Oregon
50 returning players to watch in the 2025-26 Oregon girls basketball season
The 2025-26 winter season is getting underway, so it’s time to take a look at the top returning girls basketball players around the state.
Unfortunately, one of the obvious choices — junior wing Kaitlyn Siegner of Crane, a two-time all-state selection and Class 1A co-player of the year last year, averaging 19.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, five assists and five steals — tore her ACL during volleyball season and will miss the basketball season.
Mayenabasi Akpan, Sr., South Medford
The 6-3 center announced herself at the 6A state tournament her sophomore year, when she broke the tournament record for rebounds held by Cameron Brink to help the Panthers win the title. She was the Southwest Conference player of the year as a junior, averaging 15.6 points and 9.8 rebounds, and signed with San Diego State last month. “She had an outstanding summer with Cal Stars EYBL and was one of the most dominant rebounders statistically in the country,” said coach Tom Cole. “Her confidence has continued to grow offensively, and her athleticism is truly unique. She is able to impact the game on both sides of the ball and is one of the best athletes in the state of Oregon.”
Ayla Arnold, Sr., West Linn
Arnold was a first-team all-Three Rivers League selection last season for the Lions, averaging 7.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 steals.
Jordan Barlow, Sr., South Medford
The Sacramento State signee was thrust into the point guard role for the Panthers after the departure of Taylor Young to Crater, and she thrived at the position, making the all-SWC second team while averaging 7.8 points and 3.6 assists. “She has learned a lot since last year,” said coach Tom Cole. “She’s much more poised and comfortable and has improved her offensive and defensive game over the summer. Her speed, length and motor are tremendous assets.”
Olivia Bennett, Sr., Cascade
Cougars coach Glenn Norris called his 4A all-state honorable mention guard “a difference maker with her ability to score from anywhere and create shots for others.” Bennett averaged 10.1 points, three assists, 2.6 rebounds and 2.1 steals in helping Cascade place fifth at state. “Improved team depth should give Olivia more opportunities to shine,” Norris said.
Ava Bergeson, Sr., La Salle Prep
The 6-1 wing recently signed with UNLV following a junior season that saw her win co-NWOC player of the year and second-team all-state honors, averaging a double-double (14.9 points, 11.5 rebounds) to go with 3.9 assists, 2.5 steals and 2.2 blocks. She has over 1,100 career points and 800 career rebounds. “Ava is the engine of our team and has been for three years,” said coach Lucas Fiorante. “She is playing free and with a new sense of confidence in her game. Some of Ava’s greatest strengths never show up in a box score, though. She is an emotional leader in all the right ways—she plays with passion, competes, and genuinely loves the game and the people she plays it with.”
Love Lei Best, Soph., Tualatin
Cameron Brink. Jazzy Davidson. We’ve been treated to some of the nation’s best talents in the metro area the past few years, and the next to come down the pike is Best, who offered a taste of what’s to come last year in leading the Timberwolves to the 6A title, averaging 15.1 points, 4.5 assists and 3.9 steals as a first-team all-state selection. “Love is the perfect point guard to lead a team,” said coach Wes Pappas. “She’s one of the best point guards in the nation. She has a super-high basketball IQ, sees the floor amazingly well and is a massively competitive kid.”
Kaylor Buse, Jr., West Linn
Buse was the Three Rivers League defensive player of the year and a 6A all-state honorable mention selection as a sophomore, stuffing the stat sheet by averaging 16.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 3.4 steals and 1.2 blocks.
Kalyn Christ, Sr., Summit
The 6-0 wing has committed to Division II University of Tampa after earning 5A all-state honorable mention as a junior, averaging 12.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 1.6 blocks to lead the Storm to the state tournament. “Kalyn has shown a lot of growth in her abilities on and off the court,” said coach Henry Rogers. “She has grown to be incredibly deliberate with the ball and makes correct reads and plays with intentionality. Kalyn is also respected deeply by all her teammates and has stepped into a role that is both encouraging and constructive.”
