Jordan James – Syndication Server

Handful of Ducks listed among ESPN’s Top 50 players in CFP

Six Oregon Ducks are named in ESPN’s list of the Top 50 College Football Playoff Players.

We are just a few days away from the first round of the College Football Playoff, and in less than two weeks the Oregon Ducks will hit the field in Pasadena, facing Ohio State or Tennessee in the Rose Bowl. The Ducks are the No. 1 seed in the bracket, which gives them the first-round bye to the Rose Bowl.

All 12 programs in the field are filled with talented players, but some players shine brighter than the rest. On Wednesday, ESPN published a list of the 50 best players in the 2024 College Football Playoff, and as the only undefeated team in the country, the Ducks had several representatives.

Three Oregon footballers are ranked in the 30s. At 37 is running back Jordan James, 36 is Matayo Uiagalelei, and 34 is Josh Conerly Jr. All three have been instrumental for the Ducks this season, and at the end of the regular season, they all seemed to be playing their best ball.

James, Uiagalelei, and Conerly weren’t the only Ducks named to ESPN’s list. Oregon had two players in the teens: wide receiver Tez Johnson at 15 and defensive lineman Derrick Harmon at 14. Harmon is a transfer from Michigan State and with 42 tackles and nine TFLs — five of which are sacks — he has dominated this season for Oregon.

Tez Johnson is one of the best receivers in the country, with 78 catches for 866 yards and 10 TDs this season. If he racks up 13 more catches, no Oregon pass-catcher will have caught more passes than Johnson.

At the very top of ESPN’s list is Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel. This is Gabriel’s sixth year in college and the Ducks are his third team. Gabriel has been good all six seasons he’s played in college, but he certainly seems to have saved his best for last. This season, Gabriel was a finalist for the O’Brien Trophy (given to college football’s best QB) and he is the leader of the Ducks’ team.

Gabriel became the NCAA’s all-time TD leader this season, and he’s closing in on the all-time passing TDs and passing yards records. the only player ESPN ranks better than Gabriel: Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.

Oregon still has a long stretch before their first College Football Playoff game since 2014, but their roster is talented enough to beat any team on any field. The games will come down to how well each team can execute.

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Oregon’s 3 Keys to Victory against the Washington Huskies

The three most important things for the Oregon Ducks to do against the Washington Huskies to ensure defeat.

It really feels like the college football season just began and the Oregon Ducks were struggling to seal the deal against Idaho. But the Ducks — and the rest of the college football world — have come a long way from early September, and Oregon has just one regular season game to go before an important postseason.

The Ducks’ Week 14 opponent doesn’t have a great record (6-5), but this week’s game still holds a lot of weight. Oregon is hosting the Washington Huskies — their top rival — who they haven’t beaten since 2021. Oregon Head Coach Dan Lanning has never won against Washington, so a win on Saturday would be a big milestone for him.

The Huskies have taken a major step down this year from their run to the National Championship game last season, but they’re skilled enough to challenge Oregon if the Ducks aren’t careful. Below are my three keys to an Oregon victory this Saturday.

Run the ball well

The only Big Ten team with a better pass defense than Ohio State is the Washington Huskies. Allowing just 160.5 passing yards per game, it’s not easy to pass on the Huskies. Oregon will be the best passing offense Washington has faced, but it will still be easier for the Ducks to get things done on the ground — which the Huskies are the fourth-worst Big Ten team at defending. I’d like to see Ducks’ RBs Jordan James and Noah Whittington combining for 20-25 carries on Saturday.

Pressure Will Rogers

Washington quarterback Will Rogers is one of the worst quarterbacks in the Big Ten when pressured by the opposing team, completing just over half of his pressured throws. The Ducks have prolific pass rushers in their front seven who will need to have a big game. If Oregon can get to Rogers early and often, it will be arduous for the Huskies to move the ball.

Prevent Big Plays

Oregon’s defense had been good all year at bending without breaking, and against the Huskies this week, preventing the big plays will be paramount. One of Will Rogers’ biggest strengths is his deep ball, and an easy way for Washington to stay in this game will be long-bomb TDs. If the Ducks can keep everything in front of them, and keep up their QB pressure, they’ll succeed in this game.

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Photo Gallery: Ducks sneak out of Camp Randall with a close win

Photo Gallery: Ducks weasel out of Camp Randall with a close win to keep their perfect season alive.

It certainly wasn’t drawn up this way, but no one can argue with the end result.

The Oregon Ducks football team strolled into Camp Randall Stadium and quickly found themselves in a dogfight with the Wisconsin Badgers. The game was tight throughout, but the Ducks made just enough plays to escape with a 16-13 victory, keeping their perfect season alive.

