Previewing Michigan Vs. Oregon With A Ducks Insider

By Clayton Sayfie

TheWolverine.com caught up with Scoop Duck‘s Justin Hopkins for insight on the top-ranked Oregon Ducks ahead of their matchup with Michigan Wolverines football Saturday in Ann Arbor. Hopkins provided insight on Oregon and offered a final score prediction. We start with a projection of the Ducks’ starting lineup:

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Oregon projected starters on offense

• #8 – Senior QB Dillon Gabriel (6-0, 200) — Last week, the UCF (2019-21) and Oklahoma (2022-23) transfer moved to No. 2 in NCAA career passing yards with 17,246 over 58 college football games. He’s on pace to put up 3,000-plus yards in a season for the fifth time. This year, Gabriel has completed 76.2 percent of his passes (first in the country) for 2,371 yards and 18 touchdowns with 6 interceptions. He’s been pressured on only 23.6 percent of his dropbacks. The Hawaiian has completed 15 passes of 20-plus air yards (tied 23rd nationally) and averages 9.6 yards per attempt on play-action throws. Gabriel has added 36 rushes for 97 yards and 5 touchdowns.

• #20 – Junior RB Jordan James (5-10, 210) — Leads the team with 800 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns on 136 carries, adding 13 grabs for 90 yards. He registers 3.61 yards after contact per rush and has broken 25 runs of 10-plus yards. James racked up 759 rushing yards and 11 scores on 107 carries last season.

• #7 – Junior WR Evan Stewart (6-0, 175) — The Texas A&M transfer is in his first season in Eugene, after bringing in 38 passes for 514 yards and 4 touchdowns for the Aggies last year. The big-play threat has caught 28 passes for 446 yards and 3 scores this season, with his 15.9 yards per catch average checking in 11th in the Big Ten. He’s seen 15 of his 28 receptions come 10-plus yards past the line of scrimmage, including 5 on throws of 20-plus air yards.

• #14 – Sophomore WR Justius Lowe (6-1, 185) — Caught 8 passes for 99 yards and 1 touchdown. He took over a starting job the last two games, after coming off the bench to begin the season. Senior Traeshon Holden, meanwhile, has played more snaps and has been more productive, recording 22 grabs for 313 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was thrown out of a game against Ohio State due to spitting on a Buckeye player, did not play against Purdue the following week but he returned to action last Saturday versus Illinois.

• #15 – Senior WR Tez Johnson (5-10, 165) — The Troy transfer set Oregon’s single-season record for receptions with 86 last season, earning honorable mention All-Pac-12 recognition. The slot receiver is up to 63 receptions for 638 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2024, leading the Ducks in all three categories. He’s tied for fifth nationally and second in the Big Ten in catches. Johnson has 11 receptions on passes of 10-plus air yards, but one of his strengths is hauling in shorter passes and running, averaging 7 yards after the catch per reception.

• #3 – Senior TE Terrance Ferguson (6-5, 255) — Third on the team with 321 receiving yards on 20 receptions. He was a first-team All-Pac-12 honoree last season and entered the 2024 campaign with 91 career catches, tied for the fourth most by any Oregon tight end. He’s currently only 13 receptions shy of the record. He has 13 career touchdowns but none this season. He has a 59.6 PFF run-blocking rating.

• #76 – Junior LT Josh Conerly Jr. (6-4, 315) — The 2023 honorable mention All-Pac-12 honoree has started 22 career contests. The former four-star, top-50 prospect has a 73.8 overall PFF rating and leads the team with a 71.5 run-blocking grade. In pass protection, he’s given up 5 pressures and 1 sack. His 5 pressures allowed are tied for the sixth-least among Big Ten tackles with 100-plus pass-blocking snaps.

• #50 – Senior LG Nishad Strother (6-2, 320) — The East Carolina transfer is a first-year starter for Oregon but opened 30 games over four seasons with the Pirates from 2019-22. He possesses a 62.3 overall PFF rating with 7 pressures and no sacks given up.

• #72 – Sophomore C Iapani Laloulu (6-2, 325) — Entering his 10th career start, he owns a 65.2 overall PFF grade on the season. He’s given up 8 pressures and no sacks in pass protection.

• #55 – Senior RG Marcus Harper II (6-3, 305) — Has opened 32 career games. He has a 55.2 overall PFF Grade with 7 pressures given up this season. He owns a dismal 50.4 run-blocking rating.

