*Saleruns4/26–5/30/25.Noadditionaldiscountsorcouponsapply.Someadditionalexclusionsmayapply—seeUODuckstore.com/discountsfordetails.
GAMEDAY
GAMEDAY, the Daily Emerald’s football edition, is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit news company at the University of Oregon founded in 1900.
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(On The Cover) Quarterback Dante Moore (5) makes a throw on the run showing off his dual threat ability. The "Green Team" won 28-17 during the Oregon Ducks Spring Game in Autzen Stadium on April 27, 2024. (Kai Kanzer/Emerald)
(Right) Dante Moore (5) takes an extended amount of time at the end of the game to catch up with all his former UCLA teammates and coaches. The Oregon Ducks took on the UCLA Bruins in its first Big Ten Conference game in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA on Sept. 28, 2024. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)
OREGON’S 2024 DRAFT CLASS, ONE YEAR LATER
How the Ducks drafted last year did as rookies and where they’re headed in year two
BY MAX KOEBEL Sports Reporter
The 2025 NFL Draft is upon us and there is a large handful of Ducks expected to hear their names called. This is no exception to previous years. Several Ducks selected in last year’s draft made significant impacts on their new teams as rookies. While some had better seasons than others, all will be looking to take a major step forward in year two.
Bo Nix, Quarterback , Denver Broncos
The only Oregon player taken in the first round, Nix was the sixth quarterback to come off the board at No. 12 overall. He turned out to be exactly what the Broncos had been missing. Since Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning retired in 2016, Denver started thirteen different quarterbacks before drafting Nix. As a 24-yearold rookie with five years of college experience, Nix threw for 3,775 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while winning 10 games. He led the Broncos to their first playoff appearance since 2015, and was one of just two rookie quarterbacks that year to lead his team to the playoffs. Even though Denver was blown out by the heavily favored Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round, it was still a very reassuring season for a team that had suffered for almost a decade. In his second year, there’s no doubt that Nix will look to become a larger threat in the AFC and make a run in the playoffs.
Jackson Powers-Johnson, Offensive Lineman, Las Vegas Raiders
One of the only things that have consistently worked well for the Raiders in recent years has been their offensive line. Powers-Johnson was selected at No. 44 overall and fit right in, shifting between center and both left and right guard. Wherever he was placed, the results were the
Bucky Irving (0) runs the ball during a University of Washington Huskies away match on Oct. 14, 2023.(Eric Becker/ Emerald)
same. In 956 snaps, Powers-Johnson allowed just two sacks and three hits and was penalized 14 times. As Las Vegas looks to build a roster that can compete in the loaded AFC West, there’s no doubt that the offensive line is right where it
Troy Franklin, Wide Receiver,
COMPETITION FOR QB1
BY LILY CRANE Sports Reporter
Many dubbed Dante Moore as the future of the starting quarterback position for Oregon the moment he transferred to the Ducks in 2024. Meanwhile, with all the attention on Moore, redshirt sophomore Austin Novosad continued to improve his game the past two seasons with the program, proving himself to be a worthy competitor for the starting role.
Novosad committed to the Ducks as a consensus fourstar recruit from Dripping Springs, Texas. He led his high school to three straight appearances in the state playoffs, making him a consensus top-20 quarterback in the nation.
The quarterback utilized a redshirt in his first year with Oregon in 2023, but did play in three games. He made his collegiate debut against Portland State University in 2023 while also facing University of Hawai’i and Liberty University in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
Last fall, Novosad took another step in his progression. He played in another three games in his redshirt-freshman season. He now enters the 2025 season with a career total of 42 offensive snaps: 11-for-13 for 59 yards.
Many fans and media members predict Moore to be the next in line for the quarterback position, but Novosad has stayed ready.
Also a redshirt sophomore, Novosad had been a part of several iterations of Oregon football. He said that the players at the position, which consists of Novosad, Moore, Luke Moga, Brock Thomas and Akili Smith Jr., have pushed each other to improve on the field.
