Oregon

Denzel Burke, Ohio State’s ‘reengineered’ defense ready for redemption against Oregon

Published

1 year ago

December 31, 2024

Press Room

Denzel Burke, Ohio State’s ‘reengineered’ defense ready for redemption against Oregon

Michael Cohen

College Football and College Basketball Writer

LOS ANGELES — A throng of reporters descended on Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke from the moment his team’s designated interview period began in a crowded meeting room two floors below ground at the Sheraton Grand, a downtown hotel outfitted from top to bottom with decals, signage and bouquets in anticipation of the Rose Bowl. So prominent and ubiquitous are the floral displays around the property that any guests unfamiliar with this year’s College Football Playoff, which pits the Buckeyes against Oregon in a highly anticipated quarterfinal, could certainly be forgiven for thinking Valentine’s Day arrived early.

For all the wrong reasons, Burke had developed into a central figure ahead of Wednesday’s rematch between two of the Big Ten’s best programs. He endured the worst game of his career when these teams first met at Autzen Stadium on Oct. 12, a gut-wrenching evening that changed the trajectory of Ohio State’s defense. The Ducks exploited Burke, who was named first-team All-Big Ten by the league’s coaches in 2023, with one deep pass after another in a ruthless undressing that produced 162 yards, two touchdowns and a perfect NFL passer rating of 158.3 for quarterback Dillon Gabriel on passes thrown in Burke’s direction. That Burke had been the player who coined the team’s lofty “natty or bust” slogan in early March only sharpened the discomfort. He took a week’s reprieve from social media to distance himself from online slander.

“I kind of went dark,” Burke said on Monday morning.

The pained introspection radiated from Burke to all corners of Ohio State’s defense, a unit that had only surrendered 34 points over its first five games combined, before the Ducks racked up 32 points and 496 yards of total offense by themselves in a stunning message to the rest of the league. Gabriel, who finished the season as a Heisman Trophy finalist, completed better than 67% of his passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns — all without being sacked. Oregon’s two leading receivers, Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart, victimized Burke and the rest of the Buckeyes’ secondary for 14 catches and 224 yards.

Such a disillusioning performance sparked wide-ranging schematic changes at Ohio State that would eventually lead head coach Ryan Day to describe his team’s defense as “reengineered,” the consequence of a humbling bye week spent dissecting everything the Buckeyes had put on film to start the season. What followed from mid-October through the present was a renaissance of sorts that saw defensive coordinator Jim Knowles find ways to catalyze his team’s pass rush while also solidifying coverage in the secondary, the totality of which enlivened a unit that is now leading the country in both total defense (242.2 yards per game) and scoring defense (11.4 points per game) after smothering Tennessee in the opening round of the playoff. Suddenly, morale is so high for Ohio State that Burke has taken his “natty or bust” proclamation to a new level, more or less guaranteeing his team will win the national championship.

“Now I know how to handle everything,” Burke said, “and especially as we’re going through these playoffs and as I take the next chapter of my life after we win the natty. … I’m confident in this team, I’m confident in my head coach, I’m confident in the scheme that we have, and I’m confident in my brothers.”

So what exactly changed? While coaches and players have been reticent to disclose the specifics of their defensive alterations since that loss to Oregon, some of the tweaks are discernible by analyzing Ohio State’s pressure rates and personnel alignments on Pro Football Focus, both of which suggest an uptick in overall aggression from Knowles, reminiscent of his stint as the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State (2018-21). The Cowboys ranked among the top 12 nationally for sacks three times in four years during that stretch, including a stunning tally of 56 sacks during Knowles’ final season to set a new program record. His group also finished second in the country in tackles for loss that year with 117, a number that would have led college football each of the last two seasons.

But the Buckeyes were far more cautious to begin the 2024 campaign and maintained a blitz rate of just 39% across their opening three Big Ten contests against Michigan State, Iowa and Oregon, which averaged out to 10.7 blitzes per game. The nadir arrived when Gabriel was only blitzed on 36.1% of his dropbacks during the Ducks’ 32-31 win over Ohio State — the low point for Knowles in conference play to that point — and completed 12 of 13 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown on those snaps. Gabriel’s sky-high completion percentage of 92.3% on plays when the Buckeyes blitzed far outpaced his eventual season-long clip of 69.8%, though that still serves as the highest mark of his career for a non-injury-shortened campaign. Burke had never surrendered more than 74 yards in a game against power-conference opposition until the Ducks shredded him for 23.1 yards per completion on seven catches.

