Week 10 gave Oregon plenty to feel good about, and not just because the Ducks walked into Columbus and beat Ohio State 41-28. That result kept Oregon’s thin Big Ten title hopes alive, boosted its playoff résumé, and left the door cracked for an at-large bid if the final three weeks break the right way.
But the Ducks weren’t the only former Oregon players making noise in games with playoff implications. A wave of offseason transfers landed at Power Four programs, and several of them turned in meaningful performances in Week 10 as their new teams kept chasing the College Football Playoff.
Makhi Hughes was one of the biggest movers. After redshirting at Oregon, the running back has settled in nicely at Houston, and he helped the Cougars move to 7-2 with a 31-24 win over Cincinnati. Hughes ran 12 times for 90 yards and added one catch for seven yards.
Another former Duck helping Houston was Ashton Porter. He entered the season as one of the more decorated departures after posting 20 tackles a year ago, and he added to that total in Week 10. Porter finished with six tackles, including five solo stops, in the Cougars’ win over Cincinnati, pushing him to 27 tackles on the season.
Terrance Green also made his mark in a big conference road win. The defensive lineman, who was limited to a rotational role at Oregon, picked up a sack against LSU in Alabama’s 31-13 victory. That moved him to 3.5 sacks on the year, and he also chipped in three tackles.
On the other side of the ball, Jayden Limar gave Washington a boost in his second game back from injury. He led the Huskies with 66 rushing yards on nine carries and added two receptions for 11 yards in a 28-25 loss to Penn State.
Kyler Kasper kept adding to what has become a career year at BYU, even though the Cougars came up short in a 28-20 loss to Utah. Kasper caught three passes for 43 yards as BYU, which started 6-0, dropped two of its last three and now finds itself fighting for its playoff life.
Missouri also got steady production from two former Oregon defensive backs. Sione Laulea recorded three tackles and two passes defensed, while Jahlil Florence added two tackles in the Tigers’ 34-20 loss to Texas.
And at Notre Dame, Tionne Gray contributed in a statement win over the nation’s top-ranked team. The Fighting Irish beat No.
1 Miami 31-24, and Gray finished with three tackles and a pass deflection. With that result, Notre Dame has a clear path to the CFP if it wins out.
In Other News...
Urban Meyer Just Framed Dan Lannings Ohio State Win Differently
Urban Meyer had plenty to say about Dan Lannings approach in Oregons upset of Ohio State, and the former Buckeyes coach made it clear he viewed the Ducks win through the lens of bold coaching rather than just execution. Meyer praised Lanning for leaning into aggressive, unconventional decisions, pointing to the midseason move that shifted play-calling duties away from offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer and toward assistant quarterbacks coach Jay Johnson.
The result was an Oregon offense that looked more settled and more dangerous in the biggest moments, while the Ducks also mixed in a fake punt that fit the same fearless profile. For Oregon, the takeaway is bigger than one trick play or one upset. It was a reminder that Lanning was willing to make hard changes in-season and trust them when the stakes were highest. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Just Got Another Reason To Worry About Oregons Passing Game
Jeremiah McClellans return in Oregons win over Ohio State was a quiet one on the stat sheet, but it still mattered for a Ducks offense that has been piecing things together through injuries. After coming back from a broken foot, the receiver logged one catch for five yards, yet Dan Lanning made clear the value goes well beyond the box score. The Oregon coach pointed to McClellans leadership and work ethic, underscoring how much the Ducks have leaned on him as they continue to adjust on the fly.
Now comes Michigan, and McClellans role figures to be a meaningful part of Oregons plan as the offense keeps working through personnel issues. With analyst Jay Johnson helping steer the changes, the Ducks are trying to keep their passing game balanced and dangerous even while the lineup shifts around it. McClellans presence gives Oregon another experienced option at a time when every healthy target matters, which is exactly the kind of detail Michigan has to account for this week. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon's Offensive Turnaround Starts With One Crucial Change Up Front
Oregons offense has started to look a lot more settled up front, and the biggest reason is the same one coaches usually point to first: continuity. The Ducks have kept the same starting offensive line in place for three straight games, and the group has responded by giving quarterback Dylan Raiola a cleaner pocket and a steadier rhythm behind center.
Dan Lanning has framed the improvement as a combination of quarterback play, line effort and scheme adjustments, which is usually how these things go when an offense starts clicking. The protection has been good enough that Raiola has gone the last two games without being sacked, and for Oregon, that kind of stability up front can change everything about how the rest of the offense functions. [Read more 🡒]