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Oregon Ducks News: Men's track soars, Harmon earns a starting job as a rookie, Burning down the House

A daily rundown of stories, highlights and links in Oregon sports
ByDale Bliss|
Oregon’s Matthew Erickson leads a pack in the first round of the men’s 800 meters on day one of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 11, 2025, at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Oregon’s Matthew Erickson leads a pack in the first round of the men’s 800 meters on day one of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 11, 2025, at Hayward Field in Eugene. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Duck Men soar at NCAA Track and Field Championships

Friday marked the final day of the NCAA Men's Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene. The Oregon men exceeded expectations by scoring 19 points, good for a tie for 11th.

For just the fifth time in history there were co-champions on the Men's side with USC and Texas A&M sharing the title.

Senior Matthew Erickson led Oregon runners with a second-place finish in the 800 meters in a time of 1:46.32. Other Ducks who earned points included Safin Wills with a a 7th-place finish in the triple jump, Simeon Birnbaum, 7th in the 1500 meters, Benjamin Balazs, 7th in the 3000 meter steeplechase.

On the women's side, senior Annika Williams stands fifth in the heptathlon after four events with 3,545 points, second in the shot put, fifth in the high jump.

It's the Olympics of NCAA Track and Field. The final day of the women's competition will be televised Saturday beginning at 6 p.m. PT on ESPN2 with updates and individual events available on ESPN+.

Ducks' Derrick Harmon earns rare praise from Steelers coach

At Pittsburgh Steelers minicamp defensive line coach Karl Dunbar praised the effort, technique and execution of first-round draft pick Derrick Harmon of Oregon. Dunbar says the 6-4, 311-pound defensive tackle is poised to be a game one starter in his rookie season next to all-pro defensive end Cameron Heyward.

Dunbar said, “He goes out there with the ones. He’s our left starting defensive tackle. You can write that.”

Harmon told the Pittsburgh Gazette, “Truly, when I come to work, you’ve just got to show up for the older guys. That’s how I’m looking at it, man. In this game, nothing’s given to you. You’ve got to earn it and earn the respect of the locker room.”

Details of House Settlement portend huge shake-up

How will the House Settlement work and how will it change college football? Schools and athletes are only days into dealing with Judge Claudia Wilkin's decision but some of the details that are emerging suggest that decision and its enforcement will rattle the foundations of the game.

The NIL Go clearinghouse has already rejected some third-party deals. Revenue sharing begins July 1. Athletes have to maintain their grades and academic progress in order to be paid. Experts expect football to get 70% of the $20.5 million cap, but that's already being challenged by a Title IX lawsuit.

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