"That whole room is pretty close. We go out there and help each other when we need to, and go out there and compete," Novosad said. "We're all trying to make plays and lead to the best of our ability in that room. It's been great."
The Ducks are incorporating a handful of younger players into the offense this season such as wide receiver Dakorien
Jackson Powers-Johnson (58) takes the field during a University of Washington Huskies away match on Oct. 14, 2023. (Eric Becker/ Emerald)
Many people were surprised to see Franklin fall all the way to the fourth round, but in the end, he was able to remain teammates with the quarterback he spent two years playing with in Eugene. Franklin was Nix’s primary target in their final season in Ducks uniforms. He didn’t exactly have a breakout rookie season, recording 30 catches for 317 yards and three touchdowns. Because the Broncos have so much depth at wide receiver, it’s easy for Franklin to get overlooked. There’s no doubt Ducks fans had their hearts wrenched when the lone touchdown in the Broncos’ playoff game was a 43-yard pass from Nix to Franklin. The two of them will certainly look to do that a lot more in year two.
Bucky Irving, Running Back, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
One thing the Buccaneers organization will not need to worry about for a while is the run game. After drafting Irving in the fourth round, they should have all the confidence in the world when sending him onto the field. Irving did face some competition with third year veteran Rachaad White, but after his performance as a rookie, Irving is the one on people’s minds. He rushed for 1,199 yards on 224 carries and recorded 49 receptions for 398 yards along with nine touchdowns. As Tampa Bay looks to maintain its dominance in the NFC South, one thing the fans will look forward to is watching Irving take the ball.
Dante Moore is the predicted starting quarterback for the Ducks in 2025 — but Austin Novosad has stayed ready
Moore. Novosad expressed that having quarterbacks like himself and Moore, who’ve been in college for multiple years and who know the Oregon playbook, has helped get the newer faces “up to speed.”
The redshirt sophomore is one of the longest tenured quarterbacks in the room. He has the rare experience of learning from two Heisman candidates in his first two sea sons: Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel.
“Just seeing Dillon and Bo, both were completely differ ent quarterbacks,” Novosad said. “But I think one thing that was super similar was just their preparation and that’s one thing that I really learned from both of them throughout the two years.”
Head coach Dan Lanning cited the ex perience Novosad gained from backing up Nix and Gabriel as important steps in learning the player he can be.
“I think the guy’s just a winner. He’s become really comfortable in our system,” Lanning said at a spring media availability. “He understands it, and I think that Coach Stein and the offensive staff do a good job of continuing to push that, but he’s just really level-headed.”
Novosad said his leadership and “execution of a faster-paced offense” are what’s improved since his arrival at Oregon. Oth er players, such as wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr., have also no ticed his improvements, with Bryant saying he’s become more vocal. But Novosad’s still refining his craft.
"It's been the same all three years, elevating your game ev ery offseason," Novosad said. "This spring, I think just lead ing the team and leading the offense has been a big thing for me. I'm really understanding the playbook now, so you're out there trying to execute at the highest level you can."
In addition to leadership and execution, Novosad said that performing well in the spring game this weekend is another one of his goals for the offseason.
(BELOW) Austin Novosad passes the ball. The University of Oregon Ducks Football team defeated the Portland State University Vikings in a home match at Autzen
Troy Franklin evades a tackle en route to the end zone in a home match against the Portland State University Vikings on Sept. 2, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)
READY TO SCO
How has attending Oregon helped shape players for the next level?
BY JOE KRASNOWSKI Sports Reporter
For some schools, preparing their players for the next level is a cliché. For universities like Oregon, it's a fact.
Oregon's ascent to the elite of college football under head coach Dan Lanning has been rapid — and there’s no one reason to diagnose why.
Lanning and co. have been elite recruiters, landing classes near the top of the national rankings each year since his arrival.
