Oregon
‘A phenomenal team’: Oregon’s Dan Lanning, players give Michigan respect at Big Ten Media Days
The expanded Big Ten will provide several matchups between powerhouse programs in college football this season, and one of the most highly anticipated will be Oregon at Michigan on Nov. 2 in the Big House.
As the reigning national champions, the Wolverines drew a lot of respect from Oregon head coach Dan Lanning and the Ducks’ three player representatives at Big Ten Media Days this week.
“Yeah, obviously, a phenomenal team,” Lanning said of Michigan. “There’s a reason they were able to win so many games last year, and they’ve done a great job building a program there. It’s got a storied history. It should be one that we’re really pumped to be a part of.”
Oregon quarteback Dillon Gabriel, who’s entering his sixth season of eligibility after previous stops at UCF and Oklahoma, has played in a lot of big game and big environments during his college career, including at the Cotton Bowl in the Red River Shootout against Texas last year. Gabriel says “it’s been a bunch of fun” playing in games like that, and he’s looking forward to another bigtime matchup against Michigan.
“Great program, historic,” Gabriel said of the Wolverines. “Obviously, what they did last year was extremely impressive. Just the way they’ve played and consistently doing it. As a guy who’s in college football, you respect it and realize how hard it is to do.”
Ducks linebacker Jeffrey Bassa respects the attitude and mentality that Michigan plays with, and looks forward to the challenge of facing the reigning national champions in Ann Arbor.
“Making that trip is going to be eye-opening, it’s going to be great,” Bassa said. “And I know we play them late in the season, it might be a little bit cold, so we better be — I know we’re going to be ready to buckle up.
“I think [Jim] Harbaugh did a great job last year and Coach [Sherrone] Moore this year is doing a great job coaching that team and leading that team. I know they’re a team that’s built on steak and potatoes. Like, they’re going to tell you that they’re going to run the ball, and their going to run the ball on offense. They might throw the ball here and there, but their mentality is going to be mano a mano, we’re better than you, we want to run the ball, right? So, we’ve just got to buckle up and be ready for that. I know they’re a team built on grit and toughness, so I’m ready to face them.”
Finally, Oregon tight end Terrence Ferguson wants to play against the best players and best teams in the country, and that’s what excites him about matching up with the Wolverines. He’s also looking forward to his first game at Michigan Stadium.
“It has a lot of history,” Ferguson said. “The Big House is, obviously, huge. It holds a lot of people, it holds a lot of history. Obviously, they’re the reigning champs and that puts a target on their back for everyone. But, I’m just excited to play against them. They have a lot of talented players on defense and offense. So, really just being able to go compete against the best players is what I look forward to. And it’s a cool place to play, so I’m excited.”
While they won’t be on the field at the same time, Ferguson is also looking forward to competing against Michigan tight end Colston Loveland, not only in that game but throughout the season.
“He’s a great player,” Ferguson said of Loveland. “I love his game. He’s a super athletic guy. I think he tracks the ball well, he plays fast. I like him and he’s a great player. I have a lot of respect for that guy.”
– Enjoy more Michigan Wolverines coverage on Michigan Wolverines On SI –
Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck credits Michigan in opening statement at Media Days
‘That’s pretty damn cool’: Lincoln Riley excited for USC-Michigan matchup in 2024
Michigan football’s Makari Paige talks Rod Moore’s injury, transfer DBs
For additional coverage of University of Michigan athletics:
The good times keep on rolling for the Oregon Ducks in the recruiting world. Dan Lanning and the Ducks scored a massive commitment from five-star quarterback Will Mencl out of Chandler, Arizona.
Oregon had been rumored to be leading the race for Mencl’s services for months, but the No. 1 quarterback in the country, per Rivals, cleared the air and committed to the Ducks on Wednesday evening. Mencl chose the Ducks over Auburn and Penn State, both of which battled hard for him down the stretch.
However, Mencl has been connected to Oregon for a long time. While he was offered last fall before breaking out in his junior season, Mencl has been a fan of the program long before he popped up on the Ducks’ recruiting radar. In a post shared by Rivals recruiting expert Steve Wiltfong, Mencl was announced as a quarterback for the Ducks when he was a kid at the 2019 NFL Draft fan experience in 2019.
Now, Mencl is ready to don the green and yellow for real and make his childhood dreams come true. The Ducks have made a point to get Mencl on campus as often as possible and as recently as last week. The continued connection between both sides is ultimately what made the decision easy for the nation’s top passer. Mencl said he told Lanning and the Oregon staff about his decision on Sunday.
