be an overwhelmingly pro-Oregon State crowd.
Despite the fact these games are heavily impacted by opt-outs, injuries, long layoffs and, as John said, who actually wants to be there....the Pac-12 needs to have a successful bowl season to put a stamp on some of the respectability it regained this season.
I like the matchups. I think Penn State is a tough matchup for Utah, but Utah will win on sheer determination (3 pt game). USC has too much talent for Tulane and will win, unless Caleb Williams sits it out. Oregon State with its D beats Florida in another very close game where Martinez gets 120. Washington beats Texas behind Penix. Oregon beats NC, a mismatch, as long as Bo Nix plays. UCLA does not have the game to beat Pitt. Washington State has too much for Fresno State and wins by 8. PAC 12, with 6 teams in the Top 20, goes 6-1
Brian, Caleb Williams sitting out the Cotton Bowl, unless it's injury related, is a bad look for him, don't you think? He's already developing a "diva vibe" because of his reactions to the two losses to Utah.
USC and ducks lose. The prima donna expectations weren't met so using the Canzano rule, neither team will put forth its best effort.
Just a dumb dumb dumb take
Why?
Oregon lost close games to UW and OSU, both solid programs.
Bo Nix played injured in the last 2 games, knocked off Utah at home and couldn't overcome a complete special team meltdown against an opportunistic OSU team.
Oregon will be playing for its tenth win with a team that clearly likes its coach.
USC will win with ease.
Already gave the reason...prima donna expectations. Both expected CFP; neither got CFP. Both are staffed heavily with transfers that have no allegiance to a team (that's what you get when you build a team with transfers). They may like their coaches but they like themselves better and will sit out, transfer (again), and/or prepare for the draft.
And by the way, I graduated from UO law school long ago ('83) and will openly root for OSU to win its bowl game. I was sorry UO lost to OSU, but OSU has a hell of a program this year.
You're a bigger man than me. I graduated from OSU in 1981 and I wouldn't root for the ducks no matter who they were playing. That's what being a fan(atic) is all about! I think the players are fine young men and the teams have quality coaches but I would still never root for them.
I know too many Beaver fans just like you & because of that I will always root for OSU when they aren’t playing U of O. That is my definition of a true fan. People like you are just full of spite & frankly it’s unhealthy. Go Ducks Always 💛💚
Dan, I have no problem with your approach.
It's just not mine. I've had seasons tickets since the early 80's, live in Texas and love coming out to games when I have the opportunity. When I don't, I have no shortage of family members to use the tickets, so I am never giving them up. I am annoyed for 3 or 4 days after a loss and then move on. In other words, I think I am a fan(atic) as well, in my way.
I've always liked Mike Riley (amazing coach) and admire Smith as well.
It's no skin off my back if OSU does well and frankly I root for them in every game, except when its in the Ducks best interests for OSU to lose.
You nailed most Duck fans! I tip my hat to OSU this year....hard not to root for J Smith. I hate like hell to lose to them but like the kid in the Dr Pepper commercial says to the psycho parents...in the end its just kids and an abling ball!
Jealousy leads to anger and anger leads to the dark side.
Is that you Obi Wan?
I always root for the outcome that’s best for my team. When PAC-12 teams play out of conference, I hope they win because it’s better for the Ducks. That’s even true for the Beavs and Huskies, but no longer true for SC and UCLA.
Your routing for laundry and no team has uglier laundry that OSU.
True Beaver and not in a good way.
Unless the Beavs can find a semblance of a passing game I do not see OR ST defeating the better athletes on the UF squad.
The UF QB has had an up and down season but is one heck of an athlete.
And will be one of more than a dozen players who won't be playing for the Gators.
Indeed, looks like Richardson is not going to play.
Take the Under in this game.
With all due respect, that's ridiculous and frankly you have no business calling any of these kids prima donna's. Nothing I saw of these kids (at least at UO ) this year suggested they were anything but fighters and good character kids.
You do realize OSU has multiple transfers as well. So does UW and even WSU. That's how the world works now.
UO started the season humiliated at Georgia and went out and played great football, winning 8 of 10.
We'll have to see who opts to play or not play. It has nothing to do with loyalty, but rather common sense and what is in their best interests at this point.
I seem to recall a 2013 Ducks team with sky high expectations-won a lot of games, but ended up in the Alamo Bowl-they had every reason to not play. They played hard and won.
The 2018 Ducks team fought and won against Michigan State- before that WSU loss, they were clearly in the running for the Rose Bowl. They didn't quit.