Lanning’s ascent has been drastic, and the result of it has been the same no matter how players have come to Eugene — attending Oregon has helped shape players for the next level better than ever.
A program record eight Ducks were selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, and recently The Athletic’s Dane Brugler projected in a mock draft that 10 Ducks would be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Records continue to be broken, and with the 2025 Ducks’ team lauded as one of the most talented in Oregon history, there’s no real reason to see why that should change anytime soon.
“We love seeing guys reach their goals
and aspirations,” Lanning said after the draft in 2024. “We just talked about that. Your habits have to line up with that. But you could see a lot of guys' habits for our team last year lined up for them to have that opportunity to get drafted.”
Those habits, combined with the elite coaching and next-level facilities that Oregon presents, have resulted in Eugene being one of the nation’s top destinations for development.
One of those draft prospects, Marcus Harper II — a former three-star lineman from Flossmoor, Illinois, stuck to Oregon despite a coaching change and embraced the coaching he received in Eugene. Now, his bet has paid off — with the lineman projected to either be a late-round selection or a sure-fire free agent signing in the draft.
“The coaching at Oregon is tremendous,” Harper said. “I always respected it; they are real with you and I’m a very transparent person.”
Helping identify undervalued prospects and develop them into some of the best players in the country has been a calling card of Lanning’s as much as the NIL checkbook and recruiting prowess.
What Lanning has done is even more
WHAT’S THE POINT OF A SPRING GAME?
In the wake of many teams choosing to forgo hosting a spring game, why would the Ducks choose to host their iteration of it?
BY JACK LAZARUS Sports Associate Editor
Have you ever wondered what it’d be like to watch the University of Oregon’s football practice?
Well, look no further than the 2025 Spring Game.
For those not familiar with the concept, each college football program has to trot out their entire team and showcase what everyone has been working on during the offseason as well as showcase the newcomers and how they fit in. It is done through what would, in normal context, be called a team scrimmage.
The two teams are split in half and go against each other as if it were a normal game during the fall.
Spoiler alert: it isn’t.
The concept of spring games has bugged me for quite some time. I simply cannot find any other reason they would be forced on schools other than to raise money for the programs — Big Ten Network bought the rights for Oregon’s game — and allow students an opportunity to run through the tailgating motions while football isn’t actually going on.
Nobody gains anything from this aside from the media members covering the Ducks, as each practice so far this spring has been closed off to those outlets. That isn’t a normal thing either, as many major programs leave certain spring practices open to the media.
Which is why it’s surprising that Oregon even does this in the first place; it’s anti-Dan Lanning at its core to show what’s been going on behind closed doors to the media and now the general public as well.
Also, teams such as the University of Colorado Buffaloes and the Syracuse University Orange tried to petition the NCAA to do a joint practice, which is effectively a scrimmage between two different rosters.
The NCAA denied this motion, however. According to ESPN, 19 power four pro-
grams cancelled their 2025 spring game for reasons ranging from stadium construction in the University of Missouri’s case to just the need for a break for the University of Texas Longhorns.
University of Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule mentioned how certain players that performed well at its spring game immediately received offers to transfer to programs offering more money.
Arizona State University, coached by former Oregon offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham, will hold a fanfest and a practice open to the media.
That’s what these games have become anyways: just public practices.
There’s no need to market this team to the city of Eugene as the Ducks are coming off winning the Big Ten Championship, and the team actively goes against Lanning’s desire to go to great lengths to keep information about his team close to his chest.
For Oregon, their bench players are now promoted to starters, but these players saw ample playing time in the Ducks’ various blowouts during the 2024 season. Simply put, there aren’t many players that fans will be seeing for the first time.
These players also risk injury — albeit from what would be a freak accident.
All things considered, Oregon doesn’t need a spring game. It adds no benefit to the sustained success the Ducks have had under Coach Lanning, especially considering how much Oregon has benefited from keeping information from getting to the general public.
