The wooing is over, the cash committed, the targets landed.

What was graded as 247sports No. 2 overall transfer portal class — 14 players in total — has helped spur the Ducks to become the No. 1 team in the nation. From a Heisman Trophy candidate to a budding star on the defensive line, Oregon once again added to its talented roster through the transfer portal this off-season. 

Now 10 games (and no losses) in, here is the Daily Emerald’s  list grading the nine Ducks transfers who have played legitimate time this season. 

Dillon Gabriel — A+

There’s not much else the Ducks could have wished for from Gabriel more than halfway through this season. After arriving in Eugene with big shoes to fill, Gabriel has done more than enough stepping in for Bo Nix behind center. A Week 11 touchdown pass earned Gabriel the most career total scores in NCAA history. 

More than halfway through the season, the southpaw has totaled 28 total touchdowns to just five interceptions, adding more than a few highlight-reel plays on the way. 

Derrick Harmon — A+

Since arriving in Eugene, Harmon has established himself as one of the best defensive players not just in the Big Ten, but in the country. The defensive lineman has totaled three sacks and 36 total tackles on the season, living in the backfield and often drawing two or more defenders to block him. 

Since transferring from Michigan State in the off-season, Harmon has not only seen his invaluable role grow with the Ducks, but also seen his name skyrocket up draft boards. He was predicted to be picked No. 22 to the Green Bay Packers in The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner’s most recent 2025 NFL Mock Draft. 

Jabbar Muhammad — A

With the Jim Thorpe Award — given to the top cornerback in the country — consideration swirling around his name, Muhammad has been exactly as advertised. On top of playing lock-down defense on the opponents’ best receivers, his “thumbs-down” celebration has become adopted among teammates and fans alike. 

Evan Stewart — B+

Stewart was one of the biggest names flocking to the Ducks this offseason, and for good reason as he’s been one of the bigger contributors to their success. His biggest outburst came at the biggest moment, with a seven reception, 149-yard game helping the Ducks topple Ohio State. Consistency — especially with the absence of injured wide receiver Tez Johnson — will be key for Stewart down the stretch. 

Kobe Savage — B+

An under-the-radar addition, Savage has made the most of his time as a Duck, slotting in as a consistent force in the secondary. Savage has added 47 total tackles including a season-high of nine in the Ducks’ win over Maryland. 

Jamaree Caldwell — B+

Despite being far from the biggest name on the Ducks’ defense, Caldwell has solidified himself as a quality contributor on a talented defensive line. He’s tallied 2.5 tackles for loss this season.

Brandon Johnson — B 

One of the more polarizing players of the season, Johnson has shown both electric skills as well as occasional erraticness at times in coverage. His most notable play of the season came in week one with a highlight-reel tipped interception.

Atticus Sappington — B-

The Oregon State transfer has missed four of his 56 kicks this season, but has split time with Andrew Boyle. He hit a game-winning 25-yard field goal in the Ducks Week Two nail-biter against Boise State. 

Dante Moore — B

Moore has impressed in what little time he has seen, with clear arm-strength and impressive poise in the pocket. The expectation is that the UCLA transfer will redshirt this season before becoming the Ducks’ starter in 2025.

The post Krasnowski: Grading Oregon’s 2024 transfer portal additions appeared first on Daily Emerald.

Kelly Graves always stresses the importance of certain things. Protect the ball. Hit open shots. Don’t leave points at the free-throw line. 

And on the heels of the program’s biggest win in years, that version of the Ducks (4-0) didn’t arrive in their 66-35 win over North Texas (2-1) — at least not completely. They continuously committed turnovers. They missed open layups. They shot just 55.6% from the line. 

Fortunately for the Ducks, their defense proved too much for an opponent incapable of handling active hands and halfcourt pressure. Oregon forced 19 turnovers but committed 16 of its own,  not really taking a step forward after its cathartic win over then No.12 Baylor. 

“That wasn’t our best effort in terms of execution,” head coach Kelly Graves said. “I’m really proud of our team to come back like we did after 36,38 hours after a huge game, I’m really proud of our team for coming out like we did.”

“Our biggest opponent is ourselves,” Mevius said.

Tuesday’s contest included turnovers galore, long-scoring droughts and struggles making shots from long range. But, luckily, Oregon’s offensive struggles happened in a game where North Texas struggled at just about everything. 

“We were ready to play,” Graves said. “We defended really well in that first half, the experience won out, they were ready, we just didn’t execute it the way we wanted to.”