Carly Corder, Sr., Seaside
The Seagulls have a veteran group coming off their first 4A state tournament trip since 2017, but their “tried and true,” as coach Marla Olstedt called Corder, led the way as an honorable mention all-state selection, averaging 11.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and three steals in 28 minutes a game. “She has the ability to take over offensively and continues to show her leadership skills and maturity,” Olstedt said. “She has the ability to make plays on both offense and defense and can make plays for her teammates, too.”
Kaylee Cordle, Sr., South Albany
Cordle will enjoy one final season playing for her father, Marc, with the RedHawks before heading to play at Lewis-Clark State in Idaho. The 5-8 wing helped them reach the cusp of the program’s first 5A state title in March, averaging 14 points and five rebounds. “She is a senior and a veteran in our program,” Coach Cordle said. “She brings leadership and knowledge that will help us be successful.”
Peyton Daggett, Sr., La Grande
The all-state honorable mention selection averaged 8.4 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists to help the Tigers finish sixth at the 4A tournament and post their first 20-win season since 2016.
Kendall Dawkins, Soph., Tualatin
Dawkins might get lost in the shadow of some of her more bally-hooed teammates, but the 6-foot guard is a defensive stalwart in their amoeba-like press and averaged 10.4 points and six rebounds for last year’s 6A champs. “Kendall has a tremendous work ethic,” said coach Wes Pappas. “She’s a three level scorer and a tough-as-nails defender.”
Taylor Donaldson, Sr., South Albany
Donaldson has been at the forefront of the revival of two RedHawks programs, leading the volleyball team to back-to-back 5A state titles and the basketball team to within seconds of capturing its first championship in March. Now, the University of Wyoming signee looks to build off a campaign that saw her average 23 points and eight rebounds in earning first-team all-state honors. “She had a great club season over the winter,” said coach Marc Cordle. “She’s a veteran in our program.”
Rowan Evans, Sr., La Grande
The Tigers made it back to the 4A state tournament for the first time since the 2020 edition was canceled due to the COVID pandemic, and now they’ll look to their top scorer and second-team all-state selection, who averaged 12 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 2.5 assists, to get them back after they placed sixth in March.
Ruby Foord, Jr., Beaverton
The second-team all-Metro League selection will look to help the Beavers return to the Chiles Center after a two-year absence after averaging 12 points, six rebounds and 2.1 steals a year ago.
Love Forde, Jr., Nelson
Forde is a force in the interior for the Hawks, receiving 6A all-state honorable mention as a sophomore when she averaged 18 points, seven rebounds and two steals.
Ceanna Forney, Soph., Jesuit
Forney had a solid first season with the Crusaders, with the 6-5 post winning Metro League defensive player of the year and first-team all-league honors after averaging nine points, seven boards and five blocks as a freshman. “She is a true paint defender and a gifted shot-blocker who anchors our D,” said coach Jason Lowery. “As a talented post, she is the hub of our halfcourt offensive attack. Her as a post threat opens things for our offense and her teammates.”
Kiara Green, Sr., Century
Green had an immediate impact when she arrived from Hil-Hi last season, averaging 16.2 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.5 blocks and leading the Jaguars to a 15-game improvement. She signed with Howard University last month. “Kiara has been an absolute joy to coach,” said coach Eddie Littlefield. “Her growth over the summer has been tremendous, and her maturity and commitment to development have elevated everyone around her.”
Sailor Hall, Jr., Springfield
Hall was the Millers’ leading scorer last year at 16 points per game to go with 4.5 rebounds and 2.2 steals to make the 5A all-state honorable mention list and lift them to the sixth-place trophy at state.
Breeci Hampton, Jr., Stayton
The former Cascade transfer had an immediate impact on the eventual 4A state champion Eagles, earning second-team all-state honors running the point while averaging 13.8 points and 4.2 assists.
Reagan Heiken, Jr., Philomath
Heiken won 4A player of the year honors following a sophomore season that saw her lead the Warriors in scoring (12.5 ppg), rebounding (6.5) and steals (2.7) while shooting 52.1% from the field for the state finalists.
Camryn Herzberg, Soph., Southridge
Herzberg flashed the potential to play D-1 ball during a fantastic freshman campaign during which she averaged 15.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals to make the all-Metro League first team.
