Date, time site for Oregon's biggest outdoor spring party, showcase

It typically draws around 40,000 attendees, celebrates the troops, provides two truckloads of food to Food for Lane County, all broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.

The Oregon Spring Game is set for Saturday, April 25th at Autzen Stadium. Admission is free. Fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for a drive sponsored by Pacific Source Health Plans.

This year's spring game has extra juice. The Ducks are among the favorites for the 2026 National Championship, anywhere from No. 1 to No. 5 in most preseason polls, expected to return to the College Football Playoff.

Highest rated recruiting class in program history makes its debut

The game is a first look at the highest rated freshman class in school history, a group that includes 6-6, 345 five-star offensive tackle Immanuel "Manny" Iheanacho, 6-6, 340 offensive tackle Tommy Tofi, 6-5 safety Jett Washington, 6-4, 215 linebacker Tristan Phillips, 5-star Texas wide receiver Jalen Lott, electric all-purpose running back Tradarian Ball and from Reidsville, North Carolina, Oregon's new superfreak at tight end, the dunking, pass-catching Kendre Harrison, 6-7, 243.

Harrison revealed today that he'll wear No. 18 as a Duck, following Kenyon Sadiq, who's bound for the NFL Combine along with eight other Ducks.

The Spring Game is a warm welcome back for a group of teammates who committed to return for a championship run, including quarterback Dante Moore, center Iapani Laloulu, guard Dave Iuli, receiver Evan Stewart, EDGE rushers Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti, defensive tackles Bear Alexander and A'Mauri Washington.

Oregon could have had a record draft and a record aggregate payout for rookie contracts. Instead the nucleus of its most talented team elected to run it back for NIL deals and a chance at claiming Oregon's first national title.

The date also sets up an interesting look at the Ducks quarterback rotation. Depending on how Dan Lanning and new offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer elect to structure it, the Mighty Oregon and Fighting Duck squads could be led by Moore versus new transfer quarterback Dylan Raiola from Nebraska. They could pit them head-to-head, engineer some game-like pressure for the scrimmage.

In December Raiola gave up the starting job with the Cornhuskers to take a reset at UO. He had surgery for a broken fibula in early November, which normally carries a recovery timetable of 8-12 weeks. Quarterbacks wear noncontact jerseys in the scrimmage, but whether he's full-go for live football by late April will be something to watch.

The competition gets additional spice as redshirt freshman Akili Smith enters his second year. He's got a new familiar jersey number, number 11, the same one his father wore. If Lanning and Mehringer really wanted to be diabolical, they could clear the scoreboard at halftime and give it over to the youngsters, Akili Smith versus Brock Thomas. The stats will be compared anyway.

Fans will get to see new Oregon slot receiver Iverson Hooks, a transfer from UAB who caught 72 passes for 927 yards last season with seven touchdowns. Playmaking safety Koi Perich comes over from Minnesota, where he had 128 tackles and six interceptions in two seasons.

It's also a first look at Chris Hampton's new defense, which retains the Mint concepts and terminology but promises to be more aggressive, "all gas and no breaks" as Uiagalelei, Tuioti, Alexander and Washington pin their ears back and attack the football.

Spring games are in no way conclusive. It's a party at Autzen Stadium, a chance to see the new team, old friends, and enjoy the sunshine. Because it never rains at Autzen Stadium, and there's always something to shout about.