Oregon Football: Recruiting expert predicts Ducks to land 2 blue-chip QBs for 2026.
In a column Monday Adam Gorney of Rivals discussed the nation's top uncommitted quarterbacks in the 2026 and he predicts Oregon will land both a four-star and a five-star this cycle. If true, that would boost Dan Lanning toward his fourth-straight top-five class.
Folsom, California QB Ryder Lyons is the five-star, a prospect Gorney calls "a more athletic Bo Nix." Lyons, 6-2, 205, is deciding between the Ducks, USC, Michigan, Ole Miss, Ohio State and BYU. He makes an official visit to Oregon on June 13.
The second blue-chip passer Gorney forecasts to Oregon is Cincinnati Moeller's Matt Ponatoski, a dual-threat who also a baseball shortstop and pitcher with a 97 mph fastball who wants to play both sports in college.
The Ohio State Gatorade Player of the Year threw for 4,085 yards and 56 touchdowns last season with just three interceptions.
Oregon recruiting ramps up in June with a series of high-profile visitors including 6-7, 345 offensive tackle Immanuel Iheanacho, Caiifornia two-way star and 10.21 sprinter Brandon Arrington, wide receiver Messiah Hampton, edge rusher Richard Wesley and many others.
Melyssa Lombardi and Oregon women prep for College World Series
Returning to Oklahoma City for the first time since 2018, the Ducks open the College Worlds Series at Devon Park with a 6:30 game PT against UCLA, televised on ESPN2.
Lombardi has accomplished a tremendous comeback since taking over the program in 2018. In her first season every starter except for one left the program, many citing a change in culture.
Baseball gears up for NCAA Regional at PK Park
Sports Editor Brady Ruth of the Daily Emerald covers Oregon baseball as passionately and accurately as anyone. On Monday he wrote:
"As the No. 12 seed, Oregon and the Eugene Regional are lined up across the Chapel Hill Regional. The No. 5 North Carolina Tar Heels are hosting Holy Cross, Oklahoma and Nebraska. The winner of the Chapel Hill Regional will play the winner of the Eugene Regional in the NCAA Super Regional round."
The Ducks open play in the Eugene Regional with a 6 p.m. PT game Friday against Utah Valley, the winners of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament, 32-27 this season. They beat UT Arlington, Abilene Christian (twice) and Sacramento State to earn their NCAA berth.
The Wolverines hit .310 as a team this season with 81 home runs. Landon Frei and Luke Iverson lead the team in circuit clouts with 16 apiece.
The forecast Friday calls for sunny and a daytime high of 78 degrees. Oregon first baseman and No. 3 hitter Jacob Walsh wants a raucous crowd and a full house.