For most of this year, the University of Oregon’s iconic Hayward Field has sat silent and empty. But on April 18 and 19, when Oregon’s collegiate runners return for their first home meet of the season, that silence will be gone and will be replaced with the cheers of an always-passionate ‘Track Town’ crowd.

Hayward Field, which was fully renovated in 2021, will play host to the Oregon Open on April 18, followed by the Oregon Invitational on April 19. Both days will feature men and women competing in short- and medium-distance races, as well as field events.

Held Saturday, the Oregon Open will be a non-scored competition, meaning it’ll be solely a celebration of individual results. Entry fields are limited by size, with priority given to collegiate athletes who will already be competing on Sunday. Any unfilled spaces will then be offered to collegiate student-athletes, followed by any unaffiliated but competitive adults.

The action will continue on Sunday when the Oregon Invitational kicks off. The Invitational will be a condensed one-day meet held under normal NCAA rules. Its status as a qualifying event means it must also be a non-scored competition, but the event will introduce “Fan Scoring,” an unofficial points tally that is intended to encourage teams to participate in all events.

Four other universities will attend Sunday’s Oregon Invitational in full; Texas A&M University, Kansas State University, Wichita State University and Oklahoma State University. The women’s teams from the University of Utah and Oregon State University will also be participating.

The Ducks have had a strong start to their 2025 track and field campaign. Both the men’s and women’s teams won Big Ten Indoor Championship titles in March. The Oregon men’s 106 points finished 6.5 ahead of second-place USC, while the women’s team dominated second-place Illinois by 49 points (131 to 82).

As a result, the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s (USTFCCCA) named head coach Jerry Schumacher its National Women’s Coach of the Year at the 2025 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field National Awards. Shalane Flanagan was also named Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Assistant Coach of the Year. Both coaches did so in just their third years with the program.

Oregon’s momentum carried over into early outdoor competitions. The Ducks earned eight wins and eight program top-10 finishes across the Battle of the Beach (April 4) and Stanford Invitational (April 4-5) meets.

Unsurprisingly, Oregon’s track stars have also enjoyed plenty of individual success. Wilma Nielsen, a native of Sweden who transferred to Oregon from Washington this offseason, won the NCAA women’s indoor mile with a time of 4:32.40. She’s also a four-time NCAA Championships qualifier in the 800-meter race and ran second leg in Washington’s record-setting 4×800-meter relay in 2024.

Also notable is Jaida Ross, who broke the women’s collegiate shot put record (20.01m) in 2024. Ross was named last year’s USTFCCCA National Women’s Field Athlete of the Year. The senior from Medford, OR is the first NCAA women’s shot put champion in school history.

The Oregon Open will begin Saturday, April 18, at 2:45 p.m., with the day’s closing steeplechase set for 8:30 p.m. The Oregon Open will also host men’s and women’s hammer throw on Sunday at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. respectively. The Oregon Invitational will then begin at 4:55 p.m. Sunday and will end with the men’s 4×400-meter relay at 7:45 p.m.

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Oregon’s 2024-25 football team will go down as one of the most talented rosters in program history. As a result, a program-best 12 Ducks were invited to the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine in February, where attendees made their case for selection in April 24-26’s NFL Draft.

With the 2025 NFL Draft only 10 days away, it’s time to count down the 10 Ducks who I think have the best chance of being drafted. This series will work backwards, starting with probable Day 3 picks and ending with the Ducks most likely to be first-round selections. Today, we begin my draft countdown with offensive tackle Ajani Cornelius.

Cornelius, a fifth-year senior from Harlem, NY, built up a wealth of experience during four full seasons as a collegiate starter. Though he won two state championships and league titles with Archbishop Stepinac, Cornelius was an unranked prospect coming out of high school. 

He ultimately landed at the University of Rhode Island, an FCS school. He redshirted the 2020-2021 season before spending two seasons as the Rams’ right tackle, where he’d earn first-team all-conference honors as a sophomore. 

Unsatisfied with FCS competition, Cornelius decided to transfer before his junior year. This time, Cornelius got FBS attention. 247Sports listed Cornelius as the No. 40 overall transfer and the third-ranked offensive tackle. However, Oregon offensive line coach A’Lique Terry saw even more in the 6’5, 315-pound Cornelius.

“As soon as you started to watch the film, it was clear that (Cornelius) might be literally the best offensive lineman in college football,” Terry told CBS Sports. 

Head coach Dan Lanning clearly felt a similar way, and brought the Cornelius family out to Eugene for a visit. A commitment to the Ducks soon followed.

“It just felt like home,” Cornelius said of Eugene and the Oregon football program.

Cornelius made that feeling stick by locking up Oregon’s starting right tackle spot for the 2023 season. He started all 14 games – 899 offensive snaps – on his way to an All-Pac-12 honorable mention. He allowed no sacks and only one QB hit, which resulted in an impressive 85.3 PFF Pass Block Grade.