The game has a noted positive impact on recruiting as it gives recruits the opportunity to experience a low-pressure, gameday atmosphere, but that’s about it.
Well, that and Matt Kearny is playing — I wonder if he’ll play that one song? — so it can’t all be bad.
(ABOVE) The Oregon Football team competes in its annual spring game on April 23, 2022 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)
(LEFT) Quarterback Bo Nix (10) looks to throw the ball down the field. The Oregon Ducks football team took on the Washington State Cougars on Oct. 21, 2023, in Eugene. (Molly McPherson/Emerald)
DANTE TO DAKORIEN: THE MOORE-TOMOORE CONNECTION
The future is bright for the Oregon Ducks’ offense
BY BECK PARSONS Sports Reporter
Dante Moore’s ascension to his presumed role as Oregon’s starting quarterback has been a journey three years in the making. Although the April 26 spring game won’t count as Dante’s first Oregon start, it may give us a look ahead at the future of the Ducks’ offense: The potentially lethal connection between Dante and true freshman wide receiver Dakorien Moore (no relation).
Dante was rated the class of 2023’s thirdbest quarterback prospect and fourthbest overall player by 247Sports. When the five-star recruit committed to Oregon in July of 2022, it seemed as if a beautiful and prosperous relationship was blossoming before Ducks fans’ very eyes.
On Dec. 19, 2022, two days before Early National Signing Day, the breakup happened. Dante flipped his commitment to UCLA and signed his letter of intent.
There were a variety of factors that led to the split. Dante was reportedly enticed by the professional experience of Bruins head coach Chip Kelly and was also concerned by the recent departure of Oregon’s then-offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham, who left a month earlier to become Arizona State’s head coach.
Dante also wanted to start as a freshman and believed UCLA’s planned 2024 transition to the Big Ten would help his brand. "The TV time and exposure is going to be great for me to market myself as being a quarterback and being an athlete at this point," Dante said to ESPN following the switch.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go exactly as planned in Los Angeles.
Dante started five games (Weeks 2-7) for UCLA in 2023, of which the Bruins won three. Although he showed flashes of greatness (17 of 27 for 290 yards and 3 touchdowns in Week 2 earned him Pac-12 Freshman of the Week), Dante generally struggled as a true freshman.
Dante finished his rookie season with five starts and nine total appearances. Though he led redshirt sophomore Ethan Garbers in attempts, completions and passing yards (114 of 213 for 1,610 yards compared to Garbers’ 98 of 146 for 1,136 yards), Garbers’ completion percentage of
67.1% far outpaced Dante’s less impressive 53.5%. Both players threw 11 touchdowns, but Dante’s nine interceptions dwarfed Garbers’ three.
Dante could have chosen to stay in Los Angeles for another season, where with a little development, he’d likely have beaten out Garbers for the starting job. However, sweeping coaching and roster changes were imminent for UCLA, so Dante entered the transfer portal in November 2023.
A month later, he officially transferred to the University of Oregon. He then redshirted in 2024, preserving his three remaining years of eligibility. Now a 6’3, 210-pound redshirt sophomore, Dante is widely expected to be Oregon’s quarterback of the future.
“Bo Nix was a Heisman finalist. Dillon (Gabriel) was a Heisman finalist. We have guys that have come here and performed that are really high-level. Dante has all those abilities,” head coach Dan Lanning said before also noting the talents of fellow Oregon quarterback Austin Novosad. “I’m excited to see what (Dante) does, but he knows and I know he hasn’t done it yet.”
Though Lanning hasn’t publicly committed to a starting quarterback, former Ducks receiver Tez Johnson made his feelings on Dante apparent at last season’s Rose Bowl media day.
“Dante Moore? He’ll be a Heisman finalist next year, 100%,” Johnson said. “It’s something you ain’t seen yet. That boy can throw a ball like no other. I’ve never seen anything like it. He’s so ready.”
