The Oregon-Ohio State matchup on Nov. 7 already had plenty riding on it, but the recruiting subplot now gives it another layer. Four-star Class of 2028 wide receiver Hayden Koo of Tustin, California has mapped out his November visits, and Oregon gets the first crack at him before Ohio State does.
Koo posted his schedule with 247Sports on Nov. 6, and the Buckeyes won’t get him in Columbus for the showdown between the two teams. Instead, he’ll head to Seattle for Penn State at Washington. That means Oregon will have the advantage of hosting him first, with a chance to make an impression before Ryan Day and Ohio State can bring him in later.
His trip to Eugene is set for Nov. 14, when the Ducks host Michigan at Autzen Stadium. That visit puts Dan Lanning, wide receivers coach Ross Douglas and the rest of Oregon’s staff in position to sell Koo on the program in person.
From there, Koo stays on the West Coast for a Nov. 21 stop in Berkeley to see Cal, where former Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi is now leading the defense. Ohio State’s turn comes last, with Koo scheduled to visit on Nov. 28 when the Buckeyes host Michigan.
At 6-1, Koo is quickly becoming a national name out of Orange County, and his game fits the kind of receiver Oregon has tended to chase. The Ducks have long valued speed at the position, and Koo has shown that trait while building his profile with the Tillers. During his sophomore season, he averaged 15 yards per catch and started drawing serious attention.
There’s more to his game than just vertical speed. Koo can work underneath throws, slip through traffic and turn a short catch into a big gain.
That run-after-catch ability lines up with what Oregon wants from its receivers. He also brings the kind of red zone and contested-catch traits that make him even more appealing for the future.
Oregon has likely noticed the tougher grabs too, from sideline catches to diving plays on the ball. Koo plays with limited fear, and that has helped turn him into a coveted Big Ten Conference recruiting target.
The Ducks also have a recent selling point on their side: they have been willing to play young receivers early. Oregon quickly got past five-star signing Dakorien Moore after his 2025 arrival, and former four-star Jeremiah McClellan saw the field as a true freshman in 2024.
That doesn’t mean the path is easy. Oregon still has to fend off serious competition for Koo, with Ohio State waiting at the end of the month. But if the Ducks can land him, it would be a major recruiting win in the same month the two programs meet on the field.
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