Paul Finebaum, Heather Dinich predict Oregon will make biggest impact among Big Ten newcomers

The Big Ten is welcoming four newcomers to the conference in 2024, with USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington all joining the conference and looking to make noise. In particular, the Ducks seem poised to make a big impact on the conference.

Ahead of Big Ten Media Days, analysts Heather Dinich and Paul Finebaum made an appearance on Get Up. There, the two agreed that Oregon is going to have the biggest immediate impact among the Big Ten newcomers.

“Oregon. Definitely,” Dinich said. “When I look at them and Dillon Gabriel there, their transfer quarterback, they are projected to have the best offense in the FBS, even ahead of Oregon. Look out for the Ducks.”

In the initial Big Ten media poll, Ohio State was ranked first and Oregon was second. They were the only two schools in the conference that received first-place votes, making it seem like the two could be on a collision course this season. That collision will likely come on October 12th when the two meet in Eugene.

“That is the story right now. When you think about Oregon moving over to the Big Ten, nobody really saw this coming a couple of years ago but they’re really on the same level as Ohio State. I think Dillon Gabriel may be the difference, and the game being out there really favors Oregon,” Finebaum said.

“I think Dan Lanning is one of the best coaches in the country right now. Remember we talked about him possibly going to Alabama a year ago? He stayed put and you better watch out for the Ducks.”

Expectations are incredibly high for the Oregon Ducks all over. A massive part of that is because of the respect that quarterback Dillon Gabriel and head coach Dan Lanning have earned in their careers. That respect was recently demonstrated when Gabriel was voted the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Lanning was voted the Preseason Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Since Dan Lanning got to Oregon, which is his first stop as a head coach, he has compiled a record of 22-5. That included a top-10 finish and Fiesta Bowl win last season. Meanwhile, Dillon Gabriel is in his sixth season as a starting college quarterback, looking to replace the incredibly successful quarterback Bo Nix.

The Oregon Ducks will start their 2024 season with an FCS game, taking on the Idaho Vandals out of the Big Sky Conference. Their first Big Ten game is in late September against another newcomer, UCLA.