Good points! I do not think anyone including myself expected / even expects(in the present tense) Oregon to be a Top 25 defense this year compared to last year. But we were hoping for(not sure I would even use "expecting') an IMPROVED defense and so far so good.

As you allude, from now on Oregon is going to face far more "athletes" on both sides of the ball via Pac-12 opponents. Nebraska had plenty too...or at least enough compete when the Oregon offense stalled in the second half.

Two months of football remaining...improvement still needed in every facet(as every college football coach in the USA would say too), but at the moment I like the position Oregon is in(much better than Oregon State)...coming off last season for the team to now have the confidence which is clearly noticeable, is a great thing. GO DUCKS!