One of Oregon’s biggest offseason pickups is still stuck in limbo, and that leaves Dana Altman waiting on a decision that could shape the Ducks’ frontcourt for the 2026-27 season.
Arkansas transfer Malique Ewin brings exactly the kind of profile Oregon has been short on: size, toughness, proven production and experience inside. The catch is simple. The Ducks still do not know whether he’ll actually be cleared to play.
Ewin is a 6-foot-10, 240-pound forward who is currently pursuing an eligibility waiver tied to his freshman year at Ole Miss in 2022-23, when he appeared in just 14 games. That makes his case different from the flood of recent fifth-year eligibility fights around college sports, because Ewin is not trying to bounce back after a professional detour. He did not declare for the NBA Draft, he did not play in the NBA Summer League and he did not leave college basketball for a pro career before seeking a return.
Altman laid out that distinction clearly.
"We've got Malique Ewin. Now, he never went pro or put his name in or anything," Altman said. "He was trying to get a fifth year because he only played 12 or 13 games at Mississippi one year, so he was trying to get a year for that."
That kind of nuance has become a big deal as eligibility cases pile up nationwide. The NCAA introduced a new age-based eligibility model this summer that can give athletes as many as five years of competition inside a continuous five-year window. That shift, especially for players who started college in 2022 and were already viewed as out of eligibility under the old system, has triggered a wave of legal challenges.
Ewin’s situation doesn’t fit neatly into that broader fight. Oregon is pushing for another season based on what happened during that shortened freshman year rather than asking for an automatic fifth season.
Altman made it clear why that difference matters to him.
"If a guy goes pro, it's pretty hard to say, 'OK, he can come back,'" Altman said. "Either put your name in the pros or you don't.
But with what we're paying guys now, it's financially worth it for them to challenge everything, and that's what's happening. It's a mess.
That's the only way you can say it. It's a mess."
For Oregon, the stakes are obvious. Ewin would give the Ducks a major boost if he’s available. For now, though, the wait continues.
In Other News...
Dante Moore Suddenly Has Oregon Fans Worried About A Bigger Problem
Dante Moore came into the season carrying plenty of attention after choosing to return to Oregon rather than head to the NFL Draft, and his opener at least offered some early reassurance. But the first half against Oklahoma State was a different kind of test, the sort that can quickly shift the conversation around a quarterback expected to steady the Ducks in a big spot. NFL scouts were on hand to watch him closely, and the performance did not help quiet the scrutiny.
Moore completed just 5 of 15 passes for 45 yards and took two sacks before halftime, missing several key throws and never quite finding the kind of rhythm Oregon needed. The Ducks also had bigger issues than just the passing game, with the defense struggling to contain Oklahoma State as Oregon went to the break down 10 points. For a team that entered the night with postseason ambitions and a quarterback under the microscope, the first-half concern was less about one bad stretch than the possibility of a larger problem unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Suddenly Has Injury Concerns In The Spots It Can Least Afford
Dan Lannings postgame injury update came with a little more concern than Oregon would like this early in the season, especially after a loss that already leaves plenty for the Ducks to sort through. Tight end Jamari Johnson, who was hurt in the previous game and missed practice this week, does not appear headed for a long-term absence, but the deeper issue is the line of players who were forced out against Oklahoma State and the roles they occupy.
Offensive lineman Douglas Utu and his replacement Trent Ferguson both left the game with injuries, which is the kind of development Oregon can least afford along the front. Running back Jordon Davisons status is still unclear, and while defensive tackle A'Mauri Washington was able to return for situational snaps after briefly exiting, the Ducks are suddenly waiting on several key answers at once as they try to rebound from the setback. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Has A Bigger Problem Than The Halftime Score Against Oklahoma State
At halftime against Oklahoma State, Oregon was still hanging around on the scoreboard, but the first 30 minutes told a far less comforting story. The Ducks trailed 24-17, and the bigger issue was how thoroughly they were being controlled on both sides of the ball, with Oklahoma State piling up yardage while Oregon leaned on a couple of deflected passes to stay within striking distance.
Dante Moore has not been able to settle the offense, completing 5 of 15 passes for 45 yards without a touchdown, and the passing game has been hampered by drops as much as accuracy. The ground attack has not offered much relief either, leaving Oregon with a lot to clean up if it wants to avoid letting a shaky half turn into something much worse. [Read more 🡒]