In a more encouraging development, Oregon’s defense was superb and held North Texas to 24.5% shooting. The Mean Green’s offense went ice-cold with just 12 made field-goals on the day. 

12 of 13 Ducks that played added baskets. Nani Falatea and Mevius led all scorers with 11 points apiece.

“It’s not going to take one or two people,” Falatea, who was 3-4 from deep, said. “It’s going to take everyone.” 

Most of the other points came on layups and shots in transition, the rewards of expending all that effort on defense.

North Texas had trouble merely getting the ball into the frontcourt as the Ducks’ offense simply having a pulse turned the game into a blowout. The Mean Green hit just two shots from the field in the first half of action, which was good for just nine points. 

“When you’re only allowing two field-goals in a half, that’s getting it done.” Graves said.

Oregon hounded North Texas all game long, forcing multiple shot clock violations and countless turnovers. UNT head coach Jason Burton angrily called timeouts after each Oregon scoring binge. 

“Our team schemes were really good tonight,” Mevius said. “I know Ari [Long] took a charge one time when I got beat.” 

Graves was especially pleased with his team’s effort throughout, which proved the Ducks were “ready to play” after the big win over Baylor. 

He was also complementary of Mevius who converted a four-point play extending the Ducks’ lead to ten in a first quarter where they held the Mean Green to just four points. Mevius drew a charge on the following possession, another example of just how impactful she can be even when not producing the most eye-popping statline.  

“She’s a menace,” Graves said of Mevius. “Capital M.”

Graves will have to wait a week before seeing his team in action again, as the Ducks will sit idle before taking on Grand Canyon next Monday. 

“We don’t have an off opponent,” Graves said. “We’ve got to bring it every night.”

The post No. 25 Oregon women’s basketball struggles offensively in 66-35 win over North Texas appeared first on Daily Emerald.

Oregon’s wildly hyped and incredibly glitzy Generation O uniforms are undefeated. Literally. 

But while the Ducks have certainly turned heads on the field, solidifying themselves as a true juggernaut of the sport and the clear No.1 team in the nation, they also have done so in style. In their 38-17 drubbing of Michigan, the Ducks sported the “Warp Speed” Generation O uniforms, the final release in the hyped line of regalia. With that, The Emerald has composed a list ranking all five Ducks uniforms in the set. 

No. 1 “Fly Era” 

The Ducks unveiled these uniforms for the most hyped regular season game in Autzen Stadium history and they did not disappoint. As the Ducks took down Ohio State in a primetime thriller, they did so in style. The black uniforms received love throughout social media and received the No.1 ranking on this list. For me, the helmet makes this set so good, with the silver, green and black working gloriously together to mesh with the uniform. The Ducks looked great in primetime with the lights at Autzen Stadium working well with the shiny silver on the sleeves. The “Blackout” themed wave of fans that stormed the field certainly helped the uniforms’ appeal too. 

No. 2  “Mighty Oregon” 

Expertly implementing an old-school feel with the Ducks’ perennial devotion towards innovation, the Ducks’ white, yellow and green unis strike all the right chords and land at the No. 2 spot on our list. The three colors work incredibly well together, with the sleeve logo adding a nice touch. The Ducks sported these against UCLA and looked incredible under the Rose Bowl lights. Oregon wore a similar set with white pants against Purdue, however, I’m a bigger fan of the yellow as it gives more of a retro look. 

No. 3 “The Hereos”

Brilliantly released with a heartwarming video featuring the Lanning family, the “Stomp Out Cancer” unis that were sported in two of the Ducks’ three September home games land at the third spot of our list. Everything about these uniforms just works, from the iconic bell on the sleeves to the pairing with the silver winged helmet that ties in a ribbon to the O. The Ducks’ gloves for the game had the words “Flight” and “Fight” on them too. Any uniform that has an ice cream cone on it warrants extra points too. 

No. 4 “Warp Speed”

This is a great uniform, don’t get me wrong. However, it lands in the fourth spot simply because I’ve seen it before. The Ducks have worn white and silver for years now, and taking away the eggshell detail from the past doesn’t help this one’s score either. It’s always a good look, but there’s not enough going on to separate it from the other uniforms on the list. 

No. 5 “Gang Green”

Another solid uniform from the Ducks, the “Gang Green” was the first of the Generation O set released and laid a solid bedrock for the rest of the regalia to come. The Ducks will always tout a green-on-green uniform, the Generation O version of which was another solid addition to the set. 

