8-28-2025 - Gameday - Emerald Media Group

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BREAKING DOWN KEYS TO DUCKS’ REPEAT SUCCESS

Ranking what needs to happen for Oregon to “double down” as Big Ten Champions.

BY JOE KRASNOWSKI Sports Reporter

It may not matter as much as it has in the past, but make no mistake — every coach in the conference wants to win the Big Ten Championship.

In year two in the conference, with a gesture to Las Vegas at Big Ten Media Day, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning said the team’s theme for 2025 is “double down.”

That, of course, is much easier said than done. However, The Daily Emerald has compiled a list, highlighting what Oregon will have to do to win the Big Ten yet again.

Dillon Gabriel combined in their senior years at Oregon.

There’s been better optics for a wide receiver group entering the season than Evan Stewart — an NFL-bound wide receiver — going down with a serious injury. Still, Oregon will need new faces to step into his role. There are virtually no locks in the pass-catching department, with even the shiniest players in Kenyon Sadiq and Dakorien Moore unproven on a large scale. However, Oregon has made a habit of producing top-tier wide receiver talent, and the same should be expected entering 2025.

“There’ve been some great wideouts (who) played (at) Oregon,” Lanning said at Oregon media day. “I don’t think that’s something that Oregon’s ever necessarily been known for. And you look over the last few years, as some of the guys have been performing for us, whether it’s going back, like Troy Franklin, or what Tez (Johnson) has done more recently.”

“No focus is going to be on the poisonous pill of success of what we accomplished last season and beating the national champions, and Michigan, and Penn State, and all the cool stuff and the Big Ten championship,” Lupoi said on July 31 to GoDucks. “At the same time, we’re not bringing up the pill of depression either. (Focusing) on, hey, what’s our growth from the last game that didn’t end up the way we wanted to be, and how do we build from this?”

AVOID THE TRAP GAME

Every team preaches it, but with Oregon only having one real marquee matchup — a week five bout with Penn State — on its regular season schedule, it will be imperative for the Ducks to avoid an upset in 2025. Cross-country flights, midseason games against Iowa and Rutgers seem like the most likely potential slip-ups.

BEAT USC AND WASHINGTON

Whether it’s Dante Moore or Austin Novosad, Oregon will have to have a genuine all-conference team level quarterback if it has any hopes of repeating as champions. Although the Big Ten is known as a defense-first conference historically, past Big Ten Champions have had NFL-caliber quarterbacks over the past decade.

Perhaps the most important stat in 2025 for Moore will be his turnover ratio, a category that Oregon quarterbacks have mostly dominated over the past couple of years. Last time he saw consistent game time as a true freshman at UCLA,

Although having a top-rated defense was without a doubt beneficial in the Ducks’ run last year, defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi’s group struggled late in the season against higher-ranked teams. With the departure of Jordan Burch and Derrick Harmon, among other high draft picks, perhaps Oregon’s group won’t have the ceiling that last year’s did. Still, it’s a sacrifice Lanning would surely make if it meant more consistency against the best teams in the country.

College football is all about when you lose. For Oregon to return to the Big Ten Championship, key rivalry week wins against the Trojans and Huskies will be pivotal. Although neither opponent is currently ranked or expected to seriously contend, things are always intensified in rivalry matchups.

(ABOVE) Tysheem Johnson (0) celebrates a big hit in the Penn State backfield. The No. 1 ranked Oregon Ducks took on the No. 4 Penn State Nittany Lions on Dec. 7, 2024, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)

WIDE RECEIVER

PREVIEW

Ducks receiver group gets ready to face FCS powerhouse Montana State University.

After a dominant 2024 season, the Oregon Ducks are looking to continue their elite passing game — even with a different offensive unit. Success on that side of the ball in any team, of course, depends in part on the wide receivers.

In 2024, the Ducks were the No. 13 passing offense and No. 2 in the nation in completion percentage. The wide receiver room, though, took some hits in the offseason with the departure of star receiver Tez Johnson to the NFL and a potential season ending injury sidelining senior Evan Stewart.

“If you can help us win, then you’ll play,” newly-hired Oregon receivers coach Ross Douglas said at a press conference in August.

“A lot of guys are going to get the opportunity to step up and be able to do their thing.”