They’re now 11-0 on the year and are looking forward to a much-needed bye week after playing eight straight games without a break. Oregon doesn’t play until Nov. 30 when Washington comes calling to Autzen Stadium for the regular season finale.

Oregon can also heal up a bit before the playoffs as well. Tez Johnson, Jordan Burch and Marcus Harper II were all out for this Wisconsin matchup. No telling what the extra week of rest will do as there is no guarantee those injuries will heal up in time for Washington, but the bye week can only help those chances.

Here are the best photos from Oregon’s close victory at Wisconsin.

Jordan James’ angry running makes him the Ducks Wire Player of the Game

Oregon Ducks RB Jordan James’ angry running earns him the Ducks Wire Player of the Game against Wisconsin.

Things looked bleak for a while in the Oregon Ducks Week 12 matchup with the Wisconsin Badgers, but ultimately, the Ducks came out on top, winning 16-13. Oregon is now 11-0, but without running back Jordan James, the Ducks may not still be undefeated.

On a night when offense came at a premium for both teams, James was electric. The junior RB finished with 121 rushing yards on 25 carries (4.8 YPC), 25 receiving yards on two catches, and he scored the Ducks’ only touchdown. James also eclipsed 1,000 season rushing yards in Saturday’s game, the first time he’s done so in his career.

James was playing through an injury this Saturday, after after getting dinged up last week against Maryland. But even below full capacity, James was able to carry the Ducks to a win. James runs angry, and it makes him a powerful back. But as strong as he is, James is just as fast. That mix of skills has served him well throughout his career, and this week, an injury wasn’t enough to prevent James from playing like his typical self.

This game, and this win, can be boiled down to one drive. After Oregon was fortunate enough to hold Wisconsin to a field goal after a long third-quarter series, the Ducks started their march inside the 20-yard line — down 13-6 with an offense running on nothing. On that drive, James was given a much heavier dose of the football, and he finished the drive with 38 yards. His final touch was an 11-yard dash to the pylon which tied the game 13-13.

Oregon finished the game with 354 total yards, 146 of which came from James (41.2%). That’s a staggering statistic, but it still doesn’t encapsulate James’ full impact. Oregon’s offense struggled for so long because the ball wasn’t in James’ hands enough, and once Will Stein committed to James as the leader on offense, the Ducks instantly began to move the football. Without James’s impact, the Ducks would’ve lost.

The Ducks are looking forward to a much-needed bye week before their rivalry week matchup against Washington. After not looking great against Maryland, the Ducks looked flat and had a major scare. With some rest, Oregon will, hopefully, be better prepared for Washington and the pending postseason.

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3 keys to victory for the Oregon Ducks against Wisconsin

Three keys for the Oregon Ducks to beat the Wisconsin Badgers in Week 12 of the college football season.

The Oregon Ducks have two games left on their regular-season schedule, and the Ducks are in position to finish the 2024 season undefeated. The biggest road block between Oregon and their 12-0 aspirations is Wisconsin, its next opponent.

This Saturday afternoon, the Ducks will take on the Badgers in Camp Randall Stadium, one of the most hostile road environments in the Big Ten. The Badgers are 5-4 this season, but among the teams on Oregon’s 2024 schedule, Wisconsin is in the upper echelon.

Despite the tricky road environment, Oregon shouldn’t have much trouble with Wisconsin — as long as it executes. I’ve listed my three keys to a Ducks victory below, but the biggest thing for Oregon is each player doing his job with consistency. Under Dan Lanning, that’s something the Ducks seldom struggle with.

Run the ball

A big reason Wisconsin is 5-4 is its elite pass defense. Led by cornerback Ricardo Hallman, the Badgers are allowing just 158.9 passing yards per game — the third-fewest in the Big Ten. In contrast, Wisconsin has not done a good job slowing the run this season, allowing 164.6 yards per game on the ground — the second-most in the conference. Oregon has one of the top offenses in the country because it runs and passes well, but against Wisconsin, when they’ll be without star wide receiver Tez Johnson, running the ball should be a focus.

Front-seven solidity

Oregon’s defense had a poor performance against Maryland’s passing attack, last week, but this week, the defensive focus will need to be against the run. Wisconsin has a top five rushing offense in the Big Ten, but Oregon’s run defense has been good since the Boise State game. If the Ducks defenders, particularly the front seven, can do their jobs once again this week, Oregon will be in good shape defensively.