Dyllan Howell, Sr., South Medford
The third Panther to sign with a Division I school last month will join Barlow at Sacramento State after the 5-11 wing received 6A all-state honorable mention as a junior, averaging 11.1 points and four rebounds. “She had a great summer and has developed significant confidence in her ability to score from multiple places on the floor,” said coach Tom Cole. “Her defensive ability has also improved.”
Reese Jordan, Sr., West Linn
For all the talent in the Three Rivers League last season, it was Jordan who won player of the year honors, with the Washington State signee also earning second-team all-state recognition after averaging 15.8 points, six rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.3 steals to lead the Lions to fourth place at the state tournament.
Jayla Lackey, Soph., Benson
Lackey worked in the offseason to improve her strength as the 6-2 post looks to build off a freshman campaign that saw her earn first-team all-PIL honors and draw an invite from USA Basketball to participate in the 2025 Women’s U16 National Team trials.
Millie Lathen, Soph., Grants Pass
Lathen helped the Lady Cavers reach the second round of the 6A playoffs last year as a freshman, averaging 11.1 points, four rebounds and three assists as a second-team all-Southwest Conference selection. First-year coach Ethan Lackey said that an emphasis for her in the offseason was “making an impact without scoring, and she has found the ability to do that with her rebounding and on-ball defense. Millie also has great vision in the full-court, which allows our team to get out and run. She is not settling on offense; she has a will to get to the rim.”
Devan Lee, Sr., St. Helens
The Lions’ 5-7 point guard averaged 16.2 points, five rebounds, three steals and 2.3 assists while also getting her hand on four deflections to earn Cowapa League player of the year honors. She plans to major in engineering at Oregon State. “Devan is such a strong point in our program,” said coach Jillian Ross. “She isn’t just a scorer, but she is a vocal leader. Everyone wants a Devan on their team, and we are lucky enough to have her.”
Mylie Lempea, Sr., Knappa
Lempea has played an integral role in turning around a program that went eight years between winning seasons before her arrival, leading them to 60 wins in her first three seasons and back-to-back 2A state tournaments for the first time since 2002-03. The first-team all-state point guard averaged 13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 4.4 steals as a junior. “Mylie is a tone-setter for our program,” said coach Tracie Brockey. “I love her passion for the game. She helps us live out our core covenants — unity, integrity and respect. I’m not ready for her and her classmates to be seniors.”
Sara Mangan, Sr., Southridge
The reigning Metro League player of the year and 6A second-team all-state selection signed with the University of Portland following a junior season that saw her average 17.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.6 steals to lead the Skyhawks to a sixth-place trophy at state.
Samarah Massey, Sr., Benson
Massey is one of the top unsigned shooting guards in the state coming off a junior season in which she made the all-PIL first team to help the Astros reach the 6A second round.
Alyssa McMullen, Sr., Amity
McMullen was one of the critical players who led the Warriors to the program’s first 3A state title after five previous finals appearances, averaging 14 points to earn second-team all-state honors. “Alyssa has been rock-solid for our program for three years now,” said her coach and father, Jed. “She is our long-range shooter and really helps us stretch the defense. I’m proud that she has been working on attacking the basket this offseason.”
Ries Miadich, Sr., Tualatin
Miadich is another underrated role player for the 6A state champions, earning second-team all-Three Rivers League last season when the 5-8 guard averaged 8.7 points and 2.6 steals. “She’s another strong 3-point shooter who has really developed a scorer’s mentality,” said coach Wes Pappas.
Gabi Moultrie, Sr., Wilsonville
The 5-8 guard, the younger sister of Portland Thorns midfielder Olivia Moultrie, is on pace to join Jill Noe (2,003 points from 1999-2002) as the second Wildcat to score 2,000 career points after the 5A all-state first-teamer averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 assists, 4.7 steals and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 34.8% from deep as a junior, bringing her career total to 1,667 points. She signed with Utah Valley last month.
Mylaena Norton, Sr., Redmond
The 5-6 point guard led the Panthers to their second Intermountain Conference title in a row and a fifth-place finish at the 5A state tournament — the first time they made consecutive state appearances since 1986-87 — earning IMC player of the year and second-team all-state honors after averaging 9.8 points, three assists and 2.3 steals.
