Oregon Football: Spring Game Preview

The 2025 Oregon Ducks spring game is taking place this Saturday. Here at Addicted to Quack we wanted to give you all of the relevant details for watching the game, as well as a couple of things to keep an eye on for each position group.

Things to Know:

When: 1:00 PM PT

Watch TV: Big Ten Network

Watch In Person: Autzen Stadium – Fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to donate to Food For Lane County for entry into Autzen

Weather: High of 56 F and light liquid sunshine

Things to Keep an Eye On:

QB

The biggest question for any college football team without a returning starter or a clear-cut option is: who will be the starting quarterback? We all know how important the position is, and it’s no exaggeration to say that if the Ducks want to accomplish their lofty internal goals this season, they’ll need high-level quarterback play. That’s why there’s so much intrigue heading into the season—because the question of who will lead the Ducks’ offense remains unanswered.

Dante Moore is the presumed starter, but that’s based largely on his recruiting pedigree and a bit of experience at UCLA two seasons ago. While it’s fair to say he’s the favorite to win the job, it’s also fair to say that Austin Novosad still has a chance to pull off the upset. If Novosad is going to make a serious push, he’ll need a strong performance this Saturday to show Oregon’s coaches—and fans—that this competition is far from over.

Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images

RB

Oregon currently has an incredibly deep running back room. Headlining the group are Tulane transfer Makai Hughes—whose film Hythloday genuinely enjoyed reviewing—and returning back Noah Whittington. Personally, I think Oregon wants to return to using a three-headed backfield during meaningful play in 2025, just as they did in Dan Lanning’s first two seasons. Last year, the rotation being limited to two backs during key moments seemed more a matter of necessity than preference.

This year, with a wealth of talent at the position, I expect Oregon to return to a three-man rotation. There are plenty of candidates to fill that third spot behind Hughes and Whittington. The leading contender is likely garbage-time standout Da’Jaun Riggs, though other names to watch include Jayden Limar, Jay Harris, Jordan Davison, and Dierre Hill. I’ll be watching for who of that group is poised to enter the rotation.

Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

WR

Oregon has a ton of talent in the receiver room, along with some valuable experience. While Evan Stewart is the biggest name to know, Duck fans are already familiar with what he brings to the table. This spring, however, all eyes will be on five-star true freshman Dakorien Moore.

It’s incredibly rare for a true freshman receiver to not only make an impact but also emerge as one of the best in college football—but some Duck fans are hopeful Moore can be the exception to that rule. If he’s going to be that kind of exceptional player, we’ll likely need to see flashes of his potential this Saturday.

Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

TE

Tight end might be the position group I’m most excited about right now. The combination of freak athlete Kenyon Sadiq and highly touted transfer Jamari Johnson could form one of the best tight end duos in college football in 2025.

It’s worth noting that Johnson didn’t finish last season due to injury, so he may still be working his way back. I’ll be keeping a close eye to see if Johnson appears to be full go Saturday.

Sadiq has the potential to be truly special this year, and I’m curious to see how he’s used on Saturday—even in what will likely be a very watered-down version of the offense.

Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

OLine

The biggest question many readers of this site have right now is what to make of Oregon’s offensive line heading into the upcoming season. With four starters to replace and three high-profile transfers joining the team, there’s plenty of uncertainty—and intrigue. It’s important to note that the O-line may look like a work in progress this Saturday, largely because the five projected starters for August will likely be split between the two squads. As a result, we probably won’t see the starting five working together as a unit.

What I’ll be watching most closely is who’s playing where. Specifically:

• Gernorris Wilson – Will he line up at left tackle, right tackle, or both?
• Alex Harkey – Is he also in the mix at both tackle spots?
• Kawika Rogers – Will he play guard, tackle, or split reps between the two?
• Isaiah World – How much progress has he made? As Hythloday noted in his film review, World had some development to do if he was going to earn a starting job this fall, despite his strong recruiting profile.

Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

DLine

While Oregon has to replace three starters on the defensive line this spring, they have no shortage of talented players ready to step up. The biggest name is Matayo Uiagalelei, who split time last year between edge rusher and defensive end. He’ll be the focal point of every opposing offensive coordinator this fall. As a result of that I’m expecting big things from Teitum Tuioti and Blake Purchase this season with offenses likely to key on Uiagalelei so much. I’m especially excited to see those two on Saturday.

Joining them on the D-line will be a mix of highly touted recruits who haven’t seen much meaningful action yet but bring plenty of promise, along with one key interior transfer: Bear Alexander. Bear has all the talent in the world, but his future at Oregon may hinge on factors that no one at ATQ—or any non Oregon football coach—can confidently predict. Still, Saturday should provide a good look at how far he’s come this spring as well as which younger players are ready to take the next step.

Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images

LB

Linebacker might be the most settled unit on Oregon’s defense, with the fewest question marks heading into the season. Veteran Bryce Boettcher makes a surprise return after being granted an extra year of eligibility, and Devon Jackson is expected to take on a more prominent role.

Jackson appears to be stepping into the spot vacated by Jeff Bassa, whose biggest asset on the field was his football IQ—an area where Jackson has room to grow as he enters his junior year. We all know how physically gifted Jackson is, but I’ll be curious to see if he’s made strides in terms of football intelligence and overall understanding of the game on Saturday.

Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

Corner

Cornerback might be the most intriguing position group on the defensive side of the ball right now. The room is full of highly talented but largely inexperienced athletes, alongside the steady presence of transfer Theran Johnson. I think the corner spots are truly up for grabs—this feels like a real horse race, and it’s one of the most open competitions on the roster.

I’m excited to see which of the young corners are starting to pull ahead. Plus, we’ll hopefully get to see Jahlil Florence back on the field after missing last season due to injury.

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Safeties/Star

Much like the cornerback group, Oregon’s safeties and star defenders are a mix of talented but inexperienced players, along with a couple of transfers who are expected to at least be part of the rotation. Which of the homegrown talents are ready to step into bigger roles this fall? I’m not sure yet, but Saturday will give us our first real glimpse.

One of the biggest things I’ll be watching is how Dillon Thieneman looks in Lupoi and Hampton’s defense. As Hythloday pointed out in his transfer article, Thieneman is physically gifted but arrives at Oregon with some things to refine—most notably, learning to play as a more traditional safety rather than the sky-high free-roaming role he had under Ryan Walters. I’m excited about Thieneman’s potential, and I can’t wait to see what he shows on Saturday.

Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Those are the main questions I have for each position group. I’m looking forward to Saturday just to have some football again as its been too long!