Cornelius could have reasonably departed Oregon for the NFL Draft as a junior. As a result, his decision to return to Eugene for a final season turned some heads. Fox Sports Analyst Jake Butt listed Cornelius at No. 18 in a list of the Big Ten’s best players ahead of the 2024 season.

Unfortunately, Cornelius saw less success in his senior season. Defending the blindside of left-handed transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel clearly required an adjustment period, as Cornelius allowed two sacks and earned two illegal formation penalties in the season opener against FCS opponent Idaho.

Cornelius wouldn’t allow another sack until the Rose Bowl against Ohio State in January, but his overall numbers dropped noticeably in 2024. He finished the season with three sacks and four hits allowed, which dropped his PFF Pass Block grade to a less impressive 73.4. 

Analysts like the NFL’s Lance Zierlein and PFF’s Mason Cameron listed such struggles in pass protection as the primary weakness in Cornelius’ game. Both analysts project Cornelius as a Day 3 pick who will likely find more professional success as a guard.

“He can cover up defenders with size but is frequently out-leveraged at the point of attack,” Zierlein wrote. “His average body control and slide quickness should be mitigated in smaller spaces but those issues will still be concerning against explosive interior rushers.” 

Zierlein projected Cornelius as a sixth or seventh-round pick whose ceiling may be that of a backup. Cameron also projected Cornelius as a Day 3 pick, but noted his upside as a run-blocker, particularly as a puller. Switching to guard would maximize Cornelius’ ability as a pulling blocker.

Personally, I like Cornelius as a Day 3 pick and a future guard. His size and frame (33.5inch arms) are good enough for tackle, but he lacks the hand and foot quickness needed to reliably deal with the NFL’s premier edge threats. His late struggles against elite competition (he averaged a 43.4 PFF Pass Block grade in the 2024 postseason) are indication enough of that.

However, it’s worth noting that Cornelius found three years of consistent success with right-handed quarterbacks. His senior season – while slightly less successful – involved blocking for a left-hander against Big Ten defenses, the stiffest competition of his career. 

It’s also worth noting that Cornelius has already excelled in the face of doubters. Five years ago, Cornelius was an unknown redshirt freshman on an FCS program. Now, he’s got four years of starting experience, two of which came for one of the country’s leading college football programs.

Cornelius’ future may lie at tackle, or it may lie at guard. However, it almost certainly lies in the National Football League. Cornelius has displayed the ability to contribute across four seasons of college football. No matter where he goes, what position he plays, or how much time he gets as a starter, I expect to see Cornelius contribute as a professional for the foreseeable future.

Tomorrow, Parsons’ Profiles will examine another transfer Duck who’s hoping their contributions at the line of scrimmage have earned them a spot in the NFL.

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Every year, college football’s best athletes gather inside Indianapolis’ famed Lucas Oil Stadium for the NFL Scouting Combine. This year, a program-best 12 Oregon Ducks ran drills in the hopes of impressing the NFL personnel in attendance. Now, with the combine concluded, let’s go over some of the Ducks who either raised or lowered their draft stock.

Winner: TE Terrance Ferguson

Out of all the Ducks in attendance, Ferguson had probably the best day of workouts. He recorded a 4.63-second 40-yard dash and a 39” vertical jump, both of which led all tight ends. Ferguson also recorded a 1.55-second 10-yard split, which tied for first among tight ends with Notre Dame’s Mitchell Evans, and a 10’2 broad jump, which was good enough for third-best. This 2025 tight end class is considered to be a particularly good one, which makes Ferguson’s inclusion in this year’s NFL All-Combine Team even more impressive. 

Ferguson’s solid hands and potent athleticism made him a reliable weapon for the Ducks, and he seems poised to make a similar impact at the highest level. He’s more of a receiver than a blocker, which could hurt his stock to some extent, but I’d be surprised if he was still on the board when Round 4 starts on April 28.

Loser: WR Tez Johnson

Johnson weighed in at only 154 pounds, nine pounds lighter than the next-smallest player and eleven pounds lighter than the 165 pounds at which Oregon listed him. To compound the problem, Johnson ran a middling 4.51-second 40-yard dash, good enough for only the 27th-fastest time among wide receivers. To his credit, Johnson finished the three-cone drill in a combine-best 6.65 seconds and recorded the highest top speed of any wideout (21.77 mph) during route drills. He also finished fourth-best in both the broad jump (10’11 inches) and 20-yard shuttle (4.15 seconds). 

The latter numbers reflect the agility and play speed which made Johnson such a special player during his two years with the Ducks. Unfortunately for Johnson, last year’s NFL Draft saw 40-yard dash record-holder Xavier Worthy (4.21 seconds) go undrafted until Pick No. 28, likely as a result of his 165-pound frame. Although Johnson performed exceptionally in some drills, the weight and (albeit questionable) speed concerns which arose at this year’s combine will likely lower his draft stock to some extent. His eventual draft position will likely depend on teams’ willingness to trust game film (and outstanding Senior Bowl tape) over any combine concerns. I wouldn’t expect Johnson to last past the fifth round, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him drafted before then.