So there you have it! Agree? Disagree? Let us know on our social media!

Green lights shone, music blared, a quality crowd filled Matthew Knight Arena and ushered the Ducks (1-0) home and into their new era as a Big Ten team. 

So, it was up to Ducks coach Kelly Graves, the team’s revamped roster, and a defense they have boasted about all preseason to become what mattered most.

Nearly an hour later, with Oregon rolling up a 20-point halftime lead in its 93-63 win over Cal Baptist (0-1), Graves faced a different dilemma: How much could he experiment before the buzzer ran out on the Ducks commanding opening night win over Cal Baptist?  

He certainly had opportunities, but to get to that point he relied heavily on his likely catalysts this season. Peyton Scott (16 points) and Elisa Mevius (14) led the scoring for the Ducks. Deja Kelly went just 3-10 with the field but was impactful in other ways, adding seven rebounds and eight assists. 

A plethora of players rotated in and out throughout the contest, with Graves able to keep his starting five fresh, showing just how deep this new-look Ducks team is. 

“We want to use our depth as a strength, our versatility as a strength,” Scott said. “We don’t want it to be ‘Oh I’m not getting minutes’.”

Mevius was particularly impactful, adding three steals and hounding the Lancers in full-court press defense. 

“She’s a menace,” Graves said of Mevius. “We sure are glad to have her on our team.”

By the end of the beatdown, the Ducks had emptied their bench with 12 different players adding points, including four in triple figures. The win is the Ducks 65th in their last 67 non-conference home games.

“I feel really good about the effort tonight, against a tough opponent,” Graves said. 

“We want to be able to roll 10 deep, 12 deep,” Scott added. 

Oregon parlayed its size advantage into a stifling defense that held the Lancers to 36.7% shooting. The Ducks were also surprisingly collected for a team that welcomed nine newcomers who addressed the Ducks’ needs for shooting, defense and veteran savvy. 

“We have a standard,” Scott said. “We want our defense to dictate everything we do.” 

Monday’s contest felt like more of a continuation of the Ducks preseason than it did a real barometer for their future success. Still, with his team enjoying its first win in 295 days there was plenty for Graves and company to be happy about.  

“We’ve got a tough group, they sacrifice themselves,” Graves said. 

Graves also mentioned that Kelly, the Ducks’ biggest addition of the offseason, drew a charge.

Getting more reps for future contests was the only reason that the Ducks’ starters lingered around for more time than was really necessary. Freshman Katie Fiso was able to get an extended stay on the court in her Ducks’ debut.

“Anytime you have multiple weapons out there it’s huge,” Graves said. “We don’t have to worry about anyone playing 40 minutes a night, that’s not a thing anymore.”

Cal Baptist was 28-4 last season and made the NCAA Tournament, however, it looked disjointed and seemingly dispatched rather early with such a lopsided score. 

Oregon went 13-31 from 3-point range and won the turnover battle 18 to 5. CBU was picked second in the WAC preseason coaches poll but struggled on the interior against a more physical and determined Oregon team. 

Every Ducks starter produced a highlight. Amina Muhammad showed toughness while warding through defenders on her way to a layup. Kelly ran the offense efficiently, hitting a wide variety of shots. Alexis Whitefield jumped in front of a pass for a steal.  Sofia Bell added nine points and showed great touch from range. Scott hit a 3-pointer on her first shot attempt in nearly a year. 

“Having so many guards is going to help us get down field and help our bigs get out there,” Scott said. 

Grace Schmidt (16 points) was the main scoring catalyst for the Lancers, adding most of her baskets on the interior where the Ducks missed the presence of a completely healthy Phillipina Kyei.

Sarah Rambus showed impressive touch and hit a midrange jumper which extended the lead to a then-game-high of 28 with just over three minutes left in the third quarter. The substitutions and wacky floor combinations that later for the Ducks extended that mark to 30 against the overmatched Lancers’ bench.  

For almost everyone on the roster, it was a field day practically from the start.

Things figure to get far more dramatic later this week when Oregon hosts Nevada and then No. 12 Baylor in the Ducks’ first real test of the season.

In a position group littered with NFL-caliber talent, the 6-foot-1 Justius Lowe blends in well. He’s accompanied by Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart, both pass catchers who transferred in and have broken out catching balls from (other transfer) quarterbacks.

