Oregon’s recent surge has a lot to do with one simple change: the quarterback has settled in.
That was the read from Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham on Monday, when he spoke after the Wolverines moved on from offensive coordinator Jason Beck over the weekend. Whittingham pointed to the Ducks’ improved efficiency under center as the biggest reason they’ve gone from searching for answers to stacking wins.
“Yeah, just the quarterback's playing much better. You know, that's the biggest difference is the quarterback has become much more efficient the last few games, and that was really the issue prior,” Whittingham said.
“But I’ll tell you what, they’re a talented football team, and they got talent across the board throughout the whole roster. But that’s been the biggest difference is the efficiency of the quarterback play in the last couple weeks.”
That shift has lined up with Oregon’s latest run. After the Ducks’ Oct. 24 loss to Illinois, Oregon coach Dan Lanning and the program parted ways with offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer on Oct.
- Since then, the Ducks have beaten two top-25 teams in a row, including a huge 41-28 road win over No.
12 Ohio State.
The quarterback leading that turnaround is Dylan Raiola, who has put together his most stable stretch in an Oregon uniform since assistant quarterbacks coach Jay Johnson took over play-calling duties. Raiola threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns while completing 71 percent of his passes against then-No.
20 Northwestern at home, then followed that with 257 yards and two touchdowns at Ohio State. Over those last two games, he has not been sacked and has not turned the ball over.
Raiola now heads into Saturday’s matchup with Michigan having made three straight starts. Before that, he and Brock Thomas split starts and snaps in the two games after starter Dante Moore suffered a concussion in Week 4 against USC.
Michigan, meanwhile, is dealing with its own quarterback shuffle. The Wolverines’ situation isn’t injury-related, but they’ve still been working through a two-man battle under center.
Former five-star recruit Bryce Underwood entered the Oregon game with five passing touchdowns, 924 passing yards, two rushing touchdowns and 222 rushing yards. But his season has also included six interceptions, eight sacks and a 53.4 percent completion rate, and he was benched at halftime against Penn State on Oct. 17.
Freshman Tommy Carr stepped in and helped Michigan beat Penn State 21-18. He has since reached two passing touchdowns and 641 yards on 67 percent completion, along with 95 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.
Even so, Carr is 1-2 in his two starts, has thrown three interceptions and has been sacked 11 times this season. After a 15-6 home loss to Michigan State, his hold on the job is still uncertain.
“To be determined,” Whittingham said when asked who would start Saturday. “But there was consideration about you know whether to insert Bryce and try to create something, and after discussion, it was determined that you know stay the course with what we had in that particular game.
But going forward, we'll take a look at everything again and see what gives us the best chance to win. As it always comes down to that.”
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 🡒]
Dan Lannings Ohio State Statement Just Changed Oregons Week
Oregons football win over Ohio State did more than just reshape the national conversation, it gave Dan Lannings program a fresh jolt at exactly the right time. After the Ducks reentered the AP Top 25 at No. 18, the ripple effects of that performance are still being felt around Eugene, where the football teams rise is landing alongside a strong start for the mens and womens basketball teams, both of whom opened 2-0.
The broader week has also carried some personnel news that matters for the long haul. Tyrone Riley IV is dealing with a hand injury that will be re-evaluated in four weeks, while Kelly Graves added another major piece to the future by landing a commitment from five-star recruit DeAndra Minor. For Oregon, it has been the kind of stretch that reminds everyone how quickly momentum can spread across a program when one headline win changes the tone. [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 🡒]