Key Highlights
- And when starter and leading rusher Noah Whittington popped up on the injury report with a "questionable" tag, the sky might as well have been falling for the Ducks' fanbase. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThat left true freshman scatback Dierre Hill Jr.
- and Harris, who, oddly enough, was able to make the decision to stay with the team for another game despite officially being in the transfer portal. Welcome to college football in 2026, ladies and gentleman. Whittington ended up being a game-time decision and was active but when the game began, it was clear that a foot issue was slowing him down considerably, as he saw just several snaps in pass protection. Oregon's starter for their CFP Semifinal matchup with the top-ranked Hoosiers turned out to be Harris, a little-used redshirt junior running back in his second season with the Ducks.
- Amidst a loaded running back room, the 6-foot-2, 224-pounder carried the ball 26 times for 116 yards and a touchdown in 2025. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut now, the light shone on Harris to take a bulk of the carries. After a 56-22 beatdown at the hands of the Hoosiers in which Oregon fans' biggest concern was the lack of depth and talent at the running back position heading into the game, Harris instead proved to be one of, if not the lone bright spot for the Ducks. After the game, offensive coordinator Will Stein praised the team's newfound No.
- 1 back.“We have a really deep running back room, and I think that showed tonight," Stein said.
- "The strength in numbers is something that we always preach, and he's done a great job all year.