The Oregon Ducks appear to be back in business. After a massive win over the Ohio State Buckeyes on the road, the Ducks' season appears to be back on schedule, relatively speaking, and there's a decent chance that they can make the postseason, either through an at-large bid or a guaranteed spot through the Big Ten Title Game route.
None of that is possible if they don't win the remainder of games on their schedule, though, and they face one of the best defenses on their schedule this week with the Michigan Wolverines coming to town. While Michigan's offense has been putrid over the last few weeks, they have a change at offensive coordinator and have yet to allow more than 21 points in a single game this year.
However, the Ducks' offense has been
clicking as of late, and there should be some real optimism that they can find success once again, this time at home in front of an excited Autzen crowd.
So, what does Saturday have in store? That's a tough question to answer.
To preview the game, we go through our weekly roundtable with the writers from Ducks Wire to offer our opinions and predictions for what's to come. Here is our roundtable conversation.
Ohio State Rewind
Question: Well, I don't think many people saw THAT coming. Oregon went into the Horseshoe, fell behind 14-0, and proceeded to score 38 unanswered points in a 41-28 win over Ohio State. What was the most impressive part of that performance, and has it changed your outlook on what this team can accomplish this season?
Zachary Neel: I think it was the way in which we saw the offense operate. It wasn't a persistent ground attack, or chunk play after chunk play through the air, but instead a heavy dose of the intermediate passing game, picking up 10-15 yards at a time through the air. The Ducks were very good on 3rd and long, which was good to see, and the offense in general seemed to flow much better than we've seen all year.
Don Smalley: Let's face it, earlier in the year, down 14-0 on the road at Ohio State, that game would have been over. But instead of giving up, the Ducks came together and ran off one of the most impressive offensive performances I've seen in a long time. Teams, even the great teams, don't go into the horseshoe and score 38 straight points. Oregon's resiliency was the most impressive thing in that game. A successful fake punt didn't hurt either. If that didn't work, Lanning would have been called a complete moron, and a lot more people would be calling for his job. Thankfully, it worked. Fired up the team, and now Lanning is a genius.
Bjorn Bergstrom: For the second straight week, it was not having any quit after falling behind by two scores early. Last week, the Ducks didn’t fold in that spot, an anomaly from the first two months of the season. But they proved that their mental and physical resiliency is becoming a trend and something that Oregon can rely on when things get tough.
Logan Brown: I was really impressed by the offensive line’s performance, not only keeping Dylan Raiola clean, but executing in the run game in the second half. The Ducks had a ton of push and were able to get linemen out in space to block downfield as well. That is a far cry from where the unit was earlier in the season, and if the Ducks can continue to run the ball down the stretch, they can certainly go on a run.
Offensive Turnaround
Question: Just a few weeks ago, Oregon's offense looked completely lost, and Drew Mehringer was fired as offensive coordinator. Now, with Jay Johnson calling plays and Dylan Raiola under center, the Ducks have scored 75 points over their last two games. How much of this turnaround do you attribute to Johnson, how much to Raiola, and how confident are you that it will continue?
Zachary Neel: I give a little bit more of the credit to Johnson than I do Raiola, because we still have seen a number of balls put into jeopardy from No. 8, but he's been lucky with the defense failing to capitalize. More importantly, though, I give a lot of the credit to the offensive line, which has played incredibly well over the last two games, not giving up a single sack since the loss to Illinois.
Don Smalley: I think it's 50/50. Raiola has been very good, but the offensive line has been great. They've protected him, let him throw downfield. That touchdown to Dakorian Moore was a prominent example of that.
Bjorn Bergstrom: A lot of it’s Johnson, who’s taken the reins and clearly instilled confidence in his players to go out and make plays. While he’s a part of putting the players in position to make plays, Raiola is the connector, and he’s doing an awfully good job of hearing what the objective of the play is and doing his part so the skill players can do their job as well. I would say that we’ll find out if it can continue once we hit some rough patches, but the first quarter of each game was a rough patch, and the Ducks offense emerged. So, I’m pretty confident this is real.
Logan Brown: Jay Johnson was pretty masterful against Ohio State. There were countless times when he set up the defense with a certain look and came back to it later with a wrinkle that led to a big play. He correctly diagnosed Ohio State’s heavy blitzes on third down and used the screen game to his advantage. It’s little things like that which will take the Ducks where they want to go. Raiola has played better, but some of his decisions under pressure and his footwork are very concerning. He should continue to play at a high level, but I do fear his flirting with trouble will eventually catch up to him.
A Dominant Defense
Question: Let's show the defense some love. After giving up 14 points in the first quarter, Oregon completely shut down Ohio State for the next two quarters, allowing just 39 total yards. Who or what deserves the most credit for that defensive turnaround, and what does it tell you about this unit going forward?
Zachary Neel: Chris Hampton is starting to get the flowers that he deserves, but I want to shout out the linebackers on this team. There were some questions about that unit going into the year, and so far, they have improved greatly from Week 1 and turned into one of the best positions on the defense. The cornerbacks have also been very good, and they did a superb job of stopping Jeremiah Smith this past weekend.
Don Smalley: I don't think Chris Hampton is getting as much praise as he deserves. The defense has improved a lot this year. They are aggressive when they need to be and fall back when the time comes.