But Lowe? He went to nearby Lake Oswego High School, redshirted a year and has slowly begun to find his spot in the Oregon offense. He was a part of head coach Dan Lanning’s first Oregon team and one of 22 players who still are Ducks from that squad. 

He’s been a part of the Ducks for the major college football realignment, the introduction of NIL and committed to the team under a different head coach. The greatest changes have happened around him, not in him. For years, Lowe chugged along, doing his thing, just knowing and being who he is.

“I just try to execute every play and keep grinding,” Lowe said after practice the week of the Illinois game.“When the game comes my time will come.” 

It’s just that now, more people actually see him. 

“Justius has continued to prove his ability to help us,” Lanning said in a Monday press conference to GoDucks. “When he’s healthy he can be a really really special player, and he’s been healthy later and I’m excited for how his role will continue to grow in our offense…he’s done a good job and I’m proud of his performance so far.”

Lowe has recorded 99 yards on eight receptions this season, so he isn’t lighting the world on fire, but some of his intangibles — blocking, being a decoy and always being at the right spot — has opened up things for the rest of the offense. It wasn’t until this past week’s game against Illinois that he had a signature moment. Lowe played the most wide receiver snaps for the Ducks on the day.

“We had a playcall it was just really more so, ‘There’s a dude in front of me, and I just gotta run by him and the balls going to come,’” Lowe said after the Ducks’ win over Illinois. 

He continued: “Every play is really your play.” 

That’s a significant part of the recipe for head coach Dan Lanning — getting buy-in from everyone, flashiness be damned. 

“I just do my best to know every position and make the most of each opportunity,” Lowe said after practice.  

Lanning has made it so everybody realizes there’s no supersizing the lineup to accommodate the influx of talent, that only 11 can play at a time. His players have continued to buy in regardless. 

“All of the younger guys take pride in our role,” Lowe said after the Ducks win over Illinois. “If you keep your head in the playbook and execute in practice and all that,  [Lanning] will play you.” 

Following its 35-0 shutout of Purdue the Ducks received the No. 1 ranking in the AP Poll. It’s another concrete affirmation that Oregon belongs, not just in the Big Ten, in the national title conversation. That much is obvious now. 

And Lanning’s motivation, even saying “who cares” when asked about his team’s ranking, is proof of concept for the way that Lanning built his program. He won’t be satisfied until a national championship comes to Eugene. 

Lanning has built the Ducks through recruiting without a doubt, utilizing the transfer portal well, but not entirely relying on it. One of the biggest proponents for that practice came with Lanning’s marquee win over then-No. 2 Ohio State. It was a game that called for the Ducks’ best, and everyone on the roster brought it. 

Those offseason recruiting wins showed up. Future high draft pick Jordan Burch goes down with an injury? In comes former blue-chip prospect, sophomore defensive lineman Matayo Uiagalelei, who had five tackles (two for loss) and a sack. Traeshon Holden spits on someone? In comes redshirt sophomore Lowe, who has worked his way through the system, earning his coach’s trust, one play at a time. 

“[I just try to ] execute my plays, when they are handed to me,” Lowe said after practice. “And just not messing up honestly.” 

The Ducks’ title-worthy depth was built with championship intention. Still, stories like Lowe’s are reassuring amid the turbulent state of college football, in a climate where players are opting out of seasons due to NIL or already announcing their intent to transfer. The Ducks are making different headlines, with their home-grown stars the tip of the sword for their success. 

And after the Ducks’ massive win over the Buckeyes, Lanning was sure to stay true to his form. 

“If you see any good players, tell them to come here,” Lanning said to end his press conference. 

In Lanning’s eyes, the No. 1 ranked Ducks’ success is about the players — about running back Jordan James’ dominance and Uiagalelei’s force and Dillon Gabriel’s experience and Lowe’s intelligence. And not about him.

But that doesn’t mean the man who brought this team together doesn’t deserve his flowers, too.

The trap was laid, just like it had been many times before. Another highly-ranked team with title potential driving toward destiny, only to take a dangerous detour to Purdue where nothing seems to go as planned. 

Before the then No. 2 ranked Ducks (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) shutout Purdue (1-6, 0-4 Big Ten) 35-0 there was plenty to be nervous about. 

There was the Ducks’ health, a caveat called into the light by tight-end Terrance Ferguson’s last-second “out” announcement and edge rusher Jordan Burch’s recovery from an injury. Not to mention the absence of wide receiver Traeshon Holden, who was held out due to disciplinary actions. 

