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USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Where Oregon Ducks stand in AP Preseason Top 25 Poll
In just under three weeks, the Oregon Ducks will play an actual football game. Some questions will be answered in that home opener against Montana State. We'll all find out how good the Oregon defense really is and how deep they run. We'll also see what kind of chemistry Dante Moore has with the receiving group, even without Evan Stewart in the mix. Despite some heavy roster turnover from a year ago, there are high expectations for the 2025 team, and another one has just been dropped today. The Associated Press dropped its preseason Top 25 ranks, and the Ducks are a respectable No. 7. Although with that high ranking, Oregon isn't even the top-ranked Big Ten team. Penn State (No. 2) and Ohio State (No. 3) are ranked above the Ducks. The Ducks were ranked No. 3 in the first AP poll of last season, but that was a rarity. The last time Oregon was a Top 10 team entering the season before 2024 was in 2020 when they were No. 9 coming into the strangest seasons of college football ever. One can expect Oregon to rise quickly in the poll as the Ducks play through the schedule. While there are a bunch of traps within that schedule, the only team that shines above the rest is that Sept. 27 night game at Penn State. It could be a game that features two Top 5 teams in the nation. Oregon, somehow, misses the Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines on the schedule, but fans are hoping that rematch with Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship game comes to fruition. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
30-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oregon Ducks' top position battles to monitor in fall camp for 2025
It's been a long offseason in Eugene as the Oregon Ducks look to get back on the field and defend their title as the Big Ten Champions after a remarkable 13-0 regular season and No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. A lot has changed since last year, with 10 Ducks heading to the NFL and a significant amount of roster turnover. With many players graduating, a new guard is coming to Eugene and looking to uphold the standard that has been set in Eugene. With that new-look roster comes a lot of competition as players try to earn starting spots on the depth chart. We saw in the spring how competitive many of these position battles will be, and now, with fall camp starting on Wednesday, we will continue to see the battles play out as we head into Week 1. So, where should our attention be focused as we look to see players jockey for position? Let's take a look at our most intriguing position battles to monitor throughout fall camp. The Entire Oregon Ducks WR Room The Oregon Ducks' wide receiver room was going to have some major turnover going into the 2025 season even before injury news came. Then, once it was announced that Evan Stewart would miss a significant amount of time with a knee injury, things go thrown more into question. Early on, it appears that true freshman Dakorien Moore will lead the way. He has turned a lot of heads early on in his tenure as a Duck, especially in the spring game. The real question is about who will step up around Moore. Kyler Kasper or Jurrion Dickey? Jeremiah McClellan or Justius Lowe? Malik Benson or Gary Bryant Jr? We could write an entire article on the intricate position battles within the WR room as a whole, so I chose just to mention the entire room here and try to go into detail. At the X position, we originally projected that Evan Stewart would get the nod, but with his injury, that role is now open for another burner, potentially Kasper or McClellan. At the Z position, it will be fascinating to see if incoming Florida State transfer Benson can take over, beating out Lowe for the top spot. You could also have a high-upside player like McClellan in this conversation. And then we have one of the most intriguing battles in the slot. Will it be the veteran, Bryant Jr., in his final year of eligibility, or true freshman phenom, Moore, the No. 1 WR in the 2025 class? There is so much talent in this room that watching players jockey for position and try to grab starting roles will be fascinating this spring. Makhi Hughes vs. Noah Whittington With Jordan James off to the NFL, there is a lead back spot to fill in Oregon's offense, and a pair of incredibly deserving players looking to take over. Noah Whittington has been in Eugene for three seasons, splitting time with James and Bucky Irving, so it would be no surprise to see him step up and fill the RB1 role. Of course, the Ducks also went into the transfer portal and landed former Tulane Green Wave star Makhi Hughes, one of the top RBs available this year. Hughes has a pair of 1,000-yard seasons under his belt, and over 2,700 total yards and 22 TDs in his two-year career. Seeing him come to Eugene and quickly become a star wouldn't be a surprise. I also wouldn't be surprised to see the Ducks adopt a running back-by-committee approach, much like they did with Irving and Whittington a couple of years ago. Dante Moore vs. Austin Novosad Oregon has had elite quarterback play over the past few years, sending Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel to New York City as Heisman Trophy finalists. It's safe to say that expectations are high for the next guy, with hopes that he will uphold the standard of success in Eugene. So who will that next guy be? Dante Moore and Austin Novosad are set to go head-to-head this fall and try to jockey for the top spot. The prevailing thought is that Moore will ultimately win the job, as there has been a lot of buzz from former players about his high ceiling, but don't discredit Novosad and what he brings to the table. Lanning won't name a starter until Week 1, but we can try to read the tea leaves and see who is making a strong impression in fall camp over the next few weeks. The Entire Oregon Ducks CB Room Much like the competition in the wide receiver room, there are a million ways you could go in the cornerback room when