ONE AP voter picks Oregon No. 1
Preseason polls are dumb, but some preseason ballots are smarter than others. Oregon placed 7th in the AP preseason poll released Monday, and Jamal St. Cyr, sports anchor at WJXT4 in Jacksonville, Florida picked Oregon No. 1 on his ballot, the only one of the 65 voters to do so among sportswriters and broadcasters across the country.
Originally from New Orleans, St. Cyr is a former football player at Clark Atlanta University who has worked in College Station and Chattanooga before his stint in northern Florida. His steadfast refusal to avoid SEC bias is refreshing.
Nationally, Texas received 25 first-place votes, and No. 2 Penn State, Oregon's September 27 opponent, received 23. No. 3 Ohio State hosts Texas on August 30th, and it's the first time in AP history the No. 1 team is an underdog in the opening week of the season. The Buckeyes are favored by 2.5.
Among Oregon's Big Ten rivals, USC fell in the "others receiving votes" category with 64 ranking points, 30th in the Top 25, while Washington did not receive a single vote in any position.
Texas is No. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25 for the first time, just ahead of No. 2 Penn State.
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 11, 2025
See where other top teams rank. https://t.co/qXJ5AkXKho
Pro Duck George Wrighster named to CW studio crew
Along with longtime PAC-12 host Mike Yam and Michael Bumpus, "Unafraid Show" host, Oregon tight end and six-year NFL veteran George Wrighster picked up a new gig as a studio analyst for CW Sports College Football, the network of the ACC and PAC-12.
The OFFICIAL Heisman Preseason Rankings:
— George Wrighster III (@georgewrighster) August 11, 2025
I explain why it will be hard for Arch Manning or Jeremiah Smith to win in 2025 and why Demond Williams is my super dark horse.
📺 https://t.co/3NJybwlzo9 pic.twitter.com/46zMvAoZIX
Oregon defensive tackle Jamaree Caldwell making noise with the Chargers
Duck trench monster Jamaree Caldwell, third-round pick and NFL rookie, smashed the New Orleans offensive line for four tackles and a sack in his first preseason game, a 27-13 victory over the Saints.
On draft day, Chargers Head coach Jim Harbaugh said of the 6-1, 340 Caldwell, “The athleticism, I think it’s unique that Jamaree Caldwell has. And the strength and power.”
we see u rook pic.twitter.com/cWo749bAgW
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) August 11, 2025
From Newberry, South Carolina, Caldwell signed a four-year contract worth $6.3 million with a $1.2 million signing bonus, one of ten Oregon players drafted in 2025, a program record.