The Oregon Ducks are heading into the season with one of the biggest internal storylines in the Big Ten: how Drew Mehringer handles his new job as offensive coordinator.
That question is hanging over a team trying to reach a third straight College Football Playoff, but two of Oregon’s key offensive voices made it clear at Big Ten Media Days that they trust him. Quarterback Dante Moore and tight end Jamari Johnson both spoke openly about Mehringer, and neither sounded worried about the transition.
Moore, who chose to pass on the 2026 NFL Draft, said Mehringer has already shown he can handle the jump in responsibility.
“He’s done a great job just coming in as the offensive coordinator. Of course, he was working the tight end group last year, so him just being able to adapt to coaching a bigger role.
He for sure has been talking to me this offseason about things I like, things I don’t like," Moore said on the Big Ten Network. "But at the end of the day, he’s our scientist.
He’s the one that puts everything together in the pot, and then makes us go out there on game day or during practice help us ball out."
There’s no mystery about the size of the task in front of Mehringer. Oregon’s offense scored 36.9 points per game in 2025 under Will Stein, who is now the head coach at Kentucky. That ranked 10th in the nation, so the new coordinator is stepping into a role with real expectations attached.
Moore, though, seems comfortable with what he’s seen so far. The quarterback also pointed to something a little more personal when talking about his relationship with Mehringer.
“He’s done a great job. I love him to death. He’s a great golfer by the way, really great golfer.”
Johnson, meanwhile, already knows exactly what Mehringer brings because the two worked together when Mehringer was Oregon’s tight ends coach. For Johnson, the promotion felt earned.
"That was my guy, and just seeing him come back with a bigger role, it makes me smile. 'Cause I know he worked for it, and he earned it.
Just coming back, I know he's got a great plan for us. He's a smart guy, he has a great plan for us, and I'm just ready to get after it," said Johnson.
That familiarity matters. Mehringer helped oversee a tight end room that sent Terrance Ferguson and Kenyon Sadiq to the NFL in 2025, and Johnson could be next in line to follow them out of Oregon.
Even with Moore and Johnson backing him, the real test still waits on the field. Oregon’s talent can carry plenty of weight, but the questions won’t go away until Mehringer’s offense is forced to line up against elite Big Ten defenses like Ohio State, Indiana, or USC early in the season.
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