Winner: DT Derrick Harmon

Harmon’s size and explosiveness were on display along the defensive interior all season, and he put on an encore performance in Indianapolis. Despite possessing an immense 6’4, 313-pound frame, Harmon ran the 40-yard dash in a wildly fast 4.95 seconds. The junior transfer from Michigan State drew comparisons to six-time All-Pro Chris Jones and was even named Bleacher Report’s “biggest winner from the defensive tackles”. Harmon entered Indianapolis as a prospective first-round pick, and his combine performance further strengthened his chances of being a Day One selection.

Loser: RB Jordan James

Running back is considered by many to be this year’s strongest positional group. Unfortunately for James, his measurables didn’t exactly impress. His 40-yard dash time of 4.55 seconds ranked 18th out of 24 participants, and his 10-yard split of 1.63 seconds ranked 23rd. Even worse, James’ broad jump of 9’9 tied with three others for the shortest distance among running backs. However, James’ relatively poor combine showing doesn’t change his past as a talented workhorse back. James will likely be selected in the latter half of this year’s draft, but he’ll provide excellent rotational value wherever he ends up, and could one day elevate into a starting role like former Duck Bucky Irving did in Tampa Bay.

Winner: OT Josh Conerly Jr.

Conerly Jr. was the nation’s top high school offensive line prospect in 2022, and didn’t disappoint across three seasons with the Ducks. Now, following an excellent combine showing, the 2024 First-Team All-American tackle seems to have all but secured his future as a first-round draft pick. Conerly Jr. ran a very impressive 5.05-second 40-yard dash and led all linemen with a 1.71-second 10-yard split. He also used that athleticism to excel in on-field drills. As a result, he was named a member of this year’s NFL’s All-Combine Team.  And oh yeah, he stands 6’5 and weighs 311 pounds, with room to bulk without sacrificing athleticism. What else is there to say?

Loser: QB Dillon Gabriel

Gabriel, who played for three schools across six seasons, will enter this year’s NFL Draft as one of the most experienced quarterbacks in college football history. Unfortunately for him, that experience didn’t pay off in Indianapolis. Gabriel only participated in throwing drills, where he struggled to channel the precise passing he displayed at Oregon. “He had the poorest showing when it comes to these touch timing throws the NFL scouts want to see you make,” ESPN’s Matt Miller said. Miller also noted that Gabriel’s 5’9, 200-pound frame was “undersized for the NFL standard.” Gabriel will likely enter the NFL as a backup, but he’s got the experience and instincts required to jump into a starting role if an opportunity arises.

A great combine performance often marks a player’s last step on the road to the NFL Draft. Thankfully, those who struggled in Indianapolis will have another opportunity to display their skills at Oregon’s Pro Day on March 18th. After that, Ducks players and fans alike will be counting down the days until April 26, when the 2025 NFL Draft officially kicks off in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

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Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel was officially named one of this year’s four finalists for the Heisman Trophy on Monday evening. He’ll join Boise State University running back Ashton Jeanty, University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward and Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter in New York City for Saturday’s Heisman Ceremony.

Gabriel is now the fifth Duck – alongside Joey Harrington (2001), LaMichael James (2010), Marcus Mariota (winner in 2014) and Bo Nix (2023) – to be nominated for college football’s most prestigious individual award. 

His nomination this year came as no surprise to Ducks fans. Gabriel led this year’s No.1-ranked Oregon Ducks to an undefeated regular season and then outdueled Penn State’s Drew Allar to win Saturday’s Big Ten Championship 45-37. With their record at 13-0, the Ducks are three wins from the program’s first ever national championship.

Through 13 wins, Gabriel completed 297 of 406 passing attempts for 3,558 yards, 28 touchdowns and six interceptions. Gabriel’s 73.2% completion rate was the nation’s second-highest behind only Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders (74.2), while his yards and touchdown totals both finished eighth-highest.

Despite Gabriel’s stellar stats and undefeated record, he’s unlikely to win this year’s Heisman trophy. According to FanDuel, Gabriel’s odds currently sit at +40000, ahead of Ward (+50000) but well behind both Jeanty (+1100) and the odds-on favorite, Hunter (-4000).

For most of this season, the Heisman competition has been a two-horse race. Jeanty recently concluded the best regular season from a collegiate running back since Barry Sanders won the Heisman back in 1998. Meanwhile, Hunter tallied a ludicrous 1,443 snaps across 12 games, making a major impact on both sides of the ball.

Following Boise State’s (12-1, 7-0 Mountain West) win over UNLV, Jeanty’s total stands at 344 carries for 2,497 yards and 29 touchdowns. His yards after contact alone (1,882) are 222 yards more than any other running back has total yards this year. If it were any other year, Jeanty would have secured the Heisman Trophy long ago. 