Win the turnover battle

This has been a key for Oregon all season when playing teams not quite up to there skill level. The easiest way to lose games like these is by giving the opponent extra possessions through turnovers. If Dillon Gabriel is smart with the football, as he’s been for much of the year, and the Ducks skill players are sure-handed, Oregon has nothing to worry about. And if the Ducks grab a takeaway or two themselves, that’s a ticket to victory.

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Oregon injury update for Week 12 game vs Wisconsin

The full Oregon injury update for the Week 12 game at the Wisconsin Badgers.

Considering it’s Week 12 of the college football season, Oregon’s injury report is very manageable and it shouldn’t affect the outcome of the game against Wisconsin one way or another.

Gary Bryant, Jr. and Dave Iuli are finally completely off the report, which is great news, but they’ve been replaced with Jordan Burch and Jordan James. But it looks like those two will be available to play on Saturday for the Ducks. They appear on the report because they’re a little banged up.

There’s also some encouraging news on Tez Johnson as well. It seems as if he’s healing quicker than most.

Here’s the complete report.

Oregon injury report

Tez Johnson — Shoulder — Out
Marcus Harper — Knee — Questionable
Matthew Bedford — Knee — Out
Jordan Burch — Ankle — Questionable
Jordan James — Unspecified — Questionable
Jahlil Florence — Leg — Out
Kyler Kasper — Leg — Out
Jack Ressler — Unspecified — Out
Fox Crader — Unspecified — Out
My’Keil Gardner — Foot — Doubtful
Dakoda Fields — Knee — Out

Tez Johnson injury update

Johnson was injured during the Michigan game on the first drive and he missed the majority of that game as well as the contest with Maryland. But the sling that he was wearing came off and although he’s out vs. Wisconsin, Oregon does have a bye week next. That would give Johnson almost four weeks to heal and it’s becoming more promising that he’ll be available on Senior Day against the Huskies Nov. 30.

Marcus Harper II injury update

Offensive lineman Marcus Harper II went down in the second half of the Michigan game holding his knee. He walked off the field, but he wasn’t able to return. Harper missed the Maryland contest, but it looks as if the minor tweak to his knee has mostly healed and he should be available on Saturday in Wisconsin injury update

Jordan James injury update

James just had seven carries for 29 yards, but he score an early touchdown. While his unspecified injury doesn’t seem to be serious, he’s still listed as questionable. Should James miss this week, the Ducks will go to Noah Whittington and Jaden Limar and not miss a beat.

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Broncos scouts are zeroing in on these college football teams

Broncos scouts have been paying close attention to Oregon and Washington games this fall. Here are the prospects to know from those schools.

Going into this weekend’s slate of college football games, the Denver Broncos have spent more time scouting the Oregon Ducks and Arizona Wildcats than any other college football programs.

That’s according to NFL draft pundit John Vogel, who reported last week that Denver scouts have attended three Oregon games and three Wildcats games this fall. Broncos general manager George Paton also attended the Washington Huskies game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in September.

The most notable prospect among the four colleges mentioned is Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, the top receiver in the 2025 class. The Wildcats’ offense also features offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea.

Oregon has a host of prospects who could interest Denver’s staff, including receivers Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart, offensive tackles Josh Conerly and Ajani Cornelius, defensive linemen Derrick Harmon and Jordan Burch, and running back Jordan James.

Washington’s prospects of note include running back Jonah Coleman, safety Kamren Fabiculanan and receiver Giles Jackson. Meanwhile, the Rutgers’ offense features offensive tackle Hollin Pierce and running back Kyle Monangai.

With Broncos scouts and executives checking in on those programs, the above players will be worth monitoring this fall. The 2025 NFl draft will be held in Green Bay from April 24-26. Denver holds seven picks.

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Noah Whittington’s re-emerging performance makes him the Ducks Wire Player of the Game

Oregon Ducks running back Noah Whittington re-emerged against Illinois, making him the Ducks Wire Player of the Game.

The Oregon Ducks took on a ranked opponent for the second time this season on Saturday afternoon, and they beat the Illinois Fighting Illini without leaving a doubt. Oregon took control early in the first half and didn’t loosen its grip — walking into halftime up 35-3. After a much slower second half, the Ducks won 38-9.

Oregon’s performance in this game defined a “team win.” On offense, defense, and special teams, every Duck did their job, despite a few mistakes. And while there was no standout performer, running back Noah Whittington is this week’s Ducks Wire Player of the Game.

