Our Oregon Ducks football team had a glorious regular season that still has a Fiesta Bowl appearance on the horizon, and tons of new recruiting talent on the way. But as the regular season closes, it’s time to take a look back on the Ducks’ season, finding our favorite plays of a year to remember.
Dan Lanning led a spectacular team out every Saturday, and the Ducks looked great in every matchup they’ve played through the regular season. It wasn’t a perfect year, but funny enough, their best play in my opinion came on a Friday night rather than a Saturday.
Bo Nix to Troy Franklin was an elite connection all season long – Photo From Craig Strobeck
My Favorite Play of the Season
There were a ton of good ones with Bo Nix at the helm of the offense, and it was hard to choose from such an explosive group of guys that reinvigorated the Oregon fan base through 2023. For me, my favorite play of the season was Nix’s cross-body throw against Oregon State to close out the half, a huge touchdown throw to Troy Franklin that really gave Oregon major momentum entering a rivalry game they smashed out of the park 31-7.
I think it fully encapsulates Bo’s season, what this team was able to accomplish in improvisation and game planning on offense, as well as the leaps and bounds that Oregon made to become more complete as a football team. We’ve had a great rushing attack for over a decade, and good-to-great quarterback play as a strong pairing. Now, with the element of a deep passing game on the call sheet, the Ducks are poised to take another leap with their next quarterback. Whether that ends up being Ty Thompson, one of the 1,000+ players entering the transfer portal, or another quarterback on the roster, Oregon has the perfect group of developing weapons to equip a high-powered offense in 2024. Expect many, many more plays like how Nix ended the half against Oregon State, and eventually in plays against playoff teams in the extended College Football Playoff bracket.
Those are just my thoughts though, Oregon fans. What was your favorite play of the regular season? Who steps up at quarterback in 2024 and takes the reins on offense? Will we see another Nix next year, or do you expect a bit of a dropoff in quarterback play? Let us know your thoughts on the FishDuck Forum with decorum.
Go Ducks!
Alex Heining
Los Angeles, California
Top Photo by: Craig Strobeck
Alex Heining is an Oregon alumni from the graduate class of 2021. After studying sports business and media studies, he has moved into the field of digital marketing as a copywriter and content manager in the Los Angeles area. Still, he loves his Ducks and goes to local high school games all over the Los Angeles and Orange County area to check out new recruits of the future (and a SoFi game or two with the pros). On any given Saturday, expect to find him doing martial arts, playing the guitar, or screaming at the tv over a missed holding penalty.