Through 709 snaps at wide receiver, Hunter turned 92 catches into 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns, leading the Buffaloes (9-3, 7-2 Big 12) in each category. 

Hunter also recorded 713 defensive snaps, plus another 21 on special teams. In doing so, Hunter established himself as one of the nation’s top cornerbacks, tallying 22 tackles, four passes defended, four interceptions and one forced fumble.

Hunter is likely to win the year’s most prestigious individual award, but that won’t take anything away from the season Gabriel’s had so far. Gabriel’s accomplishments, most notably his team’s undefeated record through 13 games, make it clear that he’s been one of the nation’s best overall players this year.

The No. 1 Oregon Ducks (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten) handily defeated the Washington Huskies (6-6, 4-5 Big Ten) by a score of 49-21 inside Autzen Stadium on Saturday night. The win marked head coach Dan Lanning’s first win over the Huskies and resulted in the Ducks’ first undefeated regular season since 2010.

“Anytime you can beat a rival at home like this and hand it to them like we did, it’s a great feeling,” linebacker Bryce Boettcher said postgame. Boettcher, who led the team with 11 tackles, also recorded a sack, two tackles-for-loss and a forced fumble.

Washington won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Oregon’s ground game immediately imposed its will, tallying six carries for 49 yards – including a nine-yard Noah Whittington touchdown – across its opening drive.

The Huskies chose to start true freshman quarterback Demond Williams Jr. in place of incumbent starter Will Rogers. It was the first career start for Williams Jr., who had previously gotten snaps because of his threatening mobility.

Williams Jr. made some plays with both his arms and his legs on the Huskies’ first drive, but Washington’s offense stalled at the Oregon 8-yard line. A 26-yard Grady Gross field goal that made the score 7-3 Ducks with 5:24 remaining in the first quarter.

Oregon took over at its own 38-yard line but couldn’t get anything going. Normally sure-handed Ducks receiver Evan Stewart dropped a wide-open crossing route on 3rd-and-6, forcing a Ducks punt that carried all the way into the endzone for a touchback.

On 1st-and-10 at his own 43-yard line, Williams Jr. was swallowed up by a blitzing Boettcher for the game’s first sack. Two ineffective Huskies runs got Washington no further than the original line of scrimmage, forcing their punt unit onto the field as the first quarter came to an end.

Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel managed to pick up a single first down with his legs, but Whittington then fumbled the ball back to the Huskies after a botched hurdle attempt at Oregon’s 23-yard line.

Despite the sudden change, Oregon’s defense held strong. Edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei sacked Williams Jr. on 3rd-and-6, forcing Washington to settle for a 40-yard Gross field goal.

On Oregon’s next drive, Gabriel found a wide-open Traeshon Holden across the middle. Holden (who led Oregon with 73 yards on three catches) shrugged off tacklers on his way down the sideline and leapt for the pylon, but was ruled down less than a yard short. Autzen Stadium roared with disapproval, but that anger was assuaged a play later, when James crashed across the goal line to make it 14-3 Ducks.

WIlliams Jr. began the Huskies’ next drive at his own 26-yard line, but fumbled the ball away while trying to execute a 1st-down handoff. Ducks defensive tackle Derrick Harmon pounced on it at the 19-yard line, giving Oregon’s offense its best field position of the day.

The Ducks immediately capitalized. An earth-shattering broken tackle from James brought the Ducks back to the 1-yard line in only a single play. It took only one more play for James to score again, marking his second one-yard touchdown in just 50 seconds.

A Huskies 3-and-out gave the Ducks the ball back at the Huskies’ 45-yard line. Three plays later, Gabriel rolled to his left and fought his way into the endzone. The five-yard rushing score – Gabriel’s seventh of the year – put the Ducks up 28-6 with 5:01 remaining in the second quarter.

The Huskies took over at their own 25. 11 plays and four minutes later, Huskies running back Jonah Coleman took the ball across the goal line for a one-yard rushing touchdown. Williams Jr. then connected with receiver Denzel Boston for a two-point conversion, shortening Oregon’s lead to 14 points just before halftime.

Washington’s offense got off to a solid start in the third quarter, but its momentum briefly stalled following a Jordan Burch sack that pushed the Huskies back into their own territory. 

Williams Jr. got all the yardage he’d lost back by scrambling for a 1st down a play later. However, he was sacked again by Uiagalelei and Burch on 2nd and 3rd downs respectively, forcing a Husky punt which resulted in a touchback.

The Ducks moved the ball to their own 45, where they faced a 3rd-and-2. Gabriel found returning receiver Tez Johnson for his first catch of the game, a 17-yarder that moved the chains and set the Ducks up at the edge of field goal range. 