True freshman Dakorien Moore was rated the No. 1 high school receiver in the country by ESPN last year and will likely be a key part of the receiver corps this season. In his senior year of high school, he caught 74 receptions for 1460 yards and 19 touchdowns. His athleticism and ability to break down presses make him an ideal receiver against any team, especially as a potential sideline “X” threat.

Redshirt senior Gary Bryant Jr. suffered a hip injury last season and was only able to play in a limited role in the final five games. In 2023, he played 14 games and caught 30 passes for 442 yards and scored four touchdowns. Bryant Jr. has the ability to have a breakout year and he will be the veteran presence this receiver group needs. Redshirt junior Justius Lowe had a decent season in 2024. In 11 games, he caught 21 passes for 203 yards and scored one touchdown. Lowe could see slightly more looks this season and will seek to have

Redshirt junior Kyler Kasper could see playing time this year given the current depth issues. He has only caught four passes in 19 games over three seasons with the Ducks. Kasper has good size and could be a solid option off the bench.

Recently, redshirt sophomore Jurrion Dickey received an indefinite suspension for violating team rules.

“There’s some pieces of that where I felt like he needed a break from us and we needed a break from that so we could focus on what’s in front of us right now,” Lanning said at a press conference on Aug. 12. “Wishing him nothing but the best, as far as success and want to see him get back to where he can be a contributor somewhere. That might be here; that might be somewhere else.”

In Week 1 the Ducks face off against FCS powerhouse Montana State who were runner-ups in their National Championship. In 2024, the Bobcats were No. 31 in fewest passing yards, No. 27 in passing efficiency defense and No. 10 in the nation in total sacks in the FCS.

With the departure of starters Jon Johnson, Simeon Woodard and Miles Jackson, the Bobcats’ secondary will be under a lot of pressure with a fresh set of corners. This is an opportunity for the Ducks to expose the defense and give receivers like Moore and Bryant Jr. an opportunity to prove themselves.

Last season, Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel threw for 380 yards and two touchdowns against top FCS team Idaho. Lanning and the Ducks will likely look to prioritize the passing game again, especially against a weaker passing defense.

The Ducks will be tested early against Montana State, but Oregon has a chance to pull ahead early with strong passing plays. While the depth chart is not public, expect to see players like Moore, Bryant Jr. and Lowe try to prove themselves for a starting role.

ASK THE SPORTS DORKS: WHAT ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT FOR THE 2025 SEASON?

The Daily Emerald’s sports desk weighs in on what to keep your eye on early this year.

BY THE DAILY EMERALD SPORTS DESK

With the 2025 season set to kick off, and the Ducks chasing unproven or transfer production at key positions, we asked The Daily Emerald’s sports desk what they’re most excited about this season.

JACK LAZARUS

Sports Editor

I know I am excited for those sweet tie-dye uniforms that the Ducks will premiere against Wisconsin on Oct. 25. The team announced earlier this month that the Wisconsin game will not only be the team’s homecoming matchup, but the game will also be a Grateful Dead and tie-dyed theme. Oregon has been at the forefront of jersey innovation in recent years, but this theme is something out of the blue.

There’s a lot to be interested in this season as it regards the product on the field, but we are in Eugene after all, which tends to act as a colorful uniform factory every fall.

OWEN MURRAY

Sports Associate Editor

I believe in this pass rushing unit’s ability to overcome its losses and remain one of the best groups in the conference — if not the nation. The Ducks lost Derrick Harmon, Jordan Burch and Jamaree Caldwell to the NFL, but Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti have elite upside, and if USC transfer Bear Alexander settles in next to A’Mauri Washington, they could start to scare the experienced quarterbacks (like Drew Allar and Fernando Mendoza in back-to-back weeks) that Oregon has to face.

Plus, even with the addition of experienced Purdue transfer Dillon Thieneman,

there’s still five new starters in the secondary. A strong pass rush will take some of the burden off those Ducks early on and give them time to settle in. I think it’s going to happen.

MAX KOEBEL

Sports Writer

I’m looking forward to seeing more highlight plays from the wide receivers. Oregon fans have had the privilege of watching Tez Johnson and Troy Franklin in recent years, and this year, they can expect more receivers to stand out. There’s some uncertainty as to when Evan Stewart will see the field again, but his injury opens the window for another guy to step up.

Gary Bryant Jr. has been with the program for awhile but has been overshadowed by other receivers and injuries, this could be a big season for him. Fans should also have their eyes on Dakorien Moore, Justius Lowe and likely others as well. Whether they’re creating a roar at Autzen, or silencing the crowd at Penn State, Iowa or Washington, I can’t wait to see these guys make some statements for the offense.