If Dante does indeed raise college football’s most prestigious individual award on Dec. 13, it will almost certainly be the result of a dynamic partnership with college football’s next great freshman wide receiver prospect: Dakorien Moore of Duncanville, Texas.
Dakorien originally committed to Louisiana State University in August of 2023, before even playing his senior year at famed Duncanville High School. However, in April 2024, Dakorien decommitted from LSU. He then made four official visits across four weekends, the last of which saw him travel to Eugene for a visit with the Ducks on June 21, 2024.
Less than three weeks later, Dakorien committed to Oregon. His 247Sports Composite ranking of 0.9981 made him the second-highest-rated prospect in program history behind only 2022 first-round pick Kayvon Thibodeaux (rated 0.9987 in 2019).
"The reason I chose Oregon is because I want to be different," Dakorien told 247Sports' Mike Roach following his commitment. "I want to be a part of something legendary. I see coach Lanning building a program that will win a national championship.”
College football’s four major recruiting services (ESPN, 247Sports, On3 and Rivals) unanimously named Dakorien the best wide receiver prospect in the class of 2025. The 5’11, 182-pound sensation was described by 247Sports’
Gabe Brooks as an “ultra-productive receiver who provides high-volume consistency and explosive playmaking.”
Dakorien’s high school tape is chock-full of highlights, but none come close to topping his game-winning reception at this year’s Polynesian Bowl all-star game. With the score tied 21-21 and less than two minutes remaining, Dakorien’s Makai team lined up at their own 25-yard line with a chance to lead a game-winning drive. Instead, they only needed one play.
Dakorien ran a deep post route over the middle. Fifty yards downfield, he leapt into the air, extending between two defenders to make a mind-blowing one-handed reception. Dakorien then stuck the landing, shrugged off a tackle, made both defenders miss and sprinted 25 yards down the sideline for the kind of touchdown you’d struggle to replicate in a video game.
Historically, college fans wait at least a year to see a new receiving recruit play on Saturdays. Most freshmen redshirt their first year, allowing them to improve for a season without sacrificing eligibility. However, the 2024 season saw several true freshmen wideouts make a difference at the highest level.
17-year-old Ryan Williams couldn’t stop going viral at the University of Alabama, and Oregon fans won’t soon forget what Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith accomplished against the Ducks in 2024. Now, Ducks fans are hoping Dakorien can make a similar impact.
According to Dante, who assumed a leadership role this offseason, Dakorien is already “stepping up” in the locker room. Dante also vouched for the freshman’s abilities on the football field.
“He’s doing what’s advertised,” Dante said of Dakorien following spring practice on April 10. “He’s true to his talent.”
Dakorien holds Dante in the same high regard.
“I think (Dante) will win the Heisman this year,” Dakorien said on The Pivot Podcast with Ryan Clark. Saturday’s spring game will offer Ducks fans an exciting chance to see their stars of the future in action. However, the spring game divides the Ducks into the Green and Yellow teams, which could temporarily separate the two Moores. Even if Dante and Dakorien don’t play together this spring, it seems only a matter of time until No. 5 and No. 1 first combine for six points.
(ABOVE) Dante Moore (5) passes at an Oregon football practice. (Spencer So/ Emerald)
(LEFT) Quarterback Dante Moore (5) makes a throw on the run showing off his dual threat ability. The "Green Team" won 28-17 during the Oregon Ducks Spring Game in Autzen Stadium on April 27, 2024. (Kai Kanzer/Emerald)
(RIGHT) Backup quarterback, Dante Moore, walks into the Rose Bowl for the first time since transferring out from UCLA, where he was set to start. The Oregon Ducks took on the UCLA Bruins in its first Big Ten Conference game in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA on Sept. 28, 2024.
(Jonathan Suni/ Emerald)
I’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. HE’S SO READY.