Adding another troubling headline hallmark that troubled Duck fans was that the Boilermakers have won nine games vs. the top two teams as an unranked team  — the most all time.

Oregon had (and still has) been impervious to trap games in the past, but the specter of those ill-fated trips still loomed.

And so, Lanning counseled his team not to overlook the Boilermakers, not after a top 5 victory just six days earlier. 

Instead, the Ducks trampled over them.

“This place has a history of being a place that people struggle to come play at, especially coming off of highs like last week,” Lanning said postgame to Jared Mack of 247sports. “But I was proud that our guys were able to go out there and get a victory.”

Forcing its first shutout since 2012, Oregon’s defense was so dominant that quarterback Dillon Gabriel didn’t need to do much for the Ducks to roll. Gabriel still threw for 290 yards and a pair of touchdowns in another efficient performance before he was replaced by his backup, redshirt freshman Austin Novosad, in the fourth quarter.

However, for the Ducks perhaps the most critical takeaway from the drubbing was the adoption and follow through of Lannings “next man up” mantra.  

With Ferguson out, sophomore Kenyon Sadiq stepped in seamlessly, adding two catches for 58 yards and providing the spark the Ducks needed both now and going forward. 

Sadiq had appeared in every game this season, however, he mostly saw touches as a gadget player used on special teams and end-around runs. Friday night he saw a far more defined role, expertly filling in for Ferguson while adding impressive speed from the tight-end position. 

It didn’t hurt that Gabriel had plenty of time to get the ball to his playmakers, thanks to another strong performance from the Ducks’ offensive line.

Stepping in for Burch, sophomores Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti continued to thrive, each adding a sack and consistent pressure off the edge.  

And it was Evan Stewart’s performance that made Holden’s absence a null point, with the Junior transfer racking in four catches for 96 yards and taking the top of the defense with a 49-yard gain. 

“We always talk about next man up and being ready for your moment,” Lanning said. “ I thought we saw some of that tonight.”

Yet another strong performance only further cements Oregon’s status as a legitimate College Football Playoff contender. Barring any surprises, the Ducks will be favored in each of their games going forward, likely by multiple scores. Friday was just further proof that there are fewer teams as well-equipped for the late-stretch of the season as the Ducks. 

And after one of Oregon’s most dominant performances on the season, the prevailing sentiment from Lanning and co. was this brand of beatdown continues to be the standard.

“I think watching the game from the sideline, there’s a lot of things that we can still improve, a lot that we can get better at,” Lanning said.

With some of the newest former Ducks continuing to show out at the next level, let’s take a look at how Oregon’s most recent class of graduates fared this week.

Evan Williams, Safety, Green Bay Packers

Williams turned heads when he was elected in the fourth round (111th overall) by the Packers last year, his play on the field has more than backed up Green Bay’s investment. The safety has enjoyed a rise through the Packers’ depth chart, earning another start in Week 6 and making the most of it by adding four total tackles and forcing a fumble. Appearing in just his third game of the season this past week, Williams has already tallied ten tackles, three passes defended, and an interception on the season. During his tenure as a Duck, he was known for his timely blitzes and coverage down-field, his NFL rookie campaign has brought on more of the same — this time with even more appreciation nationally. 

Bucky Irving, Running Back, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Irving has quickly cemented himself as a key cog in the Buccaneer’s offensive gameplan, earning a share of RB1 snaps since an early-season breakthrough. Irving once again impressed last Sunday, collecting 81 rushing yards on 14 carries and a touchdown. He also corralled a pair of catches for 24 yards, a strength of his coming out of college. 

His biggest highlight-reel play of the day came when he broke free for a 31-yard gain early in the fourth quarter, a scamper where he broke several tackles, stiff-armed a defender and changed direction at will. Irving was known for his elusiveness out of the backfield, a trait that looks to be translating just fine against the best in the world. 

Bo Nix, Quarterback, Denver Broncos

Just six weeks into his NFL career, Nix has steadily improved as the season has progressed. This time, it was the 24-year-old quarterback’s turn to battle back from a rough start — he had just 18 passing yards and an interception in the first half of action — to end the game with a positive statline despite a loss to former-Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert. Nix looked far more poised in the second half, finishing the contest with 19 completions for 216 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed six times for 61 yards, continuing to prove himself as a legitimate dual-threat quarterback at the next level. It was far from Nix’s best showing of the season, however, it is one he will look to build upon going forward. 

