Injuries have taken a heavy toll on Oregon this season, and the Ducks have been especially thin on offense with Dante Moore out for the year. The absences have piled up around him, too.
Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. both missed the second half against Northwestern in Week 9 after being healthy all season, while Jeremiah McClellan, Evan Stewart, Messiah Hampton, Iverson Hooks and Jalen Lott have also missed time at receiver. Up front, guard Dave Iuli and true freshman Immanuel Iheancho have been sidelined as well.
Even with Oregon dealing with that kind of attrition, several former Ducks are making noise elsewhere. Five transfers stood out in Week 9, and a few of them delivered their best work of the season.
Kamar Mothudi turned in the top performance of his career for California, piling up a career-high eight tackles in the Golden Bears’ 31-10 loss to NC State. After recording just four tackles in his lone season at Oregon, he’s already up to 38 stops in his first year with Cal.
Kyler Kasper kept his breakout season rolling at BYU. In the Cougars’ 27-20 win over Arizona State, he caught four passes for 57 yards and a touchdown. He now ranks second on BYU in catches with 30, second in receiving yards with 430 and first in touchdown receptions with five.
Keith Brown was all over the field for Washington State, finishing with a team-high 11 tackles and a pass deflection in a 26-20 loss to San Diego State. The former Oregon linebacker has now reached 71 tackles on the season and has become the anchor of the Cougars’ defense.
Roger Saleapaga also got a bigger slice of the offense at BYU. He caught three passes for 26 yards and came close to scoring before stepping out of bounds, giving him his most involved game plan of the year. The junior tight end now has 12 receptions for 146 yards.
Blake Purchase continued to carve out an important role for Ole Miss, finishing with three tackles in the Rebels’ 45-15 win over Auburn. Ole Miss has two losses, but the Rebels remain in the College Football Playoff mix.
In Other News...
Ohio State Faces A New Oregon Twist In This QB Battle
Matayo Uiagalelei is already looking at Oregons trip to Ohio State as something different, and not just because it will be his first time inside the Buckeyes stadium. The Ducks edge rusher spent time previewing the matchup this week, with a particular eye on the quarterback situation that has changed the feel of the game on both sides and added another layer to a meeting that already carries plenty of weight.
Uiagalelei also pointed to the work Oregon has gotten from Dante Moore on scout team, even while Moore has been dealing with a concussion, as part of the teams preparation. From there, his attention turned to Ohio States offense, its key playmakers and the mindset Oregon is bringing into the game, leaving the bigger question of how the Ducks will handle the Buckeyes latest twist still hanging over the matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Just Created Real Momentum With A New 2027 Receiver Target
Oregons receiver board for 2027 got a fresh jolt when the Ducks extended a late offer to Relando Jefferson IV and brought him to campus soon after. Jefferson, who recently decommitted from Fresno State, has already started drawing attention from multiple programs, but the Oregon visit gave him a closer look at what the Ducks are building and how they sell that vision to young pass-catchers.
For Jefferson, the trip included seeing a game and hearing Dan Lannings postgame speech, details that clearly made an impression as he took in the programs atmosphere. With his recruitment still open and more schools in the mix, Oregon has put itself in position to matter here, and the fact that the Ducks moved quickly after his decommitment suggests this is one to watch going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Michigan Broadcast Choice Says A Lot About Where Both Teams Stand
Michigans next two weeks say plenty about where the program is right now. The Wolverines get Michigan State in Week 10 as a night game that will live only on Peacock, then turn around for a Week 11 matchup with Oregon at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1. With both teams sitting at 5-3, the broadcast windows alone underline that this is no longer a showcase of heavyweights, but a stretch that still carries real weight for two teams trying to finish strong.
For Michigan, the immediate goal is simple: get to bowl eligibility and keep the season from slipping further. Kyle Whittingham has already addressed where the team stands and what it is chasing, which makes the Oregon game feel like more than just another late-season slot on the schedule. It is a meeting between teams in the same record range, but with plenty still hanging on how they handle the next seven days. [Read more 🡒]