McCoy wins accolades as Top Big Ten Freshman
Duck first sacker Rylee McCoy was named the top freshman in the Big Ten by Softball America Tuesday. The Webfoot cleanup hitter has tattooed opposing pitching for a .452 average this season with 11 home runs and 27 RBIs.
The Ducks are 29-3 after sweeping a weekend series versus Illinois. They travel to Rutgers Friday for a three-game set in Piscataway, New Jersey. The Friday game will be broadcast at 1 p.m. PDT on the Big Ten Network.
They feature a potent lineup. Senior leadoff hitter and leftfielder Kai Luschar has hit .381 with 12 homers and 35 RBIs, plus a conference-leading 35 stolen bases. The Ducks are ranked No. 6 in the country by ESPN, looking to improve on last year's 30-21 season when they lost to eventual national champion Oklahoma in the NCAA Regional.
Moala dominates at Polynesian Bowl Camp
Oregon commit at defensive tackle Viliami Moala won Defensive Tackle Top Performer at the Polynesian Bowl Camp at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas over the weekend, impressing scouts again with his strength and quickness as he dominated some of the top offensive linemen in the country in drills.
Along with the award he won a spot on the roster for the 2026 Polynesian Bowl. At 6-3, 295 he's a four-star prospect and the No. 22 defensive tackle in the country.
Topui visits USC
A day after decommitting from the Ducks, 6-3, 290 four-star defensive tackle Tomuhini Topui is visiting USC along with five-star athlete Brandon Arrington, Oregon commit offensive tackle Kodi Greene visits Troy this weekend.
These recruiting chases may not be over. At FanDuel, the 2025 projected win totals are out, with the over/under for USC pegged at 7.5. Oregon, Ohio State and Penn State are tied at the top with 10.5. After going 8-5 and 7-6 in his last two seasons, can Lincoln Riley survive another year of 7.5? His buyout is steep. Trojan fans might be assuaged by the promising 2026 recruiting class, which currently ranks No. 1 in the nation.
At CBS Sports, Tom Fornelli forecasts the Big Ten football season.
Bittle, Evans, Shelstad weighing return
James Crepea of the Oregonian reports that Oregon basketball starters Nate Bittle and Jackson Shelstad, along with 6-9 sophomore sixth man Kwame Evans, are contemplating a return to the Ducks for the 2025-26 season while talking with their families and agents.
Granted another year by the NCAA after an injury last season, Bittle's not projected to be drafted. Shelstad told Crepea, “Would love to play with Nate, have him back next year. He’s got one more year, hopefully come back, he’s a really good player. I love playing with him and he’s really valuable to our team.” Both are enrolled in spring classes.