• #65 – Senior RT Ajani Cornelius (6-5, 315) — The 2023 honorable mention All-Pac-12 honoree played his previous three seasons at Rhode Island, where he was a first-team all-conference honoree in 2022. He’s started 22 games for the Ducks and has a 74.5 overall PFF rating this season. He’s given up a team-worst 10 pressures with 2 sacks. PFF rates him as the 10th-best offensive tackle prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft class.

Oregon projected starters on defense

• #55 – Junior DT Derrick Harmon (6-5, 310) — The Detroit native and Michigan State transfer played — and lost 29-7 — at Michigan Stadium in 2022. He’s 1-2 versus the Wolverines, with a victory in 2021 and a setback in 2023. He’s posted 27 tackles, including 5.5 for loss and 3 sacks, with 2 pass breakups, 6 quarterback hurries, 2 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery this season. He’s added 32 pressures, the most by an FBS interior defensive lineman this year (the next highest is 25).

• #90 – Senior DT Jamaree Caldwell (6-1, 340) — The Houston transfer finished with 8.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks for the Cougars last season. He’s registered 17 tackles, including 2.5 behind the line of scrimmage, a pass breakup and a forced fumble in 2024, adding 12 pressures.

• #44 – Sophomore OLB Teitum Tuioti (6-3, 255) — Third on the team with 32 tackles, adding 4 stops for loss and 3 sacks along with 1 pass breakup, 2 quarterback hurries and 15 pressures. He had 8 pressures against Boise State and 7 versus Ohio State, showing up in two of the biggest tilts of the season.

• #10 – Sophomore OLB Matayo Uiagalelei (6-5, 270) — The younger brother of Florida State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei has racked up 23 tackles — including 7.5 for loss and a team-high 5.5 sacks — with 4 quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and 18 pressures on the season.

• #2 – Senior LB Jeffrey Bassa (6-2, 235) — The 2023 second-team All-Pac-12 honoree had 72 tackles last season and has made 29 with 2 sacks in 2024. He’s added a pair of pass breakups and forced fumbles, along with 4 pressures on 30 pass-rush snaps.

• #28 – Senior LB Bryce Boettcher (6-2, 225) — The dual-sport athlete who also stars on the baseball diamond leads the team with 46 tackles. He’s also contributed 2.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack, an interception and 3 pass breakups. His 87.0 overall PFF rating ranks fifth among the nation’s linebackers (minimum 119 snaps).

• #3 – Senior NB Brandon Johnson (5-10, 185) — The Duke transfer has tallied 31 tackles, 2.5 stops for loss, a half-sack, 1 interception and 4 pass breakups on the season. He’s been targeted in coverage 32 times, giving up 20 catches for 188 yards and a touchdown.

• #7 – Senior CB Jabbar Muhammad (5-10, 185) — The Oklahoma State (2020-22) and Washington (2023) transfer made 2 tackles and had a pass breakup in the national championship game loss to Michigan last season. This year, he’s posted 22 tackles and a team-high 7 pass breakups. He has a 75.6 PFF coverage grade and has allowed 18 receptions for 251 yards and 1 touchdown on 37 targets.

• #9 – Senior CB Nikko Reed (5-10, 180) — The Colorado transfer is in his second season with the Oregon Ducks. He’s recorded 20 tackles, 1 interception and 4 pass breakups on the year, with a 74.8 PFF coverage grade. He’s allowed 15 catches for 160 yards and a touchdown on 27 targets.

• #5 – Senior S Kobe Savage (5-11, 205) — The Kansas State transfer was a second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2023, when he recorded 57 tackles with 3.5 for loss and 3 interceptions. This season for the Ducks, he’s notched 31 tackles, 1 pass breakup and a fumble recovery. He has a 78.1 PFF coverage rating, while giving up 6 catches for 69 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets.

• #0 – Senior S Tysheem Johnson (5-10, 200) — Earned an honorable mention All-Pac-12 nod last season, after spending the previous two years at Ole Miss. He has 4 career interceptions — 2 in 2023 and 2 in 2024. He’s second on the team with 39 tackles. In coverage, he’s allowed 8 grabs for 86 yards and no touchdowns on 14 targets.

