"Somebody told me there's no crying on a yacht," Will Stein said Tuesday when asked about Oregon's injury challenges heading into the Peach Bowl, the College Football Playoff semifinal in Atlanta on Friday, 4:30 p.m. PT on ESPN.
The second of three mandatory injury reports came out Tuesday night, and running back Jay Harris was not listed as out, which means he's still in. He officially entered the Transfer Portal on Wednesday, but Harris traveled with the team and is available for the Ducks against Indiana.
Though he has just 36 career carries in two seasons at Oregon, the 6-2, 224 bruiser from St. Louis, Missouri toted the rock 244 times as a sophomore at Northwest Missouri State, for 1,433 yards and 14 touchdowns.
His size and running style make him a decent emergency replacement for Jordon Davison, who is out with a broken clavicle.
“I think he’s an exceptional back,” Stein said Wednesday, fresh off the plane. “He’s got great balance. He can run. He can really catch the ball. So I think he’s at a spot now to really flourish given the opportunity.”
With Davison and Da'Juan Riggs injured and Jayden Limar and Makhi Hughes in the transfer portal, Harris' willingness to stay with the team gives them a third option in addition to the reliable Noah Whittington and freshman speedster Dierre Hill.
"Somebody told me there's no crying on a yacht."
— Brenna Greene (@BrennaGreene_) January 8, 2026
The yacht has felt like it's sinking at times this week though, particularly in the RB group.
My report from Oregon's Peach Bowl media day on the Ducks navigating their own transfer portal waters, while having coordinators also… pic.twitter.com/0ibz8Z1U88
Don't sleep on Noah Whittington, either
Fans have overreacted a bit about Davison's busted collarbone, though he was the Ducks' most effective back in their 30-20 loss to the Hoosiers back in October with 8 carries for 59 yards. The offense had the most success running straight ahead inside, with Davison breaking free for a 26-yard run early in the second quarter.
What some are forgetting is how physical and effective Noah Whittington has been this year. The 5-8, 203 fireplug from Peach County, Georgia has been Oregon's leading rusher this season with 829 yards on 129 carries, 6.4 yards a carry.
He's fresh too. He's only had 11 or more carries in a game four times, and in those games he rushed for 125, 97, 118 and 104 yards.
Whittington is undervalued as a tough inside runner. Film don't lie.
pic.twitter.com/GNusWei54E https://t.co/MHkwjko5dT
— Austin 🦆 (@deviousduck_) January 7, 2026
He and the offensive line ought to take the hand-wringing as a personal challenge. Establishing the run against the No. 1-seeded Hoosiers would make all the difference.
Noah knows truck sticks 👀
— Oregon on BTN (@OregononBTN) May 13, 2025
Who else would like to relive Noah Whittington's highlight @OregonFootball TD vs. Illinois? 😎#TouchdownTuesday x #B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/JiSAdti7tn
IU ranks No. 2 in the country in rushing defense, limiting opponents to 2.8 yards a carry. Ohio State ran 26 times for 58 yards, Alabama 17 for a paltry 23. They haven't allowed a rushing touchdown since the Penn State game on November 8, just five all year.
But there's no crying on a yacht. The Ducks have to find a way to steam into the harbor, even if they have to take to the air.