DUCK SEASON FOOTBALL EDITION
MONDAY, AUG. 17, 2026
NOW OR NEVER?
Assessing the stakes of the 2026-27 Oregon football season
TABLE OF
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NEWSROOM EDITOR IN CHIEF Eva Andrews
PRINT MANAGING EDITOR Ty Tilden SPORTS EDITOR Joe Krasnowski COPY CHIEF Lucy Forest SPORTS WRITERS Jonah Furino Hannah Hiiva Bel Perez Cadence Wooden
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CONTENTS
DESIGN EDITOR Asha Mohan DESIGNER Adaleah Carman
BUSINESS
PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER Eric Henry x317 VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS Kathy Carbone x302 CREATIVE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Anna Smith x327
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR OF SALES AND DIGITAL MARKETING Shelly Rondestvedt x303 ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Maria Jimenez (ON THE COVER) Oregon Ducks defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31), linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei (10), quarterback Dante Moore (5) and tight end Kenyon Sadiq (18) walk out of the tunnel ahead of the rest of the team. The University of Oregon Ducks played against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Autzen Stadium on Sept. 6, 2025. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)
Duck Season, the Emerald’s sports magazine, is published by Emerald Media Group Inc., the independent nonprofit news company at the University of Oregon. Formerly the Oregon Daily Emerald, the news organization was founded in 1900. EMERALD MEDIA GROUP 1222 E. 13TH AVE., #300 EUGENE. ORE 97403 541.346.5511 Dailyemerald.com
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EA SPORTS COLLEGE FOOTBALL 27 RANKS OREGON NO. 1
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IF NOT NOW, WHEN?
9 DANTE MOORE’S
HEISMAN CAMPAIGN
10 NEW FACES, SAME GOALS 11 GAMEDAY OOTD
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EA SPORTS COLLEGE FOOTBALL 27 HAS OREGON RANKED NO. 1
IS IT SEEING THE FUTURE? EA Sports College Football 27 offers Oregon fans their first look at the Ducks’ 2026 roster. BY CADENCE WOODEN Sports Writer
Before Oregon has played a snap in 2026, the Ducks are already No. 1 — at least virtually. EA Sports College Football 27, which arrived on July 9, 2026, rates Oregon’s 2026 roster as the highest-ranked team in the game, with an overall rating of 91 for Dan Lanning’s roster. But how closely does the virtual roster resemble the real one? The video game offers more than just entertainment for fans. Before the Ducks take on their first Big Ten game of the season on Sept. 26, College Football 27 provides the opportunity to play in the moment and gain a feel for how Oregon’s defense and offense will compete in relation to the characters’ ratings. The ratings begin with the Ducks quarterback, Dante Moore, who’s one of the players featured on the cover of the game. Moore leads with a 95 overall rating for the Ducks, also making him the highest-rated quarterback in College Football 27. If the game is right, Oregon can expect another impactful season from Moore. “Pressure’s a privilege,” said Moore at Oregon Football Media Day. “There’s a lot of pressure on this team. But at the end of the day we kind of put that pressure on ourselves. We’ve done a great job these past couple of years, and we’ve got to trust in our game plan and in Coach Lanning.” The game highlights Moore with a 95 awareness rating, suggesting he can make elite decisions under pressure. In addition, an 86 speed rating gives him the ability to extend plays outside the pocket. EA also rates Moore at 90 or higher in every major passing category except throw-under-pressure, where he received an 87. Looking at last season, this assessment is relatively accurate. In his 2025 season, Moore completed 71.8% of his passes with
30 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions, finishing with a 163.7 passer rating. One thing fans will take away after playing the game is speed. Wide receiver Gatlin Bair owns 99 speed, the fastest possible rating in the game. Fellow receiver Dakorien Moore is rated with 96 speed, while safety Koi Perich is rated with a 92, reinforcing Oregon’s reputation as one of college football’s fastest teams. The defense was highlighted with a 91 rating, the highest in the entire game. In 2025, the Ducks finished 13-2 and ranked 12th nationally in scoring defense. If Oregon continues this tenacity in the 2026 season and the game’s prediction is accurate, the Ducks will be a difficult team to get around. According to EA Sports, edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei holds a 94 overall rating, making him one of the best defensive players in the game, primarily due to his 96 awareness rating. Strong safety Perich’s rating was a high 93 overall, comparing well to his previous performances at Minnesota. On the other hand, the face scan he was given was less
aligned with reality. When asked at Media Day 2026 about the result of the scan, Perich said “I’ve got no comment. I’m glad to be in the game.” Despite the EA Sports dedication to accuracy in play and reality, there are always chances of mistakes. Oregon fans can hope that this isn’t the case for the ratings. Ducks center Iapani Laloulu is marked as one of the smartest offensive linemen in the game with an awareness rating of 97, aligning well with his performance last season, having earned the Football Writers Association of America First-Team All-American honors. Laloulu allowed only one sack and 11 total pressures in 442 pass-blocking snaps. For Oregon fans, the ideal 2026 season would mirror the EA Sports ratings. With an experienced quarterback, a capable receiving offense that can outrun opposing defenses, and a strong defensive line, Oregon’s roster is set up to make big plays this season. But no video game can predict injuries, breakout stars, or any other moments in college football, so that’s where reality has the chance to take over. So, will Moore compete like a 95 overall quarterback? Will Oregon finish as the nation’s No. 1 team? Time will tell. The game has already set its expectations. Now it’s Oregon’s turn to prove, or disprove, them.
