TEMPE, Ariz. -- They're not back.
Not even close. You knew it. I knew it. We expected there would be nights like this. But that much was settled on Saturday night under the lights in the desert here. Oregon isn't yet brilliant. It's not yet dominant. It's not yet wicked-creative, or resilient, or complete again.
Final score: ASU 37, Oregon 35.
Instead of talking about what the Ducks aren't, I should probably address what they are. They are fun. Also, gut-wrenching. They're exciting. Also, puzzling. They're good starters, but shaky finishers. And they're going to give Oregon fans ulcers as they tour the Pac 12 Conference, drawing penalty flags and pulling defeats out of the jaws of victories, and vice versa.