The prevalence of gimmicky segments with adorable names is one of the spasms that appear to have overtaken ESPN’s morning shows in recent months. For instance, the “Paul In or Paul Out” segment on “SportsCenter” that recaps the action from Saturday’s games, which is hosted by college football expert Paul Finebaum.
Finebaum was presented with an intriguing dilemma last Sunday, one that appeared to have a simple solution: Are the unbeaten Oregon Ducks, who crushed No. 2 Ohio State in their October matchup and have also defeated Boise State and Illinois, the nation’s best team? Finebaum responded with a startling and forceful response.
“I am Paul out with block letters,” Finebaum addressed the group. “I don’t believe Oregon is the Big Ten’s best team, much less the clear favorite to win the championship. Thank you, West Coast Ducks fans. I know you defeated Ohio State. However, I believe Ohio State to be the nation’s top team.
This is a somewhat harsh assessment for the lone undefeated team in the Power 5 leagues. On Dec. 7, when they are anticipated to play OSU again for the conference title, the Ducks will have an opportunity to solidify their position as the top team. However, it’s safe to guess which team Finebaum supports.
“They’ll play a great game in the Big Ten championship in a few weeks, but both teams will advance to the playoffs and be in excellent form. “I think Oregon is a little worse than Ohio State,” Finebaum remarked.
Following Arizona State Coach Kenny Dillingham’s Ingenious Coaching Move, Oregon Coach Dan Lanning Is Trending
As they continue to rise in the rankings and emerge as one of the most intriguing teams in the country, Kenny Dillingham and the Arizona State Sun Devils have been the talk of the college football world for the past month. In his second year as head coach in Tempe, Dillingham has turned the tide, and his team, which was initially expected to finish dead last in the Big 12 Conference this year, is now vying for a berth in the conference championship game with an 8-2 record.
Dillingham made it apparent going into Saturday’s crucial game against the BYU Cougars that he was doing everything in his power to win and maintain their aspirations of making the College Football Playoffs. Fans were discussing Dillingham’s former Oregon Ducks coach, Dan Lanning, on social media after one of those “stops”—a spectacular onside-kick in the first half with his team ahead 14-0.
Over the past few years, Lanning and the Ducks have attempted several surprising onside kicks. Against the Ohio State Buckeyes this year, the kicker targeted a front-line player directly, drilled him in the stomach, and caused an Oregon player to hop on the ball. A few years earlier, the Ducks also shocked Chip Kelly and the UCLA Bruins with an onside kick in the first half from a favorable position. Dillingham obviously remembers and used the same strategies against BYU on Saturday.
Even while ASU’s kick wasn’t quite as brutal as hitting a man in the stomach, it nevertheless had the same effect and gave ASU running back Cam Skattebo his third rushing score, giving the Sun Devils a 21-0 lead.
We’ll have to wait and see how the remainder of the game unfolds, but it’s obvious that Dillingham has his squad playing at their peak throughout the first half versus BYU. In the future, Dillingham and the Sun Devils might play Lanning and the Ducks in the playoffs if they can maintain this level of play.
