Five biggest storylines to follow during Oregon Ducks spring ball 2026

Coming off of yet another elite season, the  Oregon Ducks  now go into a new 2026 campaign with higher expectations than they've had in quite some time. There's a belief that it is  "championship or bust"  in Eugene, thanks to the return of guys like Dante Moore , Evan Stewart , Matayo Uiagalelei, A'Mauri Washington, and Teitum Tuioti. Oregon's roster is among the best and most experienced in the nation, and there's a feeling that the '26 season could be special.

While it may be a stretch to say that anything short of a championship will be considered a failure, there are reasons for the  Ducks ' fanbase to hold such high hopes. Oregon has been building to the 2026 season for a couple of years now, and with the combination of elite young talent like Jordon Davison, Dakorien Moore, and Brandon Finney, among others, along with the aforementioned veterans, it comes as no surprise that the Ducks are considered among the championship favorites going into spring ball.

However, that doesn't mean that there aren't uncertainties heading into the next month of practices. Whether it be injuries, position battles, new players or coaches — there's still a lot for the Ducks to figure out during the spring before games are played in the fall.

With that being said, let's dive into the five biggest storylines surrounding spring practices for the Oregon Ducks.

Status of Evan Stewart

The presumptive No. 1 wide receiver prior to last season, Evan Stewart's torn patellar tendon, and more specifically his ensuing recovery towards the end of the Ducks' regular season, was a storyline last fall as well. It was for good reason, as the former five-star recruit and Texas A&M standout warmed up for Oregon's first round CFP matchup with James Madison but ultimately didn't play. He didn't play in either of the Ducks' quarterfinal or semifinal games, finishing the season with zero appearances.

There has been no indication that anything was off schedule as far as Stewart's recovery, but it is somewhat telling that he never came back in 2025.

Spring practices is the next opportunity for Stewart to take the field and his exact status — how he feels, how he's looking, where he's at in the depth chart — will be something to monitor. After all, he was the Ducks third-leading receiver in 2024 and had high hopes of being a first round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but all of that was derailed by his injury in June.

If he's back to full health, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him once again command the top receiver role, though he now has serious competition from Dakorien Moore, who filled that role admirably when healthy last season. Regardless of that, any positive news or proof that Stewart is moving how he was pre-injury should be seen as a significant win.

New Coordinators

Something that may have gotten overshadowed during the offseason was the changing of guard at both coordinator positions and the potential impact that those moves may have. Both offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer and defensive coordinator Chris Hampton were in-house hires, likely making for largely similar offensive and defensive schemes.

But while that may be the case, everyone has their own wrinkles.

Both Mehringer and Hampton had years of experience prior to landing at Oregon and will bring that experience with them in their roles. Neither one is exactly like former offensive coordinator Will Stein or former defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi. There will be changes and new wrinkles into both the offense and defense, and only time will tell exactly what those wrinkles will be.

Second Linebacker Starter

Jerry Mixon has one linebacker spot locked down. That much is certain, as he took a step forward last season in totaling 57 tackles and two interceptions alongside Bryce Boettcher.

But with Boettcher gone, the question lies in who will step in next to Mixon in the middle of the Oregon defense. The positive is that there are a number of talented options, though none are particularly experienced.

Devon Jackson has served in a supporting role in each of the last two seasons, but has yet to take the necessarily steps forward to command a consistant starting role. There's a trio of young players in Gavin Nix, Brayden Platt and Dylan Williams, all of which were highly-rated recruits who haven't done much yet in their careers.

The spot alongside Mixon is wide open and there for the taking.

Dylan Raiola Injury Status

If all things go as planned, Nebraska Cornhuskers transfer quarterback Dylan Raiola won't see the field much at all next season, save for mop-up duty in blowout victories. But that doesn't decrease the intrigue of the Ducks adding a former five-star passer in the transfer portal who's already logged 22 starts early in his career and is shaping up to be Dante Moore's successor in 2027 and beyond.

Raiola does enter with an injury, as he broke his right fibula in a November game last season, ending his season prematurely. Dan Lanning said during his Wednesday press conference that Raiola practiced that day, and the team will be careful with his recovery. So, it appears that Raiola has at least a chance to compete in the spring game, giving him a chance to fully introduce himself to Duck fans at Autzen Stadium.

But that's not the only storyline to follow with Raiola, as he's also pushing Moore and vice versa, per Lanning.

"Every one of these guys cheer for each other’s success," Lanning said. "...So these guys compete at the highest level, but when they’re out there on the field, they’re hoping for each other’s success because the stronger we are as a team. The better we’re gonna be as a team. So, they’ve worked really well together, just like every position we have out there."

Both Moore and Raiola are extreme competitors, likely causing the friendly competition between the two to make both better quarterbacks in the long run.

Defensive Line Depth

If you checked the Ducks' defensive line depth in mid-January, you'd have been aghast. Sure, all four starters were returning. But as a result, nearly the entire group of scholarship reserves hit the portal, looking for starting opportunities elsewhere.

Lanning and his staff turned right to the portal themselves to build out that part of the roster, adding defensive tackles in North Carolina's D'Antre Robinson and Louisiana-Monroe's Jerome Simmons. Both are over 310 pounds and can plug holes in the middle in a rotational role. Edge rusher Nasir Wyatt is also primed for a breakout, according to defensive coordinator Chris Hampton.

There are still some depth concerns, as the Ducks will have to rely on younger players in rotational roles — but that's all it'll be barring injury, as Oregon has arguably the top starting defensive line in the nation entering next season. Expect those four to stay in the game plenty, but who emerges as viable replacements will be of particular intrigue throughout spring practices.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Five biggest storylines to follow during Oregon Ducks spring ball 2026