Bjorn Bergstrom: For the first time in two seasons, the Ducks’ front seven finally seems to be getting consistent pressure on the quarterback. Last season, the secondary was so good that blitzes weren’t really needed. But with the secondary struggling a bit in 2026, Chris Hampton had to turn up the pressure notch a bit, and it worked out tremendously. The Ducks were flying around in Columbus, turning up the heat on Luke Fahey and making him see ghosts. This unit, like the offense, is for real.
Logan Brown: I don’t think any one coach or player deserves more credit than the other. I think the Ducks have just come together and played well off each other. The pass rush has taken care of business, and the secondary has done enough to hold down explosive passing attacks in recent weeks. Oregon isn’t hurting itself with many missed tackles, and while there is still a weakness or two that teams can expose, the Ducks have been timely with their calls on critical downs. They will miss Teitum Tuioti moving forward, but I think the defensive prowess is sustainable.
CFP Hopes
Question: Oregon's win over Ohio State has breathed new life into its postseason aspirations. The Ducks still need help elsewhere, but the possibility of reaching the Big Ten Championship Game and potentially the College Football Playoff is back on the table. How optimistic are you about Oregon's chances of making a run, and what’s the likelihood, in your mind, that they can potentially grab an at-large bid?
Zachary Neel: I'd say it's about 33/33/33 right now that Oregon gets in as an at-large, gets into the Big Ten title game, or misses the playoff altogether. A ton is going to play out over the next couple of weeks, so it will be fascinating to watch, but ultimately, I'm just thankful that we're still having this conversation. It's good for business.
Don Smalley: With the Ohio State game out of the way, unless the wheels come completely off, the Ducks should be able to run the table. They'll be favored big over Michigan, Michigan State, and Washington. In order to make the playoff, Oregon might have to get the Big Ten Championship Game and of course, win it. I like their chances.
Bjorn Bergstrom: I’m very optimistic. Of course, the Ducks have to win their final three regular season games and look good doing so, but if they do and chaos ensues — as it has for much of the season — above them, an at-large bid is within the realm of possibility. Obviously, making the Big Ten title game and beating what’s likely to be UCLA is the most likely scenario, in my opinion, but the way Oregon has looked, they deserve to be evaluated for an at-large spot.
Logan Brown: So far with the rankings, the selection committee seems to be fans of Oregon, making them the highest-ranked three-loss team. I still think Oregon’s best shot to make the field is to win the Big Ten, but there is a path without making it to the game, though that involves a lot of chaos in front of them and some style points the rest of the way. I think the Ducks have a 35% chance of making it to the playoffs right now, which feels crazy to say given where the program was a few weeks ago.
Michigan Wolverines
Question: Michigan comes to Autzen Stadium this weekend, and Oregon is suddenly playing some of its best football of the season. After such an emotional win in Columbus, what concerns you most about this matchup with the Wolverines? What's the biggest key to avoiding a letdown and keeping the momentum rolling?
Zachary Neel: There are two things that worry me: Michigan's defense and Oregon's inconsistency this year. They are trending in the right direction and have been playing great football for the last six quarters, but I am still very aware that we could see some bad football at any moment in time. The Wolverines' defense has the ability to pull mistakes out of you, so I'm very aware of that.
Don Smalley: There has been a history of teams suffering a letdown a week after a big win. I think with the game being at home and Michigan playing a true freshman, the odds are in the Ducks' favor. I would be surprised if Oregon suffers a letdown of any kind this week.
Bjorn Bergstrom: I’m worried about the Wolverines pulling the Ducks underwater and forcing them to play their brand of football, which is low-scoring and defense-oriented. That’s the type of ball we saw from Oregon in their worst three-game stretch of the year against UCLA, Nebraska, and Illinois, and I’m afraid that the Ducks wouldn’t do well in that again. Oregon has to continue to play free and not tentative against a very good defense. They need to dictate the style of football that’s played.
Logan Brown: The conditions may not be ideal on Saturday, but Oregon still needs to find a way to start fast for once. It hasn’t happened despite the recent success, and the Ducks have needed to claw back from down multiple scores to win. If the Ducks can score a touchdown or two in the first quarter, that might be enough to win the game. The longer this game remains a one-possession difference, the better it serves Michigan and their ferocious defense.
Gambling Corner
Question: Gambling Corner: You get $100 to spread across the point spread (Oregon -10.5), and the Over/Under (36.5 points). How are you allocating your funds?
Zachary Neel: I like to think Oregon can win this game by double digits, but I'm not positive. I am very confident, however, that this will be a low-scoring game. Give me $100 on the under.
Don Smalley: I would put $80 on Oregon covering the spread and the rest on the over.
Bjorn Bergstrom: This is a really tough one. Nobody’s been able to score on Michigan’s defense, and they haven’t even been able to score themselves. So I’ll go all $100 on the under, though I think the Ducks have a good shot at covering.
Logan Brown: Points may be at a premium this week, so I’ll bet heavily on the under and spend $80, and I’ll sprinkle $20 on Oregon to cover the spread.
Final Score Prediction
Question: Who wins this game, and what is the final score?
Zachary Neel: Oregon 24, Michigan 10.
Don Smalley: Oregon 34, Michigan 10.
Bjorn Bergstrom: Oregon 20, Michigan 10. I don’t see the Wolverines getting much going offensively, while the Ducks’ two touchdowns and two field goals is enough to get them over the top.
Logan Brown: Oregon 23, Michigan 9. The Ducks will struggle to move against the Wolverines’ defense, but a few Michigan turnovers help Oregon pull away late.
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: Ducks Wire staff predicts Oregon Ducks vs. Michigan Wolverines
