Oregon’s push for elite 2028 quarterback Josiah Boyd has gone from promising to precarious in a hurry.
For much of the summer, the Ducks looked like they were setting the pace. After Oregon offered Boyd, the California native called the program a dream school, and the buzz around Eugene had Oregon lined up as the early favorite to land the 4-star quarterback. That momentum, though, has not held.
Boyd is now scheduled to announce his commitment on November 23, and the race has tightened enough that Oregon no longer looks like the team to beat. In recent weeks, UCLA and Kentucky have both surged into the mix, with the Wildcats appearing to take control after Boyd visited Will Stein and Kentucky for the Wildcats wild win over Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers. Following that trip to Lexington, Kentucky was predicted to land the California native and seemed to have the upper hand.
The picture changed again on Tuesday. Rivals shifted its predictions and now has experts Greg Biggins, Brandon Huffman, Steve Wiltfong, and Adam Gorney all picking UCLA to keep Boyd in-state.
@SWiltfong_ reports😼
"Stein has been nothing short of amazing to me and my family."
Read: https://t.co/ZgEsDZZ5Ch https://t.co/Rj5frIIHDM pic.twitter.com/QxiUG6i1G2
- Rivals (@Rivals) October 13, 2026
Kentucky may have led for Josiah Boyd, but that lead seemingly didn't last too long as the recruitment has taken another turn. On Tuesday, Rivals has shifted their predictions once again with experts Greg Biggins, Brandon Huffman, Steve Wiltfong, and Adam Gorney all predicting the Bruins will keep Boyd in-state.
Intel: https://t.co/UVCiKB3Sw6 pic.twitter.com/sUXr9lmjNu
- Rivals (@Rivals) October 20, 2026
Boyd currently ranks as the No. 72 player in the country, the No. 6 quarterback in the class, and the No. 5 player in California, according to Rivals’ Industry Recruiting Rankings.
With the recruiting trend moving away from Oregon, the Ducks are staring at a tough climb over the final month-plus before Boyd’s decision. UCLA and Kentucky both have strong momentum, and each program’s new coaching era has added to the noise around this recruitment. Oregon can still make its case, but right now the buzz belongs elsewhere.
If Boyd does end up slipping away, Oregon will need to pivot quickly at quarterback. One name to watch is Texas native Tristin Gaines, who is currently projected by Rivals to end up in Eugene.
Even so, that recruitment is still wide open. Gaines spent the weekend at LSU, and more schools are expected to keep pressing.
Oregon also isn’t operating with no safety net. Will Mencl is already committed in the 2027 class, and Dan Lanning’s habit of bringing in transfer quarterbacks means the Ducks can withstand missing on a given high school passer. Still, landing a quarterback early would do plenty to help shape the rest of the class.
In Other News...
Oregons New Five-Star Commit Is Buying Into One Big Defensive Vision
Rashad Streets is still early in his path, but the five-star edge rusher from Raleigh, North Carolina, already sounds like a player who understands why Oregon has become such an attractive landing spot for elite defenders. The 2027 commit spent time at Autzen Stadium recently, where he connected with Dan Lanning and defensive coordinator Chris Hampton and spent part of the visit talking through how he could fit into the Ducks scheme.
What stands out for Oregon is how Streets' speed and bend line up with the Wide-9 style the Ducks want from the edge. He is expected to add bulk over time, but the framework is already there for him to grow into a role similar to what current edge rushers Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti provide. For a program that keeps selling disruption up front, Streets looks like another piece who sees the same big-picture defensive vision. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Faces A Precarious Oregon Test With QB Uncertainty On Both Sides
The buildup to Oregons Week 8 matchup with Illinois has taken on an unusual wrinkle, with both programs entering the game uncertain at quarterback. Bret Bielema said Illinois has had to prepare for multiple Oregon options because of the Ducks injury situation, and that kind of uncertainty can change a game plan quickly this late in the season. For Oregon, the focus is on Dante Moore, who is recovering from a concussion and could be back in time to face the Illini.
Illinois has its own quarterback concern to manage, with Katin Houser expected to miss several weeks after a hand procedure. That leaves both staffs trying to balance preparation with unknowns, a tricky spot in any Big Ten matchup and especially one involving a team as deep and dynamic as Oregon. For the Ducks, it adds another layer to a game that was already shaping up as a test of flexibility before the ball is even snapped. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Just Gave Nebraska Fans A Reason To Believe
Nebraskas narrow loss to Oregon still looks better with each passing week, and the timing of the bye gives the Cornhuskers a chance to catch their breath at 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten. They have already shown they can hang with one of the leagues top teams, and the way the conference has churned since then has only sharpened the sense that Nebraska is not far off from being a real factor in the race.
Ohio States 19-15 win over Indiana did more than snap the Hoosiers 22-game winning streak, it also came with the kind of quarterback setback that can change a seasons outlook in a hurry. With Julian Sayin expected to miss multiple weeks, the door is at least cracked open for opponents still waiting to see what the Buckeyes look like without him, and Nebraskas path through the rest of the schedule just got a little more interesting. [Read more 🡒]