The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1523593
130 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY CLAYTON SAYFIE Oregon has become one of the hottest programs in college football under Dan Lanning, despite its prior two head coaches leaving for other jobs — Willie Taggart (Florida State) and Mario Cristobal (Mi- ami, Fla.). Lanning, the former defensive coordinator at Georgia from 2019-21, en- gineered a 12-win season in 2023, Oregon's first since posting 13 victories in 2014. He decided this offseason to stay in Eugene, too, despite receiving interest from Ala- bama following Nick Saban's retirement. The Ducks checked in first nationally in scoring offense (44.2 points per game) and ninth in scoring defense (16.5 points allowed), stood as high as No. 5 in the CFP rankings and were contenders for the playoff until losing to Washington in the Pac-12 championship game, 34-31. The one knock on Oregon last season, actually, was its inability to beat the Hus- kies, who went 14-1 and made the national title game before falling to Michigan, 34- 13. The Ducks lost to their rival twice, in- cluding a 36-33 setback in Seattle Oct. 14, in which they failed to convert on three fourth-down attempts and blew a late lead. Oregon had a great chance to compete for a national championship, but instead it beat up on No. 23 Liberty in the Fiesta Bowl, posting a 45-6 statement win. However, the Ducks' championship window doesn't appear to be closed. They are viewed as a consensus top-five team entering the 2024 season, having reloaded by adding players through the NCAA transfer portal. Quarterback Bo Nix was a Heisman Tro- phy finalist, finishing third in balloting, and wound up the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Oregon replaced him as well as any team could, bringing in Dil- lon Gabriel, who's started 49 career games across five seasons (2019-21 at UCF and 2022-23 at Oklahoma). Gabriel, who threw for 3,660 yards and 30 touchdowns for the 10-3 Sooners a year ago, is tied for fourth in NCAA history in career total touchdowns (152), and ranks seventh in total yards (15,925), eighth in passing yards (14,865) and eighth in passing touchdowns (125). The Ducks lost some of their top skill position players aside from Nix, but se- nior wideout Tez Johnson (team-high 86 catches, 1,182 yards, 10 TD), senior tight end Terrance Ferguson (first-team All- Pac-12) and junior running back Jordan James (759 yards, 11 TD) are all expected to step up. The Ducks also possess a high- level offensive tackle duo in junior Josh Conerly Jr. and senior Ajani Cornelius, both of whom earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 nods. The defense brings back just four start- ers, including two from a secondary that helped Oregon rank first in the Pac-12 with 215.9 passing yards allowed per contest. The linebacking corps is one of the team's strengths, led by senior Jeffrey Bassa, who was second on the squad with 72 tackles, 1 interception and 12 quarterback hurries. The front seven isn't without its question marks, though. While senior defensive end Jordan Burch is back af- ter registering 7.5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks a year ago, the rest of the starting defensive line has departed, including fourth-round pick Brandon Dorlus. The Ducks utilized the portal to add play- ers, including Houston tackle transfer Ja'Maree Caldwell, who tallied 8.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 2023. ❑ Oregon Is Poised To Keep Momentum Rolling Senior wide receiver Tez Johnson set the Oregon single-season program record with 86 receptions in 2023. PHOTO COURTESY OREGON ATHLETICS 2024 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2023 Result Aug. 31 Idaho — Sept. 7 Boise State — Sept. 14 at Oregon State W, 31-7 Sept. 28 at UCLA — Oct. 4 Michigan State — Oct. 12 Ohio State — Oct. 18 at Purdue — Oct. 26 Illinois — Nov. 2 at Michigan — Nov. 9 Maryland — Nov. 16 at Wisconsin — Nov. 30 Washington L, 36-33; L, 34-31 REASONS FOR OPTIMISM • Momentum from last season • Transfer portal haul • QB Dillon Gabriel's addition Gabriel, an offensive line with three starters back and solid weapons around them — including WR Tez Johnson and RB Jordan James — should give the Ducks another prolific offense. REASONS FOR CONCERN • New starters at offensive skill positions • Defensive line depth • Adjustment to Big Ten It'll be hard to replicate the special chemistry the 2023 Ducks had, especially with Bo Nix and the offense. There are also question marks up front on defense. GAME 9 • OREGON DUCKS • NOV. 2 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Michigan leads 3-2 First Meeting: U-M 14, Oregon 0 (Oct. 2, 1948 in Ann Arbor) Last Meeting: Oregon 39, U-M 7 (Sept. 8, 2007 in Ann Arbor) Head Coach: Dan Lanning, 22-5 (third year) at Oregon and overall 2023 In Review: 12-2, 8-1 Pac-12 (second Pac-12) Final 2023 Ranking: No. 6 by Associated Press, No. 7 by coaches Returning Starters: 11 (6 offense, 4 defense, 1 specialist) Last Bowl Appearance: 2023 (Fiesta Bowl vs. Liberty, W 45-6) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Austin Novosad (52 yards) Rushing: Jordan James (759 yards, 11 TD) Receiving: Tez Johnson (1,182 yards, 10 TD) Tackles: Jeffrey Bassa (72) Sacks: Jordan Burch (3) Interceptions: Tysheem Johnson (2)