HARRY LEADER

Sports Writer

I’m really excited to see how this offense, mainly Kenyon Sadiq and Dakorien Moore, looks this season. I think Dante Moore has a lot to prove early, but I think he can prove the haters wrong. Makhi Hughes is another exciting piece of the offense that I know can be great, especially with Noah Whittington splitting the reps in the backfield.

I think Oregon has a top defense that will hold it down in the regular season, especially

with such a strong defensive line. I am also looking forward to the Penn State game since it feels like the main hurdle for the Ducks to jump heading into the postseason.

JOE KRASNOWSKI

Sports Writer

I truly love having an absolute sicko of a head coach to cover. Now entering his fourth season as the head of Oregon’s “progrum,” much has been written about Dan Lanning being on the cutting edge of both motivation and innovation. It doesn’t always land — none of it will matter if the Ducks fall short of their national title goal — but still, it’s so fun to have one of college football’s biggest characters on the sideline and available for interviews every week. Just think — Oregon could have a boring head coach, but that wouldn’t be anywhere as fun, would it?

HENRY LIGHT

Sports Writer

Oregon’s running back duo of Makhi Hughes and Noah Whittington is the most exciting part of the offense to me going into the season. In my opinion, Whittington showed enough behind Jordan James last season to be the starter this year, so the addition of Hughes, who finished No. 10 in

the nation in rushing yards at Tulane University, forms an elite running back room. The entertainment value in this pairing is off the charts, with Whittington being responsible for one of the best highlights of Oregon’s 2024 season when he ran over an Illinois defender on his way to the end zone, and Hughes simply describing himself as a “power back” at media day.

I expect Hughes to be one of the best running backs in the country again, and Whittington, who caught more passes than Hughes as a backup in 2024, to play a versatile role behind him.

RACHEL MCCONAGHIE

Sports Writer

It has been reiterated by the Oregon coaching staff, and I’m excited about the value of having such depth within the roster. At a glance, the predictions of the team’s starting lineup has influenced their No. 7 ranking in the Associated Press preseason poll. While the projected starting lineup is stacked, it's extremely valuable for Oregon to have such an extensive roster depth throughout all positions.

It’s a group that has a lot to prove — but is considered to have significant potential for the present and future, positioning the Ducks as a strong contender in the Big Ten. Coaches conference-wide have stated in

the press that they feel their program is set apart from the rest because they treat every athlete as a starter. Taking a deep dive into the depth chart shows Oregon’s successes beyond just the starters.

ROWAN SHEA

Sports Writer

I am excited to see how the quarterback room shapes up with Dante Moore, Austin Novosad and Luke Moga. All are talented quarterbacks and have proved that this preseason. The depth, a conversation that has been had time and time again while discussing this team, is deep in the quarterback room. Moore is expected to be the starting quarterback, but Novosad has seemingly been playing well in the preseason and getting his name more attention. While I don’t believe Moga will be competing for a starting position, he’s added more talent to the room.

I do believe Moore will get the nod to start the season, with Novosad being a close second; however, I would not be surprised at all if throughout the season the two were still competing week to week — like a 2023 New England Patriots Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe situation.

(LEFT) The Oregon Ducks played against the Maryland Terrapins at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Nov. 9.

(Saj Sundaram/Emerald)

(BELOW) Noah Whittington (6) scores a three-yard rushing touchdown on Oregon's first offensive drive. The University of Oregon Ducks Football team defeated the University of Colorado Buffalos 42-6 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, on September 23, 2023.

(Kai Kanzer/Emerald)

OREGON VS. MONTANA STATE PREVIEW

Oregon looks for a more convincing opening game than 2024 against a better FCS opponent.

BY HENRY LIGHT Sports Writer

The Montana State University Bobcats come to Eugene on Saturday, Aug. 30, for Oregon’s second straight season-opening matchup against a difficult FCS opponent. When the game kicks off at 1 p.m., both teams will have new starters at key positions looking to win ongoing position battles.

Oregon ultimately passed its test against the University of Idaho in 2024, winning 24-14, but the slow start for the offense dropped them from No. 3 to No. 7 in the AP poll.

In 2025, an overhauled Ducks team that opens the season at No. 7 will be tasked with beating the team that eliminated Idaho in the quarterfinals of the 2024 FCS playoffs.

