Oregon

Looking at the four new Big Ten football teams: Oregon

Published

1 year ago

August 10, 2024

Looking at the four new Big Ten football teams: Oregon

Northwestern’s first game of the 2024 season begins on August 31 against Miami-Ohio. With conference realignment shaking up college football, the Big Ten added four new west coast schools into the conference: Washington, UCLA, USC and Oregon. As Northwestern begins its first campaign in a new-look Big Ten, Inside NU is looking at each of these new programs. This week, we will look at Oregon.

Program History

The University of Oregon started its football program in 1894 and was a founding member of the Pacific Coast Conference along with the University of Washington, Oregon State University and the University of California in 1915. That conference would expand to what we know as the Pac-12 Conference.

The Oregon Ducks won 13 Pac-12 conference titles since its founding in 1915, with most of the program’s success coming since the early 2000s. The Ducks, under coach Mike Bellotti, got their first 10-win season in 2000 when they defeated Texas 35-30 in the Holiday Bowl. In 2001, they finished 11-1 and ranked second in the final AP poll. Bellotti’s teams had up and down seasons for the remainder of his tenure, winning ten games in a season in two of the next seven years. In the spring of 2009, Bellotti resigned, and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly took over head coaching duties.

Kelly’s Oregon teams brought the program to national relevance, going 46-7 in his four years as the head coach. His quick tempo and spread offensive scheme revolutionized college football. In 2009, his team ranked sixth in the nation in points scored at 36.1 per game. His 2010 squad reached the BCS National Championship Game and led the nation in points scored at 46.1 per game. His team averaged 46.1 points per game again in 2011 and 49.6 points per game in 2012.

Kelly went to coach the Philadelphia Eagles after Oregon’s 2012 season and offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich took over the program, continuing Kelly’s success.

Helfrich’s best season came in 2014 when the Ducks went 13-2, avenging their only regular season loss to Arizona by beating them in the Pac-12 Championship Game. They then beat undefeated Florida State in the Rose Bowl before losing to Ohio State in the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Marcus Mariota was named the program’s first Heisman winner, and the team finished second in the final AP poll.

After a couple less successful years under Helfrich and a one-and-done year from Willie Taggart, the program hired Taggart’s co-offensive coordinator Mario Cristobal as head coach. Cristobal had two double digit win seasons in his four years as coach including going 12-2 in 2019 and winning the Rose Bowl. He won two Pac-12 titles before he left for Miami in December 2021.

So, the team’s current head coach is Dan Lanning. Lanning was a coach at Georgia from 2018 to 2021. He served as defensive coordinator for the undefeated 2022 National Champion Georgia team and was named the 35th head coach of the Oregon Ducks in December 2021.

In Lanning’s first year as a head coach, he led his team to a 10-3 record and a Holiday Bowl win.

Last Season

Lanning’s Ducks started the 2023 season with a bang, pummeling FCS Portland State 81-7. They beat Texas Tech 38-30, Oregon’s only one-possession win that year.

They started the season 5-0, beating Hawaii 55-10, 19th ranked Colorado 42-6 and rival Stanford 42-6 before they went to Seattle to face the Washington Huskies.

This was a heart-breaking loss for the Ducks. Oregon took a 33-29 lead early in the fourth quarter before Washington drove the ball deep into Oregon territory on the next possession. The Ducks found themselves needing a stop on a fourth and goal situation at the 1-yard line. They wrapped up Washington running back Tybo Rodgers for a loss and a turnover on downs.

All Oregon had to do was hold its lead for the remaining six minutes. Unfortunately, Oregon had its own turnover on downs its next possession after Bo Nix threw an incomplete pass to Tez Johnson during a fourth and three at Washington’s 47-yard line. Two Michael Penix Jr. oases later, Washington found itself in the end zone to take a 36-33 lead.

Oregon still had over a minute and a half remaining and quarterback Bo Nix led the Ducks to the Huskies 25-yard line with four seconds left. Unfortunately for the Ducks, Camden Lewis’ 43-yard field goal attempt missed wide right and Washington fans stormed the field.

Oregon won the remainder of its regular season schedule, beating 13th ranked Utah and 16th ranked Oregon State, before facing off against Washington again in the Pac-12 Championship Game with a berth into the College Football Playoff on the line.

However, the script was the same as the number five ranked Oregon Ducks lost to the number three ranked Washington Huskies 34-31.

