It’s time for another episode of Ducks Confidential, an Oregonian Sports podcast about the Oregon Ducks. In this edition, columnist Bill Oram and senior writer Joe Freeman dissect five burning questions surrounding the Rose Bowl and the No. 1 Ducks’ chase for the first championship in school history. Who should they want to play in the quarterfinal…

Last week, plans for the largest U.S. supermarket merger in history imploded in spectacular fashion. First, an Oregon federal judge blocked the $24.6 billion bid by Kroger to take over Albertson’s, its next largest rival. Less than 24 hours later, Albertsons, which also owns Safeway, pulled out of the deal entirely — and then filed a massive lawsui…

In this season of giving... out college football awards, is a bit of consistency too much to ask? If Dillon Gabriel was the highest-regarded quarterback among Heisman Trophy voters, then how can he be the country’s third-best quarterback by AP All-American voters? Distinguishing the impact of Gabriel’s season against the years of Miami’s Cam Ward a…

With stars Bryce Boettcher and Dillon Gabriel busy on award stages, Oregon football has been putting in work in the transfer portal as it prepares for the Rose Bowl. We recap the week gone by on both fronts and discuss the upcoming Ohio State-Tennessee matchup — which will decide Oregon’s next opponent — on this week’s Ducks Confidential. Learn mor…

The Oregon Ducks are Big Ten champions. A thrilling win against Penn State earned Oregon the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff and a Rose Bowl berth. What to make of Oregon’s historic season so far, and their much-discussed path in the playoff? Ducks Confidential has you covered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoic…

For decades, The Oregonian has sponsored an annual fundraising drive, featuring local nonprofits making a difference in our community. Its part of The Oregonian/OregonLive’s mission to strengthen and empower the communities we serve. This year, we are featuring 13 nonprofits. Once the board chooses a nonprofit, reporters and photographers find an e…

Oregon is going to the College Football Playoff. That’s a given regardless of what happens in the Big Ten Championship game against Penn State. The question is whether the Ducks will earn a first-round bye and a direct pass to, presumably, the Rose Bowl, or if they will have to host a home game at Autzen Stadium in December. As the playoff field ta…

The Blazer Focused podcast, hosted by Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, examines all that went right and all that went wrong for the 8-14 Trail Blazers during the first quarter of the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesAutor: The Oregonian/OregonLive

The No. 1 Oregon Ducks capped an undefeated regular season with a thrashing of rival Washington on Saturday. Next up? A Big Ten championship game tilt with Penn State. Some in the sports media sphere think Oregon would benefit from a loss in this game to ease their hypothetical path in the College Football Playoff. This is not one of those podcasts…

Roger A. Pearce Jr. spent three decades as a successful attorney in the Northwest, representing prominent people and high-profile businesses in Oregon and Washington. He dedicated his free time to nonprofit boards and planning commissions. He spent countless hours doing pro bono legal work. He was well-liked in social circles and part of a happy ma…

Should Oregon State have started Ben Gulbranson at quarterback from the outset? Does the defense need a tweak, or a major overhaul? What are the Beavers’ biggest transfer portal needs? With Oregon State’s 2024 season in the rearview mirror, it’s time to get cracking on improvement and returning to bowl eligibility. Former Beavers defensive end Isaa…

The Blazer Focused podcast, hosted by Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, goes over the impact of recent injuries, the inconsistent play of Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe and others, and if the 7-11 Blazers have played a little too well for their own good. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

After much ado about tiebreakers, Oregon football has clinched a spot in the Big Ten championship game. But first, the Ducks seek an undefeated finish to the regular season with a win against Washington. A preview of that UW game, plus a recap of the week gone by for men’s and women’s basketball, on this week’s Ducks Confidential. Learn more about …

Isaac Hodgins admits he’s not sure he would have had Trent Brays’ go-for-it guts late in Oregon State’s 41-38 win over Washington State. But the Beavers’ former defensive end liked the result, as well as the subtle differences on defense that made a difference. The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Nick Daschel and Hodgins discussed everything that went into …

For more than a decade, Oregon forecasters have underestimated the strength of the state’s economy — and the amount of money it collects each year. That’s led to tax rebate windfalls for Oregon residents, who receive a portion of excess revenue under the state’s unique “kicker” law. It’s also left state lawmakers with less money to spend on schools…

Washington State coach Jake Dickert pushed back on the idea that his Cougars and the Oregon State Beavers are pals, but did anybody really believe that was the case between the lines? On this week’s episode of the Oregonian Sports podcast, co-hosts Bill Oram and Brenna Greene discuss why OSU and WSU’s institutional alliance has little bearing on Sa…

