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Ohio State Buckeyes or Oregon Ducks?

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Ohio State Buckeyes or Oregon Ducks?


The Big Ten Conference is loaded with excellent running backs with a chance to electrify in the 2024 football season. Talent in this conference includes a dynamic duo, new faces and breakout stars. Ranking the top-three running back rooms:

1. Ohio State Buckeyes

It’s no secret that Ohio State does a great job bringing in some of the best talent in the nation and the running back position is no exception. Heading into 2024, the Buckeyes have arguably the best two-headed running back monster in college football with senior TreVeyon Henderson and Ole Miss transfer Quinshon Judkins.

Henderson has had some difficulty staying on the field over the course of his career but he’s absolutely not lacking talent. In his lone healthy season as a freshman in 2021, Henderson racked up 1,248 rushing yards on a remarkable 6.8 yards per carry. 

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Quinshon Judkins is the flashy new piece in the backfield as he brings his talents over from Ole Miss where he averaged 1,363 rushing yards on almost exactly five yards per carry in two seasons for the Rebels. More of a power runner, Judkins brings the thunder to Henderson’s lightning and rounds out what should be widely considered the best running back group in the Big Ten, if not the country.

2. Oregon Ducks

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Depth is the name of the game for Oregon’s running back group this season. Spearheaded by junior Jordan James, the backfield features several different types of runners.

James is the most explosive of the group, averaging an astounding 7.1 yards per carry for the Ducks in 2023. Behind him is powerhouse senior Noah Whittington who comes into 2024 off a leg injury that cost him most of last season after starting red-hot with 7.3 yards per carry through Oregon’s first four games.

Behind these two is Jay Harris, a Division Two transfer from Northwest Missouri State who has garnered rave reviews from coaches and media alike in his first spring in Eugene.

3. Penn State Nittany Lions

Some would be tempted to place Michigan’s backfield in the No. 3spot but that mostly factors in last season. After the Wolverines lost star Blake Corum to the NFL Draft, Penn State returns the next-most impressive group in the realigned Big Ten with Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen.

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Singleton and Allen split carries last season for the Nittany Lions and both will be back after impressive 2023 seasons. Allen accrued 902 rushing yards in 13 games last year while Singleton contributed 752 of his own. With another year to develop, these two figure to headline one of the fiercest backfields in the Big Ten.

The Big Ten is known for its physical play and although there are other good backfields in the conference, these three should be among the most dangerous heading into 2024.



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Kotek signs sweeping immigrant justice package expanding school, healthcare protections in Oregon

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Kotek signs sweeping immigrant justice package expanding school, healthcare protections in Oregon


PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – Gov. Tina Kotek held a ceremonial bill signing Thursday morning for a package of immigrant justice laws at the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization in northeast Portland.

The package includes multiple measures affecting schools, courts, workplaces, law enforcement and healthcare:

  • House Bill 4079 requires K-12 schools and higher education institutions to adopt policies for responding when federal immigration authorities enter campus property.
  • House Bill 4111 prohibits using a person’s immigration status as evidence in civil cases, expands protections against workplace retaliation tied to work authorization updates and broadens profiling laws to include immigration status.
  • House Bill 4114 allows civil action against individuals who enter certain property without a warrant or legal exception.
  • House Bill 4138 requires law enforcement officers to clearly identify themselves and limits the use of masks.
  • Senate Bill 1538 ensures equal access to public education by requiring school districts to admit all eligible students.
  • Senate Bill 1570, known as the Healthcare Without Fear Act, requires hospitals to establish policies for interactions with law enforcement and designate restricted areas not open to the public.
  • Senate Bill 1587 restricts public agencies from sharing personal data with brokers unless it will not be used for federal immigration enforcement.
  • Senate Bill 1594 directs the state to develop model policies related to immigration status in response to federal actions.

The healthcare measure requires hospitals to set procedures for law enforcement presence, assign a staff liaison and classify immigration status and place of birth as protected information. It also allows providers to share information about immigration rights and legal services with patients.

SEE ALSO: Multnomah County unanimously approves ordinance expanding sanctuary protections

The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on Thursday unanimously approved an ordinance that codifies and expands the county’s sanctuary protections.

The law follows changes at the federal level that removed prior limits on immigration enforcement in locations like hospitals and schools. Supporters say the new policy aims to ensure patient privacy and maintain access to care regardless of immigration status.

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Oregon Republicans have raised concerns that state policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities could affect public safety. In a Feb. 2026 statement, the Oregon Senate Republican Caucus criticized Democratic lawmakers for rejecting a proposal that would have required coordination with federal officials when people without legal status are convicted of serious crimes.

Republican leaders said the policy debate centers on whether state agencies should notify federal authorities before releasing people convicted of violent felonies. Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr called such coordination “common sense.”



