The first injury report of the week brought a potentially significant wrinkle for Oregon ahead of its matchup with UCLA: starting safety Aaron Flowers is listed as doubtful.
Dante Moore is officially listed as OUT, but Flowers’ status may end up shaping the Ducks’ defense just as much. With Flowers in his second year as a starter, Oregon could be heading into the game without one of its more experienced bodies in the secondary.
That matters because safety play has been a problem for the Ducks early this season. Oregon brought in the top-ranked safety in the Transfer Portal, Koi Perich, to help fill the gap left by Dillon Thieneman, but the position still hasn’t looked like a strength.
Perich has had moments where he’s looked lost in coverage, and he hasn’t matched Thieneman’s impact in run support. Flowers, meanwhile, appears to have taken a step back after playing next to an elite safety last season.
If Flowers can’t go, Oregon may finally have a reason to try something different on the back end.
The most likely name to see a bigger role is veteran Peyton Woodyard. In the USC game, after Flowers left with an upper body injury, Woodyard outsnapped the starter for the first time all season. He also turned in a better performance against the Trojans, and his experience could make him the cleanest answer if Oregon wants to adjust.
There’s also obvious buzz around 5-star freshman Jett Washington. He played four snaps against USC and flashed real upside earlier in the year against Portland State, when he picked off a pair of diving interceptions.
The talent is there in a big way, but asking him to take on a major role in a key game would be a gamble. Even so, his snap count figures to keep climbing week by week if Flowers remains sidelined.
Trey McNutt is another player fans would like to see more of, but based on how little he has played so far, he doesn’t look like the likeliest candidate to jump into a major role.
Against USC, Flowers and Perich were Oregon’s two lowest-graded defenders, but their experience made a lineup change difficult to justify. This week may force Dan Lanning and his staff to make a move at safety next to Perich, and it could be the kind of adjustment that finally starts to stabilize one of the defense’s weakest spots.
In Other News...
Ohio State Fans Have A Cheaper Way To Watch Todays Game
For Ohio State fans trying to follow todays game without leaning on cable, the options are more crowded than ever, but also a little more manageable if price is the main concern. The latest rundown of college football streaming services points viewers toward a handful of familiar platforms, including DIRECTV MySports, YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and Fox One, each offering a different mix of live channels, trial periods and monthly costs.
What makes this weeks viewing puzzle interesting is that the cheapest route is not always the most obvious one, especially when channel access can vary by service. For Buckeyes fans, the real challenge is matching the broadcast with a package that actually carries it, which is why the best value option may depend less on name recognition and more on which platform gives the easiest path to the game without forcing viewers into a pricier bundle. [Read more 🡒]
Former Michigan Star Just Reignited The Debate Ohio State Fans Love
Jake Butt briefly reopened one of the most familiar arguments in college football when he suggested in an interview that Michigans 2023 national championship carries an asterisk because of how the sign-stealing scandal has colored public perception. The former Wolverines tight end later took to social media to clarify that he believes those championships were real and earned, but the initial remark was enough to stir up a debate Ohio State fans never seem to tire of revisiting.
For Buckeyes followers, the timing only adds another layer to a rivalry that already lives on edge, especially with Michigan now trying to steady itself through coaching changes and uneven play since Jim Harbaughs departure. Even as Butt walked back the sharper edge of his comment, the larger issue remains unresolved: how much the scandal has damaged the way outsiders view a title that the program still claims as legitimate. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Freshman RBs Shrinking Role Now Carries A Bigger Concern
Legend Beys role in Ohio States backfield has already been sliding, and the freshman running back has not appeared in the last two games after seeing only limited action earlier in the season. For a program that keeps a close eye on the development and availability of every scholarship player, a young runner disappearing from the rotation is notable on its own, especially when the Buckeyes are trying to sort out depth behind the established options.
The bigger concern is what has been happening away from the field. Bey was reportedly cited for speeding and allegedly evicted from his apartment for nonpayment of rent, adding another layer of uncertainty around a player whose playing time has already been shrinking. It is still unclear whether those off-field matters are tied to his reduced role, and the coaching staff has not confirmed any connection, leaving the situation open as one more item to monitor around the Buckeyes. [Read more 🡒]