College football has basically turned into a high-stakes game of Texas Hold 'em, and Dan Lanning is currently sitting at the table with the biggest stack of chips in the Big Ten.
If you've been following the Oregon Ducks transfer portal madness over the last few weeks, it’s easy to get dizzy. One day you’re hearing about a four-star freshman quarterback leaving, and the next, the Ducks are landing a generational talent from a conference rival. Honestly, the sheer volume of movement is enough to make any fan’s head spin. But if you look closely, there is a very specific, almost cold-blooded method to the madness happening in Eugene right now.
The 2026 offseason has been a rollercoaster. Coming off a gut-wrenching loss to the Indiana Hoosiers in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Peach Bowl, Lanning didn't just sit around and mourn. He went to work.
The Quarterback Room: A Game of Musical Chairs
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. The quarterback situation at Oregon right now is absolutely wild.
Most programs would be panicking if they lost a four-star talent like Bryson Beaver to the portal just weeks after he signed. Beaver was a massive win for Oregon back in December, flipping from Boise State as a top-15 national QB. Then, on Wednesday, Jan. 14, he hit the portal. Why? Because Dan Lanning pulled off the ultimate "power move" double-whammy.
First, the Ducks secured a commitment from former Nebraska star Dylan Raiola. You probably know the name—former five-star recruit, incredible arm talent, and a guy who threw for 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns as a freshman before a fibula injury sidelined him.
Then, the second domino fell: Dante Moore announced he’s coming back for the 2026 season.
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- Dante Moore: Returning as the clear-cut QB1 after a massive 3,565-yard, 30-touchdown season.
- Dylan Raiola: The heir apparent who is reportedly willing to redshirt or compete, giving Oregon the best 1-2 punch in the country.
- The Fallout: Guys like Austin Novosad, Luke Moga, and Bryson Beaver saw the writing on the wall. They’re gone.
It’s a brutal reality of the Oregon Ducks transfer portal era. If you aren't the starter or the immediate "next man up," Lanning is going to find someone who is. It’s not personal; it’s just the pursuit of a national title.
Reshaping the Defense after the Peach Bowl
The defense took a bit of a hit in the portal, but it feels more like a "trimming of the fat" than a talent drain. We saw five defensive players enter the portal in a single day on Jan. 11.
Names like Jericho Johnson and Xadavien Sims moving on might hurt the "what if" factor for fans who liked their high school tape, but they weren't seeing the field. When you look at the incoming talent, it's clear Oregon is looking for immediate impact players, not developmental projects.
The biggest win here? Koi Perich.
Snagging the No. 1 safety in the portal from Minnesota is a massive statement. Perich isn't just a defensive back; he’s a dynamic returner who averaged over 26 yards per kick return last year. Pairing him with Baylor transfer Carl Williams IV gives Oregon a secondary that might actually be better than the one that just ranked Top 5 in passing efficiency.
Lanning is also leaning into the "pro-style" acquisition model. Take Michael Bennett, the offensive tackle from Yale. He’s played 30 games. He’s a veteran. He’s not here to learn the system; he’s here to protect Dante Moore on Day 1.
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Why the Oregon Ducks Transfer Portal Strategy is Different
A lot of people think Oregon is just "buying" a team. That’s a lazy take.
If it were just about NIL money, those 24 players wouldn't have left Eugene this month. The truth is that the Oregon Ducks transfer portal philosophy is about extreme competition. Lanning is building a culture where no one’s job is safe, and if you can’t beat out a freshman phenom or a high-profile transfer, the exit door is wide open.
Take the wide receiver room. Losing Malik Benson and Gary Bryant Jr. to the NFL and the portal could have been a disaster. Instead, Oregon brings in Iverson Hooks from UAB. Hooks has over 1,200 career yards and can even throw the ball on trick plays. He’s a "Swiss Army knife" player that offensive coordinator Will Stein (who ironically just left for Kentucky) used to love—though the new staff seems just as high on him.
Breaking Down the 2026 Portal Math
Honestly, the numbers are kind of staggering.
- Outgoing: 24 players (mostly reserves and younger recruits seeking playing time).
- Incoming: 8 high-impact starters or immediate rotation players.
- The Result: A leaner, more experienced roster with a higher "average talent" ceiling.
What Fans Actually Need to Know
If you're tracking the portal, don't get hung up on the quantity of departures. Oregon is currently ranked in the top 20 for transfer classes despite having fewer "additions" than some other schools. That’s because they’re hunting blue-chips, not just warm bodies.
The addition of Penn State tight end Andrew Olesh is a perfect example. After Vander Ploog and Zach Grace (who headed to LSU) entered the portal, Lanning didn't blink. He went out and got one of the best young TEs in the Big Ten to fill the gap.
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The Real Risks
It's not all sunshine and Nike uniforms, though. The risk here is chemistry. When you cycle through this many players, you're betting that your culture is strong enough to absorb a dozen new personalities in a single spring.
Also, the "hometown" feel is disappearing. When local kids like Justius Lowe (Lake Oswego) or Darrian Anderson (Hawaii) leave, it stings the fans who want to see "their" guys succeed. But Lanning's job isn't to make everyone feel good; it's to win a trophy.
What’s Next for the Ducks?
The portal window closes on Jan. 16 for most, but Oregon players get an extra five-day window because of their postseason run. Expect a few more depth-chart causalities as the dust settles from the Moore/Raiola news.
Your Action Plan for Following the Ducks Offseason:
- Watch the D-Line: Oregon is still thin on the interior after losing Tionne Gray and Terrance Green. Look for one more "big man" transfer before the window shuts.
- Monitor the Kicker: Adding Keaton Emmett was huge, but special teams were a bit shaky in the playoffs. See if they add more competition there.
- Spring Ball is Everything: With Raiola and Moore in the same room, the April scrimmage is going to be the most-watched practice in Oregon history.
The reality is that Oregon is no longer a "recruiting" school—they are a "roster management" school. They’re treating this like an NFL front office, and so far, the results on the field suggest that Dan Lanning knows exactly when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em.