Troy Franklin, Wide Receiver, Denver Broncos

Franklin has seen limited playing time in his first year as a pro, however, his young career received a clear peak with the fourth-rounder hauling in a short redzone touchdown from his college teammate, Nix. 

“I’m getting more reps out there, and seeing things better, the game is definitely slowing down a bit for me,” Franklin said postgame to Zac Stevens of DNVR_Broncos. 

With the game starting to slow down, Franklin will look to reunite with Nix many more times as the season progresses.

As is typically the case in top-10, star-studded matchups, No. 3 Oregon’s (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) showdown with No.2 Ohio State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) epitomizes the relative state of parity in college football.

If all the pieces fall in place, and the Ducks couple a talented offense with the right combination of defense and timely plays, the team could top Ohio State in a battle of unbeaten teams and continue its run towards the top of the standings.

But if the burden of Oregon’s non-conference struggles return on Saturday, the Ducks could just as easily lose — being dealt a significant blow to their College Football Playoff and Big Ten Championship aspirations.

The Ducks enter Saturday’s prime-time matchup against the Buckeyes riding high, playing three near-complete games in a row, and most recently drubbing Michigan State 31-10. Ohio State enters coming off a strong 35-7 performance against the struggling Iowa Hawkeyes, in which it went 7-11 on third down.

Neither team’s quarterback has proved talented enough to single-handedly win their team a game. With Ohio State’s Will Howard, however, his job is fairly simple — get the ball to his playmakers — true freshman Jeremiah Smith and senior Emeka Ebuka — a pass-catching duo that’s combined for over 866 yards through just five games.  

For the Ducks, Dillon Gabriel has enjoyed a strong season, but will enter having played his worst game of the season, in which he threw a pair of endzone interceptions that dulled his squad’s beatdown of Michigan State. 

“At times my eyes get bigger than my stomach in the red zone,” Gabriel said postgame. 

However, the true matchup that the large contingent of national media will be looking for will be the Ohio State offense vs. the Oregon defense — squads that enter ranked No.9 and No.10  nationally. 

The Buckeyes rank No.11 overall in 3rd-down conversion percentage, No.14 in rushing offense and are a plus nine in the turnover margin. Whereas the Ducks — led by a strong combination of transfers and veterans — have flown around the field, most recently holding Michigan State to just 250 total yards — most of which came with substitutes in the game .

Another key storyline to look for is both teams’ head coaches, as Dan Lanning and Ryan Day of Ohio State are both looking for marquee wins to establish themselves with the elite that College Football has to offer. Day’s Buckeyes enter 17-8 against top-25 teams, and Lanning’s Ducks are 7-5. 

ESPN’s College Football Gameday will be in Eugene Saturday morning, parked out on the Memorial Quad in front of LillisLillis lawn — the eyes of the college football world will certainly be on Autzen Stadium. 

“It’s things that you look to as a young man,” Gabriel said after the Michigan State game. “Playing the game is those big-time moments and great atmospheres.”

The stage is set, and the players are ready. Now, it’s time for both teams to compete in what may be the most hyped game in Autzen Stadium History. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. — and the world of college football will be watching.

The day before No. 8 Oregon’s rout of UCLA, as the Ducks landed in the Pasadena area, their social media posted a video with the team departing the plane captioned “first touchdown of the day.”

It was a sign that things were about to get a lot more fun for the green and yellow. 

However, all while Oregon was beating down on UCLA, I was lucky enough to cover the game for the Daily Emerald, living just ten minutes away in my hometown of Pasadena. 

The four-mile turned 30-minute traffic that awaited my drive to the stadium made me miss Eugene. But the sunny skies and picturesque San Gabriel Mountains made me thankful to be home. 

PREGAME

To say I knew the drive to the stadium would be an understatement. Going to high school three exits down, and playing baseball just five minutes away meant I really knew this drive. As I exited on Mountain St, I remember being unbelievably nervous as if I was playing the game myself. 

I recall finding it funny that I would see all of my fellow Oregon sports media at this game — they only exist in my Eugene bubble. So weird. 

There was an unbelievable presence of Duck fans at this game. Call it UC-Oregon or whatever you want. The Ducks were there and were loud. “Mighty Oregon” and “Go Ducks” rang out aplenty as I walked around the UCLA tailgate, meeting up with a high school friend who attends UCLA. I then went back to my car and grabbed my bag. 