“The biggest thing was the relationship with the staff,” Mencl said after committing. “I feel like that continued to grow over time, especially when I first got there last spring. Being able to sit down with Coach Koa, really being an underlooked guy at that time, and kind of blowing up my junior season. And then, the path to the NFL. You can’t deny what they do with quarterbacks and the type of scheme they run. I felt like that was the best fit for me and my family to get to the next level.”
Koa Ka’ai, Oregon’s new quarterback coach, made waves earlier in the offseason after his recruiting test about ice cream flavors went viral, but that doesn’t appear to have scared Mencl off. In fact, the two have a close connection that Oregon hopes will translate to success on the field in the near future.
“My relationship with Coach Koa, I feel like that is super, super strong,” Mencl told Rivals. “I’ve had a lot of discussions with Coach Lanning about the culture there and how they’re going to continue to sustain greatness throughout the program.”
Mencl exploded onto the national recruiting scene with a massive junior season for Chandler. He completed more than 70% of his passes for 3,815 yards and 33 touchdowns against five interceptions in his junior season, leading Chandler to a state title berth. He also rushed for 741 yards and an additional 17 touchdowns.
The Ducks expect to have some competition for Mencl to compete with when he joins the team for the 2027 season, with Dylan Raiola and Akili Smith Jr. already on the roster and competing for a role as the backup. Oregon has gone to the transfer portal as well in recent seasons, finding success with Bo Nix, Dillon Gabriel, and now Dante Moore.
Oregon has recruited well at quarterback in the past, establishing an NFL pedigree that attracted Mencl. Maybe he will be the one to buck the trend and give the Ducks a true, homegrown product under center.
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.
‘Pour in the largest glass you can find while slow dancing in your socks,’ a Wine Enthusiast contributor said of an Oregon wine
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Wine Enthusiast released a list of the top 40 sparkling wines around the world in 2026 – highlighting two bottles of bubbly from Oregon.
“While it can seem like you need a fortune to enjoy high quality sparkling wine, you honestly don’t. Excellent affordable bubbles are being produced around the world, often in places you might not expect. Each of the selections on our inaugural Top 40 Sparkling Wines list delivers personality, freshness, and celebration for under $75,” Wine Enthusiast wrote.
Wine Enthusiast divided its list into separate sparkling categories including, Champagne, Italian Bollicine, American sparkling and bottles $25 and under.
Snagging a spot on the American sparkling list: Corollary Wines in McMinnville.
Corollarly’s 2021 Momtazi Carbonic Rosé Pinot Noir scored 96 points from Wine Enthusiast.
“This is a Peter Max print of a wine, with vivid aromas and flavors to match the wine’s electric Kool-Aid color. It is filled to the brim with aromas and flavors of macerated strawberries, candied rose petals, apricots, and a bitter note similar to watermelon rind. Pour in the largest glass you can find while slow dancing in your socks,” wrote Wine Enthusiast contributor Michael Alberty.
The second Oregon winery to earn a spot on the list: Lytle-Barnett in Dundee.
Wine Enthusiast also gave Lytle-Barnett’s 2018 Brut Rosé Pinot Noir Chardonnay 96 points.
“Bubbles as persistent as an eight-year-old with a question deliver aromas of dried rose petals, macerated strawberries, and a touch of fresh hay and talc. This 70/30 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blend is packed with flavors of lemon zest, Honeycrisp apple slices drizzled in caramel, and a dollop of raspberry,” Alberty wrote.
The nods to Corollary and Lytle-Barnett come as the wineries recently helped launch Method Oregon, a nonprofit made up of 50 Oregon wineries aiming to turn Oregon into a global sparkling wine destination.
-
Florida3 minutes agoFlorida Lottery Powerball, Lotto, Fantasy 5 results for April 22, 2026
-
Georgia9 minutes agoWildfires rage across Georgia and northern Florida amid severe drought
-
Hawaii15 minutes agoBench in Honokaʻa to Hilo storefront: Knickknackery Hawaii brings old-time island charm to Hilo
-
Idaho21 minutes agoIdaho ranks last in per pupil spending, again – Local News 8
-
Illinois27 minutes agoArlington Heights Bears fans cheer as ‘Megaprojects’ bill passes Illinois House
-
Indiana33 minutes ago99th Fire Department Instructors Conference draws 38,000 firefighters to Indy
-
Iowa39 minutes agoSee where all 9 Iowa State women’s basketball transfers ended up
-
Kentucky51 minutes agoIntrepido horse trainer, jockey, owner for Kentucky Derby 2026