OSU has very few portal players, Jam Griffin the only one this year. Otherwise only Jucos which is how you rebuild a team that was decimated by a bad coach (Anderson) and indifference by the previous coach (Riley).
Chance Nolan, TreShaun Harrison, Jack Colletto, Marco Brewer, John Dunmore, Tristan Gebbia, Heneli Bloomfield, Andrew Chatfield, Ryan Cooper, Deshaun Fenwick, Joe Golden, Kyrei Fisher-Morris, Brandon Kipper, James Rawls, Simon Sandberg, Makiya Tongue, and Rejzohn Wright were all contributors, and mostly difference makers, in addition to Jam Griffin who were transfers. Trey Lowe and Alton Julian would have been but for injuries. So don't start with the no transfer portal player non-sense.
Its about finding players who can fit into the system, the culture, and the community of whatever team, wherever you find them, be it a high school or another college.
Jucos are by definition transfers, no?
Smith has definitely brought in portal players. Perhaps they did not work out.
Calling kid’s prima donnas shows one does not understand what these young men go thru
Angry beaver alert!
Good take on transfers. They must be used judiciously or you end up with a team without an identity and selfish play. ASU was loaded with portal players. How did that work for them?
2nd poor take. Your on a roll with your prima Donna comments. A big "L" to you.
Transfers are the way of today's CFB world. I think 'loyalty' comes down to the individual athlete.
If the Beavs had the money JT Daniels would have QB'd OR ST this season.
Have you seen Tulane’s ground game. USC will lose
No joke regarding Tulane's ground game. Tulane won at B12 champ K ST.
Love your articles John. Please update this one after you find out which studs are sitting out games (to stay healthy for the NFL combine).
I'd say 6 of these 7 games are "must see", which is a great rate. Happy to root for the pac in most of these, but nobody should root against Tulane this year. And we'll know by the game whether UCLA is leaving for sure. If they are, no reason to pull for them.
5-2 for the PAC12. UO loses to NC and UW loses to Texas. Big game for OSU. Beating Florida is a statement game for them. Huge for recruiting as well. Go Beavs!
North Carolina barely beat Miami, Duke, Appalachian State, Virgina and Wake Forest. They have a competitive defense, but just managed to thread the needle this year in large part due to Mack Brown.
If enough UO players agree to play, UO will have a much better team that NC can even hope to field.
The Gators are a hard team to judge, but I would like to see OSU win and get their 10 wins. Like Oregon, OSU came so close to playing for the Conference title and Smith has done an excellent job. People don't realize, but he has done a good job with the transfer portal, bringing in multiple 4 stars.
Smith only brought in 3-star Jam Griffin this year through the portal and had a 134th ranked Portal class. What four stars did he get? He has brought in some nice JUCO transfers which is a different thing. Erickson showed him how to do that to rebuild a program
I'm talking about over his career at OSU. Why are Juco's different?
Beating the Ducks was a statement game. Florida went 3-5 in the SEC this year and 6-6 overall. They did beat Utah in the first game but fell off a cliff at the end of the year. OSU is a lot better based on record and ranking
OU threw up and handed the game to the Beavs; make no mistake Hats Off to OR ST for winning the game.
But you cannot just run the ball against an SEC D. IMO the Beavs do not have the passing game to beat a UF team that will load the box.
Seriously georgia has an SEC defense this year.. and that's it!
So, are you picking Ohio State to win in Atlanta? Actually, the UGA O put up better numbers this season than the Dawgs did in 2021.
Fascinating year. Only 3 B1G teams are ranked by the CT; MI and tOSU are in the PO and Penn St is playing in the Rose Bowl.
That's $16M in PO money with again, only 3 teams ranked.
6 Pac teams ranked. $8M from the Cotton and Rose Bowls.
Very true about the Beavs. A huge matchup!
Oregon will show up to play in San Diego. Those dudes have pride- and will appreciate the opportunity to finish on a strong note. Now, if Bo Nix opts out -as Chase Cota just did- this changes the calculus.
The season is not over and so many players opt out of these games now. If I were a coach I would lobby the player to stay and help mentor or coach his replacement to prepare him for the bowl game. If injury due to contact is a concern then only do conditioning during practice. This allows the players one last experience with his teammates and sets a good example of finishing and thinking of the team.
Chip, draft eligible guys listen to their agents more than to the coach.
I agree. Given the number of seniors on UO's offensive line, that to me is the real wild card. If they play and Nix plays, UO will be able to put up some points.
Very good post
UO tweeted Bo Nix is "ready".