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Pivotal recruiting target for Ducks lists Oregon in top 5 schools

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Pivotal recruiting target for Ducks lists Oregon in top 5 schools


After the de-commitment of four-star Drew Fielder, the Oregon Ducks are back to the drawing board at the offensive tackle position for the 2027 recruiting class. They still have three-star Avery Michael, though he recently took a visit to Nebraska and doesn’t appear to be fully locked onto the Ducks.

That’s why the recruitment of four-star Caden Moss is gaining importance by the day, with the talented offensive tackle listing Oregon in his final five schools alongside LSU, Ole Miss, Kentucky and Ohio State.

Moss is the No. 5 OT and No. 58 player nationally, per 247 Sports Composite. He competes for Jackson Academy in Jackson, MS, where he’s the top-ranked player in the state.

Standing 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds, Moss already has the prototypical frame of a college lineman. At the high school level, he relies more on his physical ability than technical skills. Despite that, there appears to be untapped potential with his frame and athleticism, with nearly every high-level program in the country attempting to land his commitment.

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The Mississippi native visited Eugene in late March, writing in a post on X: “Enjoyed my time in Oregon.”

“My visit was great,” Moss told Rivals. “What stands out to me most about playing for Oregon is the development in the o-line room. The city was more than I expected. I heard it’s really nice in the summertime.”

The pairing of Michael and Moss at the tackle spots would be very beneficial for the Ducks program in the future, adding two talented players on the bookends of the offensive line. If Moss were to commit, he’d add his name to what is currently the No. 10 recruiting class and join offensive players in Michael and three-star running back Cadarius McMiller as future Ducks.

Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.



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Governor signs bill to help Oregon farm stands flourish; chief sponsor Breese-Iverson celebrates improvements

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Governor signs bill to help Oregon farm stands flourish; chief sponsor Breese-Iverson celebrates improvements


PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Governor Tina Kotek joined Oregon farmers, advocates, and legislators at Topaz Farms on Sauvie Island on Wednesday to commemorate the signing of House Bill 4153, a bill from this year’s legislative session that protects existing farm stand permits and gives farmers new options to support the long-term success of their farms.

“Oregon’s family farms are the backbone of our rural economies, and this bill will help them adapt and succeed,” Kotek said. “This new law gives certainty to farmers who diversify their revenues through agritourism and on-site sales while still preserving and honoring the farmlands that make Oregon special.”

The law creates an optional permit for farms that want to open a small farm store on land zoned for farming. It also provides clearer guidelines for agritourism activities such as farm tours, educational exhibits, hayrides, and seasonal events while ensuring these uses serve as a supplement to farming activities, not a replacement.

“Agriculture collectively provides the largest economic impact to Oregon. It is the foundation of our state,” said the bill’s chief sponsor, state Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson (R-Prineville). “This bill is a true example of what happens when ag champions come together for the industry and Oregonians. Signing HB 4153 into law secures a future for family farms in Oregon.”

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Breese-Iverson said the new permit overcomes the limitations of the previous law, which in many cases could prohibit family-friendly structures, require strict income caps, and not allow educational events.

Under the new law, she said, a farm operation will be allowed to sell farm products, offer local goods from other producers, and host limited agritourism events such as pumpkin patches, corn mazes, flower festivals, and farm tours at their farm store.

The Central Oregon lawmaker says the bill gives counties modern, clear, and enforceable rules to regulate access, egress, parking, hours of operation, noise, sanitation, and public health and safety. The bill prohibits using a farm store as a residence, hotel, café, or drive-thru.

HB 4153 was developed though a robust process with a broad coalition of stakeholders, including the governor and her advisory staff, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Department of Land Conservation and Development, Oregon Property Owners Association, Oregon Farm Bureau, Association of Oregon Counties, and farmers across the state.

Topaz Farm co-owner Kat Topaz said, “At a time when most of us feel helpless, everyone together made this bill happen. It would have never passed without the overwhelming support from the public.”

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“Oregonians want to connect with farms and the farmers who grow their food. So many advocates made this happen: lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, the Oregon Department of Agriculture, the Oregon Farm Bureau, the Association of Counties and of course, the governor, who has been a huge supporter from the start.”

Others who joined the ceremonial signing include state legislators and representatives from the Oregon Farm Bureau, Travel Oregon, the Oregon Property Owners Association, the Association of Oregon Counties, Plumper Farms, Frog Pond Farm, Packer Orchards, Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, and former State Senator Betsy Johnson.

Governor Kotek signed the legislation on a Topaz Farm picnic table that was surrounded by letters she received from students in Lincoln City who supported the legislation because of the enrichment opportunities available to them on farms in their region.

The law takes effect on Jan. 1, providing time for farmers and counties to learn more about the updated framework.

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