25 thoughts for Oregon Ducks football and beyond in 2025

For the past two months, I’ve been on a handful of radio shows, podcasts — and my old publication — trying to tell you all what’s about to happen.

How many wins will the No. 7 Ducks have? I’ve said anywhere between nine and 11.

How will Dante Moore be? Great, as long as he does the simple things well.

Have the Ducks gotten over the Rose Bowl? That was a long time ago.

It fills a content hole during the summer for an audience that senses football on the horizon. But I’ll let you in on a little secret: I have no idea what’s about to happen. And I’m not alone.

The experts don’t know. The fans don’t know. Heck, the coaches might have an idea, but they’re not about to gain employment as psychics any time soon.

Yes, college sports have drastically changed in recent years. Many of those changes haven’t been applauded. But if there’s one thing that keeps pulling us in game after game, year after year, it’s the surprises, the drama and the unknown.

And boy, we do not know much about this Oregon football team. It’s the least we’ve known about an Oregon team since Dan Lanning’s first season at the helm in 2022.

We know Lanning can win football games. His 85% winning percentage in three seasons is 1 percentage point behind Chip Kelly for best in program history. But can Lanning win football games with an inexperienced quarterback? Can the Ducks still be one of the most dangerous offenses in the country without a Troy Franklin or Tez Johnson in the receivers’ room? Can Bryce Boettcher play himself into the NFL draft?

1. Can the Ducks somehow be better in 2025 than they were in 2024?

Maybe. We don’t know. But I can’t wait to find out.

That’s my first of 25 thoughts as we embark on the 2025 college football season:

2. Hughes’ told-you-so season

Oregon’s last two starting running backs are playing on Sundays, and I don’t expect the backfield to take a step back. Noah Whittington returns, Da’Jaun Riggs is in shape and Makhi Hughes may very well be one of the best backs in the country. Hughes is coming off consecutive 1,000-plus-yard seasons at Tulane, has a punishing frame at 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds and still carries a bit of a chip on his shoulder.

Back at Huffman High School in Birmingham, Alabama, Hughes’ coach could barely get any of the in-state schools to take a look at the local product.

“The thing about Makhi is his intangibles are off the chart and they show up,” said Hughes’ high school coach, Bill Smith. “And I want to tell Auburn, Alabama and all the other SEC schools that I reached out to, ‘I told you so.’”

3. Enjoy Will Stein’s final year*

Consider this: Oregon’s offensive coordinator has coached two quarterbacks who are in the NFL right now, was the offensive coordinator of a team that spent half the season as the No. 1 team in the country, and is doing all of this for the Oregon Ducks.

When the Ducks were good and Scott Frost was the offensive coordinator, he wasn’t the offensive coordinator for long.

When the Ducks were good and Mark Helfrich was the offensive coordinator, he wasn’t the offensive coordinator for long.

In two years with Oregon, Stein engineered offenses that finished second (2023) and 21st (2024) nationally in total offense. If he can do the same in 2025 — without the services of a Bo Nix or Dillon Gabriel — the 35-year-old Stein will become the second coach from the Lanning era to earn his own team.

*Again, we know nothing.

4. The games when you’ll be at that inconsiderate friend’s fall Saturday wedding:

• Northwestern, Rutgers, Minnesota

5. The games where you’ll at least need your phone on you:

• Montana State, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Iowa, Wisconsin

6. What wedding?

• Penn State, Indiana, USC, Washington

7. 10 years later

When the Oregon Ducks made the playoffs in 2014, the next year their team was good enough to return — if it wasn’t for the injury to quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.

The Oregon Ducks made the playoffs in 2024. What’s Oregon’s biggest question in 2025 again? Like 2015, it’s the quarterbacks.

8. Dante vs. expectations

I can’t remember the last time an Oregon quarterback who wasn’t a direct transfer came into a season with this much hype. Teammates weren’t saying Tyler Shough was going to win the Heisman, you know? Dante Moore has a five-star pedigree. He has a handful of starts under his belt. He’s written a children’s book and is now seen in national Beats headphones ads.

He’s supposed to be good.

But what will that look like on the field when the last two guys to play the position at Autzen actually made December trips to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony? Moore could very well end up being a fantastic quarterback for Oregon — just remember, the last two were, too.

9. More Moore

Dante isn’t the only Moore with massive expectations in 2025. Yes, receiver Dakorien Moore is a true freshman. Yes, he’s only 5-foot-11 and 182 pounds. And no, I don’t think he’s going to come out of the gates and replicate the exact season Jeremiah Smith had at Ohio State last year as a true freshman.

But with Tez Johnson, Traeshon Holden and Terrance Ferguson playing in the NFL, and Evan Stewart out with a knee injury, there are 219 catches up for grabs that departed from last year’s roster. From spring camp, Moore has been stating his case for a large chunk.

10. Teitum’s turn

A quick run through the Oregon defense brings up names such as Matayo Uiagalelei, Bear Alexander and Dillon Thieneman. A name that often gets overlooked? Junior outside linebacker Teitum Tuioti, who’s compiled 11.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks over the last two seasons.

Tuioti doesn’t seem bothered by his under-the-radar status.

“Obviously, I want to be successful in my own ways, but at the end of the day, it’s not about me. It’s about the team,” Tuioti said. “It’s about helping these younger cats out, the guys I know that are going to make plays in Autzen.”

11. Lanning’s climbing the ladder

All-time wins at Oregon:

1. Mike Bellotti: 171
2. Rich Brooks: 91
3. Len Casanova: 82
4. Chip Kelly: 46
5. Mark Helfrich: 37
6. Mario Cristobal: 35
7. Dan Lanning: 35

By Sunday, Lanning should have more wins than Cristobal in six fewer games coached at Oregon. By the end of the season, Lanning could very well crack his way into Oregon’s top-five winningest coaches — passing Chip Kelly in the process.