Dara Oluwafemi, Jr., Beaverton
Oluwafemi shined in her first season with the Beavers after transferring from Westview, averaging 13.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and two steals to earn first-team all-Metro League honors. “Dara means a lot to our program with her scoring and defending,” coach John Naro said of his 5-9 combo guard. “I am looking to her to lead this team by being the example on both sides of the court. I see improvements in her strength and ability to score in different ways — from driving to shooting 3s.”
Alex Padilla, Sr., Tualatin
Padilla doesn’t put up big numbers for the Timberwolves, but that’s not where the 6-1 post who recently signed with Portland State makes her bones. “Alex is the best defender in the state,” said coach Wes Pappas. “You can put her anywhere on the floor, and she will absolutely wreck the other team’s offense.”
Clara Persons, Sr., Regis
The 5-5 point guard will head to Bushnell University in Eugene to play next year, but first, she looks to lead the Rams back to the 3A playoffs (she was a second-team all-state selection for Regis as a sophomore) after helping Salem Academy win the 2A title last year, earning first-team all-state honors while averaging 15 points and three steals. “This year, she is back and was welcomed with open arms,” said second-year coach Tim Manning. “Clara is a leader by example. She is always the first one to the gym and the last to leave. She is indispensable to our team and just a great kid overall.”
Molly Rasmussen, Soph., Baker
Rasmussen helped lead the Bulldogs to a third-place finish at the 4A state tournament as a freshman, averaging 12 points and five rebounds as the 5-11 wing earned all-state honorable mention. “Molly showed a lot of growth last year as a freshman just with the experience of playing varsity basketball,” said coach Jason Ramos. “She was our most consistent performer this summer, and we saw her become more comfortable being in any situation — more assertive on the floor and essentially a real threat whenever she has the ball.”
Darissa Romero-Ah Sam, Sr., Springfield
Romero-Ah battled a bulged disc in her back for most of last season to be named Midwestern League co-defensive player of the year and earn second-team 5A all-state honors, averaging 13.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, five assists and 4.8 steals.
Kathryn Samek, Jr., Stayton
Samek received 4A all-state first-team recognition following a sophomore campaign that saw her average 14.5 points and 5.3 rebounds for the state champion Eagles, including a game-high 18 points in their title-game win over Philomath.
Rozalyn Schmunk, Sr., Cascade
Schmunk improved from 4A all-state honorable mention selection as a sophomore to a first-team honoree last season, when she averaged 13.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.1 steals to help the Cougars place fifth at the state tournament. “Roz is a very athletic and versatile player who can fill up a stat sheet,” said coach Glenn Norris. “Her ability to play inside and out on both ends of the floor makes Roz a formidable opponent.”
Makayla Schroeder, Soph., Henley
The 6-0 post won Skyline Conference player of the year and first-team 4A all-state honors as a freshman, recording 20 double-doubles during the season and averaging 14.4 points and 12.1 rebounds to lead the Hornets to a fourth-place finish at state.
Emma Seubert, Sr., Country Christian
The Valley 10 Conference player of the year was also a first-team all-state selection, leading the Cougars to a sixth-place finish at the 1A state tournament while averaging eight points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Brooklynn Summers, Sr., McMinnville
Summers became a starter for the first time last season and blossomed as a 6-1 post complementing first-team all-state guard Macie Arzner, making the all-Pacific Conference first team while averaging 11 points and 8.8 rebounds.
Payton Starwalt, Jr., West Albany
Starwalt transferred from nearby Crescent Valley to joining the Bulldogs last year and emerged as one of the state’s top point guards, averaging 22 points — shooting 43% from distance and 90.2% at the foul line — 6.3 assists and three steals to earn second-team all-state and lead them to the 5A tournament. She has 21 Division I offers under her belt. “This player continues to impress me,” said coach Shawn Stinson. “She spends hours upon hours in the gym every week, getting stronger and becoming a great defensive player as well. She is the cornerstone of our team; she makes us go.”
Kelsey Stepleton, Sr., Vale
The Eastern Oregon League co-player of the year and second-team all-state selection averaged 12.4 points and 9.1 rebounds to power the Vikings to a third-place finish at the 3A state tournament.