- Tez Johnson, former Ducks receiver
“ “
DEPTH IN THE DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD
Oregon lost both starting safeties to the NFL Draft, but looks poised
It’s not often that a team can lose both starters at a position and still feel confident. But don’t sleep on Oregon’s secondary, which lost 2024 starting duo Kobe Savage and Tysheem Johnson — yet looks ready to compete in 2025. Savage and Johnson provided remarkable stability last year, but both declared for the NFL Draft and left the Ducks without a
Oregon, though, welcomes a stacked class that includes Purdue transfer Dillon Thieneman and blue-chip recruits Na’eem Offord and Trey McNutt. The Ducks returned exciting talent, too, including second-year athletes Aaron Flowers, Peyton Woodyard and Kingston Lopa. They’re more than ready to take the next step,
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning called Thieneman “an
“His work ethic is like no other guy I’ve ever coached,” Oregon
“His work ethic (impressed me),” redshirt-freshman safety Lopa said of Thieneman. “I’m not going to lie. I’ve never really played with somebody like him — just always ready to work, ready to find something new. He’s a good person too, outside
It’s clear that he has their trust, but he’s learning, too. Thieneman has spent this spring as both the field and boundary safety, he said — last year, those spots were covered by Johnson and Savage, both of whom declared for the 2025 NFL Draft ahead Johnson started 13 games in 2024 — his second season at Oregon after transferring from Ole Miss. He led the Ducks in their Big Ten Championship win over Penn State with nine solo tackles. Savage, meanwhile, started 14 games in his lone season in Eugene. He finished third on the team with 64 total tackles — including three games where he
The Ducks’ incoming safety class isn’t short of talent, either. Lanning hauled in four-star McNutt from Shaker Heights, Ohio, while also grabbing a commitment from five-star recruit Offord, who entered as a corner but could see time at safety. Both provide potential first-year upside after playing significant snaps in high-profile high school games.
McNutt stayed committed to Oregon after verbally agreeing in August 2024. He’s the No. 4 player in Ohio, per 247Sports, and the No. 4 safety nationally. He’s listed at 6’0’’ and 180 pounds (taller than both Johnson and Savage).
Offord, meanwhile, is 247Sports’ No. 1 player in Alabama (the 17thbest nationally), and checks in slightly larger than McNutt — 6’1’’ and 185 pounds. He was committed to Ohio State until December 2024, when he flipped to the Ducks — his half-brother, running back Makhi Hughes, also
The depth chart gets even deeper with Oregon’s returning recruits. Flowers (two games played in 2024), Woodyard (14 games) and Lopa (six games) all look to take a second-year step with spots open in the defensive backfield.
“Our goals are really just to communicate across the board,” Lopa said after a spring practice. “We’re trying to get everybody to play fast. That’s what Lanning says a lot. Trying to get calls out as fast as we can and get
The redshirt freshman had high praise for McNutt, too, who he called, “a dude,” and said that he’s, “ahead of where a lot of freshmen were last year
The depth chart is still undecided, so in the Spring Game, keep an eye on the pairings — who’s playing with who, which players get time and whether any players slide into a new position. Any way it’s mixed, the
(Jonathan Suni/Emerald)
Crossword
Element in a
Manhattan, e.g.
Botanical anchor 60 “The Hunchback of __ Dame” 61 “How We Do (Party)” singer Ora
Heavy book
Again and again
“Shake on it!” 65 Risked a ticket, say
Short-lived fashions
1 Job detail, briefly
Mental resolve
Shawkat of “Being the Ricardos”
Purchase at a reptile shop
“__ yourself”
Fantasy trilogy, initially
8 Medium with powers
Snoozes 50 “Veni, vidi, __”
“Life __ short to skip dessert”
