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Autzen Audibles: How Deep Is Oregon’s Offense? Position Battles and Roster Depth Heading Into 2026

·1 hr 18 min·1 clip

Bo Nix's year-two explosion to 45 TDs and 3 INTs with 77.3% completion shows what Dante Moore could achieve in 2026.

This episode of Autzen Audibles analyzes the offensive roster for the Oregon Ducks heading into the 2026 season. Hosts Eric Skopel and John Evans, both analysts for DuckTerritory, assess each position group's strengths and depth. They focus on how returning talent and new additions shape the team's championship potential. Quarterback Dante Moore is the central figure after a 2025 season where he threw for over 3,500 yards and 30 touchdowns. The hosts compare his first-year starter stats at Oregon—71.8% completion, 10 interceptions—to Bo Nix's 2022 season, noting they were nearly identical. Moore's PFF grade ranked sixth nationally, but his performances in the biggest games, particularly two losses to Indiana with grades in the 40s, highlight an area for growth. The expectation is for Moore to make a Bo Nix-like leap in his second year under coordinator Drew Mehringer. The backup situation features Dylan Raiola, who can only play four games to preserve a redshirt, and Brock Thomas. The running back room is considered elite, returning sophomores Jordan Davidson and De'Aaron Hill. Davidson scored 15 touchdowns and, alongside Hill, tied for the eighth-best PFF run grade nationally among backs with at least 61 carries. Noah Whittington, now departed, was a key veteran and the team's leading rusher. The hosts see a need for Hill to develop as a pass protector and for the group to become more involved in the passing game. Freshman Treyvion Ball is highlighted as a dynamic newcomer who could contribute immediately. At receiver, De'Corey Moore is projected for a breakout season after leading the team in receiving before a mid-year knee injury. Jeremiah McClellan emerged as a reliable target with 557 yards and three touchdowns. The return of Evan Stewart from a missed season adds a major variable, with hopes he regains his prior form. The room is exceptionally deep with talents like Gatlin Bair, Jalen Lott, and slot transfer Iverson Hooks, who had a top-ten PFF grade nationally at UAB. The collective speed is a defining trait, with multiple players possessing sub-10.4 100-meter speed. A surprising insight is that Oregon's top two running backs, Hill and Davidson, had a better yards-per-carry average than yards-per-reception average in 2025. The hosts argue Oregon's running back group, with three players in the top 25 of PFF grades, was arguably the best in the country, not just the Big Ten. They express cautious optimism about Evan Stewart, hoping his situation doesn't mirror former cornerback Jalil Florence's injury-impacted career arc. The discussion reveals that despite the receiver room's immense talent, only two returning players—Moore and McClellan—had significant statistical production last season. The hosts note a lack of height variance among the top receivers, with most between 5'11" and 6'1", and stress the need for the group to develop the physicality shown by Indiana's receivers. They project a first-string lineup of Moore, Hooks, and McClellan, with Stewart, Lott, and Bair on the second unit. The tone is analytical and forward-looking, blending statistical review with roster projection. The style is conversational between knowledgeable insiders, focused on evaluating talent and identifying pathways to a national title. This episode is perfect for Oregon football die-hards who crave detailed position breakdowns and NFL draft prospect evaluation. Listeners who prefer game recap narratives or broader college football topics might find it too granular and roster-focused.

As heard by us

A grounded depth-chart check that turns Oregon's offense into a real roster conversation.

This Oregon offseason note treats the offense as a roster and depth-chart puzzle, with Dante Moore at the center and the receiver room, tight ends, and trenches all pulling the conversation in different directions.

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Why you'd press play

Use this when you want a clear-eyed Oregon offense depth check before spring football starts.

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