Six plays later, Gabriel (16/23 for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns) connected with a wide-open Johnson (3 catches for 36 yards, 1 TD) for a nine-yard score, making the score 35-14 Ducks with 3:28 remaining in the third quarter.

“It means a lot,” Johnson said. Johnson was one of 31 seniors honored before the game. “I’m pretty sure all the seniors felt that way about this game.”

Washington’s hopes seemed to fade there. The Ducks tallied two more sacks, one from Harmon and one shared between Burch and outside linebacker Jaeden Moore, to force another punt. Nine plays later, Gabriel found tight end Terrance Ferguson (4 catches for 48 yards, 1 TD), for  a 19-yard touchdown pass which extended Oregon’s lead to 28 points.

Washington’s next drive, another 3-and-out, saw outside linebacker Teitum Tuioti record the defense’s 10th sack of the game, tying the all-time program record. 

“If you can do it on Monday, you can do it on Saturday,” Burch said of Oregon’s record-setting performance. “Everybody was buying in throughout the week, and they made it happen.”

Up big in the fourth quarter, Oregon decided to protect Gabriel and put in backup Dante Moore. 

Moore promptly led a nine-play, 74-yard drive which ended in a one-yard rushing touchdown by running back Da’Jaun Riggs. 

With just above five minutes remaining, Williams Jr. (17/20 for 201 yards, 1 TD) led a final touchdown drive, which ended with a 28-yard touchdown connection to Giles Jackson. 

Oregon retook the field in victory formation. Three kneel-downs later, it was over. Oregon had completed the program’s second-ever undefeated regular season and had done so in dominant fashion.

“Winning’s fun. It’s addicting. It’s my drug of choice,” Gabriel said.

Despite the magnitude of their achievement, the Ducks are focused on games to come. “In our world, you don’t get the opportunity to be satisfied,” Lanning said.

The Ducks will appear in their first ever Big Ten Championship Game against the No. 4-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten) on Dec. 7 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The winner of that game will also earn a first-round bye in the debuting 12-team College Football Playoff.

No. 1 ranked Oregon has talent across the board, but a few players have stood out above the rest. With one week of regular-season football to come, which Ducks are most likely to bring home end-of-season hardware?

Quarterback Dillon Gabriel: Heisman Trophy, Unitas, O’Brien and Maxwell Awards

Perhaps no Duck has shone brighter this year than quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who became the FBS’s all-time leader in career touchdowns (180). Among passers with more than 200 pass attempts, the sixth-year senior ranks second in completion percentage (73.8%), tenth in passing yards (3,066) and ninth in passer rating (164.9).

But Gabriel’s most important stat? He’s the quarterback of the only undefeated team in the country.

Gabriel currently holds the fourth-best odds to win this year’s Heisman Trophy, behind Colorado jack-of-all-trades Travis Hunter, Boise State University running back Ashton Jeanty and University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward. If those results hold, Gabriel will join Joey Harrington (2001), LaMichael James (2010), Marcus Mariota (2014 winner) and Bo Nix (2023) as the fifth Heisman finalist in Oregon history. 

The four Heisman finalists will be announced on Dec. 9, and the trophy will be awarded on Dec. 14. Gabriel is also a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, and the Maxwell Award.

Offensive Line: Joe Moore Award

Oregon’s offensive line was recently named as one of ten semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award, which recognizes the nation’s best offensive line.

Oregon’s O-line started slow, allowing seven sacks in its first two games. However, things changed, and Oregon has allowed only five sacks in its nine games since. The Ducks did not allow a sack in six of those games, including a four-game stretch from Weeks 3 to 7 in which quarterback Dillon Gabriel was never sacked. 

The Ducks are currently 16th in the nation with 12 allowed sacks. Their PFF Run Block grade of 66.0 and Pass Block grade of 73.1 are tied for only 47th and 54th nationally, but those numbers don’t tell the whole story.

More telling are running back Jordan James’ 1,067 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. “He’d be the first one to tell you it wasn’t him,” head coach Dan Lanning said of James’ milestone achievement. “It was the guys in front of him.”

The Joe Moore Award’s three finalists will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 3. The winning team will be surprised on campus with the award in late December. 

Linebacker Bryce Boettcher: Burlsworth Trophy

On Nov. 19, Oregon linebacker and Eugene native Bryce Boettcher was named as one of the three finalists for this year’s Burlsworth Ttrophy, which is awarded annually to the best former walk-on in college football. He’ll be competing for the award with Indiana defensive lineman James Carpenter and University at Buffalo linebacker Shaun Dolac.

Despite being third among Oregon off-ball linebackers with 348 snaps, Boettcher leads the team with 38 solo and 69 total tackles. He was named the Week 3 Burlsworth Trophy Walk-On of the Week after tallying 11 tackles and two pass defenses in the Ducks’ dominant 49-14 win over Oregon State.

