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The 2024 College Football Season is slightly over a month away and fans' excitement is through the roof. Big Ten Conference Media Days kicked off this weekend, and Dan Lanning took to the podium to address questions from the media. Lanning, as usual, offered eloquent words throughout his opening statement and made a point to honor the late Khyree Jackson and stress how his passing has affected the team. Many of the current Ducks were Jackson's teammates last season.
The Ducks Are 'Mighty Different'
The Ducks player representatives at Media Days were quarterback Dillon Gabriel, linebacker Jeffrey Bassa and tight end Terrance Ferguson. Lanning shouted out to Ferguson, noting he was "a guy that certainly had a decision after the season on whether he wanted to return or not, having the opportunity to go on to the NFL." The coach also said he previously scouted/watched Gabriel at Oklahoma and is happy for the two to be reunited. Lanning added that Bassa was like "a coach on the field" for their defense.
Lanning let everyone know what the B1G should be expecting from the Ducks. "Ultimately what should the Big Ten know about Oregon? That we're mighty different." He elaborated, "You look out there at the pond and you'll see a big ole Duck." Coach Lanning said he wants to bring the infamous floating Duck to all of the away games this year.
Emphasizing why the Ducks are unique, he said, "We're mighty different, from the jerseys you get to see us wear, or the facilities we get to be in. We're innovative. We've always been on the cutting edge with everything that we do." The coach stressed that the Ducks are grateful for the opportunity to compete in the B1G.
How Inclusion in the B1G Impacts the Ducks
It's no secret that Oregon is no longer part of the Pac-12 Conference, and the Ducks are coming into the B1G hungrier than ever after losing to Washington in last year's Pac-12 championship game. Joining the Ducks in their migration to the B1G are the Washington Huskies, UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans. Oregon looks to bring some of the West Coast style to the B1G for years to come.
Lanning provided insight into how the transition to the B1G gives the Ducks some advantages: "We've always been a team that's recruited nationally, but it's certainly made our footprint stronger here in the midwest. We've always recruited, you know, east coast to west coast but now having the opportunity to have some of those games played in venues that are close to the players that we're recruiting certainly helps." Lanning's point is a crucial one. Oregon has always been far removed from some of the deepest pools of recruiting talent in the country. But the Ducks are now swimming in those pools.
Ducks Season Preview
Oregon's move from the Pac-12 to the B1G shook up the Ducks' schedule. Oregon is unlikely to face off with former Pac-12 teams like Colorado and Stanford. Instead, new faces in the Midwest will be on the Duck's radar, like Michigan and Ohio State.
The Ducks are picked by most to finish No. 2 in the B1G this year behind the Buckeyes but still hold -250 odds to make the College Football Playoff.
Oregon might be hosting the game of the year on Oct. 18, when the Buckeyes head to Eugene, Oreg. to face off. That game will almost certainly be featured in an ESPN College Gameday broadcast. Another tough battle for the Ducks will be the Michigan game. The Ducks will visit The Big House on Nov. 2.
Other new faces on the schedule include Maryland, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Purdue and Illinois. Oregon retained its matchups with UCLA and its key rivalry games with Oregon State and Washington.
The Ducks have a nonconference matchup with Boise State on Sept. 2 in Autzen Stadium that could be exciting.
Stay tuned to College Football Ducks for continuing reporting on the Oregon Ducks and other exciting college football news.
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