Montana State is ranked second in the FCS preseason polls, coming off a season in which it went on an undefeated run to the FCS championship game, but lost 35-32 to North Dakota State University.

Head coach Brent Vigen has led the Bobcats to a 47-10 record since he came to Bozeman in 2021. He opened his best season so far by leading Montana State to its first win over an FBS team since 2006 by beating the University of New Mexico Lobos 35-31.

“Last season had a lot of amazing moments, and reaching the championship game and coming up short was

mixed success in our minds,” Vigen said in an interview at the 2025 Big Sky Kickoff Weekend.

Montana State will have a new starting quarterback in 2025, after the Las Vegas Raiders drafted Tommy Mellott in the sixth round. Mellott took home several awards for his performance in 2024, including the Walter Camp FCS Player of the Year Award.

Mellott spent all four years of his career in Bozeman, arriving along with Vigen in 2021. Vigen went a different route to find his replacement, recruiting FBS journeyman Justin Lamson, who entered the portal after two years at Stanford, where he transferred after two years at Syracuse University.

Lamson was named the starter on Aug. 25 after a battle with last year’s backup Chance Wilson. Lamson was the favorite throughout due to his commitment from the transfer portal and his 24 games of experience at Stanford. He made one of his four starts against Oregon in 2023, completing 11 of 22 passes for 106 yards and rushing for 32 yards on 22 attempts in a 42-6 loss.

Montana State also lost its second and third leaders in receiving yards, with wide receiver Ty McCullouch running out of eligibility, and tight end Rohan Jones transferring to the University of Arkansas.

The offense will rely on wide receiver Taco Dowler, who led the team in receiving yards and touchdowns in his sophomore season, and Rutgers transfer wide receiver

Chris Long, who will bring 24 games of FBS experience into his senior season, to replace their production.

Vigen could also turn to a promising running back room, despite losing 2024 team leader in rushing yards, Scottre Humphrey, to New Mexico. Julius Davis, who led the team in rushing yards in 2023, is projected to start after a preseason leg injury limited his carries in 2024, and his backup, Adam Jones, won Big Sky Freshman of the Year in his absence.

The Bobcats’ defense will rely on the defensive line for stability after losing several starters to graduation and the transfer portal. Defensive tackle Paul Brott and defensive end Kenneth Eiden IV were named to the Preseason AllBig Sky team.

Both teams feature new starters looking to carry over success from the 2024 season, in which the teams fell short of their goals.

“Going to a place like Eugene to start off, it’ll be a situation where our guys have to respond — there’s no other way,” Vigen said.

(BELOW) The No. 3 ranked Oregon Ducks football team took on the No. 2 ranked Ohio State University Buckeyes on Oct. 12, 2024, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.

(Molly McPherson/Emerald)

STARTING FAST

Why the Ducks need a smoother start than last year.

BY MAX KOEBEL Sports Writer

Coming off of a perfect regular season and a Big Ten Championship in the Ducks’ first season in the conference, it’s easy for the fans to come into this season with high expectations. What some people might not remember, though, is Oregon did not look like a team capable of going undefeated in the first two games last season. With so many players being new to the program due to transfer portal acquisitions, the team chemistry did not appear to be where it needed to be to compete for a championship.

“In most seasons, you are gonna experience some form of adversity,” head coach Dan Lanning said at Oregon’s 2025 media day. “It’s about how your team handles that. I thought our guys handled it really well early in the season. We were able to get in sequence and into gear. That’s always gonna happen. We had a new quarterback last year. We’re gonna have that again. There’s gonna be some growing pains as we grow as a team. The key is, you hope you can grow through wins and not through losses.”

In the season opener against University of Idaho, the numbers weren’t necessarily bad for Oregon — but given the talent on its roster and the fact that it was playing an FCS team, it certainly wasn’t happy about the level it played at in that game.

Idaho was definitely at a higher level than Portland State University, the FCS team that came to Autzen for the opener the year before, the one Oregon demolished 81-7. The fact that it was a one score game until very late in the fourth quarter, and quarterback Dillon Gabriel was sacked three times raised some concerns, given the schedule was only going to get harder.

The following week, Boise State University brought an even bigger challenge to Eugene. The Oregon defense struggled to stop Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty, who rushed for 192 yards and three touchdowns, and the offensive line allowed four sacks on Gabriel. The Ducks improved in the second half and were able to kick a game winning field goal as the clock expired.