Oregon specialists

• #36 – Junior K Atticus Sappington (5-10, 190) — He’s 8-for-10 with a 42-yard long on field goals this season. He typically handles kicks from 40 yards out or closer, while senior and Washington State transfer Andrew Boyle attempts the longer ones. Boyle is 2-of-3 with a 50-yard long this season.

• #92 – Junior P Ross James (6-2, 190) — Averaging 45.9 yards per punt on 18 attempts with a 69-yard long this season. Has 4 of 50-plus yards and 5 that have wound up inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.

• #6 – Redshirt junior KR Noah Whittington (5-8, 200) — The running back is averaging 40.5 yards per kick return on 4 attempts, bolstered by a 100-yarder that resulted in a touchdown against Boise State.

• #15 – Senior PR Tez Johnson (5-10, 165) — The slot receiver has returned 11 punts with a 12.2-yard average (third in the Big Ten) and an 85-yard touchdown against Boise State.

Oregon offense can ‘beat you in every way’

Oregon averages 35 points per game, good for 23rd in the country, and the Ducks are balanced. They check in with 167.1 rushing and 300 passing yards per contest, with a veteran quarterback in Gabriel who’s entering his 59th career appearance.

“Balance,” Hopkins said of what has made the Oregon offense so good. “The fact that Oregon can literally beat you in every way on offense.”

Oregon has a plethora of playmakers at running back, wide receiver and tight end — and Gabriel can make plays with his feet in addition to his arm, too. The Ducks average 6.9 yards per play, thanks in part to some explosives, with 135 plays of 10-plus yards, tied for the ninth-most in the country.

“They can run the ball well, both inside and out,” Hopkins continued. “They have plays that expose all three levels in the passing game, short, intermediate and long ball with several guys capable of getting open.

“Then you add an athletic tight end [in Ferguson] that can run the ball or catch the ball and is a mismatch. Couple that with Gabriel settling into the offense and trusting his offensive line, you can really see it starting to jell.”

Oregon’s slow start to the season

Oregon entered the 2024 campaign with extremely high expectations, a top-five team in the preseason. The Ducks had only lost two games in 2023, both by three points to Washington. They were oh-so-close to making the College Football Playoff but couldn’t finish the deal.

Oregon was one of the main talking points nationally after two weeks, but only because it struggled out of the gate. The Ducks escaped a close one against Idaho, 24-14, to open the season, before needing two special teams touchdowns to get by Boise State, 37-34, the following week.

Ever since then, though, it’s been smooth sailing. Oregon is ranked No. 1 for a reason, sitting at 8-0 with a marquee victory over Ohio State.

“The slow start at least offensively was really due to some poor execution and play by the Oregon offensive line,” Hopkins explained. “Which is easily Oregon’s most improved group from week one to now.

“Dillon Gabriel seems to have also really settled in with this offense, and the penalties are way down which was another early killer.

“Defensively, I think Oregon is just getting more confident on that side of the ball, and you can see they are executing.”

Oregon defense has all the parts

Oregon’s defense has been stellar, allowing only 15.6 points per game, the 10th-fewest in the FBS.

The Ducks have given up 4.1 yards per carry (68th in the nation) and 10 rushing touchdowns, but opponents have had to attempt 29.6 passes per game, in part because they’ve been trailing.

Led by Heisman Trophy frontrunner Ashton Jeanty, Boise State rushed for 221 yards and 3 scores on the Ducks, but the run defense has been better since, with only one other opponent gaining more than 150 yards on the ground (Purdue, 208).

The pass defense ranks tied for 13th nationally with 5.9 yards given up per attempt, and the Ducks check in tied for fifth with 49 pass breakups.

“If you are looking for weaknesses on the defense, there isn’t much to point out,” Hopkins opined. “I will say, I think Oregon has a tendency to do some ‘bend but don’t break’ … which looks like they give up yards but don’t give up touchdowns.

“The strengths are depth and experience at all three levels. They are tough up front and the secondary knocks down a lot of balls, which is a pretty good combination for a defense.”

Hopkins’ Michigan-Oregon final score prediction

“I think Oregon does find a way to get ahead early and stay ahead,” Hopkins began. “I think the real question really becomes can Michigan match them on offense? My guess is Oregon gets up early and somewhat cruises in the second half to a win.”

Prediction: Oregon 37, Michigan 24