Ted Talk: Three Bold Predictions for Oregon Football

If you had asked folks in Big Ten country last season about Oregon’s chances in their first year in the league, plenty would’ve scoffed at the idea of the Ducks running the table and claiming a conference title. But that’s exactly what happened.

So what bold predictions are swirling around in my mind this time? Let’s take a dive into the bold side of Ted’s brain.

Oregon will FLIP Zion Elee near Signing Day

There’s a growing trend of elite football talent from Maryland making the coast-to-coast journey to play their college ball in Eugene. Oregon has landed On3’s top-rated player from the state in back-to-back cycles: Ify Obidegwu in the 2024 class and Brandon Finney in 2025.

Now, attention shifts to the 2026 cycle, which features two standout prospects from the Baltimore area with strong ties to Oregon. Five-star offensive tackle Immanuel Iheanacho recently wrapped up a West Coast visit, calling it “saving the best for last.” Momentum continues to build around the idea that he could commit to the Ducks—possibly sooner rather than later.

And then there is the main subject of this particular prediction, five-star EDGE Zion Elee. Before committing to Maryland in December 2024, Oregon was firmly in the mix—arguably even the frontrunner in his recruitment. Several factors could still lead to a signature Dan Lanning flip closer to signing day.

The first is the personal connection: Elee plays at St. Frances Academy, the same high school that current Duck defensive back Ify Obidegwu played at during his high school days. Second, Maryland is coming off a disappointing season, managing just one win in Big Ten play. With little optimism for improvement in the upcoming season, head coach Mike Locksley could find himself on the hot seat. If a coaching change occurs, Elee could reopen his recruitment—and you can bet Dan Lanning would be among the first to reach out.

Ducks will not have a Regular Season 1,000 yard rusher

Throughout Oregon’s time in the college football spotlight—and even before—the Ducks have earned a reputation for producing elite running backs. In fact, 17 of the past 20 seasons have featured a 1,000-yard rusher lighting up the turf at Autzen Stadium. But in 2025, the backfield might be defined more by depth and balance than a single workhorse.

The headline addition is Makhi Hughes, a transfer from Tulane who racked up 2,779 yards over the past two seasons with the Green Wave. Though he played the bell-cow role in New Orleans, he joins a loaded backfield under running backs coach Ra’Shaad Samples.

One key returner is Noah Whittington, a reliable and explosive runner when healthy. If he can stay on the field, the combination of his experience, health, and hunger could lead to his most productive season yet in an Oregon uniform.

Then there’s Da’Jaun Riggs, who earned significant praise throughout spring ball. If the reports are accurate, it may be difficult to keep him off the field entirely. With Hughes, Whittington, and Riggs all vying for touches, the Ducks could produce big numbers from multiple backs—sharing the load while keeping legs fresh.

A parallel can be drawn to last year’s national champion, Ohio State. Despite Quinshon Judkins rushing for 2,725 yards over his first two years at Ole Miss, he transferred into a crowded Buckeye backfield led by TreVeyon Henderson—and ended up finishing the regular season with under 1,000 yards.

For Oregon, the committee approach could pay dividends. Expect Whittington and Hughes to form a dynamic 1-2 punch, with each potentially eclipsing 800 rushing yards. Riggs could add another 300 to 400 yards of his own, giving the Ducks a trio of productive weapons in the run game.

That depth will be crucial. Offensive coordinator Will Stein can’t lean on the quarterback run game the way he did with Bo Nix or even Dillon Gabriel. Dante Moore is a talented passer but doesn’t bring the same mobility, meaning Oregon’s running backs will shoulder a larger share of the offensive load.

Dan Lanning will be Big Ten Coach of the Year

Many national college football pundits already recognize Dan Lanning as a Top 10 coach, with some even placing him among the five best in the sport. But the 2025 season could be the one that takes Dan the Man’s reputation to an entirely new level.

In recent years, the Big Ten Coach of the Year award has often gone to leaders who’ve engineered dramatic “worst to first” turnarounds. But in 2025, it doesn’t look like coaches such as Barry Odom, Mike Locksley, or Luke Fickell are on track to pull off that kind of transformation.

Oregon, meanwhile, enters the season with a young and relatively inexperienced roster—but one loaded with talent. This is the first time we’ll see a true majority of “Dan’s guys” take the field, and it’s not just a proving ground for the players. It’s also a pivotal season for the coaching staff to show they can develop and maximize the potential of the roster.

If Lanning can guide this youthful Oregon team to 11 or more wins—especially in the gauntlet of the Big Ten—it could be more than enough to earn him recognition as the conference’s top coach and one of the premier developers of talent in all of college football.