(Saj Sundaram/Emerald) Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning and the team run out of their tunnel through a plume of smoke before the start of the game at the Peach Bowl, held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Jan 9, 2026.
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With the return of Dante Moore, more expectation than ever is on Oregon football to deliver a National Championship.
BY JOE KRASNOWSKI Sports Editor
Dante Moore took his drop under center, wheeled to his left, and saw Malik Benson break to his left for a quick completion. It’s a play the two made all the time, on either side of the field — a pair of the most gifted players in the nation playing catch, toying with opponents, succeeding almost at will. But this time, in the Peach Bowl, with the eyes of the nation watching, Moore’s pass was jumped by Indiana cornerback De’Angelo Ponds, the defensive back lunging for it, then catching the pass in stride and taking it to the end zone. If that pass is completed, does Moore find a zone and protect the ball better? Do the Ducks strike first and put Indiana on its heels? Does the nearly all-Hoosier fan crowd affect the game? That’s all Oregon had left to stew on during the 208-day gap from the end of the Peach Bowl to the start of fall camp on Aug. 5; a bunch of what-ifs. “That day is in my past,” quarterback Dante Moore said of the Peach Bowl loss to Indiana. “I watched the film and learned from my mistakes. You have to move on. I don’t take it as a loss. I take it as a lesson.” It’ll be even more time before the dividends of that lesson can be shown. Oregon is expected to make the college football playoffs and compete for a national championship again. Missing that mark would be a far greater disaster than the combined 54 points the Ducks lost to Indiana and Ohio State by in back-to-back seasons. The truth remains the same though — no one in the Oregon football stratosphere wants to think about that game. Yet, everyone in the Oregon stratosphere is going to remember that game (and the Rose Bowl) until those playoff demons are exorcised. “Yeah, as much as I’d like to say you learn more from wins than losses, that’s not true,” Lanning said at Oregon media day. “You learn more from losses, and unfortunately, that’s the way everybody’s season ends, except for the team that gets to hold a trophy up at the end.”
That’s the reality the Ducks must face. In a sports atmosphere designed for just one winner, there must be losers. Duck fans are simply tired of that being them. Perhaps the most important factor driving this season’s urgency is Dante Moore. Moore shocked the football world by announcing his return to Eugene. With that return comes extreme expectations — returning means a National Championship and a Heisman Trophy are the expectations, anything else being a failure.
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You learn more from losses, and unfortunately, that’s the way everybody’s season ends, except for the team that gets to hold a trophy up at the end.