Nylah Vanthom, Jr., Banks
The first-team all-state point guard led Banks to within two points of a second 3A state championship in three years, also earning Coastal Range League defensive player of the year honors for the second straight year while averaging nine points, four assists and three steals last year. “She is a tremendous player on both ends of the floor and an even better kid,” said coach Nick Rizzo. “Her quickness on both the defensive and offensive ends present challenges for her opponents.”
Taylor Young, Sr., Crater
Young has been a winner at both the 6A and 5A levels, helping South Medford win a state championship in 2024 before returning home to join the Comets last season, leading them to the program’s first title while breaking the school’s single-season records for points (589; 21 ppg) and 3-pointers (57 on 37.3% shooting) to go with 3.7 assists and 4.4 steals. The Oregon State signee opened the year with 1,389 career points, then poured in a school-record 41 points in a season-opening win over Bend.
Nylah Webster, Jr., Nelson
The 5-10 combo guard is the daughter of former NBA player Martell Webster, who was picked sixth in the 2005 draft by the Trail Blazers and spent a decade in the league. Nylah was a first-team all-Mt. Hood Conference selection last year, averaging 18 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals for the Hawks.
Emma Zuniga, Sr., West Salem
The 5-10 wing is a two-time Central Valley Conference player of the year who earned 6A all-state honorable mention last year, when the Portland State signee averaged 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists. “Emma is dynamic on the court, highlighted by the fact she can play all five positions,” said first-year coach Justin Duke. “Her versatility, combined with a high basketball IQ and shotmaking ability, make her one of the top returning players in the state.”
— René Ferrán is a freelance reporter for The Oregonian/Oregon Live. René grew up in Portland and has written about high school sports in the Pacific Northwest since 1993, with his work featured at the Idaho Press Tribune, Tri-City Herald, Seattle Times, Tacoma News Tribune, The Columbian and High School on SI. He can be reached at rferran.oregonianhssports@gmail.com
ATLANTA – The Oregon Ducks’ 56‑22 loss to the Indiana Hoosiers in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Peach Bowl ended their national championship dreams, leaving heartbreak in its wake.
The defeat brought flashbacks to last year’s season-ending 41‑21 Rose Bowl loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes, who went on to win the National Championship. Overreactions are rolling in as frustrations boil. While Oregon’s chances at winning its first-ever National Championship may be over, the sky isn’t falling in Eugene.
Indiana beat Oregon in all three phases, and the Ducks looked clearly inferior to their Big Ten foe. Still, amid the humbling loss, Oregon coach Dan Lanning and his team demonstrated leadership and resilience. Lanning didn’t bash his players or dwell on errors… instead, he led in the locker room, turning this lopsided loss into a potential turning point – a learning experience- that this core group of Ducks can utilize next season.
The comment section can be a rough place the day after the game. Some of the once-Oregon mighty turned quickly on the coaching staff and even some of the players.
Emotional responses are natural after back-to-back lopsided playoff losses, but Oregon’s program under Lanning remains strong. The facts speak volumes.
The 39-year-old has compiled a 48‑8 record, notching double-digit wins in each of his first four seasons. He ranks fourth all-time in wins among Ducks head coaches and has guided Oregon to consecutive College Football Playoff appearances, a Big Ten Championship, and victories in the Orange, Fiesta, and Holiday Bowls. Oregon is the only FBS team to win 13 games in each of the past two seasons, tying the program record set in 2025, 2024, and 2014.
Dan Lanning enters his fifth season as head coach at Oregon. It took Dabo Swinney nine seasons to win his first national title at Clemson before becoming a perennial contender. Kirby Smart captured his first championship in his sixth season at Georgia.
Lanning’s loyalty to Oregon has been clear amid the constant coaching carousel – something Ducks fans shouldn’t be quick to forget.
