Thirty players from the University of Oregon’s football program entered the NCAA transfer portal in January, marking a significant period of roster turnover for the Ducks as they prepare for their inaugural season in the Big Ten Conference.
The departures follow a period of coaching changes, with offensive coordinator Will Stein accepting the head coach position at Kentucky and defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi taking the same role at California. While Stein did not recruit any Oregon players to his new program, Lupoi was followed to California by wide receiver Cooper Perry, defensive lineman Jericho Johnson, linebacker Kamar Mothudi, and safety Kingston Lopa, according to reports.
Oregon’s quarterback room likewise experienced attrition, with second-string quarterback Austin Novosad committing to Bowling Green and third-stringer Luke Moga choosing New Mexico. Adding to the movement, Bryson Beaver, a four-star recruit committed to Oregon for the 2026 season, entered the portal and ultimately committed to Georgia nine days after enrolling.
The Ducks lost a total of 12 offensive skill players to the transfer portal, including running back Jayden Limar, who rushed for 262 yards and three touchdowns in the 2025 season, and Jay Harris, who accumulated 151 rushing yards and two touchdowns, along with 89 receiving yards. The most highly-rated players to depart were primarily on the defensive line.
Defensive end Blake Purchase and defensive lineman Tionne Gray, both four-star recruits according to 247Sports, transferred to Ole Miss and Notre Dame, respectively. Safety Kingston Lopa was also a four-star transfer.
Oregon has responded to the departures by adding 13 players through the transfer portal. Among the incoming transfers is former Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola, a four-star recruit who will redshirt in the 2026 season and compete with incumbent starter Dante Moore. The Ducks also secured a commitment from Koi Perich, a four-star safety from Minnesota.
247Sports currently ranks Oregon’s transfer portal class 25th nationally for the 2026 cycle. Within the Big Ten, the Ducks’ class is fifth, trailing Ohio State, Penn State, Indiana, and Michigan.
Head coach Dan Lanning and his staff have previously utilized the transfer portal to acquire key players such as Bo Nix, Bucky Irving, Christian Gonzalez, Tez Johnson, Dillon Gabriel, and Khyree Jackson. The program’s success in the portal will be closely watched as they navigate their new conference alignment.