“When you look at the end of the season you realize, Boise State was a pretty good team,” Lanning said. “They’re a team that’s playing in the College Football Playoff. You know, Idaho is a good team at their level. Certainly, we want to be able to play to our standard, not base it off of somebody else.”

It goes without saying that the Ducks saw tremendous growth after those games. In Week 3, the offense dominated in a 49-14 win over the Ducks’ in-state rivals, the Oregon State Beavers, and barely a month later, Oregon battled out a 32-31 win over eventual national champions Ohio State in an instant thriller.

This year, Oregon will have a much younger roster, without some of the veteran knowledge that allowed it to ride out the early storm last season. It will face one of the top FCS teams in the country, Montana State University, in the season opener on Aug. 30.

“You always want to start fast,” Lanning said.

From the get go, the Ducks’ defense will aim to reduce the explosive plays on the other side, both in the air and on the ground, and the offensive line needs to hold their ground. Struggling in those areas with a less experienced roster may not result in wins the way it did last year.

The defense will need to pay close attention to wide receiver Taco Dowler, the primary offensive threat for the Bobcats. Similar to Oregon, Montana State has a lot of new pieces to its roster, and the first game of the season will be the opportunity to test the new players for both teams. On the other side, Montana State’s defense relies heavily on its defensive line. If the Ducks can do their job protecting the quarterback, that should create opportunities for some explosive plays on offense.

How the Ducks can handle the first couple games this year will likely be a determining factor in how far this team can go entering their second season in the Big Ten.

FRESHMEN TO WATCH

The Ducks lost experience after last year’s Big Ten Championship. In 2025, freshmen will look to contribute even more.

BY ROWAN SHEA Sports Writer

As Oregon’s pre-season winds down and the season begins on Aug. 30 at Autzen Stadium, the Ducks have shown that their roster has depth in every area; with that depth comes the potential for standout freshman. While they still need to prove themselves on the field, here are six freshmen to look out for this coming season.

#1

DAKORIEN MOORE: WIDE RECEIVER; DUNCANVILLE, TEXAS

Moore is said to be one of — if not the best — freshman right now at Oregon. Moore, a talented multi-sport athlete, has a five-star ranking, is unanimously ranked nationally at first among high school wide receivers and fifth in Texas. Moore’s overall national ranking is ninth. Moore finished his time at Duncanville High School with 204 receptions, 4,113 receiving yards, averaging 20.2 per reception, and had 48 touchdown receptions.

#2

DIERRE HILL JR.: RUNNING BACK; CENTRALIA, ILL.

At 5 ‘11’’, 205 lbs, Hill was a mutli-sport athlete in high school, and a four-star running back from Illinois. Hill Jr. is ranked nationally at 230th by 247 Sports, nationally at RB at 13th, and he ranks sixth coming out of Illinois. Hill Jr.’s career at Althoff Catholic High School ended with his totaling 4376 rushing yards off 287 carries, averaging 15.2 rushing-yards per carry and having 65 rushing-touchdowns through 24 games. Hill also ended high school with 546 receiving yards, averaging 21 yards per reception, and had six touchdowns.

#3

IFY OBIDEGWU: REDSHIRT FRESHMAN CORNERBACK; BALTIMORE, MD.

When Obidegwu, the redshirt freshman who committed to Oregon on May 7, 2023, from Baltimore came out of St. Frances Academy, he was ranked nationally overall at 55th, sixth at the Corner Back position, and first in Maryland. In his senior year, Obidegwu had 61 tackles and three interceptions. Head coach Dan Lanning has said that Obidegwu has developed a better understanding of his role on the team. Obidegwu looks to make his way onto the field this year.

Another redshirt freshman, Moga is back and

#4

LUKE MOGA: REDSHIRT FRESHMAN QUARTERBACK; PHOENIX, ARIZ.

looking to compete for any playing time in an already stacked Quarterback room. The QB room has a large number of true-freshman, but because

Moga has been at Oregon for a year already, he most likely has more of an opportunity to see action than the other freshmen on the team; however, Moga may only see a very small amount. Despite not being in the running for substantial playing time this season, Moga adds talent and depth to the Duck’s QB room. Moga came out of high school known as a dual-threat quarterback, having a 100-meter time of 10.49,, a talented three-star prospect and threw for 4326 yards, 51 touchdowns, and 15 intercep tions.

