Messiah Hampton kept his recent surge rolling Saturday night in Los Angeles, making his second straight start and finishing with five catches for 40 yards in Oregon’s 41-27 win over USC at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The true freshman has become a real part of the Ducks’ offense over the past three weeks, piling up 14 receptions for 142 yards and two touchdowns during that stretch. His expanded role has stood out even more with starting wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan out after breaking his foot during pregame warmups last weekend.
Hampton was one of 11 Oregon freshmen who saw the field against USC, and he was the only one to contribute on offense. The only other freshman to show up in the box score was defensive back Davon Benjamin, who recorded one tackle.
Nine other freshmen were listed in Saturday’s participation report but did not post stats: wide receivers Gatlin Bair and Hudson Lewis, tight end Kendre Harrison, offensive linemen Immanuel Iheanacho, Tommy Tofi and Koloi Keli, outside linebacker Dutch Horisk and defensive backs Jett Washington and Devin Jackson.
Here’s where Oregon’s freshmen stand through the season so far:
Played in four games (5): WR Messiah Hampton, OL Immanuel Iheanacho, DB Davon Benjamin, DB Jett Washington, OLB Dutch Horisk
Played in three games (6): WR Gatlin Bair, WR Hudson Lewis, TE Kendre Harrison, OL Koloi Keli, OL Tommy Tofi, DB Devin Jackson
Played in two games (2): RB Brandon Smith, DL Anthony Jones Jr.
Played in one game (7): RB Tradarian Ball, TE Dayton Raiola, OLB Prince Tavizon, LB Braylon Hodge, LB Tristan Phillips, DB Azel Banag, DB Xavier Lherisse
In Other News...
Bear Alexander Twisted The Knife After Oregon Beat USC
Bear Alexander had a little extra spotlight waiting for him at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and he seemed to lean into it. The Oregon defensive tackle, facing his former team in the Ducks 41-27 win over No. 18 USC on September 26, played a key role in a result that carried plenty of edge even before kickoff. With NFL scouts scattered through the building to watch the matchup, Alexander gave them something to note on the field and the Trojans crowd plenty to react to off it.
The boos from USC fans did not end when the game was over. Alexander took to social media after the victory to mock the Trojans and celebrate Oregons win, turning a tense reunion into a full-on postgame swipe. For Oregon, it was another signature road result in a season already built around high-stakes moments, and for Alexander it added an unmistakably personal layer to a night his old school probably would rather forget. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons USC Win Put One Transfer Story Front And Center
Week 4 offered a reminder that Oregons roster churn has reached far beyond Eugene, with several former Ducks making their presence felt for new teams. The most visible example came in the win over USC, where backup quarterback Dylan Raiola helped lead the way with 289 passing yards and two touchdowns, a performance that put his transfer path back into the spotlight.
Raiola was hardly alone in turning heads. Kingston Lopa, Kamar Mothudi, Sione Laulea, Makhi Hughes, Keith Brown, Jericho Johnson and Blake Purchase all turned in meaningful work for their new programs, adding another layer to Oregons transfer-era story. For the Ducks, the week was a useful snapshot of just how many familiar names are still shaping games elsewhere, even as one of the biggest results of the weekend came against USC. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Just Teased A New Look Bruins Fans Need To See
During the bye week, Oregon used a little downtime to stir up plenty of offseason-style intrigue, teasing a new alternate look that fits right into the programs long-running habit of making uniforms part of the brand. The matte black jersey features green and yellow paint streaks, along with a nod to the origin of speed inside the collar, a clear callback to the Chip Kelly era that helped define a lot of what the Ducks became.
The timing makes the tease even more interesting, with the full reveal expected on September 29 and a possible debut lined up for the October 10 matchup with UCLA. A version of the jersey had already surfaced through Dicks Sporting Goods, both online and in some stores, so the only real mystery now is how Oregon plans to package the finished product when it officially goes public. [Read more 🡒]