College football 2014 season

[Boris Godunov]

Bad news, Drake: it was just made official that Nebraska has hired Mike Riley away from Oregon State.

Mike Riley.

They hired a guy who likely would have been fired by a conference bottom-dweller if he hadn't had the ultimate golden parachute contract. A guy who is the only PAC coach sticking with the old Pro style offense. Who went 5-7 this season and missed a bowl game 3 out of the last 5 seasons. A guy who has never won a conference championship and has lost the last 7 in a row to his school's arch rival.

This is is the opposite of the Scott Frost hire, and I don't get it at all.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Yeah, but we are talking Oregon State here. It'd be like trying to fault Steve Spurrier for never winning a conference championship at South Carolina. Riley is by far the winningest coach in OSU history and likely has the second highest winning percentage (after Dennis Erickson's 4 years in the middle of Riley's first and second stints as HC of the school). Think of it this way, Riley's second year, in 1998, he went 5-6. That was the first time OSU won 5 games since 1971.

[Ben Kenobi]

They hired a guy who likely would have been fired by a conference bottom-dweller if he hadn't had the ultimate golden parachute contract. A guy who is the only PAC coach sticking with the old Pro style offense. Who went 5-7 this season and missed a bowl game 3 out of the last 5 seasons. A guy who has never won a conference championship and has lost the last 7 in a row to his school's arch rival.

I thought you said the PAC 12 was a good conference? Apparently not.

[Boris Godunov]

Yeah, but we are talking Oregon State here. It'd be like trying to fault Steve Spurrier for never winning a conference championship at South Carolina. Riley is by far the winningest coach in OSU history and likely has the second highest winning percentage (after Dennis Erickson's 4 years in the middle of Riley's first and second stints as HC of the school). Think of it this way, Riley's second year, in 1998, he went 5-6. That was the first time OSU won 5 games since 1971.

I'm not saying Riley is a bad coach. But there is simply zero evidence that he would do any better than Pelini did at Nebraska. Perhaps firing Bo was for many other reasons (such as his embarrassing sideline behavior), but if it was primarily about their record, then the Riley hire does not seem like an improvement. Riley is likeable and surely will coach with integrity. I just don't see him returning the Huskers to conference championships.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I don't think any coach is going to do what Nebraska folks want - well, unless a miracle happens and Nick Saban decides to resurrect the Cornhuskers. However, Riley is, at least, not going to be a complete embarrassment like Callahan. And yes, will likely be much better for the reputation of the program. And will put in a more pass happy offense.

[Ben Kenobi]

Huskers have been making terrible choices. First they bailed on the Big12. (which is working out well for Oklahoma), and then they bailed into the Big 10. Now, not only are they not winning confererence championships in a weaker conference, they are not even ranked.

Nebraska's big mistake was leaving the Big12. Had they stayed in, they would be better off.

[Boris Godunov]

Oregon up 23-0 at the half. If someone had told me the Oregon defense would be the star of the game at half, I wouldn't have believed them.

Not a pretty game so far. Lots of mistakes and penalties on both sides. Honestly, Oregon should be up more right now. But I'll take it!

[Boris Godunov]

37-7 in the 3rd. Congrats to Marcus Mariota--the nicest guy in college football--on winning the Heisman!

[Boris Godunov]

44-7 and still 18 minutes to go. LOVE IT.

[SlowwHand]

ColdWizard and I took Oregon.

[Boris Godunov]

Smart move! I thought Arizona would beat the spread. Stupid me.

[Boris Godunov]

Mariota's backup is in with 9:30 left. Arizona is on their 3rd QB. This was a massacre of biblical proportions.

[Boris Godunov]

They just flashed this stat on TV: in 2 games, the Oregon Ducks have scored more points at Levi Stadium than the 49ers have in 6 games.

[Boris Godunov]

OK, 51-7. Mercy rule needed.

[Boris Godunov]

51-13 final. And Arizona's last 6 was a gimmee touchdown as time ran out against scrubs after a shanked punt. This was a total slaughter.

Oregon wins the Pac 12 and will be in the playoffs. The question is... as #1 or #2?

And Mariota will win the Heisman, no doubt. It's nice to see a guy with some character win it.