After eight conference games in as many weeks, the only team in the country to endure such a stretch, the No. 1 Oregon Ducks can finally breathe with a bye week. Oregon is 11-0 after a narrow, 16-13 road win over Wisconsin on Saturday. What can be gleaned from that one, beyond the result? And how are Oregon men’s and women’s basketball doing? Learn…

A new investigation published in The Oregonian/OregonLive focuses on the life of an Oregon girl who was repeatedly trafficked for sex and on how the foster care system had failed to protect her. On the latest Beat Check, investigative reporter Hillary Borrud talked about the story, including how sex trafficking of children can happen in a city like…

Is Oregon State on the right track, despite a five-game losing streak and the likelihood that the Beavers won’t play in a bowl game in 2024? Former Oregon State defensive end Isaac Hodgins and The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Nick Daschel talked about the ramifications of Saturday’s 28-0 loss at Air Force. What does it mean, and what has to happen to get…

The Blazer Focused podcast, hosted by Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, discusses the death of Brian Wheeler, the Blazers' incredible two-game sweep of Minnesota, how the play of Donovan Clingan and Shaedon Sharpe offered hope, Chauncey Billips’ performance and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/…

The Blazers went from one of the worst losses of Chauncey Billups’ tenure as head coach to one of the most galvanizing wins in a mere 48 hours. Is there any path for Billups to find long-term success in Portland or will his coaching arc have to follow the path of his Hall of Fame playing career that required many stops before he found his footing? …

Basketball season is here, and both the Oregon men and women are off to strong starts. On the women’s side, an upset win over No. 12 Baylor on Sunday night could spark the turnaround this program needs. Plus, No. 1 Oregon football commits too many penalties but pulls away from Maryland to move to 10-0. Will either of the Ducks’ remaining games befo…

Are Oregon State bowl hopes dashed, or is there hope? In this week’s Beaver Banter podcast, The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Nick Daschel and former Oregon State defensive end Isaac Hodgins discuss the possibilities. Hodgins makes a case that OSU coaches will play video clips from Saturday’s 24-13 loss to San Jose State and show players that they’re not …

We’re a few days out from Election Day 2024, and reporters at The Oregonian/OregonLive have been hard at work trying to decode all the results and what they mean for our region. Portland’s got a new mayor, and the new City Council is coming into focus too. Voters chose two new progressive Multnomah County Commissioner candidates over their more mod…

It was no surprise that Oregon was seeded No. 1 in the first College Football Playoff rankings. But Ohio State at No. 2? And what can we learn from these rankings with so much football left to play? On the Oregonian Sports Podcast, columnist Bill Oram and Brenna Greene of KOIN break down the initial reveal, and break down potential matchups and the…

The Blazer Focused podcast, hosted by Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, examines the team following a 3-5 start. Young forwards are playing well, but Scoot Henderson is still struggling. What does losing the right way look like? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

The Oregon football team is showing no signs of slowing down, fresh off a 38-17 road win at Michigan to move to 9-0. What can be parsed out of that game by way of criticism, and what was so dominant about it? Plus, a look ahead to the initial College Football Playoff rankings, and brief previews for Oregon men’s and women’s basketball. Learn more a…

In one of the most contentious and consequential elections in recent memory, Oregon has become ground zero for one of the most intriguing and potentially important races in the United States. District 5, a wide swath of Oregon that stretches from SE Portland to Albany to Bend, is home to a heated and hotly-contested political showdown between Repub…

This week’s Beaver Banter podcast, with The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Nick Daschel and former Oregon State defensive end Isaac Hodgins, explores the team’s relevant issues as it heads into the final four games of the season. Should Oregon State make a change at quarterback? Are the Beavers capable of winning at least of their final four games and beco…

Oregon will play the highlight of its road schedule this season when it travels to Ann Arbor to face Michigan. The Ducks beat the Wolverines in front of 109,733 people at the Big House in 2007, but few current Ducks really know what to expect in college football’s largest stadium. Derrick Harmon, however, does. The D-lineman who previously played a…

The No. 1 Oregon Ducks blew the doors off Illinois on Saturday, going up 35-3 at half en route to a 38-9 win. With four games to go and the clear parity in college football, is Oregon the best team in the country? Plus, looking back at what made the Illinois game so dominant for the Ducks, and a deeper look across the Big Ten and college football l…

The Oregonian/OregonLive's Maxine Bernstein reported on the two-week trial in federal court that brought to light a pattern of crimes by defendant Negasi Zuberi. A final twist as the case was headed to the jury threatened to hold up the final verdict. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

The Blazer Focused podcast, hosted by Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive, and Craig Birnbach, is back with another episode. Fentress and Birnbach evaluate the Trail Blazers' 139-104 loss to the Golden State Warriors Wednesday night to open the season. They also discuss any silver linings, Scoot Henderson not starting and when the Blazers mi…