Dan Lanning Oregon Ducks Head Coach
And while Lanning and his team have been able to dip into the transfer portal with ease, returning top quarterbacks from the portal — and convincing Moore and Dylan Raiola to sit a year before starting — more time will be needed to evaluate if that is a long-term recipe for success as more teams begin to adapt to the portal. Not to mention the speculative factors like Phil Knight’s age, Dan Lanning staying in Eugene and… you get the idea. Now, Oregon will be fine, and fans will be just as invested if the team sputters out in the semifinal or final again. Football will always be a key proponent driving Eugene
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2026 GAME SCHEDULE STATE 9/5 BOISE AUTZEN STADIUM
STATE 9/12 OKLAHOMA STILLWATER, OK
STATE 9/18 PORTLAND AUTZEN STADIUM
as a town, and a highly-touted recruiting class mixed with construction of a top-ofthe-line practice facility are doing little to dampen that future. But the reality that comes with the school’s seamless transition into the NIL and transfer portal era is that expectations have only risen. And Oregon fans are far past silver linings. Next comes the state of Oregon athletics as a whole. Outside of track and field and cross-country, the Ducks’ only national championship over the past decade has come in men’s golf in 2016. However, multiple programs have been runner-ups since. Additionally, there are few factors stopping any school with a big donor base from getting involved in NIL and the transfer portal. The college football world has already seen it with Indiana and Texas Tech University. What’s stopping Cal Berkeley or Stanford from cashing in with their massive, wealthy alumni bases. All of this brings fans back to the most famous man in Eugene: Lanning. He securely has a team to fit his identity. Now in year five, Lanning has been able to recruit from the high school level and poach from the transfer portal to fill holes as he sees fit. Lanning also has as much continuity as a head coach can ask for while adjusting to the change of both his offensive and defensive coordinators. “When you stay in-house, maybe you don’t create as many new ideas. I’m really excited about the new ideas we’ve brought with both those guys,” Lanning said of his coordinators. “How much of an adjustment? It’s an adjustment, but it’s one that we’ve been through. Two is a little bit different than one, but I think there’s always a lot of
communication on the coaching staff to do a good job. And the key is how quickly can we all be on the same page? There are no drastic changes schematically in what we’re doing with the new hire. So now it’s more about experience and giving those guys the time and the opportunity to lead the coaches, lead the players, and go execute on the field.” But, of course, none of this will truly matter unless he delivers in January. He has the team, he has the resources, Lanning just has to get the Ducks over the hump now. With Moore back and the uncertainty surrounding some of the rest of Oregon’s athletic program, the expectations are higher than ever. Perhaps they get one step closer and then lose in the national title game. Or perhaps they break through when it matters most, delivering a championship to a city desperate for it. (LEFT) Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) runs towards the sidelines after third down. The University of Oregon Ducks opened their football season against the Montana State Bobcats at Autzen Stadium on Aug. 30 in Eugene, Ore. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald) (ABOVE) Autzen Stadium fills with fans during the Oregon Spring Game. Oregon Football scrimmaged to showcase the team to the public. They played Saturday, April 26, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. (Anna Liv Myklebust/Emerald)
9/26 USC LOS ANGELES, CA 10/10 UCLA AUTZEN STADIUM 10/17 NEBRASKA AUTZEN STADIUM 10/24 ILLINOIS CHAMPAIGN, IL 10/31 NORTHWESTERN AUTZEN STADIUM STATE 11/7 OHIO COLUMBUS, OH
11/14 MICHIGAN AUTZEN STADIUM STATE 11/20 MICHIGAN EAST LANSING, MI
11/28 WASHINGTON AUTZEN STADIUM
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DANTE MOORE’S HEISMAN CAMPAIGN:
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THE POWER OF BRANDING
What Oregon football is doing to promote Dante Moore as the next Heisman winner. BY JONAH FURINO Sports Writer
Before Dante Moore takes a single snap this season, Nike has already begun making his Heisman case. Following the quarterback’s surprise decision to return to Eugene rather than enter the 2026 NFL Draft, Oregon and Nike wasted no time turning him into the face of college football. The branding powerhouse of Nike has helped elevate Oregon football into a dominant image across the nation and around the world, with Moore now being the centerpiece. As part of Oregon’s international branding efforts, Moore and several other Ducks traveled to Tokyo this summer, with goals of promoting the show on a global scale and strengthening their brand recognition. The Ducks were greeted with marketing campaigns all over the city with the quarterback’s face and the message “Yes, there’s Moore!” “It’s a blessing,” Moore commented on seeing the campaign in Tokyo. “Just seeing my face across the board, it’s a great feeling.” The bold colors of green and yellow being displayed 5,000 miles away from home not only demonstrate just how strong a brand Oregon athletics is, but also how much influence Nike has. Oregon football has remained one of the most prominent images in college football, withstanding the chaos of the last few seasons in the NIL era. Being backed by Nike, the Ducks will always have the ability to advertise their brand and their star players around the world. The Tokyo advertisements weren’t the only sign that Moore’s profile had grown. He was also selected as one of the three cover athletes for College Football 27, adding to his image as one of the most prominent figures in football.