It’s been a year and a month since Whittington’s devasting ACL tear against Colorado. It was a long road back for Whittington, and at times this season, he hasn’t looked as sharp as he did early in his Oregon career. But this Saturday, Whittington showed he is all the way back. He finished the day with seven carries for 56 yards (8 yards per carry) and a rushing touchdown. Whittington also caught two passes for 20 yards and a TD.

Whittington made the play of the day for the Ducks, scoring on an 18-yard rush in the second quarter. At the end of the run, he had one man to beat on the goal line, and instead of darting to the right or the left, Whittington went straight through the Illinois defender.

“When you get an opportunity to run through a man’s face, there’s nothing better than that,” Head Coach Dan Lanning said after the game.

In the past few seasons, Oregon has adopted a true two-back approach, with the Ducks top two RBs splitting carries. This season, the volume split has skewed towards Jordan James much more than Whittington, but this week Whittington proved he’s still an elite RB.

Next week, the Ducks take on Michigan, the defending national champions. The Wolverines haven’t been nearly as strong this season, but they’re still a good team, especially at home.

3 Keys to Victory for the No. 1 Oregon Ducks against No. 20 Illinois

The Oregon Ducks three keys against the Illinois Fighting Illini this Saturday.

The Oregon Ducks are just hours away from their first game as the AP No. 1 team since 2012, and won’t have an easy challenge in their first test as Kings of the Hill. The Illinois Fighting Illini are headed to Autzen Stadium as the No. 20 ranked team in the country, and although the Ducks are heavy favorites, this might not be an easy game.

Oregon comes into this game undefeated at 7-0 and Illinois is 6-1, with their only loss coming against Penn State. Last week, Illinois took down the reigning National Champion Michigan Wolverines, and they are fully in midseason form.

Below, are my three keys for Oregon this weekend to ensure victory. Obviously, many factors will contribute to the winner of this game, but if the Ducks do these things, they should be in a good spot to win.

Exploit the run game

Through eight weeks of the season, Illinois’ run defense has been poor. They rank third-to-last in the Big Ten in rushing yards allowed per game with 145.3, ahead of only Rutgers and Purdue. Jordan James has been one of the finest backs in college football this year, and since the Boise State game, Oregon’s O-line has been great. If James and the O-line can maintain their current level of play, the Ducks will be in good shape to win this game.

Take away Altmyer’s deep ball

In the Big Ten this season, no one has a higher adjusted completion percentage (completion rate with WR drops counted as completions) on deep balls than Illinois’ quarterback Luke Altmyer with 59.3%. The Ducks’ secondary has been playing its best football since the second half of the Ohio State game, and they’ll need to keep it up this week, especially against the long ball.

Win the turnover battle

In all three phases of the game, the Oregon Ducks outmatch the Illinois Fighting Illini by a good margin, so for the Fighting Illini to win this game, they’ll need to control the ball and — likely — generate a few extra possessions. If Oregon can protect the ball — and potentially generate a few takeaways of their own — they’ll be in control of the game.

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Jordan James earns Ducks Wire Player of the Game with stunning rushing performance

Jordan James was masterful against Michigan State on Friday night, with a career-high in rushing yards.

The Oregon Ducks picked a spectacular 31-10 win against the Michigan State Spartans on Friday night, but it certainly wasn’t mistake-free. Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel threw two goalline interceptions, and the Ducks secondary got beat deep a few times — although they weren’t punished.

But in a game where Oregon’s passing offense and over-the-top coverage were shaky, running back Jordan James stepped up and played a perfect game, leading the offensive unit for 60 minutes. James’s spectacular performance earns him the Ducks Wire Player of the Game.

James, a true junior from Tennessee, got going early against Michigan State, rushing for 41 yards on the first play of Oregon’s second drive of the game. It was Oregon’s longest rush of the season, but it was the first of many for James on Friday night. He finished the night with 24 carries, for 166 yards and a TD.

What makes James so good is his efficiency in running the ball. Last season, as the Ducks’ frequently-used backup RB, James averaged 7.1 yards per carry — the most in the Pac-12. This season, with much more volume, James is averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Tonight, he averaged 6.9.

James’ Week 6 performance brought some national attention to his talent, and he threw himself into the Doak Walker Award (given to the nation’s best RB) conversation. If not for Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, James may be at the top.

If James hadn’t played an inhuman game, the Player of the Game award certainly would’ve gone to Jordan Burch. The senior defensive end played by far his best game as a Duck, with 4 tackles and 2.5 sacks. And with the way he clogged up the run game, plus the constant pressure he put on MSU QB Aidan Chiles, Burch’s presence was felt plenty on the plays where he didn’t make the tackle.

The Oregon Ducks were glad to have the Jordans.