The Oregon Ducks enter 2025 carrying the kind of preseason attention that can turn every misstep into a talking point. No. 2 in the AP Poll - the highest preseason ranking in program history - they open Sept. 5 against Boise State with the spotlight turned all the way up.
That’s why the penalty conversation matters. Oregon may be riding a wave of hype, but a new look at the numbers shows the Ducks are right in the middle of the pack when it comes to flag trouble.
The Action Network ranked 136 college football teams using penalty yards per game, penalties per game, penalty first downs per game and penalties per play from 2020 to 2025, then rolled those numbers into a “Dirty Score.” Oregon came in at No. 65 with a score of 52.94, sitting between Florida at No. 64 and Virginia Tech at No. 66.
Within the Big Ten, USC carried the unwanted label of the “dirtiest” team in the league, checking in at No. 11 with a 92.65 score. UCLA landed at No. 13 with a 91.18 score, Maryland was No. 24 at 83.09, and Michigan State followed at No. 26 with an 81.62. Michigan, meanwhile, was the conference’s cleanest team, coming in at No. 133 with a 2.94 score.
Oregon’s own 2025 season numbers tell a similar story. The Ducks finished with 76 penalties for 746 lost yards, which works out to 49.733 penalty yards lost per game. Their opponents were flagged 85 times for 621 lost yards, averaging 41.400 penalty yards per game.
Individually, starting offensive tackle Alex Harkey led the Ducks in penalties last season with eight for 81 yards. Five of those were behavioral calls, including facemask, unsportsmanlike and personal foul flags.
Dan Lanning has already made it clear that the Ducks will keep hammering on the details in practice. After Oregon’s first fall camp scrimmage on Aug. 15, he said he believed the defense has had the best fall camp since he arrived in 2022, while also stressing that the offense has to respond.
“As far as the feeling from this scrimmage to other comparison scrimmages, I don't have a widely different feeling from others. You know, I'm always a pessimistic guy whenever it comes to how what the performance looked like because I want us to be the best version of us, and we're not we're not the best version of us yet, but we're making strides,” Lanning said.
In Other News...
Dante Moore Is Already Hinting At Oregons Next Difference-Maker
Fall camp has already given Oregon a fresh glimpse of what Dante Moore thinks could become a major piece of the offense. The Ducks quarterback has taken notice of incoming wide receiver Jalen Lott, pointing to how quickly he has picked up the playbook and how hard he has gone to work since arriving in Eugene. For a receiver trying to earn trust in a crowded room, that kind of early attention from the quarterback matters.
Moore also has singled out Lotts speed and catching ability, and the early practice showing has only reinforced the buzz around him. Oregon expects Lott to be part of a wide receiver group that already includes returning talent, so the challenge now is turning those flashes into a role that shows up when the games count. If the camp progress carries over, the Ducks may already have another offensive threat on their hands. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons Linebacker Room Is Taking Shape Around One Crucial Camp Challenge
Fall camp has started to clarify Oregons linebacker picture, and Brian Michalowski is seeing the kind of steady progress a position coach wants this time of year. Jerry Mixon has stood out for his growing leadership and the confidence hes bringing onto the field, while Devon Jacksons health has allowed him to stay consistently involved in practice. Add in the early work from the freshmen and the flexibility Nasir Wyatt brings as an edge defender, and the Ducks are getting a better sense of who can handle the demands of the room.
Michalowskis emphasis has been less about flash than about the habits that make the group function, especially communication and development driven by the players themselves. For a linebacker room that still has pieces sorting into place, that matters because the position asks for more than athleticism. Oregon wants clarity, accountability and voices on the field, and camp is giving the staff a chance to see which players are ready to help provide all three. [Read more 🡒]
Former Oregon Ducks Are Making NFL Teams Take Notice
A wave of former Oregon Ducks is making its presence felt early in the 2026 NFL preseason, giving the program another reminder of how much professional talent it continues to send into the league. Among the early standouts are rookies Noah Whittington and Malik Benson, both 2026 draft picks whose first exhibition showings offered an encouraging glimpse of what they might bring at the next level.
The buzz has not been limited to offense, either. Defenders Bryce Boettcher, Dillon Thieneman and Jabbar Muhammad have also drawn notice as they work through roster battles and try to turn strong preseason moments into spots on regular-season depth charts. For Oregon fans, it is the kind of early August progress report that can make the coming weeks worth tracking closely. [Read more 🡒]