Boettcher’s PFF defense grade of 90.2 is tied with Iowa’s Jay Higgins for second nationally behind only Dolac’s 91.9. Boettcher’s pass coverage grade of 87.5 is good for seventh nationally, though Dolac’s 93.6 ranks second.

Boettcher is carrying plenty of momentum into Dec. 9’s Burlsworth Trophy Award Show. He recorded career high PFF grades in defense (90.7), run defense (84.6) and coverage (82.7) against Wisconsin.

The No. 1-ranked Oregon Ducks, on bye last weekend, have already secured their place in Dec. 7’s Big Ten Championship Game. With three teams vying for the remaining spot, and many more seeking bowl eligibility, there was plenty of conference action to watch last weekend. Which games stood out for their postseason importance?

Undefeated Hoosiers hosed by No. 2 Buckeyes 38-15

No. 5 Indiana (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten) got a reality check in Columbus at the hands of the nation’s best defense. Ohio State’s defense silenced Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who went just 8/18 for 68 yards through the air. The Buckeyes (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten), will secure a Big Ten title berth with a win over Michigan next week. Indiana, though not eliminated, needs both Ohio State and Penn State to lose. The Hoosiers will likely make the playoffs as a one-loss team.

No. 4 Penn State sluggish, survives 26-25 at Minnesota

Penn State (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten) dodged a classic Big Ten upset against the bowl-bound Golden Gophers (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten). The Nittany Lions trailed until late in the third quarter, and led by just four with less than six minutes remaining. Minnesota drove deep into Penn State territory, but elected to kick a field goal and attempt a defensive stop. Instead, Penn State succeeded on three 4th-down conversions, including a fake punt, to secure the victory. The Nittany Lions are a win and an Ohio State loss from their first Big Ten Championship appearance since 2016.

Bowl-eligible Michigan steamrolls Northwestern 50-6

The Wolverines (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) secured a bowl berth by dominating the Wildcats (4-7, 2-6 Big Ten), whose hopes of reaching the six-win mark have officially been dashed. Michigan running back Kalel Mullings led the offense with a career-best three rushing touchdowns. 

The Wolverines’ defense continued to play well, tallying two interceptions and six sacks. Michigan will now look to play spoiler to Ohio State in “The Game” next week. The Wolverines have won the last three matchups and know that a fourth would yet again bar their Buckeye arch-rivals from a Big Ten Championship appearance.

Nebraska eligible, beats at-risk Wisconsin 45-22

The Cornhuskers (6-5, 3-5 Big Ten) snapped a four-game losing streak with a win over the Badgers (5-6, 3-5 Big Ten), whose own losing streak has now stretched to four. Nebraska’s offense excelled, led by 293 passing yards and a touchdown from true freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola. Former Oregon running back Dante Dowdell added another three scores on the ground. 

The loss puts Wisconsin, whose record stood at 5-2 after Week 8, at even greater risk of missing out on a bowl game. The Badgers will need to beat Minnesota next week if they want to keep their 22-year-long bowl-eligibility streak alive.

USC wins ‘Flu Game,’ breaks UCLA hearts following 19-13 Trojans win

Though 27 players missed USC’s Tuesday practice following a flu outbreak, the Trojans (6-5, 4-5 Big Ten) rallied to beat UCLA (4-7, 3-6 Big Ten) inside the Rose Bowl. USC quarterback Jayden Maiava, who started his first game of the season last week in a win over Nebraska, started again against the Bruins. 

This week, despite a modest passing statline of 19/35 for 221 yards and a touchdown, Maiava led the Trojans to another win. The result means the Bruins won’t reach automatic bowl eligibility this year. 

However, with a good academic reputation and three losses coming at the hands of teams currently ranked within the AP Top 10 (Oregon, Indiana, Penn State), UCLA could be the rare five-win team to earn a bowl berth.

Following its 70-54 win over Grand Canyon University (2-2, 0-0 WAC) on Monday night, the Oregon women’s basketball team moved to 5-0 (0-0 Big Ten) for the first time since the 2020-21 season. Sixth-year senior guard Peyton Scott led the team with 17 points and three 3-pointers, but it was the difference in bench play that truly separated the two teams.

“We’ve got a good mix of veterans and underclassmen on this team that are willing to step up,” Scott said of her teammates. “Each game, we’re just trying to get better.”

Oregon totaled 28 points off the bench, led by nine from redshirt junior Nani Falatea. Junior Elisa Mevius and sophomore Sarah Rambus each tallied eight points, two drawn fouls and two made free throws. Mevius and Falatea’s point differentials of 17 and 15 points respectively were the two highest totals achieved by either team.

“Nani’s really been a huge lift,” head coach Kelly Graves said. “When you have that kind of production off the bench, you’re gonna be in good shape.”

Conversely, all but two of GCU’s 54 points came from their starting five players. Senior Antelopes guard Trinity San Antonio led both teams with 18 points, five assists and four steals — making her the only GCU scorer to record a positive point differential on the night.