# 5 #6

BRANDON FINNEY JR.: FRESHMAN DEFENSIVE BACK; OWINGS MILLS, MD.

Finney comes out of the McDonogh School in Maryland as a four-star recruit ranked 47th nationally, eighth at cor nerback and first in the state of Mary land. Finney finished high school having played on both sides of the ball (CB and WR) with 57 total tackles (33 solo, 24 as sisted) and seven interceptions.

NA’EEM OFFORD: FRESHMAN CORNERBACK; BIRMINGHAM, ALA.

Another renowned defensive back who will pair well with Finney out on the field, Offord is a very high ranked recruit coming out of high school at five stars, 17th nationally, third at cor ner-back and first in the state of Alabama. Offord had 73 total tackles (55 solo, 18 assisted), and nine interceptions. Like Finney, Offord also played on the other side of the ball.

Going back to depth, the defensive back room is packed. After adding Purdue transfer Dillon Thieneman, Offord, Finney and Obidegwu may have the talent to be on the field, but most likely won’t be starting this season. Oregon, coming off a phenomenal season, looks to go farther this year. Obidegwu seems to be ready for action in key moments. True freshmen like Dierre Hill Jr. and Dakorien Moore can continue the spark this Or egon team looks to replicate on offense. These freshmen can be key parts of this Oregon team this year and beyond.

(RIGHT) Freshman Quarterback Luke Moga (10) celebrates after scoring a rushing touchdown. The "Green Team" won 28-17 during the Oregon Ducks Spring Game in Autzen Stadium on April 27, 2024. (Kai Kanzer/Emerald)

RANKING ALL 18 BIG TEN FOOTBALL PROGRAMS

In one of the nation’s best conferences, there’s championship contenders, but also basement dwellers. Which are which?

BY OWEN MURRAY Associate Sports Editor

The Big Ten is one of the two best conferences in college football. That doesn’t mean, though, that all 18 members live up to that standard. It’s important to recognize where programs sit in the hierarchy as they begin to chase championships, chances and avoid the chopping block. Here’s my look into how the Big Ten will shake out in 2025:

TIER 1: SUCCESS IS A NECESSITY Penn State, Ohio State and Oregon

The Nittany Lions return some of the most valuable production in the nation, including quarterback Drew Allar and running backs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton. For head coach James Franklin, this is another chance to prove what he hasn’t yet in his decade-plus in State College: that Penn State can cement a slot at the top of college football.

The reigning champions don’t return their quarterback — Will Howard departed for the NFL — but do welcome back arguably the nation’s two best players in wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs. The Buckeyes also lost both coordinators from their national championship run, but have the means to build another strong year.

Oregon doesn’t have the returning production to cement itself as a preseason title favorite — the Ducks lost more than half their starters after going undefeated and winning the Big Ten Championship last season. What buoys them, though, is potentially elite trenches and skill positions (RB Makhi Hughes, TE Kenyon Sadiq and WR Dakorien Moore) that could see breakout years across the board.

TIER 2: CAN THIS QUARTERBACK STACK SUCCESSFUL YEARS? Illinois and Indiana

In Champaign, Luke Altmyer threw for 2,717 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2024 after transferring from the University of Mississippi in 2023. If he can boost a revamped receiving core, the Fighting Illini, who went 10-3 and finished No. 16 in the AP poll last year, could find themselves contending late.

Meanwhile, former Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza takes over the helm from last season’s Cinderella in Bloomington. In 2024, Kurtis Rourke took the Hoosiers all the way to 11 wins and the CFP before heading to the NFL. Head coach Curt Cignetti replaced him with Mendoza, who threw for 3,004 yards as a sophomore at Berkeley last year.

TIER 3: AT LEAST ONE SIDE OF THE BALL HAS REAL POTENTIAL Michigan, Washington and Nebraska

Bryce Underwood, the nation’s top quarterback recruit, is the one to watch in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines’ offensive upside lies with his dual-threat ability. Demond Williams Jr. has that too — plus an elite running back-wide receiver duo in Jonah Coleman and Denzel Boston. Dylan Raiola showed flashes under Matt Rhule in Lincoln, but ended the season with a 13-11 touchdown-to-interception ratio and needs to improve in year two.