Of course, marketing alone doesn’t win you the Heisman Trophy. Moore understands that as well as anyone. “Pressure is a privilege,” Moore said. “At the end of the day, I want more of that in the future, so I’ve got to make sure I put the work in and just handle business.”
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Pressure is a privilege. At the end of the day, I want more of that in the future, so I’ve got to make sure I put the work in and just handle business. Dante Moore Oregon Ducks Quarterback
The most important verification of greatness is what happens on the field. No billboard can beat winning. The Heisman award doesn’t go to the biggest name, but rather the best player. With how strong Oregon’s roster is this season, the hype for Moore as an individual is validated. Last season, the star quarterback threw for 30 TDs and 3,565 yards on 71.8% completion, all while leading the Ducks to a 13-2 record and a semifinal appearance. Moore’s accolades from the 2025 season weren’t enough to get him into Heisman conversations, but they were
enough to label him as one of the best quarterbacks in college football. Now that he is returning, Moore has a real shot at winning the Heisman Trophy. Nike can build the campaign. Oregon can create the spotlight. But at the end of the day, the Heisman Trophy is won on the field. After months of marketing and national exposure, Moore’s strongest argument for the award won’t come from a billboard in Tokyo. It will come from his performance this fall. (ABOVE) Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) walks towards the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex with the rest of the Oregon team after the game. The No. 5 University of Oregon Ducks demolished the No. 12 James Madison University Dukes 51-34 in the first round of the College Football Playoff at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Dec 20, 2025. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)
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Trust in Head Coach Dan Lanning remains amid staff turnover as a promising new season lies ahead.
BY BEL PEREZ Sports Writer
“All night, you’re going to be hearing them chirping, ‘We are, we are,’” head coach Dan Lanning said to the Ducks football team as they prepared to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions last September. “When we step back into this locker room, I’ll tell you what we are. We are the champions,” Lanning said. Lanning has made an immense impact on the Ducks since his start in 2022. With an overall record of 48-8, his transition into the role was quick and smooth after former coach Mario Cristobal’s departure. After a harsh ending to last season’s national championship bid, changes to the team and coaching staff weren’t unexpected. With the team’s allegiance to Lanning staying the same, their preparations for this coming season have been similar to previous years.
Their goal also stayed the same: win the national championship. A team with a lot of returning star players like Dante Moore, Jordan Davison, Matayo Uiagalelei and others, this group is hungry for a successful season. Lanning is fortunate to have many talented players in each position on his roster. “Guys will meet the level of the expectations of the coaches in a lot of ways,” he said during the 2026 Media Day press conference. “So, right now, it’s about how fast we can find people that are above-the-line, that can play above-the-line football.” Lanning holds his fellow coaches to the same standards as the players. It’s about planting good habits from the beginning and every person on the team working to meet that standard. “We have a lot of new coaches that are wearing new roles than what they’ve worn in the past,” Lanning said at the press conference. Yet the players are all confident in the program Lanning has put together. Many players spoke highly of Lanning’s team and their tactics — outside linebacker Teitum Tuioti included. “I trust (Coach Lanning) with everything,” Tuioti said. Quarterback transfer Dylan Raiola echoed a similar sentiment: “I also think our coaching is second to none. The players are tight with the coaches and the coaches have full faith in the players to execute. Things that fans should really want to see for a year filled with high hopes,” Raiola said. Quarterback Dante Moore also has full faith, not just in Lanning, but in the other members of the coaching staff as well, praising offensive line coach A’lique Terry. “Coach Terry has done a great job producing linemen and coaching them,” Moore said. “At the end of the day, Coach Terry is doing
a great job with the playbook, making sure (the offensive line) is staying with the right technique. But overall, I’m not worried at all.” The players have no doubts about Lanning and his ability to take the team all the way to the end to hold a national championship.