Dan Lanning’s Leadership Under Pressure
There are two moments that illustrate Lanning’s leadership from Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The game couldn’t have started any worse for Oregon quarterback Dante Moore. On the very first play, Moore threw a pick-six. As Indiana teammates ran to congratulate cornerback D’Angelo Ponds on his big play, Lanning didn’t flinch. The coach found his quarterback, and immediately picked him up. Lanning spoke to Moore for a good 20 seconds after the turnover delivering a message amid a stadium full of Hoosiers fans in a frenzy. Lanning provided the calm in the chaos.
The next drive, Moore seemed to regain his composure, leading the Ducks on a 14-play drive and throwing a 19-yard touchdown to tight end Jamari Johnson.
It was a brief highlight but an important one that shows the true colors of Lanning when the chips are down.
Another moment came after the loss. In his postgame press conference, Lanning was asked what Moore can learn from the lopsided loss. Lanning took the opportunity to shield Moore from singling him out. He instead focused on how the entire team can learn from the experience.
“I think every man can learn from adversity,” Lanning said. “I just told that whole locker room, right, this is going to be about how you respond in life. This is going to be a life lesson that a lot of people never get. We just got our butt kicked. Right? That’s going to happen in life, right, and not just Dante. Every single person in the locker room, every coach, every person can learn, ‘Hey, how do you respond to that?’ Some people crawl into a hole, right, don’t face the music.”
“Some people say, ‘Okay, let’s figure it out. Let me challenge myself so I can be better. Let me be an example of how you handle moments like this.’ I think there is a way to handle that. Dante has been exceptional. Bryce, these guys have been exceptional, stewards of what we wanted to look like all year long. And it’s gone right for us 13 times. Didn’t go right tonight. And you can’t let that overshadow,” Lanning said.
MORE: What Dan Lanning Said After Oregon’s Loss to Indiana
MORE: Instant Takeaways From Oregon’s Playoff Loss to Indiana
MORE: Dante Moore NFL Outlook Comes Into Focus After Peach Bowl Loss
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Turning The Defeat Into A Life Lesson
Oregon’s team is led by mostly underclassmen. Moore is 20 years old, and freshmen like Dakorien Moore, Jordon Davison, Brandon Finney, Aaron Flowers, and Dierre Hill Jr. play prominent roles. The Ducks’ youth was evident, yet it also presents an opportunity: Oregon ranks second nationally behind North Texas in touchdowns scored by both true freshmen (26) and all freshmen (29). This season, 35 true or redshirt freshmen have taken the field.
On the other side, Indiana fielded a much older team, with an average age around 23 years old. If the Ducks’ inexperience was their Achilles heel this season in the playoff, they certainly got a lifetime of experience in 60 minutes vs. Indiana and coach Curt Cignetti.
Lanning did his part by helping his team process the loss without letting it define them.
“Every one of us has unbelievable disappointment. Learn from it. But there’s a lot of lessons to be learned for everybody in life, and we’ll learn the hard lessons here. And you know what, most people will never be in the position where they get to learn that lesson that we get to learn on. These guys were in that position,” Lanning said.
Experience Matters In The Playoff
A trend is emerging in the College Football Playoff: the most experienced quarterbacks often find the most success. This year’s National Championship game will feature Miami quarterback Carson Beck and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. Beck, 23, has played 54 college games over six seasons. Mendoza, 22, has played 35 games over three seasons.
Moore has played 29 games, but this was his first season as a full-time starter. If he returns to Oregon for 2026 instead of taking his talents to the NFL, he will join the ranks of the more experienced quarterbacks in college football.
The Ducks are losing integral players to the program in linebacker Bryce Boettcher, running back Noah Whittington, kicker Atticus Sappington, receiver Gary Bryant Jr., offensive linemen Isaiah World, Alex Harkey, Matthew Bedford and Emmanuel Pregnon… to name a few. Lanning made sure to highlight the contributions of the seniors after their final game as a Duck when he described the hardest part of being in the locker room after the loss.
“You hurt for those guys because the world is going to judge everybody in that room based on the result tonight. I’m going to judge those guys on the kind of fathers they become someday, the kind of husbands they become someday. But in this moment, you feel like a failure, right, for them, and they’re not. They’re not failures. These guys won a lot of damn ball games. They’ve had a lot of success. They’ve changed some people’s lives, but right now, that moment is going to hurt,” Lanning said.