“Denzel has been a strong-minded individual,” fellow cornerback Davison Igbinosun told FOX Sports. “But I feel like that Oregon game could have definitely broke him down and put him into a shell, and he could have started acting different. But I didn’t see him act different at all. The very next day in film, he was a man about the whole situation. I respect that a lot about him.”

From that point forward, Knowles unearthed more of the attacking mindset that prompted Day to make him one of the highest-paid coordinators in the country prior to the 2022 season. His blitz rate jumped to 62.5% in the win over Purdue and reached at least 50% in subsequent games against Northwestern and Michigan. A narrow victory against then-No. 3 Penn State (37.5%) was the only time Knowles’ blitz calls dipped below the lower-water mark he’d set at Oregon when facing Big Ten opponents. He blitzed on an average of 45.2% of quarterback dropbacks in the six conference games following Ohio State’s loss to the Ducks, an increase of more than 9% from that fateful night in Eugene.

Ohio State Buckeyes: Will they get their revenge on Oregon?

The uptick coincided with some fairly noteworthy role changes for several individuals within Knowles’ defense. For safety Caleb Downs, a consensus All-American in his first season since transferring from Alabama, the number of snaps when he aligned in the box increased from 14 per game before the loss at Oregon to nearly 26 per game in a six-week stretch from late October through late November, which aided the Buckeyes’ run defense. For nickelback Jordan Hancock, who played almost exclusively slot corner during the first half of the season, his revised job description included more than 13 snaps per game at free safety during that same six-week window and then a season-high 39 snaps at free safety against Tennessee. For inside linebacker Cody Simon, the pass-rushing opportunities increased from 4.4 per game through the loss against Oregon to 7.8 per game in the second half of conference play.

“I think we’re getting lined up faster,” Knowles told FOX Sports. “We’re reacting to different formations or things that come up during the game. There’s always what I call ‘unscouted plays’ because [the other teams] are practicing, too, all week, and you don’t know what they’re doing. So I just see us reacting to those types of things that happen during a game. We’re doing it at a faster, more efficient rate.”

All of which has coalesced to produce some gaudy team stats entering the Rose Bowl: zero passing touchdowns conceded after losing to Oregon, at least four sacks per game in five of Ohio State’s last six outings; at least one takeaway in six straight games entering the postseason; only one opponent above a 37% conversion rate on third down over the second half of the year; an allowance of just 3.5 yards per play in the last five games; 22 receiving yards charged to Burke against the last three opponents combined.

But what the Buckeyes haven’t faced since their trip to Autzen Stadium is a receiving corps like the one that tormented them 10 weeks ago, when the blazing pace of Stewart, the precision route running from Johnson and the pinpoint accuracy from Gabriel sent Ohio State into a self-reflection spiral that may or may not have saved the season. We’ll find out when Burke and his rejuvenated defense take the field this week.

“I think he has a real vision for himself and a deep-seated confidence in himself that he found out he’s stronger than he even thought he was [by bouncing back from that game],” Knowles said of Burke. “But it’s also kind of come to the realization that if you play that position at this level, or the next level where he’s gonna go, you’re gonna have some bad days. If I’m one of the best corners in the country and I’m gonna go in the NFL and be a great corner, you better figure it out and not take it personally.”

Michael Cohen covers college football and basketball for FOX Sports with an emphasis on the Big Ten. Follow him at @Michael_Cohen13.

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Oregon

Oregon policymakers look to mend broken trust with Harney County irrigators

Published

6 hours ago

January 28, 2026

Press Room

Oregon policymakers look to mend broken trust with Harney County irrigators

It’s January, fields of water-hungry hay are dormant, and a layer of hoarfrost and fog blankets the sagebrush for miles in Oregon’s remote southeast corner.

But as fields lie frozen, the seeds of an impending crisis continue to grow in Harney County.

It’s sure to force many farmers into a tough financial spot. Some say it could put them out of business. And now, some farmers are trying to navigate a problem that’s both about the economy, and the environment.

A center pivot sits on agricultural land in Harney County, Ore., on Dec. 18, 2025.

Eli Imadali / OPB

The Harney Basin does not have enough groundwater to allow the current pace of irrigation to continue.

In December, water regulators adopted a plan to address the issue.

But many locals feel that the plan ignores their needs and could devastate a region whose economy largely revolves around agriculture.

Some have come to distrust the very agency in charge of managing the state’s water. They’re now forging a partnership with the governor’s office with the hope they can avoid, or at least delay, costly litigation.