12. Oregon hoops’ fast start

Moving over to the hardwood for a minute, what matters for the Oregon men’s basketball team will ultimately come in 2026. But with stars Nate Bittle and Jackson Shelstad returning, I have a feeling that the nonconference slate, such as Oregon’s appearance at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, is going to be must-watch.

13. Graves’ golden pickup

There are plenty of expectations, too, for Kelly Graves’ women’s team, which is coming off a second-round NCAA Tournament appearance in March. The most intriguing addition for the Ducks? It’s not an addition; it’s the return of Elisa Mevius, a 19-game starter in 2024-25 who missed the end of the season with a broken hand. Fun fact: Mevius picked up some hardware during the 2024 Olympics by winning a gold medal for Germany in 3×3 basketball.

14. Clean sheets

I’ve said I don’t know what’s going to happen in the football season. I really don’t know what’s going to happen in the women’s soccer season. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my two years covering the Timbers up in Portland, it’s that coaches will take shutouts any day of the week.

Through four games, first-year coach Tracy Joyner’s Ducks have posted three clean sheets in getting out to a 2-1-1 start. That’s a solid foundation to build upon.

15. True freshmen to watch

A favorite adage of Lanning’s: “If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.”

And in the case of Oregon’s true freshmen, it’s not just Dakorien Moore who is making his play for snaps this fall.

“It’s a group that’s gotten a lot of opportunities,” Lanning said of the freshmen. “The way we practice, what we do, it gives those guys an opportunity to get involved and get on the field if they know their job.”

In addition to Moore, keep an eye on defensive backs Na’eem Offord and Brandon Finney Jr., along with running backs Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr.

16. A hater’s guide to Montana State

The Ducks open up on Saturday against Football Championship Series powerhouse Montana State. And instead of doing a deep dive on the Bobcats’ depth chart, I’ll instead share a photo of how we previewed MSU back at the University of Montana school paper 15 years ago.

(Editor’s note: Montana State beat Montana 21-16)

17. A lover’s guide to Montana State

OK, OK. Want something to like about Montana State? Well, the Bobcats do have deep roots with one of Eugene’s favorite families.

Mark Herbert’s freshman-year team photo:

Mitchell Herbert’s senior-year team photo:

Thankfully for Oregon, Justin and Patrick decided to buck the trend their dad and brother set and stayed home for college.

18. The #ProDuck to watch in the NFL this season

Bo Nix threw 29 touchdowns to 12 interceptions while passing for 3,775 yards as a rookie in Denver. By the end of his second season, I think he’ll be the best former Oregon quarterback in the NFL.

19. The #ProDuck to watch in the CFL this season

OK, so the Canadian Football League is already in its stretch run.

But…

In his 10th season of professional football, Vernon Adams Jr., 32, has quarterbacked Calgary to a 7-3 record — including a three-touchdown performance over the weekend to lead the Stampeders to an upset of top-ranked Saskatchewan.

And for bonus points: Adams’ quarterback coach in Calgary is none other than one-time Oregon quarterback, 31-year-old Dakota Prukop.

20. Sappington becomes one to remember

Most Oregon kickers are remembered for the kicks they didn’t hit — Camden Lewis, Adam Stack and Alejandro Maldonado can attest to that.

However, I think this is the year that Atticus Sappington joins Aidan Schneider in the pantheon of: “Hey, I have good memories about that guy!”

Sappington already turned heads this fall by drilling a 60-yarder in practice and comes into his senior year fresh off an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection for hitting 14 of 16 kicks as a junior.

His longest in 2024 was 42 yards. But with a team that could be playing a lot more close games in 2025, I think Sappington’s leg — and legacy — will have room to stretch.

21. More than a hurdle

In 2024, the nation learned about Kenyon Sadiq because of the hurdle against Penn State.

In 2025, the nation will continue to hear about Kenyon Sadiq — but as the best tight end in college football who will find his way into the first round of the 2026 NFL draft.

22. Are we worried about Oregon State?

The Beavers could be better in 2025 with transfer Maalik Murphy at quarterback. But, no.

23. Are we worried about Washington?

Lanning didn’t just get the monkey off his back in 2024; he had Boettcher smash it with a baseball bat. While Washington gets its shot for revenge in Seattle this year, I just don’t think the Huskies have the talent yet to make up the difference from a dismal 6-7 first season under Jedd Fisch that ended with a Sun Bowl loss to Louisville.

24. Offensive MVP: The offensive line

I thought about putting Hughes here. I also think the Ducks will go only as far as Dante Moore can take them at quarterback. But Oregon’s offensive line was good in 2024 — so much so that it was named a Joe Moore Award finalist as one of the best in the nation — and I think it will be even better in 2025.

Iapani Laloulu is one of the best returning centers in football. Matthew Bedford is healthy. And the Ducks brought in a host of talent through the portal.

Hughes and Moore are going to draw the headlines, but their success will be powered by the horses in front of them.

25. Defensive MVP: Matayo Uiagalelei

Maybe this is selfish because I want to see what sort of suit Uiagalelei will sport on the awards circuit tour, but Oregon’s junior edge rusher is going to be a monster in 2025. His 10.5 sacks from a year ago make him the Big Ten’s top-returning sack getter, and the balance of Oregon’s defense creates a “pick your poison” scenario if a team wants to focus on the 6-foot-5, 272-pounder.

Bonus: Lookout!

As I said in my introductory column, I’m so excited to cover this season for Lookout Eugene-Springfield. Like the Ducks, we understand the opportunity in front of us and we can’t wait to tell you all the stories of the 2025 season.

Thanks for reading along. We’ll see you out there on Saturday.