The Timbers season-ending 5-0 loss to Vancouver on Wednesday was bad enough, but vague and intriguing late-night tweets from star player Evander indicating actions by the team’s management were at the team’s struggles turned a bad night into an outright scandal. On the latest episode of the Oregonian Sports Podcast, sports columnist Bill Oram expla…

The Oregon Ducks are the No. 1 team in the country after putting the hurt on Purdue over the weekend. Can they avoid an upset this week against a tough No. 20 Illinois team? This week on Ducks Confidential, co-hosts Ryan Clarke and James Crepea break it all down and look ahead to the home stretch of the 2024 season. Plus, basketball is on the horiz…

The senior vice president at DHM Research decodes his firm's recent polling on the Portland mayor's race, voter attitudes about downtown and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesAutor: The Oregonian/OregonLive

Oregon State finds itself heading to a critical juncture of the 2024 football season after the Beavers lost to UNLV 33-25 Saturday night. Among things discussed on this week’s Beaver Banter podcast is whether the Beavers know how to put away an opponent. For a third consecutive week, OSU built a double-digit lead, only to lose it. The Oregonian/Ore…

No. 3 Oregon’s win over second-ranked Ohio State was always one of the most anticipated games of the year. Both teams, college football fans and reporters, had Oct. 12 circled on their calendars for a year. But no matter how great the hype was, the two powerhouse programs managed to deliver a game that was even better. On this week’s episode of the…

Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach evaluate the Trail Blazers’ first two preseason games, specifically the play of Scoot Henderson and rookie Donovan Clingan. Plus, they reflect on coach Chauncey Billups’ Hall of Fame speech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

It was a special night at Autzen Stadium on Saturday. The Oregon Ducks proved their mettle against a powerhouse Ohio State team, winning one of the biggest regular season games in program history in front of a record crowd. This week on Ducks Confidential, co-hosts Ryan Clarke and James Crepea break down a game filled with defining moments, and zoo…

At the end of September, when the federal government canceled Oregon’s first-ever offshore wind lease sale, many people were left with questions about why and what’s next. The announcement from the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management came after Gov. Tina Kotek sent a letter to the agency asking it to stop the Oct. 15 auction. Kotek cited tribal …

Where does Oregon State go from here after its run defense failed in a 42-37 loss at Nevada? It is a significant portion of the discussion on this week’s Beaver Banter podcast, featuring former OSU defensive end Isaac Hodgins and The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Nick Daschel. On the podcast, we talk at length the issues on defense and whether they’re fix…

The Blazer Focused podcast, hosted by Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, discusses troubling injuries to Shaedon Sharpe and Robert Williams III, Fan Fest, and the preseason opener Friday in Seattle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesAutor: The Oregonian/OregonLive

A month ago on the Oregonian Sports podcast, both hosts predicted that Oregon would beat Ohio State at Autzen Stadium on Oct. 12. Now, that the weekend is upon us and we have a body of work by which to judge both teams in this titanic clash of top-3 teams, do Bill Oram and Brenna Greene stand by those picks? Also discussed on this week’s episode: •…

Ducks reporter James Crepea and special guest Bill Oram, sports columnist for The Oregonian/OregonLive, review Oregon’s dominant win over Michigan State and what can be taken from the first 5 games as the Ducks prepare for the Buckeyes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesAutor: The Oregonian/OregonLive

On the latest Beat Check, Oregonian/OregonLive reporters Shane Dixon Kavanaugh and Julia Silverman discuss the prospects of Portland mayoral hopefuls Rene Gonzalez, Carmen Rubio and Keith Wilson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesAutor: The Oregonian/OregonLive

Oregon State’s thrilling 39-31 double overtime win over Colorado State is the focus on this week’s Beaver Banter podcast, featuring former OSU defensive end Isaac Hodgins and The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Nick Daschel. On the podcast, we discuss what went right and wrong – there was plenty of both – during the performance. Hodgins has been preaching f…

The Pac-12 landed a whale in its realignment rush this week when Gonzaga agreed to join as a non-football member. The Zags have been to the NCAA Tournament for 25 years, the Sweet 16 for the last nine, and two Final Fours in the last decade. They dramatically boost the hoops profile of the reimagined conference. On this episode of the Oregon Sports…

The Blazer Focused podcast, hosted by Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, reviews Monday’s media and examines the best position battles that began with Tuesday’s start of training camp. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesAutor: The Oregonian/OregonLive

The Oregon Ducks took care of business on the road at UCLA, and they return home on a short week to face the Michigan State Spartans on Friday night. What are some of the keys to this final game before Ohio State, and what should Duck fans want to see out of an Oregon team finding its stride? Plus, could Duck and Beaver fans unite around the return…