Oregon’s season looked to be slipping away a few weeks ago. Now the Ducks are right back in the playoff conversation, and they’ll try to keep that climb going Saturday against a Michigan team that’s trying to steady itself after another rough week.
The Ducks are 6-3 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten play, and their latest surge has come with a pair of conference wins over ranked opponents. Last week’s 41-28 road victory over then-No.
12 Ohio State was the loudest statement yet. Oregon is No. 16 in this week’s College Football Playoff rankings, and if it keeps winning, it has a path to stay in the mix.
A big reason for the turnaround has been quarterback Dylan Raiola. After an uneven stretch following his move into the starting role when Dante Moore went down with an injury in the fifth week of the season, Raiola looked settled against Ohio State. He went 25 of 40 for 257 yards and two touchdowns, with no turnovers and no sacks.
Oregon’s offense is also getting healthier at the right time. Jeremiah McClellan returned last week after recovering from a broken foot, giving the Ducks their top three wide receivers available alongside Evan Stewart and Dakorien Moore. Moore leads the team in touchdown catches and receiving yards.
There is, though, a major loss on the other side of the ball. Edge rusher Teitum Tuioti injured his knee at Ohio State and will need surgery, head coach Dan Lanning said, ending his season. Tuioti has 5.5 sacks.
"I hate it for him, because it’s kind of a routine weird play that it happened on," Lanning said, acknowledging that Tuioti might have played his final game for the Ducks.
Michigan arrives in Eugene, Ore., with plenty to sort out after a 15-6 home loss to Michigan State last week. The Wolverines turned it over four times and allowed five sacks in that game, and the defeat only deepened the pressure around an offense that has been searching for answers.
Head coach Kyle Whittingham said Monday that the quarterback situation was still unsettled, with Tommy Carr and Bryce Underwood both in the discussion and the possibility of using both players. He also made clear how he viewed the decision from last week.
"To be determined," Whittingham said Monday. "There was consideration about whether to insert Bryce (Underwood) and try to create something. After discussion, it was determined that we’d stay the course with what we had in that particular game.
"But going forward, we’ll take a look at everything again and see what gives us the best chance to win. It always comes down to that."
The coaching changes have already started. Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jason Beck was fired, and offensive line coach Jim Harding will handle play-calling duties as the interim offensive coordinator. Whittingham said he plans to look for a permanent offensive coordinator with ties to either Michigan or the Midwest.
This will be Michigan’s first trip to Autzen Stadium since Oregon joined the Big Ten, and it comes with the Ducks surging and the Wolverines trying to stop the slide.
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Michigan Just Sent A Clear Message About One Troubling Football Situation
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At the same time, Michigan confirmed that defensive end Nate Marshall is still on the roster but is suspended indefinitely, leaving another uneasy thread hanging over the program. For a team trying to steady itself, the situation adds another layer of uncertainty to a season already searching for stability, even as the schools womens basketball team is giving the athletic department a very different kind of buzz after climbing to No. 2 in the AP poll. [Read more 🡒]
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Michigans Offense Faces One Big Test After Sudden Shakeup
Michigans offense enters a pivotal week after the loss to Michigan State prompted a sudden change on the sideline, with offensive coordinator Jason Beck relieved of his duties and offensive line coach Jim Harding stepping in on an interim basis. It is the kind of shakeup that can alter the tone of a season in a hurry, especially with a high-profile opponent waiting and little time for the Wolverines to sort out what comes next.
Oregon is the next challenge, and Dan Lanning has already acknowledged that a coaching change can matter even if it does not completely rewrite an offense overnight. The Ducks have built momentum with wins over Northwestern and Ohio State, and they will try to keep rolling against a Michigan team now trying to steady itself while adjusting to a new voice in the booth. [Read more 🡒]