Oregon's latest transfer entry makes perfect sense, and typifies the dilemma

A 6-6, 215 four-star wide receiver from Chandler, Arizona, Kyler Kasper caught six passes in four seasons with the Ducks. Against Montana State in August he grabbed a 40-yard completion from Austin Novosad down the right sideline, but the rest of his Oregon career was beset by injuries that held him down on the depth chart.

Kasper entered the Transfer Portal today, an understandable decision that illustrates the dilemma for Dan Lanning and his players. Recruiting at a top level in a frenzied, fiercely competitive market, there is only so much room on the two-deep, and kids want their opportunity to earn and develop. Every year 15-20 players will leave Oregon for perceived greener pastures.

The crazed college football calendar dictates that they do so at the most inopportune time. Oregon is two wins away from a national title, yet in the midst of it they've lost five defensive backs and two wide receivers to the portal.

Players are scrambling for new spots while coaches are scrambling to evaluate new prospects while both coordinators are preparing for their first head coaching jobs and classes begin in a few days. Meanwhile there's a semi-final playoff game to game plan for, the Peach Bowl against Indiana on Friday January 9, from Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, 4:30 p.m. PT on ESPN.

There's a growing movement to refine and streamline the playoff schedule and the portal process, creating a calendar that makes more sense. In the runup to the Orange Bowl Dan Lanning advocated for a structure with more sanity.

Nick Saban joined that chorus from the desk at ESPN College Football GameDay.



“OK, so chaos in college football starts tomorrow, the portal,” the seven-time national championship winner said.
“There’s all already been 120 starters say they’re getting in the portal from big Power 4 schools.”

Quarterbacks like Josh Hoover of TCU and Drew Mestemaker of North Texas will command up to $4 million. Tackles, edge rushers and receivers will demand premium prices. Over 2700 players from the FBS entered the portal in the previous cycle, and this time the total may double.

January Madness descends on college football, the portal, coaching carousel and playoffs all at once

While players deserve to be paid for their work and talents, and the courts have established that they are entitled to a share of the massive revenue they generate for schools, having every player be a free agent every year is unsustainable.

Teams like Iowa State and Oklahoma State have been gutted by coaching changes-- ISU has 16 scholarship players left. James Madison lost their entire starting offense to the portal, including quarterback Alonza Barnett III.

Add to that, around 41 percent of players entering the portal will have difficulty finding a new home. It's a lucrative payday for athletes at the top of the pyramid, a lost opportunity for many.

Kasper's departure leaves the Ducks without a big receiver, a role they pursued energetically but unsuccessful this fall in high school recruiting. They bid for Calvin Russell and Chris Henry Jr. but those tall targets chose Syracuse and Ohio State.

Oregon has proven to be masterful in mining the college football free agency market. They've built a juggernaut in Dan Lanning's tenure with a powerful blend of judicious portal acquisitions coupled with targeted, focused high school recruiting.

The 2025 squad had freshmen like Brandon Finney, Jeremiah McClellan, Dakorien Moore and Jordon Davison playing championship roles while Jerry Mixon, Bryce Boettcher, Teitum Tuioti and Matayo Uiagalelei, home-grown players, reached the peak of their development. From the portal the Ducks found Dillon Thieneman, Jadon Canaday, Emmanuel Pregnon, Dante Moore, Malik Benson, all difference-makers.

A key player the Ducks could target in this cycle is Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman, 6-3, 201, a five-star from Phenix City, Alabama. They are loaded at wide receiver and on the offense in general, but he could fill perfectly that role of an impact big receiver, the Red Zone and third down target. He caught 56 passes for 708 yards and five touchdowns for the Tigers this season.

Few programs navigate the chaos better than the Ducks. Which doesn't mean the game doesn't need a more sustainable model.