Oregon’s week packed a little bit of everything: a statement football win in Columbus, a clean start for both basketball programs, a major recruiting splash for Kelly Graves, and another big Sunday from Bucky Irving.
The headline, though, belongs to Dan Lanning. Oregon’s win over Ohio State was decided by the players on the field, but the Ducks were helped by a coach who pushed the right buttons at the right time.
The fake punt call and the decision to go for the touchdown before halftime were the kind of aggressive swings that can flip a game, and Oregon cashed in. Over the last few weeks, Lanning has looked more willing to coach on the edge, and the results have shown up in two of the season’s best wins.
That victory also sent Oregon back into the AP Poll at No. 18.
The Ducks had already been included in the College Football Playoff committee’s Top 25 after the win over Northwestern, but the AP left them out last week. After the performance against Ohio State, there was no way to keep Oregon out any longer.
The jump to No. 18 could also hint at a bigger move when the committee updates its rankings, with the Ducks potentially climbing from 23 into the mid-teens.
The win came during a strange but encouraging moment for the former Pac-12 schools now living in the Big Ten. Oregon, USC, and UCLA have gone 14-4 in conference play, while Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State sit at 8-10.
That’s a sharp contrast to the assumptions that came with the move west, especially with all the talk about travel, time zones, weather, and how the Big Ten style would play out. Oregon’s own losses include one to USC and one to UCLA, but the bigger picture is clear: the newcomers have adjusted fast.
Basketball season opened with plenty of good news in Eugene as well. Both Oregon men’s and women’s basketball are 2-0, and each team will try to push that start to 4-0 this week.
The men get Miss. Valley State and Pepperdine, while the women face Grand Canyon and Vermont before the schedule gets tougher.
There was one setback for Tony Stubblefield’s group, though. Tyrone Riley IV, who scored 17 points in his Oregon debut, suffered a hand injury and won’t be re-evaluated for four weeks. That leaves the Ducks waiting on one of their most important pieces, with the possibility that Big Ten play could arrive before he’s back.
Kelly Graves, meanwhile, added to the good vibes with a major recruiting win. On Sunday night, he landed a commitment from five-star guard De’Andra Minor, who is ranked as the 15th player and fifth-ranked shooting guard in the country by 24/7 Sports.
And on Sunday night in the NFL, Bucky Irving kept rolling even in a Tampa Bay loss to the Bears. He finished with 97 rushing yards, 28 receiving yards, and two touchdowns, continuing what has become an eye-catching stretch. The Buccaneers fell, but Irving’s workload and production stood out again, and with the NFC South still wide open, Tampa Bay has a real chance to build around him if it keeps leaning on its star back.
In Other News...
Oregon Left Its Biggest Win With Serious Questions Before Michigan
Oregons win over Ohio State gave the Ducks a signature result, but it also left behind a few issues that are hard to ignore heading into Michigan week. Edge rusher Teitum Tuioti went down during the game, and his status is still unclear, adding another layer of concern to a defense that will need to be sharp again in a hurry.
There were other warning signs in the victory, too. Safety Koi Perich had a rough outing that drew public criticism, and the rushing attack never really found its rhythm, averaging under two yards per carry outside of one touchdown run. The Ducks and their coaching staff know the performance was enough to win, but not enough to feel settled about what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Just Unleashed Its Wildest Brand Flex Yet
Oregons latest off-field move leans all the way into the programs flair for spectacle, with a new Godzilla vs. Duck merchandise line now out in the wild. The collection pairs The Oregon Duck with Godzilla on apparel and comes from an agreement between Toho International, Inc. and the Ducks NIL group, Division Street, giving the school another high-profile crossover that fits its long-running knack for turning branding into an event.
The timing makes the whole thing feel even more on-brand, with Oregon set for a 2026 preseason trip to Japan and the promotion also bringing back the inflatable Duck used in previous events. Fans can already find the collection online and at The Duck Store, and for a program that has never been shy about making a statement, this one looks built to travel well beyond Eugene. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons Ohio State Win Also Exposed A Familiar Concern
Oregons win over Ohio State showed exactly how dangerous the Ducks can be when they get a defense on its heels. The offense found room for big passing plays, took advantage of favorable field position and kept pressing on a Buckeyes unit that had already been thinned by several season-ending absences. It was the kind of performance that can make a road win feel even bigger, because it was built on both execution and an ability to spot where the matchup could tilt.
Still, the game also left a familiar question hanging over Oregons profile. The Ducks were able to punish Ohio States weaknesses, but the broader concern is whether that same formula will hold up when opponents can take away the explosive shots and force longer, more methodical drives. The win was impressive, but it also served as a reminder that the margin for error can shrink quickly once a defense stops giving Oregon the same clean looks. [Read more 🡒]