It's been a while since we gathered around the roundtable, but at long last, we are back to offer some opinions and predictions. The Oregon Ducks' annual spring game kicks off on Saturday afternoon at Autzen Stadium, and we will get a chance to see a whole host of new and old faces in Oregon uniforms, like Dante Moore, Dierre Hill, Dakorien Moore, and many others.

While the outcome of the game is largely unimportant, there are still many takeaways that we can derive from the game in general, giving us our first good look at what this roster looks like on the field. With so many players returning for another year in Eugene, Oregon is largely set at starting positions, but there are a ton of young and talented guys looking to make a name for themselves.

To preview the game, we go through our weekly roundtable with the writers from Ducks Wire. Here’s our first roundtable of the year.

Question: With a new offensive and defensive coordinator, do you expect either side of the ball to look drastically different from what we saw last year?

Zachary Neel: Even if the answer to this question is "yes" for the 2026 season, I don't think we see that show itself in the spring game. We all know that the name of the game in these offseason scrimmages is getting out healthy and trying hard not to put much on tape. In general, though, I think Oregon's offense will largely look like it did last year. On defense, the scheme may differ slightly based on the personnel in the secondary, but it should stay largely the same up front.

Don Smalley: I don't think it will be drastically different since Chris Hampton and Drew Mehringer were on the staff last season. Of course, they'll throw in their own wrinkles into some things. I wouldn't expect a complete overhaul on either side of the ball. Why mess with something that has proven to work? I also think having Dante Moore back as quarterback is a reason not to change much on offense. There's no reason to come up with a new playbook with an experienced QB back there who could be a Heisman candidate.

Bjorn Bergstrom: Not with such a small sample size. And it’s hard to say that either side will be drastically different this fall, but I think over the course of the whole season, we’ll be able to see the different wrinkles that Mehringer and Hampton bring to the table.

Logan Brown: Not really. Drew Mehringer and Chris Hampton were both greatly involved on their side of the ball when Will Stein and Tosh Lupoi were running the show, and it wouldn’t make a ton of sense to revolutionize the system with the amount of returning players. I do think Oregon plays less man coverage this year and plays inside leverage in the secondary, with Koi Perich more often playing deep rather than a rover role like Dillon Thieneman did.

Question: It’s sometimes hard to predict who is going to look good in a spring game, because you don’t always know how much the veterans or returning starters are going to play. With that being said, who is one upperclassman that you expect to have a big day?

Zachary Neel: My eyes are on Evan Stewart, for sure. He fits the mold perfectly as far as being an established playmaker, but also having a lot to prove coming into this year after missing the 2025 season because of injury. I could see a world where he has a big game on Saturday.

Don Smalley: It would be nice to see Evan Stewart come out and have a big day and prove he's completely healthy. I'm also curious to see what Dylan Raiola looks like in an Oregon uniform.

Bjorn Bergstrom: Late in the season, it seemed like every time that Jamari Johnson was on the field, he impressed. Even with the Ducks’ talented defense, there’s not a viable man-to-man matchup that can shut him down, so I expect him to see plenty of targets.

Logan Brown: I think the obvious answer here is Evan Stewart making his return, but I’m really excited to see Elijah Rushing get some run in the spring game. After mostly sitting on the sidelines in his first two seasons, I think he is firmly in the rotation, both on the edge and with some potential for snaps in the interior. If Nasir Wyatt is the Ducks’ speed rusher, Rushing is the power and the bulldozer.

Question: On a similar note, who are you expecting to have a breakout performance on Saturday, much like Dillon Gresham did a year ago?

Zachary Neel: My head says Kendre Harrison, but my heart says Tradarian Ball. I think both end up having impressive showings, but ultimately, I think Harrison is the one that we leave the game talking about the most.

Don Smalley: I think tight end Kendre Harrison has a chance to be the next star tight end at Oregon. He has a chance to make a nice splash onto the scene on Saturday.

Bjorn Bergstrom: Everything about Nasir Wyatt screams breakout in 2026, and while he won’t be able to go full-bore on the quarterbacks during the spring game, I think he’ll find himself in the backfield plenty as he becomes a more every-down player.

Logan Brown: Messiah Hampton is very intriguing. Although he may not get on the field a ton as a freshman in a loaded receiver room, Hampton is very technical, and I could see him making some big plays downfield on passes from Dylan Raiola or Akili Smith Jr. He has good enough speed and the ability to separate at all three levels and become an easy target. I would be surprised if we don’t see him make a big play in the spring game.

Question: Is there a certain position group that you are going to be keeping a close eye on to see how they perform on Saturday?

Zachary Neel: I'm focused on the secondary here, and in particular, the secondary for the Fighting Ducks. Brandon Finney, Ify Obidegwu, Koi Perich, Trey McNutt, and Davon Benjamin are all going to be in white for this game. That would be among the best secondaries in the nation as a starting unit this fall, so I think it could really impress on Saturday.