I have just a few points...
1) We've seen some terrible referee groups this year and I mostly blamed incompetency, but today was a different story. I don't know that we ever really win that game regardless, but you're kidding yourself if you think the blatant missed calls and the tick-tack stuff that they called on the other side of the ball weren't both purposeful and impactful. We're up 6-3 and get a couple of first downs on the 2nd drive of the game and we throw a ball to Noah Frith on the outside and the Oregon DB makes contact before the ball arrives and never turned his head to play the ball. No call. Oregon gets the ball back and goes down and scores. Then the phantom catch interference call on the punt that moves the ball up the field 15 yds for Oregon. Then the garbage PI call in the endzone on an 50/50 ball between Amarian Williams and the Oregon WR. Both were fighting for leverage and Amarian makes a good play... then they throw the flag and instead of 3rd and goal from the 8yd line it's 1st and goal from the 2. Then you have the two missed face masks on Cooley, first when they threw the flag then picked it up, and then the 2nd one where they ripped his freaking helmet off.
2) Despite all that we did some things to beat ourselves. I really thought the game plan was pretty obvious. We're the #1 rush offense and we have a bowling ball for a RB and a beastly OL. I love Salter and really think he can sling it, but he plays his best AFTER we establish the run. We never really committed ourselves to the run / option game today. When we ran the ball, we had success. Cooley averaged almost 9yds a carry. Bedgood 15. Overall, despite some of the negative plays we averaged 6 yds per carry. I don't understand why we didn't stick with it and try to slowdown the game and keep Bo Nix on the sideline. I know that was the obvious play on our part, but you have to try to do what you do best and I don't think we did that today.
3) We really need to hit the portal hard for a new kicker. Just inexcusable performance this year in the kicking game for this level of football. Go to the FCS and find the highest rated kicker you can and bring them in. Here's one right here...
https://www.espn.com/college-football/p ... yle-ramsey
4) I love our team and our coaching staff. I hope we don't lose any starters to the Portal (looking at you KSalt) and hopefully the coaching staff all stays too. The future is still bright.