As Oregon gets ready for its 2026 season opener against Boise State, Dan Lanning is carrying something heavier than football this week: the loss at his alma mater.
Lanning, who played linebacker at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri in the 2000s, said Wednesday that the school’s football program is on his mind after running back MicahJo Barnett collapsed on the sideline moments after scoring a touchdown Saturday. Emergency personnel tried to resuscitate Barnett, who was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. He was 20.
“You put things in perspective that there’s a lot of things bigger than football,” Lanning said Wednesday. “I’m sure he was on the field doing the thing that he loved, but you never know when that last moment is gonna be. So, really feel for the Jewell community and feel for his family.”
The moment hit close to home for Lanning, whose own program has already been shaped by loss. Oregon tight end Spencer Webb died in 2022 after a tragic accident near Triangle Lake, and former Ducks cornerback Khyree Jackson died in a car crash in Maryland in 2024.
Because of that, Lanning starts every team meeting with “four, five” chants broken up by claps, honoring the numbers worn by those former players.
“Sad moment that I hope nobody has to experience, but obviously it’s happened now,” Lanning said. “So, just praying for that group, and that they have strength in this moment, and they can fulfill and live their lives out in Micah’s honor.”
In Other News...
Boise State Walks Into One Of Oregons Most Hyped Game Day Looks
Oregon is leaning into its history for a 2026 season opener that already has plenty of buzz, unveiling a classic look for the matchup with Boise State. The Ducks will go with a Gang Green jersey, yellow pants and a yellow helmet featuring the green O, a combination that ties into the programs past while fitting neatly into the ongoing Generation O series. It is also the third time Oregon has used this specific uniform set, another reminder that even in a sport built on constant change, the Ducks still know how to make tradition feel fresh.
The game day atmosphere is expected to be part of the show, too, with fans encouraged to take part in the Stripe-Out and wear green or yellow to match their seating sections. Oregon has long treated uniform reveals as part of its identity, and this one seems designed to bring that full-circle feel to a season opener that should already have attention. The only thing left is to see how the look plays on the field when the Ducks open against Boise State. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Could Catch Oregon At A Very Different Strength Than Expected
The Ducks are heading into 2026 with an injury picture that is still taking shape, and it touches both sides of the ball. Dillon Gresham is still without a clear timetable after a neck injury, Brayden Platt is expected to be limited for some time after a spring injury, and Oregon is also managing the return of Evan Stewart and Trey McNutt from ailments suffered in 2025. Dave Iuli has been practicing and is expected to be available for the opener, which at least gives the Ducks some stability up front as the season approaches.
For a team that usually wants its early-season depth settled before the real tests arrive, the lingering uncertainty is a bigger issue than any single name on the list. Oregon can lean on the fact that some key pieces are trending back, but the broader question is how quickly the Ducks can get to full strength and what version of the roster Boise State might actually see. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon 5-Star Commit Is Already Recruiting Another Elite Edge
Oregons latest big recruiting win came with a built-in bonus. Defensive coordinator Chris Hampton and edge coach Kamran Araghi landed five-star edge rusher Rashad Streets out of Milbrook High School in Raleigh, North Carolina, beating out Alabama, Ohio State and NC State for one of the top defensive prospects in the 2027 class.
Rashad Streets is already helping the Ducks try to pry more elite talent away from the rest of the national field. During his official visit, he pushed Ohio State five-star edge commit David Jacobs to take a closer look at Oregon, giving the Ducks a possible head start in a recruiting battle that could shape their future pass rush. [Read more 🡒]