“There’s a lot of animosity. And some of it is valid, and some of it’s not,” said state Rep. Mark Owens — a Republican from Harney County and a farmer. “Right now, if the state wants to work with this community, there needs to be a different face leading this instead of the water resource department, and the other option is the governor’s office.”

A disagreement over water management

Last month, the Oregon Water Resources Commission unanimously voted to designate much of the Harney Basin in southeast Oregon a critical groundwater area.

This designation will give the state more authority to reduce how much water irrigators can pump out of the aquifer, with the goal to stabilize it by 2058.

The Harney Basin spans 5,240 square miles of southeast Oregon’s high desert.

Almost all of the groundwater that’s used each year, about 97%, is pumped out to irrigate fields of hay that feed beef and dairy cattle.

For the last three decades, there’s been a problem: The water is drying up.

A center pivot sits on agricultural land in Harney County, Ore., on Dec. 18, 2025.
*Eli Imadali / OPB*

For decades, the state’s water resources department – overseen by the commission – enabled developers to drill new wells and pump out more water from the aquifer than what can naturally be replenished by rain and snowmelt.

That continued long after the department knew it wasn’t sustainable.

Irrigators in the basin acknowledge the problem – but many disagree with the state’s “critical groundwater area” designation and with how the state has interpreted the science that underpins it.

In one area of the basin north of Malheur Lake, groundwater levels have declined by more than 140 feet below the water table and, since 2016, have continued to drop by as much as eight feet per year.

But groundwater levels in other parts of the basin have not dropped as drastically – falling by less than a foot per year in some places.

As it stands, the water resources department’s plan to cut how much water irrigators can use in the basin doesn’t go into effect until 2028. That plan outlines how some water users will have to cut back their use by up to 70% over the next 30 years.

Before the plan takes effect, water users will have the opportunity to contest the restrictions they might face – a process that would require an attorney and an administrative law judge. It could be costly and take years to resolve.

But many farmers disagree with this plan.

Some feel they’re being punished for the water resources department’s failure. Some say the plan treats all irrigators the same, even though groundwater declines are not uniform across the basin.

Meanwhile, other people in the basin, residents who have domestic or livestock wells but are not irrigators, say the state is not acting fast enough to regulate water users.

In September, a coalition of residents, irrigators, tribes and local governments organized under Owens filed a petition asking the water resources commission to consider a different plan that diverged from the state’s own proposals to cut water use in the region.

In a memo, the water resources department determined the petition’s proposal would result in “continued long-term groundwater level declines” in most areas of the basin.

The commission rejected the petition and adopted the state’s plan instead.

Lost trust, and a different approach

Now, Owens is advocating for a different approach.

If the water resources department proceeds with its plan, many irrigators are likely to contest the restrictions they face.

Owens would like to give them more time to work on what’s called a “voluntary water conservation agreement” – a binding agreement to reduce water use, but one that irrigators would have a say in writing.

That’s where the governor’s office could come in, he said.

“There is some trust that needs to be gained again if we have a desire to work with the [water resources] commission on voluntary actions, because it’s not there right now,” Owens said. “The governor’s office can weigh in with the agencies, specifically the water resource department, and give direction on, ‘You have regulatory sideboards now, but slow down.’”

FILE - State Rep. Mark Owens, R-Crane, poses for a portrait in his Burns, Ore., office on Dec. 17, 2025. — FILE – State Rep. Mark Owens, R-Crane, poses for a portrait in his Burns, Ore., office on Dec. 17, 2025.
*Eli Imadali / OPB*

That doesn’t mean the governor’s office plans to take over for the water resource department, according to Anca Matica, a spokesperson for Gov. Tina Kotek.

“We trust our agency. We know we monitor the agency’s work and implementation, but we also want to hear from community members to figure out are there ways we can do better,” Matica said. “Are there ways that we can help provide guidance to that agency that maybe they didn’t have?”

Geoff Huntington, a senior natural resources advisor for the governor, was at a meeting last week in Burns when irrigators met with Owens and state officials to discuss their options.

He acknowledged the lack of trust.

“We have a trust issue, right? Let’s call it what it is. It’s a trust issue,” Huntington said. “That’s a legitimate thing that has to be overcome if we’re going to be moving forward, and I say that on behalf of the department and the governor’s office.”

Geoff Huntington and Chandra Ferrari, both with the governors natural resources policy office, at a community meeting in Burns, Ore. on Jan. 22, 2026.
*Alejandro Figueroa / OPB*

Chandra Ferrari, also a natural resources advisor for the governor, told irrigators at the meeting that developing voluntary water conservation agreements would require a joint effort between the governor and the water resources department.