“Trinity is one heck of a player,” Graves said. “When she was on the floor, they were tough to stop.” 

As tough as San Antonio was, Oregon was able to prevent GCU from building any consistent momentum. The Ducks went on a 20-0 scoring run in the first quarter that lasted five minutes, and held the Antelopes scoreless for extended periods late in the second and third quarters as well.

“We’ve got a lot of different weapons, and we went on a nice run there,” said Graves of the 20-point swing. “I’ll have to figure out who was on the floor at that time and see why we did it. Maybe we can duplicate it.” 

That’ll be easier said than done on Wednesday, when the Ducks host the 3-0 Auburn Tigers. The Tigers currently have seven players averaging more than eight points a game, whilst GCU has only three. 

The No.2 Oregon Ducks (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) drubbed the Purdue Boilermakers (1-6, 0-4 Big Ten) by a score of 35 to 0 during Friday’s visit to West Lafayette, Indiana. Though Purdue has historically been a dangerous opponent for top-ranked teams to visit, the Ducks quickly put any concerns of an upset to rest.

Oregon began the game on offense and immediately resumed last week’s explosive form. After picking up two 1st downs in four plays, Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel quickly found wide receiver Evan Stewart, who endured defensive pass interference to haul in a 49-yard bomb down the sideline. Stewart had another nice game, finishing with four catches for 96 yards. 

Two plays later, running back Jordan James carried the ball eight yards for an opening-drive touchdown that put the Ducks up 7-0. Oregon forced a punt following a 3rd-down sack by Matayo Uiagalelei. Uiagalelei has now had at least half a sack in his last four games. 

With the ball at its own 20-yard line, Oregon began an 11-play drive. After finally arriving in the redzone, James was ruled short of the goal line on back-to-back 2nd and 3rd down plays, which left the Ducks inches short of the goal line on fourth down. 

On his third try, James finally broke through to make it 14-0 Oregon late in the first quarter. Purdue’s Reggie Love III broke off a few big plays on the Boilermakers’ next drive, but Oregon’s defense solidified at its own 40-yard line. 

Although a Keelan Crimmins punt pinned the Ducks at the 1-yard line, Oregon responded with the offense’s shortest scoring drive of the day. Tight end Kenyon Sadiq took a reception 39 yards into Purdue’s redzone, and Tez Johnson finished the dominant six-play drive with a 12-yard touchdown catch a play later. Johnson had seven catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.

It wasn’t until 10:54 in the second quarter that the Boilermakers finally recorded passing yards. Purdue gained momentum and drove downfield, picking up three 1st downs behind two completions and two effective scrambles from quarterback Ryan Browne. Standout Ducks cornerback Jabbar Muhammad limped off the field midway through the drive.

Despite Browne’s best efforts, Purdue’s offense stalled at the 18-yard line. Purdue fans inside Ross-Ade Stadium booed head coach Ryan Walters’ decision to kick a 36-yard field goal, and those boos continued when freshman kicker Spencer Porath missed the kick wide right.

Things then slowed offensively for both teams, as the two exchanged two punts in nine plays. Four plays after Oregon regained possession, Gabriel threw a pass over Johnson’s head and into the arms of Purdue cornerback Kyndrich Breedlove. Purdue attempted to take advantage of the turnover, but tight end Max Klare fumbled the ball back to the Ducks to effectively end the half after only three plays.

Purdue began the second half on offense and attempted to cut into Oregon’s 21-0 lead. Given the score, the Boilermakers attempted to go for it on 4th-and-11 at Oregon’s 42-yard line. Browne connected with Klare on a crossing route, but Klare was tackled short of a 1st down by Muhammad, who’d returned to the field for the second half.

Oregon faced an early 3rd-and-9 on its own 39, but Gabriel found Stewart for a 20-yard completion that gave the Ducks a new set of downs at Purdue’s 41. However, Purdue’s defense stiffened and stopped Oregon two yards short of a 1st down. 

Lanning made an uncharacteristically conservative choice to kick the 51-yard field goal, which kicker Andrew Boyle pushed just left of the uprights. Purdue got the ball back and again moved across midfield.

On 3rd-and-7 at Oregon’s 36-yard line, Browne fumbled the ball out of bounds after evading a second Uiagalelei sack. Browne went deep through the air on 4th-and-10 late in the third quarter, but the pass was broken up by Muhammad for another turnover on downs.

Uiagalelei, Devon Jackson and Teitum Tuioti each recorded a sack on defense. Tuioti led the team with five solo and six total tackles.

With James seemingly done for the night, Noah Whittington took over as Oregon’s lead back. He rushed for 22 yards as Oregon drove downfield and capped the drive off with an incredible 8-yard touchdown reception that saw him pin the ball to his facemask on his way out of bounds.

