While putting together a top-5 recruiting class through the Early Signing Period for the 2025 cycle, Dan Lanning & Co. has also been hard at work getting an early start on the 2026 class.

Already, Oregon has landed 10 prospects in the 2026 recruiting class, including eight blue-chip recruits. This collection of high school football underclassmen is good for the No. 1 class in the 2026 On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

There are currently 15 recruits ranked as five-star prospects in the 2026 cycle, and one of them is committed to Oregon: Reidsville (N.C.) tight end Kendre Harrison. Harrison, the No. 1 tight end in America, pledged to the Ducks on Nov. 30.

“I love Coach (Dan) Lanning. I love the coaching staff. I just love the school,” Harrison said of why he committed to Oregon. “I love everything about Oregon. I know Lanning and Coach Drew (Mehringer) and all those wonderful coaches out there are gonna develop me on and off the field. And I’m gonna have fun on and off the field. That’s really the main things right there.”

Harrison is joined in the Ducks’ class by a whopping three top-50 prospects. Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei offensive tackle Kodi Greene is the No. 22 overall recruit in the cycle. Texarkana (Texas) Texas High running back Tradarian Ball ranks No. 42 and Scottsdale (Ariz.) Willamette defensive lineman Tony Cumberland is ranked No. 46 nationally.

Four additional blue-chips are committed to Oregon: Frankfort Heights (Ill.) Lincoln-Way East top-100 quarterback Jonas Williams, American Fork (Utah) Lone Peak DL Bott Mulitalo, Mater Dei DL Tomuhini Topui and Ventura (Calif.) linebacker Tristan Phillips.

Salt Lake City (Utah) Bingham DL Viliami Moala is a top-40 prospect at his position and Riverside (Calif.) St. John Bosco EDGE Dutch Horisk has been committed to Oregon since Aug. 17.

The Oregon Ducks beat the Maryland Terrapins, 83-79, in a thriller on Sunday afternoon. The Ducks trailed by as many as 13, but due to key contributions from star guards Jackson Shelstad and Keeshawn Barthelemy, the Ducks avoided falling to 1-3 in conference play and losing two straight games at home.

In the first half, it looked as though Oregon was going to get blown out for the second straight game. But with just under eight minutes left in the first half, Shelstad scored eight points in 69 seconds. That solo run brought the Ducks alive and into the game, allowing them to shrink Maryland’s lead to three at halftime.

The Ducks started the second half down 45-42, but they quicklywent on a 14-2 run, leading by nine with 15 minutes to in the game. At that point, it looked as though the Ducks might run away with the game, but the Terrapins stormed back, retaking the lead with nine minutes to go.

In the final 10 minutes of the game, neither team could pull away from the other, and with two minutes to go, the game was tied 76-76. Jus then, Barthelemy laced a clutch three-pointer to go ahead, and after that, Oregon several key stops to close out the win.

Oregon vs. Maryland Keys to the Game

• The Ducks would not have won this game if not for Jackson Shelstad. The sophomore guard was as productive and efficient as you can be, not missing a shot until nearly 30 minutes into the game. At one point, Maryland was face-guarding Shelstad at half-court without the ball in his hands.
• This truly was a game of momentum, the lead changed hands several times and both teams went on multiple massive runs. Without their big run to end the first half, or their 14-2 run to start the second half, the Ducks wouldn’t have come close in this game.
• Both teams shot the basketball very well on Sunday. Both finished over 45% from the field and over 40% from three. In a game dominated by offense like this, it’s only fitting that the result came down to defense.
• The Ducks defense was much improved from their horrendous showing on Thursday against Illinois, but it still had room for improvement. Down the stretch, Oregon tightened things up on defense, holding the Terrapins to making one of their final nine field goal attempts.

Oregon vs. Team B Players of the Game

Jackson Shelstad: 23 points, 8/10 FGs, 5/5 3Ps, 5 rebounds, 2 assists

Keeshawn Barthelemy: 14 points, 5/8 FGs, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 block

Nate Bittle: 16 points, 6/10 FGs, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal

Bam Tracey: 10 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal

KJ Evans: 10 points, 7 rebounds

Oregon vs. Maryland Notable Stats

• Oregon finished 52% from the field and 43% from three. The Terrapins shot 43% from deep as well, but after shooting over 50% from the field for most of the game, Maryland’s FG% fell to 47% in the final minutes.
• The Ducks made 13/15 free throws, and the Terrapins were just 14/19. Several of those Maryland misses came in the game’s final minutes
• The Ducks’ depth helped make the difference in this game. Their bench outscored Maryland’s 26-12.
• Oregon guards Jackson Shelstad and Keeshawn Barthelemy combined for 37 points on 72.2% shooting.

What’s Next for Oregon Ducks?

• Jan. 9 — at Ohio State Buckeyes
• Jan. 12 — at Penn State Nittany Lions
• Jan.  18 — vs. No. 20 Purdue Boilermakers
• Jan. 21 — vs. Washington Huskies
• Jan. 25 — at Minnesota Golden Gophers

After a two-game homestand to kick off the meat of Oregon’s conference schedule, the Ducks are going on the road for a pair of games against Big Ten opponents. After that, Oregon returns home for a Top 25 matchup and rivalry game against Washington.

The Big Ten Conference competitive nature has been a hard going for the Oregon Ducks thus far. The Illinois Fighting Illini came into Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene on Thursday for the first time, dropping 109-77 in the road victory. The first time any opponent has scored 100 or more since the arena opened back in 2011.

Oregon coach Dana Altman moves onto the next opponent in coach Kevin Willard’s Maryland Terrapins who are coming off a 75-69 loss at the Washington Huskies. Their first hike in the Pacific Northwest trip continues on for the new conference foe.

Maryland’s freshman center Derik Queen will be a lot for any of Oregon’s frontcourt to handle. At 6-10, 246-pounds, he has already made his presence known on the NBA Draft board. According to a recent prediction from On3, Queen is outside of the lottery but to be selected with the No. 17 pick for the San Antonio Spurs. No Ducks are on the radar.

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Through 14 games with the Terrapins, Queen is averaging 15.6 points per game, 8.2 rebounds per game, 2.0 assists per game, 1.3 steals per game, and 1.0 blocks per game.

“Very good low-post scorer with advanced/nimble footwork and use of fakes. Calls for the ball and goes to work quickly, commands double-teams at this level. Uses his body well to carve out space, understands positioning and sealing his man better than almost any prospect you’ll see at this age. Good baseline spin that can end with a drop-step jam.”

– NBADraft.net on Maryland’s Derik Queen

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Oregon’s Nate Bittle will have his hands full down at the low post against Queen. Bittle leads the Ducks with 13.2 points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game, and 1.8 blocks per game. Georgetown Hoyas transfer Supreme Cook can help down low, putting in 20 points on 8-11 field goals off the bench against Illinois earlier this week.

According to oddsmakers across the major sportsbooks, the Ducks are favored to win against Maryland. The spread is currently four points in favor of Oregon, and the over/under points total is set at 150.

Maryland (11-3, 1-2) is in Eugene to try to knock off the No. 9 Oregon Ducks (12-2, 1-2) on Peacock at 1 p.m. PT. A victory for Altman and his team could potentially keep them within the top-10 of the AP Poll on Monday morning and move them up the March Madness seeding.

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