“Part of the trust building is us resetting right now and recognizing that we have an opportunity for a better pathway,” Ferrari said. “There is potential right now for this agreement, but ideally, we’re coming with you, right? The [Kotek] administration is coming with you to the [water resources] commission and saying we have a good path here.”

To date, no voluntary water conservation agreements have succeeded or even been proposed in Oregon, though.

A center pivot in a field covered with a layer of hoarfrost at a farm near Crane, Ore., Jan 22, 2026.
*Alejandro Figueroa / OPB*

“Voluntary agreements are a tool that’s available, but has not been used,” said a spokesperson with Oregon’s Water Resources Department. “There has not been one proposed to the department in regards to the Harney Basin.”

Owens said he’s optimistic the approach can work in the Harney Basin, but it will take time.

“These community members would like to try to take some of the fate in their own hands,” he said. “I am optimistic that our farmers will come together for the benefit of the community, for the benefit of themselves, and for the benefit of the state. And work toward reasonable reductions to hit reasonably stable [water levels] within a time frame that can work.”

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Oregon

Federal agents clash with anti-ICE protesters in Oregon

Published

18 hours ago

January 28, 2026

Press Room

Federal agents clash with anti-ICE protesters in Oregon

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Oregonians can now file 2025 taxes. How big the kicker is, what to know

Published

1 day ago

January 27, 2026

Press Room

Oregonians can now file 2025 taxes. How big the kicker is, what to know

It’s officially tax season. The Internal Revenue Service opened the 2026 filing period for the 2025 tax year on Jan. 26.

Oregonians can file their 2025 federal and state income tax returns until April 15. Those who don’t file by the deadline could face a penalty and may need to request an extension.

The Oregon Department of Revenue will also begin processing state income tax returns filed electronically.

Here’s what to know about filing your 2025 taxes.

When is the first day to file 2025 income tax returns in Oregon?

Oregonians can already file their federal and state income tax returns for the 2025 tax year. The season began on Jan. 26.

When is the 2025 income tax return deadline?

The deadline for Oregonians to file their federal and state income tax returns for the 2025 tax year is on April 15.

When will Oregon issue 2025 state tax refunds?

The Oregon Department of Revenue will begin issuing refunds for electronically filed income tax returns on Feb. 15.

For tax returns filed by paper, the Department of Revenue will begin issuing refunds in early April.

According to agency, the IRS was late in sending Oregon the necessary tax forms for 2025, and as a result, Oregon could not begin processing paper-filed personal income tax returns until late March.

Oregonians are encouraged to file electronically to receive a tax refund sooner.

“This year, if you file a paper return, you’re going to face a significant delay in receiving your refund,” said Megan Denison, the administrator of the Personal Tax and Compliance Division at the Department of Revenue. “Taxpayers who file electronically can avoid the extra wait.”

Additionally, the IRS recommends mailing in paper tax forms earlier than the April 15 deadline, as postmarks are not guaranteed for the same day.

Why is Direct File no longer available on the IRS website?

Direct File was a free tax filing program that could be found on the IRS website and used to file taxes for free.

However, following its two-year pilot phase, the Trump administration discontinued the program. The IRS announced in late 2025 that IRS Direct File will no longer be available at the beginning of 2026.

IRS Free File is an alternative option to file federal income taxes for free in 2026 for households with an adjusted gross income of $84,000 or less.

Direct File Oregon is another option to file state income taxes for free in 2026. The program is currently in its third year and allows Oregonians to file directly with the state of Oregon for free.

How much is Oregon’s 2025 kicker rebate?

Oregon taxpayers who qualify could see a share of a $1.4 billion surplus through the state’s “kicker” credit when they file their 2025 income tax returns in 2026.

The refund amount differs depending on the individual but is calculated to be about 9.9% of their Oregon personal income tax liability for the 2024 tax year.

To get an estimate on how much their kicker could be, Oregonians can visit the Oregon Department of Revenue’s “What’s My Kicker?” calculator at revenueonline.dor.oregon.gov/tap/.

How can Oregonians track their refunds?

Oregonians can track their tax refunds by visiting www.irs.gov/wheres-my-refund for federal tax returns, and www.oregon.gov/dor/programs/individuals/pages/where-is-my-refund.aspx for state tax returns.

Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval can be reached at GSandoval@statesmanjournal.com or on X at @GinnieSandoval.

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