Frustrated by losing to the same opponent twice by a combined six points and missing out on a College Football Playoff berth, the Ducks faced off against Liberty University in the Fiesta Bowl and won 45-6 to cap off the season.

Future Projection

Oregon enters its first Big Ten season looking to compete for a conference title and finish as one of the best teams in the nation in position to win a national championship. Along with the conference’s other “O” team, the Ohio State Buckeyes, Oregon expects to have an explosive offense. Pro Football Focus ranks Oregon’s receiving corps as the best in the nation, headlined by Tez Johnson and Texas A&M transfer Evan Stewart, the Ducks return four of their five leading receivers from last year.

The Ducks also have Pro Football Focus’ second-best returning quarterback in Oklahoma transfer Dillon Gabriel behind center. The sixth-year senior has almost 2,000 career dropbacks during his time at UCF and Oklahoma. He should fit right into offensive coordinator Will Stein’s offense, which relies on play-action. Pro Football Focus also gives Oregon a top five offensive line and a top 10 running back room.

According to CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli, the Ducks projected over/under on total wins is 10.5 and he leans to pick the over.

“The Ducks are uber-talented and will be favored in nearly every game,” Fornelli said.

Oregon doesn’t have an easy schedule, though, including home games against Ohio State and Washington and a road game at Michigan. Besides the October home game against Ohio State, the Ducks should be favored to win every regular season game. They can compete with the biggest programs in not only the Big Ten, but in all of college football.

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Oregon

Tale of the tape: Previewing Oregon’s Class 3A football state title game between Cascade Christian and Burns

Published

12 hours ago

November 28, 2025

Press Room

Tale of the tape: Previewing Oregon’s Class 3A football state title game between Cascade Christian and Burns

We’re at the final week of Oregon high school football and the Class 3A state tournament all comes down to No. 1 Cascade Christian (12-0) and No. 3 Burns (11-1).

Here is a breakdown of Saturday’s Class 3A state championship game, which will take place at 4:30 p.m. at Summit High School in Bend.

Last meeting: Burns won 46-19 in Week 3 of the 2014 season.

Quick fact: Cascade Christian is vying to become the first team to give up zero points en route to a state title since Regis won the Class A championship in 1973.

About Burns

Road to the final: Def. Phoenix 54-7 (first round), Vale 32-20 (quarterfinals), Banks 36-31 (semifinals)

Last state championship: 2024 (second)

Last state final: 2024 (fifth appearance)

Coach: Matt Bruck, third season (28-14)

Offensive leaders: QB Jack Wright, sr. (144-246-3-2445, 40 TDs pass; 88-491-12 rush); RB Tommy Winn, sr. (139-943-9); WR Coltin Miller, sr. (79-1505-21); WR Preston Hill, sr. (31-471-7); TE Cannon Kemper, jr. (19-342-8)

Defensive leaders: LB Jasper SkunkCap, jr. (73 tackles, 15 for loss); DL Joe Weil, sr. (68 tackles, 28 for loss, 11.5 sacks); LB Kemper (69 tackles, 10.5 for loss, 5.5 sacks); LB Colter Handley, soph. (56 tackles, 5 for loss); DL Ben Chamberlain, jr. (13 tackles for loss)

Lighthearted moment: Several weeks ago, the team played a game of “blob tag,” which requires teammates to remain attached by holding hands or interlocking arms, and as they tag players and attach them to the blob, it breaks off to form new blobs. Who started as the blob? Two of their biggest linemen — Weil and classmate Wesley Graham — trying to chase down their quicker teammates, which Bruck said was a funny sight.

Secret weapon: Weil also rated a mention as the leader of the Hilanders’ offensive and defensive lines.

“On the offensive side of the ball, they create gaps for Tommy and Jack to run through as well as protect Jack,” Challengers coach Jon Gettman said. “On defense, they just shut down a Banks team that had run the ball really well all season. They are a very physical, well-coached team that puts a lot of pressure on you.”