9 Will Smith sci-fi film set in 2035
10 Big East school in Pennsylvania, to fans
11 Family group
12 Maintained
14 Production company started by Ball and Arnaz
21 Clouseau’s rank: Abbr.
22 Pain in the neck
25 Comic actor David
26 Meerkat in “The Lion King”
27 Tobaccoless smokes
29 Gulf Coast wading bird
30 Tick or tock
31 Skin care product
33 Part of FTW
34 “V for Vendetta” actor Stephen
35 “Lemme think”
39 Squeal when a bug lands in one’s hair
41 Soft-shell __
42 School assignments
43 Bic’s __ Stic
44 Emphatic refusal
46 Absolutely amazing
49 Do some poking around
50 Cast a ballot
51 Nesting creature
52 Garfield’s slobbering housemate
Sudoku
53 Sephora rival
54 “On the __ Up”: Angie Thomas novel about a teenage rapper
55 Flour for roti and naan
56 Hopping mad 57 Perspective, figuratively
URFTI
DEFENDING THE TITLE
Who stands in the Ducks’ way of going backto-back in the Big Ten?
BY BRADY RUTH Sports Editor
The Ducks had a phenomenal first season in the Big Ten and have a lot to build on moving forward in their new conference. But with new successes come new responsibilities. Oregon now assumes the role of top dog and the king everyone wants to dethrone.
That’ll be the part Oregon plays this fall, and 12 teams will look to take its crown. While the season is still months away, the Ducks’ 2025 opponents are set. Let’s take a look at the slate that Dan Lanning’s Ducks look to conquer.
Non-conference Competition
The Ducks’ will play a trio of games against teams outside of the Big Ten. Oregon starts its season at home against Montana State. Despite being an FCS school, the Bobcats — like the Ducks — entered last season’s playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the FCS bracket. Montana State will be an incredible early-season test for the Ducks to see how prepared they are for FBS competition down the road. The Bobcats shouldn’t be overlooked. After all, Idaho sure gave Oregon a run for its money in last year’s season opener.
Oregon will also play host to a pair of OSUs. Both the Oklahoma State University Cowboys and Oregon State Beavers will attempt to tame a rowdy Autzen crowd. The Cowboys are coming off a rough 2024 season and will look to rebuild in 2025, providing a beatable opponent for the Ducks, who are 1-0 all-time against Okla homa State. Then, the little-brother Bea vers come to town. Oregon State hasn’t found a win at Autzen
Stadium since 2007, and there’s no real reason to think that’ll change in 2025.
Road Warriors
All five of the Ducks’ road games will come against Big Ten teams next season. Their first road test will be sandwiched between the OSU games when Oregon heads to Northwestern on Sept. 13. Two weeks later, the Ducks will face their toughest opponent of 2025: Penn State on the road. Happy Valley is a brutal place to play and the Ducks will find out firsthand in late September. Lanning and his staff will have to have their squad ready to compete at the highest level just four games into the season.
Oregon will also face Rutgers for the first time ever, along with Iowa in early November and Washington on the road to finish the season.
Autzen Opponents
One of the finest establishments in college sports will play host to four conference games this fall. Indiana makes its second all-time trip to Autzen Stadium on Oct. 11. The Hoosiers are coming off a remarkable 2024 season and could prove to be a ranked opponent come conference play. The Wisconsin Badgers haven’t played in Eugene since 2021 and will look to create as tense a home crowd in Eugene as the Ducks created in Madison last season. The Minnesota Golden Gophers boast a 3-1 all-time record over the Ducks, but will make their first trip to Eugene in November.
The Ducks’ reloaded defensive front
After losing some of its most productive players on the defensive line, Oregon has talent in abundance waiting in the wings
BY JACK LAZARUS Sports Associate Editor
The Ducks remain stacked on the defensive line coming into the 2025 season.
After losing some of the team’s most prolific producers up front, Oregon reloads with a healthy mix of young talent and returning leaders.
made much sweeter by the fact that he left the USC Trojans.
Bear Alexander — who is aptly named — adds power and size that the Ducks desperately needed to replace with the loss of Harmon and Caldwell.