They didn't say he is playing, but it sure sounded like it.
I'm surprised Cota opted out. I agree with you that is the wildcard for both UO and North Carolina.
I can't find anything to backup the statement the Cota opted out.
For me, I aways hoped for a Utah Rosebowl during my lifetime. Now I want a Rose Bowl win. I grew up in the PAC8 footprint into San Joaquin Valley. Choosing Utah as my alma mater was a master stroke. I LOVE the PAC12, now and forever. Despite the playoff, the Rose Bowl matters!
I only see 3 wins.....Tedford has bulldogs really playing well.
Unless they change the rules and let the crowd take the field I don't think the "Why Texas will win" factor is very strong. I expect JC to have this one as one of the 4 wins.
Texas has a solid defense, lost to Alabama by a point and all of their 4 losses were by a TD or less, including against TCU. They held Alabama to 20 and TCU to 17. They also knocked off a very good K-State team.
In 2019, after UO stunned what looked like a powerful Utah team and went to the Rose Bowl, Utah went to the Alamo Bowl and was manhandled by a Texas team that was not nearly as good as this Texas team.
UW's offense was impressive but this defense is going to be much better than any UW has faced this year.
Texas D played great through 3Q all year long. The 4th quarter?
UW is going to win this one. Texas stud RB Robinson is unlikely to suit up. Texas QB Ewers is really good though. Gonna be fun for Washington to go up against 3 former coaches now @ Texas including Sark. Hope UW can quiet the ‘home crowd’ and lure back coach Kwiatkowski somehow.
I hope all Pac12 teams W except USC and UCLA.
This is an easy 2 hour drive down I 35 from Austin.
And people in Texas show up for football games. TX QB is a RS Frosh and cannot opt out. If TX' stud RB plays I see very little chance for UW to win this game?
BTW, ranked at 12 UW would have missed a 12 team PO in favor of Tulane. No way, except bias against the Pac, that UW at 10-2 should not be in the top 10.
Clemson with a beat down loss at ND and a home loss to USC(e) and playing in the ACC that was terrible in 2022 is ranked at 7? Come On Man!
This is the PAC12’s year. I think the teams from the PAC-12 will win all their games. There is something in the air. It’s an exciting time for every school in a bowl game. And with the positive changes in many of the other football programs, I see great things happening throughout the league. Go PAC-12!!!
Well played John, as Dan Jenkins used to describe it; "they played with a whole lot of want to!"
Dan Jenkins. One of the all time great sports writers.
I will root for any PAC 12 team playing in A bowl game. It’s time the PAC flexed some muscles and proved to the national media what we already know.The PAC 12 is one of the toughest conferences in the country…
Florida is going to get blown out in the Las Vegas Bowl. More than likely, Anthony Richardson, the Gators star QB, will opt out of the meaningless bowl game and prepare for the NFL draft. His backup, 19 year old Jalen Kitna, just got kicked off the team and is facing criminal charges for possession and distribution of child porn (you couldn't make that up). You have to imagine that all of that is going to affect the team in a very adverse manner. Lastly, the game is in Las Vegas, so you have to think that it'll be an overwhelmingly pro-Oregon State crowd.
You asked John so here are my bowl games picks::
Rose----Utah
Cotton----Tulane
Alamo---Washington
Las Vegas----Or St.
Holiday---N. Carolina
Sun----Ucla
La----Fresno St
Perfect
GO DAWGS
Despite the fact these games are heavily impacted by opt-outs, injuries, long layoffs and, as John said, who actually wants to be there....the Pac-12 needs to have a successful bowl season to put a stamp on some of the respectability it regained this season.
John, do u have a Heisman vote?
After learning about Caleb Williams' un- classy message on his fingernails, sure wish he's Not the winner
I like the matchups. I think Penn State is a tough matchup for Utah, but Utah will win on sheer determination (3 pt game). USC has too much talent for Tulane and will win, unless Caleb Williams sits it out. Oregon State with its D beats Florida in another very close game where Martinez gets 120. Washington beats Texas behind Penix. Oregon beats NC, a mismatch, as long as Bo Nix plays. UCLA does not have the game to beat Pitt. Washington State has too much for Fresno State and wins by 8. PAC 12, with 6 teams in the Top 20, goes 6-1
Brian, Caleb Williams sitting out the Cotton Bowl, unless it's injury related, is a bad look for him, don't you think? He's already developing a "diva vibe" because of his reactions to the two losses to Utah.
I think if he's really hurt, he will have no choice.