About Cascade Christian

Road to the final: Def. Pleasant Hill 68-0 (first round), North Valley 48-0 (quarterfinals), Gervais 36-0 (semifinals)

Last state championship: 2023 (fifth)

Last state final: 2023 (eighth appearance)

Coach: Jon Gettman, 16th season (155-32)

Offensive leaders: QB Deryk Farmer, sr. (89-147-4-1556, 16 TDs pass; 64-682-11 rush); RB Bryson Walker, jr. (89-986-27); WR Caleb Scaglione, sr. (38-563-7); WR Mikey Covey, soph. (11-353-2); WR Caleb Parker, sr. (15-335-3)

Defensive leaders: LB Covey (63 tackles, 14 for loss, 3.5 sacks, 11 hurries); LB Wyatt Hurley, jr. (59 tackles, 6 for loss); LB Walker (58 tackles); DE Alex Fiannaca, sr. (53 tackles, 11.5 for loss); LB Seth Scaglione, jr. (44 tackles, 10 for loss, 4.5 sacks); DE Austin Cook, jr. (9.5 tackles for loss)

Lighthearted moment: One night before the season kicked off, Gettman invited all the players and their fathers to gather for a night of worship and prayer along with a talk from guest speaker Brandon Boice, a former Oregon State player. It was such a success that Gettman held another session during their Week 7 bye.

“We spend so much time and effort on the gridiron,” Gettman said. “But the greatest blessing is seeing these young men grow up and be leaders in the community. So, taking a break from the season and just being able to speak to the weightier things of life is what I’m thankful for.”

Secret weapon: Bruck pointed to their big three of Farmer, Walker and Caleb Scaglione, “but everything has to run through their quarterback,” he said. “But really, you have to pay equal attention to their trio.”

— 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

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Oregon

Oregon State women can’t keep up with No. 17 Vanderbilt in second loss of season

Published

1 day ago

November 27, 2025

Press Room

Oregon State women can’t keep up with No. 17 Vanderbilt in second loss of season

Oregon State women’s basketball failed to keep pace with a dynamic offensive team Thursday night, as No. 17 Vanderbilt ran away from OSU, 88-66, in the Paradise Jam Tournament.

Playing their first game in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Beavers (5-2) struggled against a high-pressure Vanderbilt defense, committing 21 turnovers.

The Commodores (7-0) got a game-high 35 points from superstar sophomore Mikayla Blakes and a career-high 17 from Justin Pissott. OSU got 15 points apiece from Jenna Villa and Ally Schimel, and 14 from Lizzy Williamson.

OSU fell behind 8-0 early, facing intense defensive pressure from the Commodores. Blakes was a force from the opening whistle, scoring 21 first half points.

The Beavers trailed, 26-13, after one, as Vanderbilt hit five three-pointers in the opening quarter alone.

But aggressive offensive play from Villa and Schimel cut the Commodores’ lead down to two in the second quarter.

With 2:30 left in the first half, a three-pointer from Cloe Vecina gave OSU the lead, 33-32. But Vanderbilt finished the half strong and took a 43-38 lead at the break thanks to the relentless scoring of Blakes and Pissott.

Vanderbilt carried their strong shooting into the third quarter, going on a 7-0 run to get it to 50-38.

The full-court press started to wear OSU down in the third, and Blakes took full advantage with easy buckets in transition. The Commodores extended their lead to 58-42 midway through the period.

Vanderbilt kept its foot on the gas pedal and didn’t look back, as Scott Rueck’s team committed 11 turnovers in the third quarter alone, getting out-scored 30-9. The Commodores went on a 21-5 run and took a 73-47 lead into the fourth.

Next game: Oregon State (5-2) vs. Virginia Tech (5-2)

When: Saturday, Nov. 29
Time: 11:00 a.m. PT
Where: St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (Paradise Jam tournament)
Stream: ESPN+

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Oregon

Thousands of Americans advised to avoid outdoors in California, Oregon

Published

2 days ago

November 27, 2025

Press Room

Thousands of Americans advised to avoid outdoors in California, Oregon

Thousands of residents across parts of California and Oregon have been advised to stay indoors where possible on Thursday due to concerns over high levels of air pollution.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s AirNow map shows that areas including Cromberg, Portola, and Sattley in California, and La Pine in Oregon face “unhealthy” levels of air quality as on 03.10 a.m. ET on Thursday.

Why It Matters

Unhealthy levels of air pollution in the atmosphere can affect everyone, but vulnerable people, especially the elderly, children, and those with existing heart or lung conditions, can be particularly affected.

Exposure to poor air can lead to eye, throat, and nose irritation, coughing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath.

When pollution is in the “unhealthy” range, the EPA advises that sensitive groups avoid long or intense outdoor activities and consider moving or rescheduling them indoors. The EPA also recommends the remainder of the population to reduce long or intense activities, and to take more breaks during outdoor activities.

This is a developing story. More to follow.

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