Oregon’s senior day will come against that team from Los Angeles that Oregon fans love to hate: USC. The Ducks have protected their home turf from the Trojans since 2011, but that’ll be a marquee matchup toward the end of Oregon’s quest for re-
The Ducks will have two bye weeks in 2025, one after the Penn State game and the other after facing Wisconsin. Oregon will have two weeks to prepare for both the Indiana and Iowa matchups. Something to note about the Ducks’ schedule is that they’ll have to face four teams — Penn State, Indiana, Minnesota and Iowa — following their respective byes.
2024 was a thrilling season to be an Oregon fan, but 2025 offers exciting matchups, too. Autzen Stadium has plenty of action-packed gamedays to look forward to in the fall.
In 2024, Oregon’s defensive line was led by highly touted NFL prospects such as Derrick Harmon, Jamaree Caldwell and Jordan Burch, and all played a major role in leading the team emotionally as well.
The Ducks finished third in the Big Ten in sacks with 40.0 in 2024 behind just Penn State and Ohio State, who each played two more games than Oregon.
Defensive line coach Tony Tuioti does not worry about this 2025 D-line’s ability to take on the challenge of matching that.
“Pressure is a privilege and all our guys come to Oregon because of that. We don’t shy away from pressure,” Tuioti said to GoDucks. “We understand that to be great we have to work hard and every single day we strive to do that in practice.”
The leader of the group this season will be a familiar face.
The Ducks have one of the finest defensive ends in the country returning for his junior season in Matayo Uiagalelei. Uiagalelei finished the season with 10.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss, which ranked him as third and eighth in the Big Ten, respectively.
Uiagalelei will step into a new role as a team leader, and one which he has never had to take on in his career.
“Leadership is new for me. I was never a vocal guy in high school; I always just led by example, but I’ve definitely been pushed outside my comfort zone this year to talk more and express more to the team,” Uiagalelei said to GoDucks. “It started in (the defensive line) room and we got some young guys in there, so it’s kind of easy to lead and that transfers over to the defense and in the team.”
Alongside Uiagalelei, Oregon added one of the most sought-after defensive players in the transfer portal, which was
“Adding Bear, he’s so twitchy, he’s powerful, he’s strong and he adds another layer for us to be able to have a player that can create havoc,” Tuioti said. “You want to have big bodies that can take on double teams and be able to play combination blocks”
Alexander redshirted last season, but returns to the field with a reinvigorated energy in Eugene.
Along with experience, the Ducks hope to gain much needed production from underclassmen. Elijah Rushing, a former five-star recruit and the No. 26 ranked prospect in the class of 2024, will see more opportunities this season, according to Tuioti.
Tuioti also mentioned another class of 2024 prospect as a key player going into the 2025 season.
“By the end of the season, Aydin Breland was our best interior pass rusher. He’s really coming along and I’m excited about what he’s able to do for us,” Tuioti said.
Breland was a four-star recruit, and created chaos in his own right as a big 6’5” 295-pound wrecking ball in the middle. The true sophomore didn’t fill up the stat sheet in his limited number of snaps last season, but Breland will have the opportunity to make his presence felt in 2025.
The Ducks lost a good portion of one of their best units in 2024, but going into 2025, they show no signs of slowing down. As per usual, head coach Dan Lanning and his staff simply need to reload and continue the great work this unit has demonstrated over the past few seasons.
(ABOVE) Matayo Uiagalelei (10) and Jaeden Moore (56) warmup before taking on the Washington Huskies. No. 1 Oregon defeats Washington 49-21 for an undefeated regular season at Autzen Stadium on Nov. 30, 2024. (Alyssa Garcia/Emerald)
(LEFT) Tez Johnson soaks in the moment after being named the Big Ten Championship MVP on Dec. 7, 2024, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. (Jonathan Suni/ Emerald)