looking at the many position battles. With Jabbar Muhammad, Nikko Reed, and Dontae Manning graduating, Oregon will have a pair of new starters in 2025. Will it be Jahlil Florence or Northwestern transfer Theran Johnson? What about Ify Obidegwu, Dakoda Fields, or Sione Laulea? All of them are former highly-rated recruits who have been working their way up the depth chart. And then you have the new, young guard: 5-star Na'eem Offord, 4-star Brandon Finney Jr., and 4-star Dorian Brew would surprise nobody by making waves in spring practice. Like the WR room, this position group has unlimited talent, but we need to see who steps up and starts leading the way over the next month. Matthew Bedford vs. Dave Iuli The offensive line will look quite a bit different for Oregon this year. The Ducks are losing starters Josh Conerly Jr., Ajani Cornelius, Marcus Harper, and Nishad Strother to the NFL. While center Iapani Laloulu returns, the pieces around him will be different. At left tackle, the expectation is that Nevada transfer Isaiah World will step in as the starter. At left guard, USC transfer Immanuel Pregnon should take over. Over at the right tackle, it's not hard to pencil in Texas State transfer Alex Harkey as the starter, but at right guard, there may be a competition. Last year, the Ducks brought Matthew Bedford from Indiana to fill a starting guard spot, but a preseason injury held him out. Now healthy, he should be ready to step into that starting role. The Ducks also have Dave Iuli, who got some good run last year at the guard spot as a rotational player. Two highly capable players, and one spots to fill. We'll see who comes out on top after fall camp. Peyton Woodyard vs. Kingston Lopa vs. Aaron Flowers Purdue transfer Dillon Thieneman will undoubtedly lock down one starting safety position, but who plays alongside him will be interesting to see. The Ducks have several young guys capable of a more prominent role, but at the top of the list are Peyton Woodyard, Aaron Flowers, and Kingston Lopa. All three are bigger-bodied players who have high upside. Lopa got some good experience playing in the Big Ten Championship game last year, and the Ducks also used Woodyard a lot in special teams as a true freshman. Meanwhile, Aaron Flowers was one of the stars of the show in the spring game last season. This battle could go either way at the moment, but I can't wait to see how it plays out. Da'Jaun Riggs vs. Jayden Limar We already talked about the running back battle between Makhi Hughes and Noah Whittington for the RB1 spot, but I am also very interested to see how Jayden Limar and Da'Jaun Riggs battle for the RB3 spot. A year ago, we saw Limar serve as the third back behind Whittington and Jordan James, but there seems to be a chance that he gets leapfrogged by the redshirt freshman. In limited action last year, Riggs looked explosive out of the backfield, rushing 11 times for 82 yards and a touchdown. I don't think that Riggs will take over in a predominant role in the backfield this season, but it wouldn't surprise me if he ate into Limar's limited role and became a more significant weapon in the offense. Jadon Canady vs. Daylen Austin Going into the offseason, it looked like Daylen Austin was a sure-fire starter at the nickel cornerback position after Brandon Johnson's graduation. However, the Ducks got Jadon Canady in the transfer portal. He will contend for that starting spot. It will be interesting to see how both players play throughout fall camp, and what the hierarchy is at the position going into the summer. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
22-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking the top eight Big Ten football NIL Valuations for 2025
Being able to compensate college athletes over the last few years has changed the landscape of college sports, most notably the revenue behemoth that is college football. Name, Image and Likeness has helped usher in a new era of bidding wars and recruiting efforts that didn't exist just less than a decade ago. And now, with the House Settlement, things will change even more. Especially at a place like Ohio State that has a huge athletic department and a massive budget. But NIL is still in practice, and there are still athletes getting paid for the usage of their name, so it's a big deal. We always hear about the astronomical figures the top-end stars are pulling in, but there are smaller ones as well. However, the multi-million dollar contracts aren't as prevalent as one would think. In fact, we're ranking the top Big Ten NIL valuations, and there are fewer than ten that make the list worth mentioning. Here's a list of the top eight NIL valuations according to On3 in the Big Ten, ranked from least to most expensive. You may be surprised by what and who is on this list., and of course, the bigger programs with the most money like Ohio State appear on this list more than some that do not at all. No. 8 - Evan Stewart, Wide Receiver | Oregon Ducks National Rank - No. 25 Stewart had a great year last season, but played second fiddle to Tez Johnson in star power. This year, it should be him as the No. 1 threat and player personality many will follow. No. 7 - Nick Singleton, Running Back | Penn State Nittany Lions National Rank - No. 21 Singleton is entering his senior year and is part of a running back tandem that should be very dangerous this season. He's a star running back for Penn State, and that alone garners attention and a pretty significant NIL package. No. 6 - Nico Iamaleava, Quarterback | UCLA Bruins National Rank - No. 19 Nico is well-known after having a fantastic season last year with Tennessee. He is one of the most recognizable quarterbacks with all the potential he possesses with his dual-threat ability, and now he'll be doing his work out in Westwood for UCLA. No. 5 - Dylan Raiola, Quarterback | Nebraska Cornhuskers National Rank - No. 17 Raiola's commitment was highly publicized. He first committed to Ohio State, then Georgia, before finally landing at Nebraska, where he had family ties. He had a very impressive, though a bit inconsistent freshman campaign and should be poised for a