It’s time for Oregon to move on from the Northwestern win and lock in on the road test that’s been circled all season: Ohio State.
The Ducks head into the biggest game on their schedule with a Buckeyes team sitting 11th in the rankings, a setup that still gives Dan Lanning and company a chance to land a statement upset. The quarterback matchup won’t feature Julian Sayin or Dante Moore, but the roster around them still has plenty of firepower to shape the game.
And for Oregon, the concern starts with Jeremiah Smith.
The Ohio State wideout has already shown what he can do against the Ducks. In the Rose Bowl to close the 2024 season, Smith caught 7 passes for 187 yards and 2 touchdowns as a freshman. Oregon does have a solid group of cornerbacks to throw at him, but if Smith starts stacking explosive plays, he can get the Buckeyes’ offense humming in a hurry.
Ohio State also has a linebacker who’s been all over the field in Riley Pettijohn. With Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese now in the NFL, Pettijohn has stepped into a bigger role and made it count. He’s put up 27 tackles, two sacks and an interception this season, and he’s been a constant presence around the ball.
The Buckeyes may also lean on the run more heavily with Julian Sayin sidelined, which puts Bo Jackson in the spotlight. Against USC, Jackson handled 21 carries for 121 yards, and another heavy workload looks likely. He’s not the biggest receiving threat, but if he gets traction on the ground, Ohio State can help control the pace and keep pressure off Luke Fahey.
Up front, Kenyatta Jackson Jr. is another name Oregon has to account for. He’s coming off a 6.5-sack season and hasn’t made the leap Ohio State usually gets from him, but he remains a dangerous edge rusher. Oregon’s offensive line has had its issues this season, and this Buckeyes front could be its toughest challenge yet.
There’s also Jay Timmons, who gives Ohio State a different kind of problem for opposing offenses. The freshman free safety missed the USC game, and the Buckeyes felt it.
On the year, he’s allowing an NFL passer rating of just 59.4 and has five pass breakups. He can line up all over the field like Caleb Downs, and if he’s available against Oregon, he’s the sort of defender who can force Dylan Raiola into a mistake that swings the game Ohio State’s way.
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Oregons Injury Problems Make These Transfer Departures Sting Even More
Oregons injury issues this season have already forced the Ducks to keep patching together pieces on offense, with Dante Moore sidelined for the entire year and other key contributors missing time along the way. The defense has been a little steadier in terms of health, but the overall roster picture has still been complicated by the kind of attrition that makes every lost scholarship player feel a little more expensive in hindsight.
That backdrop makes Week 9 feel especially frustrating when a few former Ducks pop up and thrive elsewhere. Kamar Mothudi and Keith Brown were among the ex-Oregon players who turned in notable performances for their new teams, a reminder that the Ducks are not only managing injuries in the present but also watching depth walk out the door. For a program trying to stay afloat through a difficult season, those departures have a way of stinging more when the current roster is already stretched thin. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Faces A New Oregon Twist In This QB Battle
Matayo Uiagalelei is already looking at Oregons trip to Ohio State as something different, and not just because it will be his first time inside the Buckeyes stadium. The Ducks edge rusher spent time previewing the matchup this week, with a particular eye on the quarterback situation that has changed the feel of the game on both sides and added another layer to a meeting that already carries plenty of weight.
Uiagalelei also pointed to the work Oregon has gotten from Dante Moore on scout team, even while Moore has been dealing with a concussion, as part of the teams preparation. From there, his attention turned to Ohio States offense, its key playmakers and the mindset Oregon is bringing into the game, leaving the bigger question of how the Ducks will handle the Buckeyes latest twist still hanging over the matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Just Created Real Momentum With A New 2027 Receiver Target
Oregons receiver board for 2027 got a fresh jolt when the Ducks extended a late offer to Relando Jefferson IV and brought him to campus soon after. Jefferson, who recently decommitted from Fresno State, has already started drawing attention from multiple programs, but the Oregon visit gave him a closer look at what the Ducks are building and how they sell that vision to young pass-catchers.
For Jefferson, the trip included seeing a game and hearing Dan Lannings postgame speech, details that clearly made an impression as he took in the programs atmosphere. With his recruitment still open and more schools in the mix, Oregon has put itself in position to matter here, and the fact that the Ducks moved quickly after his decommitment suggests this is one to watch going forward. [Read more 🡒]