Oregon’s offense isn’t the only one arriving in Eugene with a new voice.
The Ducks have already lived through their own reset, moving on from offensive coordinator and play-caller Drew Mehringer after a three-game stretch in which they failed to top 20 points. Since handing the keys to assistant quarterbacks coach Jay Johnson - the lone offensive assistant with prior play-calling experience - Oregon has looked far more like itself, averaging 37.5 points over his two games directing the offense.
Now Michigan comes in with a similar shake-up of its own. The Wolverines fired offensive coordinator Jason Beck and turned play-calling over to offensive line coach Jim Harding, leaving Oregon to prepare for an offense that may not look quite the same as it has all season. Harding inherits a Michigan attack that averages fewer than 20 points per game and ranks 126th out of 138 FBS teams, and Dan Lanning pointed out this week that teams can sometimes get a lift simply from hearing a different voice.
That uncertainty is part of what makes this matchup tricky. Oregon knows Michigan’s general identity, but not necessarily the exact version Harding will bring on Saturday.
Under Beck, the Wolverines leaned into a power-spread look that mixed old-school physicality with modern formations and concepts. They’re comfortable using two or even three tight ends, and they make no secret of what they want to do: run the ball and dare the defense to stop it. That kind of approach can force Oregon into one of its most physical games of the season.
The passing game is built around simplicity, not complexity. Michigan uses a couple of bigger receivers outside and a pair of quicker targets in the slot, with the quarterback asked to work quick throws or attack downfield without having to navigate a heavy progression tree.
The RPO element has been part of the offense, though it has shown up less since Bryce Underwood was benched and Tommy Carr took over. Carr has added some mobility of his own, and Beck used that to his advantage.
Through this season, Carr has rushed for 95 yards and three touchdowns.
Carr is the name to know at quarterback. A four-star from Saline, MI, and the grandson of legendary Michigan head coach and College Football Hall of Fame inductee Lloyd Carr, he also happens to be the brother of Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr.
The 6-foot-4, 195-pound true freshman has started three games, completing 67.0% of his passes for 641 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s not the kind of wild thrower Underwood was, but he does have a strong arm and generally protects the football.
He also remains a threat on the ground.
Michigan’s backfield also features another true freshman in Savion Hiter, the No. 2 running back in the 2026 class. Hiter leads the Wolverines in rushing with 93 carries for 331 yards and three touchdowns, and he’s added 10 catches for 72 yards. At 5-foot-11 and 212 pounds, the consensus five-star hasn’t produced the kind of season he may have wanted, but the tools are obvious.
The top target is JJ Buchanan, who followed Kyle Whittingham from Utah to Michigan. That move hasn’t exactly worked out on the scoreboard - Utah is 9-0 and Michigan sits at 5-4 - but Buchanan has still been the Wolverines’ most reliable receiver.
He has 40 catches for 646 yards and five touchdowns, while Andrew Marsh is the only other Michigan pass catcher who has been consistently dependable. No one else on the roster has more than 13 receptions.
Buchanan’s 6-foot-4 frame makes him a tough cover on contested balls, and he has enough speed to threaten over the top as well.
Oregon’s defensive front should still feel good about this matchup. The loss of edge rusher Teitum Tuioti matters, but the Ducks have enough up front to make life difficult.
A’Mauri Washington and Bear Alexander have become one of the country’s best defensive tackle duos, and both are rounding into form at the right time. D’Antre Robinson, the North Carolina transfer, has also delivered in key moments and has given Oregon real value as an interior rotation piece.
The biggest concern is Buchanan, especially after Oregon just handled Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith. Buchanan presents a different kind of problem because he may not draw the same level of attention in the game plan, yet he has the size to win above the rim and the speed to run past defenders. If Oregon keeps Michigan from popping the run game and prevents Buchanan from getting loose deep, the Ducks should be in good shape.
The expectation here is a disciplined Oregon defense and a Michigan offense that has a hard time finding answers. If the Ducks play the way they did in the second half against Northwestern and over the final three quarters against Ohio State, they should control the game. Michigan State just held Michigan scoreless for the first 58 minutes of its last outing, which makes a similar kind of struggle easy to imagine.
There may be a few new wrinkles with Harding calling the plays, but Oregon has the better personnel on defense. It would be a surprise if Michigan gets past 14 points in Eugene.
In Other News...
Dan Lanning Just Added Fuel To Oregons Michigan Buildup
The buildup to Oregons meeting with Michigan at Autzen Stadium has already started to take on the edge fans would expect from two programs with real stakes attached. Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham recently pointed to Dan Lannings recruiting success and the financial resources behind Oregons program, and it was the kind of comment that tends to linger once the teams are headed toward a showdown.
Lanning answered in a way that kept the focus on the Ducks while still nudging the conversation back toward the Wolverines. He praised Whittingham, but also suggested Michigans spending priorities could end up shaping how the program recruits. With the game still ahead, the exchange has only added another layer to a matchup that was already going to draw plenty of attention. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Walks Into An Oregon Atmosphere Fans Already Hate
Autzen Stadium is getting a little extra theater for Oregons first meeting with Michigan since 2003, and the Ducks are leaning all the way into it. For the matchup, Oregon will break out a special Godzilla-themed uniform combination with black, silver and green jerseys, grey pants and a matte black helmet built around the movie monster motif.
The look is only part of the rollout. Oregon is also tying the game to its Ducks of a Feather NIL brand with related merchandise created in collaboration with Toho International, giving the weekend a full promotional package around one of the seasons most anticipated home dates. For a fan base that already treats Autzen as a weapon, the Ducks are clearly aiming to make the atmosphere feel as loud and as unmistakably Oregon as possible. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Could Be Closing In On Another Late Recruiting Flip
Oregon is heading into the Early Signing Period for the 2027 recruiting cycle with plenty of momentum, and the Ducks have managed to keep their class intact so far. That matters this time of year, when programs are trying to protect what they have while still leaving room for one more addition, and Oregon appears to be doing both as it continues to work the board.
One name to watch is Virginia Tech running back commit JP Jones-Priest, who is set for an official visit to Eugene. The 4-star recruit has put together a strong season and sits among the more highly regarded backs in the class, which is exactly the kind of player Oregon tends to keep in play late. Whether the Ducks can turn that visit into a real push remains the question, but the interest is clearly there. [Read more 🡒]