The Ducks forced a 3-and-out and got the ball back in solid field position at their own 45-yard line. Jayden Limar and Jay Harris stepped in for Whittington, and the two led a run-heavy attack that picked up three first downs in seven plays before Harris scored on a 12-yard run that made it 35-0 Ducks.

Gabriel had a good game, finishing 21/25 for 290 yards through the air. He had two passing touchdowns and barely erred except for the second-quarter interception. James led the team in rushing with 10 carries for 50 yards and two scores, and Whittington had a nice complimentary statline of nine carries for 42 yards and an eight-yard touchdown.

Oregon put its second-string defenders onto the field to begin Purdue’s next drive. The Boilermakers capitalized with three straight 1st-down runs that brought them inside Oregon’s 30-yard line. However, Oregon’s defense again hardened in its own territory, and the Boilermakers turned the ball over on downs for the 3rd time.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Austin Novosad stepped in with less than five minutes remaining but didn’t test the air. Oregon punted following a 3-and-out and seemed on the verge of losing their defensive clean sheet, but transfer cornerback Kam Alexander intercepted Browne in the end zone with 21 seconds remaining to finish the game.

Following their first road shutout since 1992, the Ducks return to Autzen Stadium next Saturday, and will look to defend their perfect record against No. 22 Illinois (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten).

The Oregon Ducks (5-8-2, 1-1-5 Big Ten) and Michigan Wolverines (2-11-2, 1-6-1 Big Ten) women’s soccer teams fought to a competitive 1-1 draw this Saturday at Eugene’s Papé Field. The game was Oregon’s last home game of the 2024 season and also marked the team’s Senior Day. 

Before kickoff, fans and players alike honored the team’s six seniors and graduate students.

“It’s emotional today,” Ducks goalkeeper Maddy Goldberg said postgame. “It was definitely a good goodbye for the folks not coming back next year.”

The game’s first half was a back-and-forth affair. Oregon controlled the ball for most of the first half hour, while Michigan struggled to find much offensive momentum.

After threatening Michigan goalkeeper Stephanie Sparkowski on multiple occasions, Oregon’s offense finally broke through in the 25th minute. After the Ducks won a deep throw-in, freshman forward Taylor Person found sophomore Grace Mensah, who lifted the ball over Sparkowski and into the Wolverines’ goal.

It was the first career goal for Mensah, who alternates between midfield and offensive roles. “It felt really good,” Mensah said after the game. “I was just really proud of my teammates and all our effort.”

“We should have won the game in the first 30 minutes,” said Ducks head coach Graeme Abel. “I thought we started the game really well, created a ton of chances and took it to them.”

After seizing a 1-0 lead, Oregon slowed offensively. Michigan’s offense slowly took control and began a series of downfield pushes. 

The Wolverines’ first attempts failed to challenge Goldberg, who missed Thursday’s 0-0 draw against No. 5 Michigan State after receiving a red card in the team’s previous matchup against USC. However, in the 40th minute, Michigan’s Sierra Sargent launched a left-footed shot from outside the 18-yard-box, which floated over Goldberg’s outstretched fingertips and into the net to equalize the teams at a goal apiece.

While Oregon’s offense couldn’t muster anything else before halftime, it started this year’s last second half with a bang. Just two minutes in, redshirt senior forward Taylor Bryan got free and produced an almost identical shot to Sargent’s equalizer.

Bryan’s shot got over the diving Sparkowski but went just past the wide-open net, falling in-bounds just past the goalpost and towards the feet of uncovered midfielder Haley McWhirter. McWhirter got a good touch and sent the ball goalwards, but Michigan defender Avery Kalitta made an incredible goal-saving play, appearing from nowhere to pin the ball between her legs just before it crossed the goal line.

The game then continued its course as a gritty, back-and-forth game. In the 60th minute, Kalitta was given Michigan’s second yellow card of the game for a rough challenge at midfield. 

“Welcome to the Big Ten,” said Abel. “It’s a really good soccer conference, but I certainly think there’s a more physical aspect to the conference.”

Goldberg saw continued action as the game went on, making a diving save shortly after Kalitta’s yellow card, making a clean series of deflections in the 70th minute and catching a line-drive shot a minute later. 

Tensions continued to escalate as both offenses made late pushes. Oregon nearly broke through in the 82nd minute, but Sparkowski managed to reach up and tip the shot over the crossbar. In the 86th minute, McWhiter found the ball on the edge of the 18-yard box and fired a powerful shot, but it was deflected out of bounds for a corner on which the Ducks couldn’t capitalize.

Fans applauded the Ducks, especially the seniors, as they departed Papé Field following the draw. “They’re incredible people [with] what they’ve added to our locker room,” said Abel. “Just fortunate to have those types of people in the locker room, and we’re fortunate they’re good soccer players as well.”

Oregon is back in action on Thursday, Oct. 17, when it’ll visit Omaha’s Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-9-1, 1-6-1 Big Ten) in what’ll be the first of the season’s final three games.