“And the hard part, you know, you got guys like Bryce (Boettcher) that they don’t get to be a Duck anymore. They will be a Duck forever, but he does not get to go wear that uniform and go play a game for us again. I really wanted that for them, really wanted them to be able to enjoy that and experience that, and they don’t get to,” Lanning continued.
The Ducks fell short of their National Championship goal, but the guidance of Lanning and the lessons learned by Oregon’s young core set the stage for next season.
ATLANTA — For the second time in as many seasons, Oregon entered the College Football Playoff with high expectations and exited with a pillar to post thrashing from a conference foe.
In similar fashion to last year’s Rose Bowl rout by Ohio State, No. 1 Indiana had its way with No. 5 Oregon in a CFP semifinal at the Peach Bowl Friday night. By the end of the 56-22 mauling, led by Fernando Mendoza’s five touchdowns, neither the scoreboard nor the box score reflected how lopsided things truly were.
Three Ducks turnovers, including a pick-six by Dante Moore on the opening play of the game, led to 21 first-half points for the Hoosiers (15-0), who led 35-7 at halftime.
“This is going to be a life lesson that a lot of people never get,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “We just got our butt kicked. That’s going to happen in life and not just Dante. Every single person in the locker room, every coach, every person can learn, hey, how do you respond to that.
“Some people crawl into a hole, don’t face the music. Some people say, okay, let’s figure it out. Let me challenge myself so I can be better. Let me be an example of how you handle moments like this. I think there is a way to handle that.”
One could say the Ducks (13-2) should have learned a similar lesson from the Rose Bowl, but with so many new starters from a year ago that’s not entirely accurate.
This UO team ranked in the top 10 in many statistics all season and was at times even more dominant than last year’s team. But against the best competition its weaknesses showed more than its strength. The Hoosiers (15-0) capitalized on many of those to advance to face Miami in the CFP Championship on Jan. 19.
“They have a great defense, great disguise and different looks, but you can’t win football games if you’re causing turnovers,” said Moore, who was 24 of 39 for 285 yards with two touchdowns but lost 28 yards rushing due to three fumbles. “Something of course I need to work at.”
Moore lost two fumbles, one on a strip sack and another when running back Dierre Hill Jr. ran into the tip of the ball on Moore’s wind up.
“First play, I still like the play, but it sucked the result,” offensive coordinator Will Stein said. “We had the fumble off the elbow, like, crazy. … We were stopping ourselves, but they’re a really good defense. They are really good and they create takeaways and they don’t mess up.”
Mendoza was 17 of 20 for 177 yards and the five scores, which went to four different IU players.
Named offensive MVP, Mendoza set a Peach Bowl completion percentage record and threw the most touchdowns against Oregon since Cal’s Davis Webb had five in 2016.
“He understands what he’s doing,” Lanning said. “He has great weapons to be able to take advantage of.”
Indiana was 11 of 14 on third down, including nine of its first 10, underscoring one of Oregon’s defensive weaknesses against better teams.
Defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi called it a “really poor finish” to an “awesome season.”
It’s difficult to take a long view after another promising campaign ends in such brutally demoralizing fashion, though several players tried.
“This is a great program,” said running back Noah Whittington, who was limited due to turf toe. “It’s going to continue to grow. Eventually we’re going to get the job done. Unfortunately it wasn’t today, but down the road we’re going to get ‘em.”
Yet for a second year in a row, albeit once again with several top skill players out due to injury, Oregon was embarrassed on a national stage.
“In this moment,” Lanning said, “you feel like a failure and they’re not. They’re not failures. These guys won a lot of damn ball games. … I also think you can’t discredit that we played well. We’ve played well at times even here in the postseason.”
Lanning proclaimed Oregon’s season motto “double down,” an expected value proposition in blackjack, which adopted because the program’s process is sound, even if last year’s Rose Bowl ending was not.
In many cases, it worked. But not always, like Friday night. It doesn’t mean that Lanning’s methods won’t pay off in the long run. It does mean the 2025 season ends without the ultimate reward, and in this case, far worse: another playoff blowout loss, which even if it proves again to be against the eventual national champion is still an offseason’s worth of misery to endure.
