The Oregon Ducks lost plenty of talent to the transfer portal in the offseason, but sometimes that is the price of success, especially in today's era of college football. That left talented players like quarterback Austin Novosad searching for a new home.
A former four-star recruit in the 2023 class, Novosad earned a last-minute offer from Oregon after Dante Moore flipped to UCLA. Novosad also flipped on signing day, signing with the Ducks over Baylor. He sat and developed as the backup with the Ducks as a freshman, completing 9-of-11 pass attempts in his first season.
However, after Moore transferred to Oregon, Novosad slipped to the third spot on the depth chart and saw fewer opportunities. He remained the third-string quarterback in 2024 and 2025
before opting to transfer, winding up at Bowling Green.
Novosad was the projected starter for Bowling Green for much of the offseason, having transferred in from an elite program and learning from the likes of Moore, Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel. However, Bowling Green head coach and 1995 Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George named Jay Kastanin the starter on Sunday.
NEWS: Bowling Green has named Assumption College transfer Jay Kastantin the starter at quarterback, coach Eddie George told ESPN. He'll debut for Bowling Green against Tarleton State. He had 3,658 career passing yards and 28 TDs at Assumption. pic.twitter.com/oN51D9M3M2
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 30, 2026
Kastanin, a Division II transfer from Assumption University, threw for 1,974 yards and 19 touchdowns last season and was named the Northeastern 10 conference's MVP in 2025.
Once again, Novosad will have to work as the backup. His decision to transfer to Bowling Green was a mild surprise, as many assumed he would join former Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein at Kentucky. Instead, he opted for a path that seemed to have the starting role within his grasp. Division II quarterback transfers, however, have made a ruckus recently, with Ole Miss' Trinidad Chambliss being a notable example. Novosad came up short in the offseason battle, so his future as a quarterback is firmly in question.
Former Oregon quarterbacks who have entered the transfer portal have been a mixed bag. Tyler Shough transferred from Oregon to Texas Tech, and later to Louisville, and now is the starting quarterback for the New Orleans Saints. However, Ty Thompson, another former top recruit for the Ducks, transferred and landed at Tulane, where he is currently a tight end.
It could be worth keeping an eye on Bowling Green this season to see if the former Oregon passer gets a shot to start this season.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon transfer Austin Novosad learns fate in Bowling Green QB battle
