The Savannah Bananas made their first trip to Oregon a memorable one, and they let Eugene know it when the weekend wrapped at Autzen Stadium.
After two sold-out Banana Ball shows in the Ducks’ football home, the team posted a message on X thanking Oregon fans and the city itself. “Our first time in Oregon is one we'll remember forever,” the Savannah Bananas said on social media.
They followed that with a rundown of what made the stop stand out. “Two sold out shows at Autzen Stadium led to two of the most electric crowds Banana Ball has ever seen (and heard).
We did a lot of Shouting, had an insane performance from professional dancer Blake McGrath, and even had former big leaguer Jed Lowrie hit an RBI. We loved going green for the weekend with all 120,000 of you.
Eugene, we love yah.”
The Oregon stop also marked the farthest west the Bananas have traveled so far. The team had already mapped out a schedule that would take it to 45 different states and at least one game in 75 different stadiums.
Autzen was the seventh college stadium on the tour, but this one came with a twist that fit the setting. The Bananas swapped their usual yellow for Oregon green, leaning into the Ducks’ ever-changing uniform identity for the weekend.
Lowrie was part of the show, too, adding another recognizable name to one of the team’s signature entertainment-heavy events. The average ticket price was reportedly around $75, according to thesavannahbananas.com, and fans got plenty for it. Between the singing, dancing, performances and the kind of playful chaos Banana Ball is built on, the two games delivered the full package.
Now the focus shifts back to the calendar. Oregon’s grounds crew will get Autzen back in order with the 2026 college football season drawing closer, while the Savannah Bananas return to action on July 3 in Iowa.
The Ducks will open next season against Boise State on Sept. 5 at Autzen Stadium, then later welcome Nebraska and Michigan to Eugene in 2026.
In Other News...
Oregon Just Took Another Painful Loss On The Offensive Line Trail
Oregon took another hit on the offensive line trail as four-star Caden Moss chose Ohio State over the Ducks and several other major programs, adding more frustration to a recruiting pursuit that has already featured plenty of national competition. Moss is ranked No. 43 overall and No. 5 among interior offensive linemen in the 2027 class by Rivals, which makes him one of the more important names Oregon had been chasing at a position where the Ducks are always trying to stay ahead of the curve.
Even with the miss, Oregons class on the line is hardly empty, with four offensive linemen already committed and the Ducks still sitting near the top of the recruiting race nationally. The bigger question now is how they respond in the next few days, with four-star Gecova Doyal set to announce his commitment on July 1 and another chance to shore up a board that has taken a few swings lately. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons Approach With This 2029 Target Should Grab Ducks Fans Attention
Oregons early look at Makai Buchanan is the kind of recruiting note Ducks fans have learned to file away. The 2029 athlete from Victorville, California, already has a scholarship offer from the Ducks after a productive freshman season at Victor Valley High School, and his profile fits neatly into the sort of long-range talent identification that has helped keep Oregon near the top of the national recruiting conversation.
The part worth watching is how the Ducks handle the timeline from here. Buchanan has said communication with running backs coach Ra'Shaad Samples has been limited, with Oregon taking more of a wait-and-see approach while it works through the 2028 class first. For a program that has stacked highly regarded recent classes and just added another notable piece in 2027, it is a reminder that Oregon is not just chasing the obvious names right away, it is mapping out the next wave before everyone else catches up. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons Loaded Defense Will Be Judged By These Quarterback Matchups
Oregons defense enters 2026 with a rare kind of continuity up front, returning its entire starting defensive line and adding safety Koi Perch through the transfer portal. That gives the Ducks a chance to lean on experience and depth in a conference season that will ask plenty of the back end, especially with a schedule that figures to put them in front of some of the Big Ten and national names that matter most.
Julian Sayin, Jayden Maiava, Bryce Underwood and Demond Williams Jr. all represent different kinds of problems, from seasoned production to young talent that can change a game quickly. The appeal for Oregon is obvious: if the line can win early and the secondary can hold up, the Ducks may be built to handle that quarterback gauntlet better than most. The question is how much room those passers will get to test just how loaded this defense really is. [Read more 🡒]
