Oregon's moment
Arguably essentially the most anticipated game in Autzen Stadium history will happen on Saturday when Oregon plays Ohio State.
Although the Ducks have played three home games this season, they’ve targeted this weekend's showdown with the second-place Buckeyes as a showcase for potential recruits.
And the visitor list is totally wealthy.
The Ducks will welcome the No. 1 receiver within the country, Dakorien Moore, who transferred to Oregon on July 4. (He's the fifth-ranked prospect overall, in keeping with 247Sports.)
The top prospects from five states in the category of 2026 are also scheduled to participate:
North Carolina tight end Kendre Harrison (five stars); Utah tight end Brock Harris (five); Oregon edge rusher Tony Cumberland (4), who selected the Ducks; Washington outpoints Derek Colman-Brusa (4); and Nevada athlete Jett Washington, 4, the nephew of NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
Additionally, Oregon State's No. 1 prospect within the 2027 class might be at Autzen Stadium on Saturday night: four-star Josiah Molden, the son of former Duck star and NFL first-round pick Alex Molden.
Oregon coach Dan Lanning has achieved an unprecedented level of recruiting in Eugene, even in comparison to the high standards set by his predecessor, Mario Cristobal.
And that is Lanning's moment.
Flip season
Oregon State secured a win of its own when the Beavers convinced Wyoming tight end Logan Knapp to go to Corvallis last weekend after which celebrated the news that Knapp had decommitted from the Cowboys and chosen the Beavers. (He is projected to be an edge rusher for OSU.)
But there are two other significant prospects committed to running conference schools on the West Coast who’ve received interesting offers elsewhere:
– Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele is the No. 1 recruit in Hawaii and a four-star quarterback who committed to Cal over the summer. But his senior season at Campbell High School in Ewa Beach was impressive enough to generate offers from Oregon and Utah.
The Ducks' offer is critical because Sagapolutele's favorite player is Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, whose passing record on Oahu was broken by Sagapolutele.
And keep watch over Notre Dame, which had kept Sagapolutele warm in case the Irish lose Deuce Knight, who transferred to Auburn. USC did the identical with Sagapolutele while the Trojans ride the Julian Lewis rollercoaster.
— Meanwhile, Zac Stascausky, Oregon State's No. 2 highschool recruit, transferred his own commitment from Minnesota to Washington in August. But because the start of the season, the newly minted four-star prospect has added offers from Georgia, Oregon and UCLA.
He's already turned around once, and turning him around again may very well be an extended shot. But he lives in Oregon and three of his former training partners at B12 Performance have signed to play for Ducks offensive line coach A'Lique Terry in 2024.
Broncos are going global
Boise State's brand has never been hotter, thanks largely to Heisman Trophy candidate Ashton Jeanty, who leads the nation within the race by a large margin.
Head coach Spencer Danielson isn't just benefiting locally or nationally. It's going international.
This week alone, the Broncos received commitments from two European products: safety Arthur de Boachie, who’s originally from the Netherlands and now plays on the NFL Academy within the United Kingdom; and German-born Daniil Starykh, an offensive lineman.
Apparently the Blue Turf has crossed the pond and the Bronco brand is making its way into Europe.
Of course, they've all the time had success in Southern California, and Tahj Crutchfield, a cornerback from Rancho Cucamonga, committed to the Broncos last week.
And in LaGary Mitchell Jr., the son of former Bronco linebacker LaGary Mitchell, they brought in a top-five player within the state within the 2026 class.
USC turns south
There has been a number of talk in regards to the Trojans' recruiting efforts in SEC country. They have won some duels only to lose those engagements later.
So because the Trojans wait for the frontrunners to unfold within the 2024-25 recruiting cycle, they're pleased to simply accept a commitment from Miami defensive lineman Floyd Boucard, a three-star prospect.
That he was once committed to Oklahoma, where USC coach Lincoln Riley still lives rent free within the minds of Sooner fans, probably makes it even sweeter.
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