continuation and further breakout in 2025. No. 4 - Caleb Downs, Safety | Ohio State Buckeyes National Rank - No. 15 Downs came to Ohio State via the transfer portal after becoming a freshman All-American at Alabama. He had a stellar sophomore campaign in Columbus and is a fan favorite. He might be the best defender in all of college football, playing for arguably the most-followed college football program. That all translates to a massive NIL package. No. 3 - Bryce Underwood, Quarterback | Michigan Wolverines National Rank - No. 10 There is a ton of hype for the No. 1 quarterback coming out of high school, and Michigan is hoping he makes good on all of it. There was a lot of buzz surrounding his recruitment, and he has many folks following what he might do at the college level, even though he has yet to do anything in Ann Arbor. No. 2 - Drew Allar, Quarterback | Penn State Nittany Lions National Rank - No. 8 Allar was a five-star quarterback coming out of Ohio before committing to play for Penn State. Though he has yet to win the biggest of games, he has a big arm and is the face of the Nittany Lions' chances at not only making the College Football Playoff, but going on a run to a national championship. No. 1 - Jeremiah Smith, Wide Receiver | Ohio State Buckeyes National Rank - No. 3 Everyone knows Smith. He was an absolute star who flashed on the scene for Ohio State as a freshman after being ranked as the top overall recruit in the 2024 class. He more than made good on all that buzz and is arguably the best player in college football returning for two more seasons, still in Columbus. He is adored in Central Ohio and feared across the rest of the country. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Oregon's Evan Stewart Has 4-Word Message After Season-Ending Injury
Oregon's Evan Stewart Has 4-Word Message After Season-Ending Injury originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Oregon Ducks are coming off one of their best seasons in the history of their football program. They ran the table in the regular season, which was particularly impressive when you take into account that it was their first season in the Big Ten Conference. They were pitted against some of the best, including the Ohio State Buckeyes. Advertisement The Ducks thrillingly took that game and left that game with many around the country believing they were the best team in college football. They went on to defeat the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Big Ten Championship Game and were awarded the No. 1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff. Dillon Gabriel and Evan Stewart of the Oregon Ducks© Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images Oregon's Evan Stewart has 4-word message after season-ending injury The Oregon Ducks' offense was one of the best in college football this past season with Dillon Gabriel at the helm. During his lone season at Oregon, Gabriel tied Case Keenum's record for career passing touchdowns with 155. However, the Ducks fell to the Buckeyes in a rematch in the Rose Bowl. Advertisement While Gabriel was impressive at the helm of the offense, he did a solid job of spreading the ball around, getting multiple players involved. No Ducks pass catcher finished with even 900 yards, but saw four players finish with 40-plus receptions. The Ducks will be without one of those key receivers after Evan Stewart recently suffered a torn patellar tendon. Following the injury, Stewart had a four-word message for Ducks fans. "Ouuu we gon brb," Stewart said on his Instagram story. The message could mean a multitude of things. He could be hinting at a comeback or using it as motivation that he'll come back strong next season. Advertisement Stewart transferred in from Texas A&M last offseason and tallied 48 catches, the second-most on the Ducks, for 613 yards and five touchdowns. The Ducks will surely miss his production this season as they seek to return to the College Football Playoff with UCLA transfer Dante Moore at quarterback. Using the next man up approach, five-star true freshman Dakorien Moore could be poised for a substantial workload right away. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
08-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oregon Ducks wide receiver Evan Stewart breaks silence on knee injury
Oregon Ducks wide receiver Evan Stewart breaks silence on knee injury Oregon Duck fans got the unfortunate news earlier this week that one of their best players, senior wide receiver Evan Stewart, suffered a severe knee injury last week while going through some offseason training and would miss the majority of the upcoming season for the Ducks. Stewart was projected to be the No. 1 receiving option for the Ducks this year, having caught 48 passes for 613 yards and five touchdowns a year ago. Without his production and veteran experience on the field, Oregon's WR room got even younger. This is a devastating blow for the Ducks, who are already replacing Tez Johnson and Traeshon Holden from the 2024 team and looking to a number of young and unproven players to step into significant roles. Over the weekend, Stewart took to social media for the first time and posted a photo on his Instagram story with a caption thanking fans for their well-wishes. "Thank you for all the well wishes. I'm on the road to recovery. Don't put a timeline on me. Following God's Plan! Thank you for the Prayers! - 7," posted Stewart. The part about not putting a timeline on his injury is what could turn some heads for Oregon fans. With a tear in his patellar tendon, the recovery could vary, depending on the severity. In some cases, rehab can take as little as three months, but there are some injuries that need up to a year to fully rehab. Either way, it will be interesting to see what Stewart chooses to do with his future. He has a redshirt year available to him, and can use this year to get back to full strength and return to the team in 2026. With another strong season, he is expected to be one of the top receivers in the NFL draft, whichever year he chooses to declare himself eligible. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
