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I’ll start by saying: I would rather be writing this week’s newsletter from Omaha.

Had the Ducks beat Texas last weekend, Oregon would be competing this weekend at the College World Series — one of the few events left on my college sportswriter bucket list.

I’ve done the football national championship game. I’ve been to the Final Four. But like the Ducks, I’ll have to wait another year to experience the launching pad that is Charles Schwab Field — and see what those steaks are really all about.

Alas.

However, I have also never been to a World Cup.

And that changes next week.

No, jumping from baseball to soccer isn’t a natural transition. And it’s especially shocking for someone like me, who barely followed the sport the last time the World Cup came around.

But I caught the soccer bug two years ago when I started covering the Portland Timbers on my site, The I-5 Corridor.

The games take 90 minutes. There are no commercial breaks. And I knew something was happening to me when I started to actually appreciate a good draw.

I’m afraid there’s no coming back from that, which is why, just before I was hired here at Lookout, I started on my credential request for this year’s Cup, which is being held in North America — including Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., here in the Northwest.

Apparently, my bona fides as a football writer translated well enough to be seen as a different kind of football writer: My credentials were approved and I’ll be in the press box for a handful of games over the next month — including next Friday’s match between the U.S. and Australia.

I’ll be writing over on The I-5 Corridor, but select stories from my coverage of the Cup will be running here at Lookout as well. Don’t expect a lot of tactical analysis or discussion on formations. Do expect the wide-eyed observations of a new soccer fanatic with behind-the-scenes access to the biggest tournament in the world.

But before taking to the pitch — that’s an advanced word us soccer aficionados use for “field” — let’s check in on the final week of the 2025-26 UO athletic season.

On the run

Oregon Ducks’ Simeon Birnbaum’s run in the 1500-meter prelims on Wednesday, June 10, easily advanced him to the finals of the NCAA Track and Field Championships underway at Hayward Field in Eugene. Credit: NCAA Photos via Getty Images / Isaac Wasserman

In the final event of the 2025-26 NCAA calendar, the track and field nationals are off to a roaring start at Hayward Field. 

One day in and we’ve already seen a world record: Auburn’s Ja’Kobe Tharp clocked a 12.75 in the preliminary round of the 110-meter hurdles, taking 0.05 seconds off the previous record, set 14 years ago by Aries Merritt. 

Tharp, a junior, ran his previous best time of 13.01 last August at the U.S. championships, also at Hayward. 

It was a run that set the table for an exciting week in Eugene, where Oregon 1500-meter ace Simeon Birnbaum is expected to highlight. 

Birnbaum easily advanced to Friday’s final during Wednesday’s preliminary run. 

“I’m not going to lie. I kind of just kind of got bored today,” he said of his early move. “I just wanted to get it over with and move on. Wanted to get to the front, not thinking anymore. I just want to not think and push my body. Like, I look forward to hurting.”

Our Sarah Lorge Butler has the full preview of what to watch for this week.

Diamond blues

Oregon third baseman Drew Smith (Tyson Alger photo)

For the third time in the last four years, the Oregon baseball team’s season came to an end in the super regional round.

And just because the Ducks are used to it doesn’t make the loss any easier to digest.

“We are by and large a homegrown product. We are not a transfer portal school,” Oregon coach Mark Wasikowski said. “It’s probably why they’re very emotional. It’s because they’ve been in this program, and their blood, sweat and tears have been in this program. “When you’re that invested, it’s harder.”

With the way things are headed in college baseball, it appears that Oregon’s goal of ending the season one day in Omaha is only getting more difficult.

Duck of the week

Drew Smith, Baseball

Drew Smith of the Oregon Ducks hits a home run during the NCAA Baseball Super Regional Championship at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, June 6, 2026. Credit: Spencer Gnauck

No, the Oregon Ducks did not advance to the College World Series. But Oregon’s super regional loss to Texas wasn’t without a standout performance by Drew Smith. Playing in his final games for the Ducks, Smith finished the two games in Austin with two doubles, a home run, two runs scored, three RBIs and a trio of walks.

camera roll

The biggest upset of the Austin Super Regional? Two games and no brisket provided in the press box.
Seemed like a fitting place to wait for my Uber next to the stadium after Oregon’s season ended.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I look forward to making other people hurt more, though.” 
— Oregon runner Simeon Birnbaum

UPCOMING GAMES

  • NCAA Track & Field Nationals • Thursday – Saturday • Hayward Field

STORIES I’m WORKING ON

Don’t worry, it’s not all soccer. Next week, we’re going to take a look back at the memorable moments and performances from the 2025-26 Oregon Ducks school year.

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Do you have story ideas or tips? Send them my way — tyson@lookoutlocal.com.

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Lookout world,

Tyson

Tyson Alger covered the Ducks for The Oregonian and The Athletic before branching out on his own to create and run The I-5 Corridor. He brings more than a decade of experience on the University of Oregon sports beat. He has covered everything from Marcus Mariota’s Heisman Trophy-winning season to the Ducks’ first year in the Big 10.