As I walked around the familiar track prior to  entering the Terry Donahue Press Box, I noticed that sitting below me were a pair of writers that I’ve read and been inspired by since I was about 11.  

I later met with a pair of Daily Emerald alumni, both of which have worked professionally and live here in Los Angeles — the Eugene to L.A. pipeline must be real. Shortly after, UCLA players took the field for a walkthrough in baby-blue fitted suits. I’m curious as to what Oregon’s pre-game outfit budget is. 

I walked down to the field as players went through the start of warmups. There I met with one of my former baseball coaches who is also the field superintendent here at the Rose Bowl. “What’s the best part of the job?” I asked him.

 “This,” he responded, looking out as the Rose Bowl sunset caps the San Gabriels. Soon after, I ran into a fellow Oregon-based journalist who advised me to “Take it in.” There’s nothing quite like the sunset at the Rose Bowl.  

I particularly enjoyed being so close to the Ducks’ sideline — a caveat an away game allows for as I listen to each coach’s pre-game theatrics. 

Gametime/Postgame

There’s not much to say about the game itself other than it was pretty much all Ducks. And so, Dan Lanning lingered a little longer than usual in a worn-down room inside a 100-year-old building, his lauded team having played up to its full capability. 

“It was a complete game in a lot of ways,” Lanning said of the win, his team’s first against a Big Ten opponent. 

I found UCLA’s in-game presentation top-tier — with a bevy of performances keeping the crowd engaged and happy. A TV timeout pause for a mariachi performance was a nice touch. 

The stadium atmosphere, at least on my end, was a bit strange with the press box windows closed. Although the closed windows helped keep out a cool breeze, it left me feeling a little detached from the product on the field. 

Regardless, I can’t stress enough how memorable this opportunity was. Taking in a game at a 100-year-old stadium in my hometown is something I’ll cherish forever. 

Update: the ride home was safe — I know that way, too.

The Ducks play in an offense that features one of the College Football’s premier passers, a bell-cow running back and two of its most dynamic receivers.

But make no mistake, the Ducks’ offensive line will be one of the most pivotal pieces going forward for a team expected to surpass last season’s 12-2 record and New Year’s Six Bowl appearance.

Early in this non-conference slate, there’s been plenty of talking points for fans and media outlets alike to harp on. Most notably, the line had struggled immensely in closer-than-expected wins over Boise State and Idaho. Although the Ducks ultimately came out on top, it was clear that Dillon Gabriel had become more accustomed to the Rich Brooks Field turf than former quarterback Bo Nix — who was sacked just five times last season — ever was. 

However, in what the Ducks hope is a sign of things to come going forward in the Big Ten, they stiffened in a showdown with the Beavers, leaving Gabriel untouched. 

“It’s a great feeling to leave off the field knowing that we played Oregon ball,” Iapani Laloulu said postgame. 

The Ducks’ offensive line allowed for all types of familiar hallmarks as the Oregon offense finally clicked into gear. 

Gabriel connected on 20 of his 24 passes for a pair of touchdowns amidst a clean pocket, while the line bulldozed a path for Jordan James (12 carries for 86 yards) to average over seven yards a carry. 

“I’m just proud of the guys up front, just the way they compete and continue to do so. It’s been great to see,” Gabriel said.

But if the Ducks look to carry that same success and dynamism into Big Ten play in a conference known for being hard-nosed and defensively-minded, the offensive line will have to continue doing its part. 

It might help that even with three returning starters, Oregon’s offensive line will be allowed to gel together even more, now with three weeks of game-film and a bye week preceding their conference slate. It’s important to note that the offensive line that was showcased in the first three games of the season looks nothing like last year’s. Walk-on Charlie Pickard started at center in week one with Laloulou moving to guard, all while transfer guard Matthew Bedford was held out until Week 3 in Corvallis. 

And when they all clicked together, so did the Ducks’ offense. 

“I love how everyone in the building has continued to focus on the process and getting better every single day. I think that allowed us to play confident, play free and let loose,” Gabriel said. 

And in no position group is that process more evident than the offensive line’s strong play in making Gabriel, James and co.’s job that much easier. 

“Obviously we’ve changed up the lineups there at times,” Lanning said after the Oregon State game of the offensive line. “We’re still trying to find the right group … we were able to move them up front tonight and because of that we were able to find some success.”

And again, to continue that success in all facets of the game, the line will continue to be key — regardless of the stars that play behind it.