Oregon QB Austin Novosad Stays the Course - For Now - Amid Wave of Transfers Ahead of CFP Clash
*MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. * - As Oregon gears up for its College Football Playoff showdown against No.
4 Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl, the Ducks are navigating more than just game prep. Eight players have declared their intention to enter the transfer portal once it opens Friday - six of them since the end of the regular season.
But one name still on the roster, at least for now, is quarterback Austin Novosad.
The redshirt sophomore, who’s seen limited action this season, remains with the No. 5 Ducks as they prepare for their biggest game of the year. While many of his teammates have opted to move on, Novosad is choosing to stay - not just out of obligation, but out of pride.
“I feel like I owe it to this team, I owe it to the coaching staff and myself,” Novosad said. “I put in a lot of hard work and I want to help this team out as much as I can. That’s what I’m doing.”
Novosad’s role this year has been mostly behind the scenes. He saw brief action in the season opener against Montana State, completing one of two passes for 40 yards.
Since then, he hasn’t taken another snap, though he’s traveled with the team throughout the season. Walk-on Brock Thomas eventually took over as the backup quarterback, pushing Novosad further down the depth chart - a move that makes his potential transfer understandable.
And yet, as the Ducks prepare for their biggest postseason test in years, Novosad is still in the building, still wearing Oregon green, still doing the work.
It’s a complicated moment for the former four-star recruit. Novosad was a top-10 quarterback in the 2023 class, ranked No. 126 overall, and a finalist at the prestigious Elite 11 quarterback competition.
At Dripping Springs High School in Texas, he was a stat machine - nearly 9,000 passing yards, 114 touchdowns, and just 18 interceptions across three seasons. His upside is real, and there’s no shortage of programs that would love to have him.
But for now, he’s not chasing a new opportunity. He’s chasing a championship.
“It’s a tough spot,” he admitted. “It’s all about the timing and what’s best for myself as well as the team. Got to see where it goes and play it day by day.”
That timing could get even trickier depending on how far Oregon goes. If the Ducks beat Texas Tech and advance to the CFP semifinals - scheduled for January 9 at the Peach Bowl - Novosad’s decision window could tighten. The transfer portal closes January 16, and Oregon’s history suggests players who enter mid-playoff run may not remain with the team.
That looming deadline adds another layer of complexity. ESPN reported Saturday that Novosad intends to enter the portal, but the quarterback hasn’t confirmed when - or even if - that move will happen.
He’s keeping his cards close, especially when asked about any potential connection to outgoing offensive coordinator Will Stein, who’s now the head coach at Kentucky. Reports out of Lexington suggest a reunion is unlikely, and Novosad isn’t tipping his hand.
“I feel like once the portal opens, kind of see where that goes,” he said. “I don’t know what I’m going to do right now.”
For now, though, he’s still in the room. Still in the film sessions. Still part of a Ducks team with a real shot at a national title.
And in a sport where players are moving faster than ever, sometimes staying put - even temporarily - says more than any transfer ever could.
**No. 5 Oregon (12-1) vs.
No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1)**
📍 *Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla. *
🗓 Thursday, January 1
⏰ *9 a.m.
PT*
📺 ESPN
💻 *Streaming available via DIRECTV (free trial) or Sling (Sling day pass for $4.99). Availability may vary by region.