Adding insult to injury is Mario Cristobal, in his fourth year at Miami, bringing the Hurricanes back to the national championship game for the first time in 23 years.
But Oregon still earned a seat back at the CFP table. Whether Lanning is willing to double down in the same spot, or consider greater changes with two outgoing coordinators, could determine if the Ducks play differently next year.
The second College Football Playoff semifinal game is a can’t-miss Big Ten showdown. We’ve compiled everything you need to know about where to watch the Peach Bowl, including live streaming options for cord-cutters.
The No. 5 Oregon Ducks will take on the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers in the Peach Bowl. With the Ohio State Buckeyes, a Big Ten powerhouse and the reigning National Champions, out of the picture after a shock quarterfinal elimination, the Ducks and Hoosiers both have a shot at making it to the championship. Oregon has had a tremendous season, going 13-1 and shutting out Texas Tech in the quarterfinals. Their only fumble this season was Indiana (a 30-20 Hoosiers victory in October), which went undefeated (14-0) and walloped Alabama 38-3 in the quarterfinals. It’s safe to say that it’s anyone’s game, and only time will tell which of the two teams will earn a spot at the National Championship.
If you’re hoping to tune in, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to learn some of the best live streaming options below. The services we’ve highlighted will also allow you to live stream the National Championship on January 19.
What channel is the Peach Bowl on?
Like the rest of the CFP, the Peach Bowl will air on ESPN in the US. The Oregon vs. Indiana game is scheduled to kick off on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET, but the network’s college football coverage will begin at 6 p.m.
Where to watch the Peach Bowl in the US
If you don’t have cable, you don’t need to worry about missing out on any of the action. There are several ways to live stream ESPN, including ESPN Unlimited, the network’s direct streaming counterpart. At $30 a month, ESPN Unlimited unlocks total access to all things ESPN, including live streams from the flagship network and other properties, like ESPN2, the ACC Network, and SEC Network.
ESPN Unlimited
ESPN Unlimited has everything from ESPN Plus, in addition to all that the ESPN linear networks have to offer.
If you’d prefer a service with a free trial and other channels beyond those in the ESPN family, DirecTV and Fubo are two of our top live TV recommendations. DirecTV offers ESPN in all of its Signature packages, but you can save some money if you’re only interested in sports by subscribing to the DirecTV MySports genre pack. Subscriptions cost $70 a month, but there’s a five-day free trial for new customers. MySports also unlocks ESPN Unlimited access.
DirecTV MySports
DirecTV’s MySports pack carries popular sports channels, from mainstays like ESPN to niche offerings like the ACC Network.
Fubo is another top sports-centric streaming service. You can get ESPN and around 28 other channels through Fubo’s Sports + News pack, in addition to ESPN Unlimited access. Subscriptions start at $56 a month, but new users can get a five-day free trial and a $10 off first-month discount.
Fubo Sports + News
The new Fubo Sports + News pack is only available in select areas. It combines 20+ major sports channels (including the new ESPN Unlimited) and select local networks (ABC, CBS, and FOX).
Where to watch the Peach Bowl in the UK
In the UK, College Football Playoff games (including the Peach Bowl) are available through DAZN. Subscription prices vary by plan, but most college football games this season were available for free in the UK (as long as you create an account). DAZN will also live stream the National Championship later this month.
How to watch the Peach Bowl from anywhere
If you’re traveling away from home, you can still keep up with your usual streaming options with the aid of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are cybersecurity tools that enable people to change their devices’ virtual location. This way, their go-to websites and apps work from anywhere, just like they would back home. VPNs are also popular methods for enhancing online privacy and security.
NordVPN is our No. 1 recommendation right now. It’s a top-rated option with tons of features, servers, and a hassle-free 30-day money-back guarantee, so it’s no sweat if you find that it’s not what you’re looking for. Our official NordVPN review breaks down everything else you might need to know about the app.
NordVPN Plan
NordVPN is one of the top VPN services in the business. It offers excellent value with a strong selection of features and a low monthly price. A wide selection of international servers, high-end security, fast connections, and audited privacy protection have made the brand a household name in the world of VPNs.
Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
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