TIER 4: SEARCHING FOR A SPARK Iowa, USC and Minnesota

The Hawkeyes have some big games on their schedule — Indiana, Oregon and Penn State — but host all three. Iowa loses star running back Kaleb Johnson and adds for-

mer FCS star Mark Gronowski at quarterback, but needs to show that a new-ish front seven can live up to the defensive standard that they’ve set. USC puts all its eggs in the Jayden Maiava basket while trying to improve defensively, and Darius Taylor will have to carry Minnesota’s offense for the Gophers to succeed.

TIER 5: BIG-TIME QUESTION MARKS Wisconsin, UCLA, Michigan State and Rutgers

The first four of these five face serious questions around the quarterback position — Nico Iamaleava enters in Los Angeles, while Aiden Chiles continues to try to find his place as a Spartan. Rutgers, meanwhile, has the chance to play spoiler when facing Ohio State and Penn State to end the season — but will need to cement a relatively unproven secondary (three projected transfer starters, two sophomores) in order to do so.

TIER 6: PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE Northwestern, Maryland and Purdue

The Terps lost starter Billy Edwards Jr. to conference rivals Rutgers, while Northwestern welcomes former Southern Methodist University backup Preston Stone to the fold. Purdue fired head coach Ryan Walters after he went 1-11 last year and hired University of Nevada, Las Vegas head man Barry Odom, who will have to overcome transfer losses, including star safety Dillon Thieneman.

(Molly McPherson/Emerald)

DEPTH AND DOMINANCE: WHY OREGON’S ROSTER IS BUILT FOR THE LONG HAUL

Despite losing several playmakers to injury and the NFL Draft, the Ducks’ roster thrives on its depth.

BY RACHEL MCCONAGHIE Sports Writer

When the Associated Press released its preseason poll for the 2025 college football season, Oregon’s No. 7 ranking was not a surprise. After last season's Big Ten title win in its first year in the conference — and holding the No. 1 seed in the AP poll for four consecutive weeks — this program has proven its dominance.

At a glance, the predictions of the Ducks’ starting lineup have influenced their No. 7 ranking in the AP preseason poll. While the projected starting lineup is stacked, it's extremely valuable that Oregon has such an extensive roster depth throughout all positions.

That foundation of depth has been reiterated again and again by the Oregon coaching staff. It’s not just a talking point, it’s the identity of a team. The Ducks have built a roster so deep and so competitive that every athlete is treated equally — because in this program, they are.

“(We) develop every single guy to think of themselves as a starter,” Oregon inside linebackers coach Brian Michalowski said. “We do a great job of having rotations at practice… a lot of guys get different experiences with each other, so they're building that cohesiveness."

That philosophy has become crucial, especially in the wake of unfortunate injuries to key players. Star wide receiver Evan Stewart — a leader within the room — suffered a torn patellar tendon during offseason workouts in June. With Stewart’s absence, Oregon has been evaluating throughout fall camp to name their new primary target.

Then, early in fall camp, true freshman defensive back Trey McNutt — a breakout candidate on defense — suffered a broken leg. Oregon head coach Dan Lanning has left the door open for McNutt to return this season, but a lengthy recovery process lies ahead.

In most cases, injuries like these would spark panic. But for the Ducks, they simply open the door for the next wave of talent — and provide opportunities for Oregon’s complex schemes to remain effective, no matter who’s on the field.

“Depth is really important to be a championship football team,” Michalowski said. “To make those long runs to, you know, be healthy throughout the season. That is the thing that I take a lot of pride in is treating everyone like they could be the starter."

“We’ve got a mix of good younger and older players,” Oregon's special teams coordinator Joe Lorig said. “You

when I build those rosters… so that you can be building and always be good in theory rather than kind of having those dips.”

That long-term mentality is why Oregon is not only relevant this season — but positioned to stay that way.

“We’re going to put the best players on the field that help us score as many points as possible so we can win games — we have a lot of capable pieces on offense,” Ross Douglas, Oregon’s wide receivers coach and pass game coordinator said.

With a star-studded roster, a top 10 ranking and a chip on their shoulder, the Ducks are not just hoping to make noise in the Big Ten — they’re planning to dominate it from starters to the second string and beyond.

(BELOW) Wide Recevier Tez Johnson (15) runs out of the tunnel as a part of the "Green Team" during the Oregon Ducks 2024 Spring Game. The "Green Team" won 28-17 during the Oregon Ducks Spring Game in Autzen Stadium on April 27, 2024.

(Kai Kanzer/Emerald)