Ducks miss on Jax Tanner, Idaho State Player of the Year
Offensive lineman Jax Tanner of Rocky Mountain High School in Meridian, Idaho committed to BYU Saturday, a three-star guard who visited Oregon on June 6. Tanner, a 6-4, 275 guard, won Gatorade Idaho State Player of the Year in 2024.
It's another illustration that recruiting is harder than it has ever been. Dan Lanning and his staff are still good at it, exceptional evaluators and relationship-builders, but there's been a seismic shift in the marketplace.
For example, the Big 12 has won commitments from eight of the Top 100 prospects in the 247 Sports Composite player rankings. There's simply more parity and competition for players. It's not impossible to fill a class; it's just harder.
BYU currently ranks No. 21 in the 2026 team rankings with 20 commitments including five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons. NIL and revenue-sharing have changed the landscape.
Cougar head coach Kalani Sitake believes the new rules give his program a stronger pitch in national recruiting. He told Brian Preece of KSL radio, “We have a system that’s in place that if you want to take advantage of the time that you have… and put your time in and have a great life afterwards, get a degree, have an opportunity to play at the next level. We can do all that and then build your network. I think it’s a great recruiting pitch.”
Think of some of the great players Oregon has pulled out of Nevada, Utah and Idaho: Tyrell Crosby, Kenyon Sadiq, Jeffrey Bassa, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Penei Sewell, just to name five. Utah, Boise State and BYU will be tougher competition for those players going forward.
Forde examines scheduling disparity, challenges
Strength of schedule considerations are getting more scrutiny with the playoff committee mulling expansion and Week One of football season just 48 days away.
Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated runs through the vast disparity of schedule difficulty created by open dates, far-flung conferences and teams scheduling eight (SEC and ACC) or nine conference games (Big Ten and Big 12). Some teams play as few as eight Power 4 opponents, some teams, like Notre Dame schedule as many as ten.
For example, Forde points out that Nebraska is scheduled for success. The Cornhuskers don't play on the road until an October 11 game at Maryland, a conference also-ran. Their out of conference schedule includes a neutral site game with Cincinnati at Kansas City, home against Akron, home against Houston Christian.
Forde wrote, "If anyone is scheduled for breakthrough success in 2025, it’s Nebraska." By contrast, hated Oregon rival Washington faces four games in five weeks where the opponent is coming off a bye. An 18-team league spread across three time zones creates challenges like that.
Oregon''s schedule is right down the middle. They have a road game to Northwestern in September, an FCS opponent to open in Montana State on August 30, Big 12 foe Oklahoma State in Week Two, a tough road game against Penn State on September 27.
One of their sternest tests comes late in the year, a November 22 road game at Iowa followed by a Friday night home game against Minnesota, a tough turnaround.
Duck stars of the past and present team up for Kids Sports
Josh Conerly, Matayo Uiagalelei, Bryce Boettcher, Stefini Ma'ake and Luke Ridnour took their cuts at a charity softball game and home run contest at Jane Sanders Stadium Saturday night, a fundraiser for scholarships that allow kids to participant in youth sports programs at Kids Sports.
Stefini Ma’ake with 16 homers in round 1 of @kidsports4life HR Derby pic.twitter.com/bfAa0yqf7G
— James Crepea (@JamesCrepea) July 13, 2025
Boettcher's team beat a squad captained by Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, 11-9. Boettcher won the final round of the Home Run Derby over Ma'ake, 18-15.