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We’ve just got to trust in our game plans and trust in Coach Lanning. We’ve got to follow our leader, and he does a great job making sure he’s preparing us. Dante Moore Oregon Ducks Quarterback
“We’ve just got to trust in our game plans and trust in Coach Lanning,” Moore said. “We’ve got to follow our leader, and he does a great job making sure he’s preparing us.”
(ABOVE) Ducks head coach Dan Lanning jogs towards Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley to exchange a few words after the game. The No. 7 University of Oregon Ducks took on West Coast rivals, the No. 15 USC Trojans in a game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Nov. 22, 2025. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)
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GAMEDAY OOTD
Custom creations, player-made pieces, and one-ofa-kind looks have transformed gameday fashion into a growing tradition among Oregon fans. BY HANNAH HIIVA Sports Writer
Gameday festivities are about more than just the game on the field. For many Oregon fans, the game itself is only part of the experience. From the walk to Autzen, to tailgating and meeting up with friends and other Ducks fans, game days at the University of Oregon are an experience of their own. One of the best ways to show your Oregon spirit is to dress the part. Whether it’s sporting the iconic green and yellow, wearing the latest Ducks jersey or creating a custom fit, gameday fashion is a tradition that allows fans to show their spirit and become part of the electric atmosphere at Autzen Stadium. While many students may gravitate towards items already in their closet, others go all out and have custom pieces created or create some of their own. Among the most recognizable trendsetters are the girlfriends of Oregon student-athletes. Many Oregon Ducks players’ girlfriends can be seen sporting one-of-a-kind pieces customized with their player’s name and number. While some create and design these outfits themselves, others turn to talented creators that have helped shape and grow these unique gameday fashion trends, with some being Eugene’s very own. One of those creators is Jayla Mosley,
who is both a designer of custom game day fits and a girlfriend of a player. While she has created pieces for students at schools all around the country, she calls the University of Oregon home. Some custom outfits are even contributions from players on the field. Matayo Uiagalelei, an outside linebacker for the Ducks, designed and customized many of the outfits his girlfriend, Oregon softball outfielder Ayanna Shaw, wore throughout last season. “Last year my boyfriend, who’s on the football team, Matayo, made/customized at least one piece from each of my outfits,” Shaw said. Shaw highlighted two gameday outfits that she categorized as her favorites, the first being a green pleated denim skirt paired with a white tube top with a bedazzled green “DUCKS” on the front. “He made the skirt from scratch from an old pair of jeans and dyed it,” said Shaw. “He also did the “DUCKS” on the shirt.” Another outfit that Shaw held close to her heart was a sweat set also made by Uiagalelei. A black sweatsuit, covered in his name, number, and an image of him holding the Big Ten championship trophy. “He cut out and sewed all the tapestry, including all the letters, onto the sweatsuit.” Whether it’s customized jerseys, handsewn pieces, bedazzled tops or one-ofa-kind skirts featuring players’ names and
numbers, gameday fashion has become a growing part of the University of Oregon’s football culture. For fans planning their outfits this season, Oregon’s gameday color schedule offers the perfect starting point. The 2026 color schedule includes: Sept. 5 vs. Boise State (Stripe Out), Sept. 12 at Oklahoma State (Green), Sept. 19 vs. Portland State (Green), Sept. 26 at USC (White), Oct. 10 vs. UCLA (Black), Oct. 17 vs. Nebraska (Green), Oct. 24 at Illinois (Yellow), Oct. 31 vs. Northwestern (Black), Nov. 7 at Ohio State (Green), Nov. 14 vs. Michigan (Green), Nov. 21 at Michigan State (Yellow), and Nov. 28 vs. Washington (Black). Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok help fuel this trend, allowing students and fans to share inspiration and connect with one another. Gameday fits are a form of art that connect those in the stands to the players on the field, and they represent the community and spirit that define Oregon athletics. As thousands of fans make their way across the Autzen footbridge each fall, the sea of green and yellow tells a story beyond the scoreboard. Each customized piece serves as a reflection of the passion, creativity, and pride that make Oregon gamedays an experience unlike any other.
(ABOVE) Oregon fans cheer energetically from the stands before the start of the Rose Bowl game against the Ohio State Buckeyes. The University of Oregon Ducks Football team played the Ohio State University Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 1, 2025, where they lost 41-21. (Max Unkrich/Emerald)
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