Brandon Finney Jr. is making waves in the college football scene, and for good reason. As a true freshman in 2025, he turned the Oregon Ducks' secondary into a no-fly zone.
With opposing quarterbacks testing him 50 times, Finney allowed just 20 receptions and only one touchdown. And let's not forget, he was facing some of the best NFL-caliber wide receivers from powerhouse programs like Indiana, USC, Washington, and Penn State.
His standout performance last season has sparked debate around his rating in the upcoming EA Sports College Football 27 game. While Finney was rated a solid 91, some believe he deserves even more recognition.
Former USC All-American Su'a Cravens took to social media, arguing that Finney should be rated at least a 94. Cravens didn't hold back, calling Finney the first corner likely to be drafted in two years.
Despite the debate, Finney ties for the highest-rated cornerback in the Big Ten for the game, sharing his 91 rating with four others, including Jontez Williams from USC and Michigan's Jyaire Hall. Alabama's Zabien Brown and Texas Tech's Brice Pollock edged slightly higher, while Notre Dame's Leonard Moore topped the list with a 97.
But video game ratings aside, Finney is poised to prove his worth on the field. He'll kick off the season by facing Boise State's top receiver, Cameron Bates, a versatile threat known for his vertical prowess and jet sweep plays. It's a challenge that will set the tone for Finney's sophomore campaign.
The schedule doesn't get any easier, with Oklahoma State's new-look offense led by transfer quarterback Drew Mestermaker. Mestermaker, who threw for over 4,300 yards in 2025, will test Finney's mettle in the secondary.
The real test, however, arrives on September 26, when Finney and the Ducks head to USC. There, he'll likely line up against Tanook Hines, who torched Oregon for 141 yards last season. It's a chance for Finney to showcase his growth and resilience on a big stage.
And then there's the November 7 showdown with Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith, one of the most anticipated matchups of the year. If Finney can lock down Smith, it could catapult him into Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year conversations and perhaps earn him that elusive 99 rating in next year's game.
As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on Finney to see if he can back up the hype and elevate his game to new heights.
In Other News...
Oregon Just Pulled Off Its Most Over The Top Flex Yet
Dan Lanning and several Oregon players are in Tokyo this week for the Tokyo-Oregon Football Showcase, and the Ducks brought their own kind of billboard with them. The University of Oregon hauled its inflatable Duck mascot across the Pacific and planted it in one of the sports favorite stages, using the trip to keep the program visible while also pushing American football to a global audience.
The scene got even more over the top with the Duck displayed alongside an inflatable Godzilla, a pairing that feels tailor-made for Oregons brand of marketing excess. Dante Moores Heisman campaign billboards were part of the backdrop too, and after Oregon teased the setup in a video, Moores Instagram story helped confirm the mascots arrival in Japan. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon And Nike Are Sending A Message Ducks Fans Already Feel
The familiar Oregon-Nike partnership was on display again this week, with The Opening Finals in Beaverton bringing elite high school talent into the Ducks' orbit while the program continues building toward the 2026 season under Dan Lanning. It is the kind of scene Oregon has made part of its identity for years, where recruiting, branding and on-field ambition all blur together in a way few programs can match.
For Ducks fans, the timing is the point. Oregon is trying to keep momentum with key players returning and recruiting still active, and the program's reach is stretching well beyond Eugene as Lanning and a few players head to Tokyo for a football showcase presented by Flight Club. Between the prospect pipeline at home and the international spotlight abroad, Oregon and Nike are sending the same message fans have heard before: this remains a program built to think bigger than one season. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Just Took Another Painful Loss On The Offensive Line Trail
The recruiting board took another hit for Oregon in the offensive line chase, as four-star Caden Moss came off the board to Ohio State after drawing interest from the Ducks and several other national powers. A highly regarded interior lineman in the 2027 class, Moss was the sort of prospect Oregon had every reason to pursue aggressively, especially with the program continuing to build toward another elite haul on the offensive front.
Oregon still has four offensive linemen committed and remains highly ranked in the national class race, but misses like this one are the reminder that the Ducks are still fighting heavyweight battles for premium trench talent. There is at least another chance to add momentum soon, with four-star Gecova Doyal set to decide on July 1 and give Oregon another swing at a lineman it would love to land. [Read more 🡒]