Oregon adds defensive players to RB room for CFP semifinal
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Oregon is about to play its biggest game of the season, and the Ducks are dealing with a numbers issue at an important position.
ESPN is reporting that Dan Lanning has moved multiple defenders to the running back room for Friday’s College Football Playoff semifinal at the Peach Bowl. Oregon safety Kilohana Haasenritter and linebacker Brayden Platt will be with the offense for the clash with Indiana.
Katie George shared the news on SportsCenter. College football insider Pete Thamel offered further details on social media.
ESPN's Katie George just reported on @SportsCenter that Oregon moved two defensive players to tailback this week to compensate for tailback injuries. Both safety Kilohana Haasenritter and linebacker
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 9, 2026
Brayden Platt switched over to offense.
Oregon was looking at just 3 scholarship running backs available before adding the defenders, per Thamel. Jordon Davison, the team’s leader in rushing touchdowns with 15, is out after sustaining a broken clavicle in the quarterfinal win over Texas Tech at the Orange Bowl. The Ducks saw 2 running backs, Jayden Limar and Makhi Hughes, enter the NCAA transfer portal. On top of that, Noah Whittington is considered a game-time decision.
Sources have indicated to ESPN that tailback Noah Whittington, who is questionable on the injury report, will be a game-time decision with an undisclosed injury. The Ducks had just three scholarship tailbacks with him, so they added a two players.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 9, 2026
Oregon lost to Indiana 30-20 in Eugene on Oct. 11. Davison, Whittington and Limar accounted for 103 rushing yards on 16 carries in the game.
Friday’s game is set for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff, airing on ESPN.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
