How Oregon Ducks performed in Week 3 of the 2026 season

The Oregon Ducks‘ 84-0 win over the Portland State Vikings allowed for a large number of reserves to take the field with the game in hand and gain valuable reps, many of whom saw action for the first time as Ducks. And for a roster filled with blue-chippers, there wasn’t a huge drop off in the play from the starters to the backups.

True freshman wide receiver Messiah Hampton caught two touchdowns, while fellow true freshman safety Jett Washington picked off two passes in the second half. Running backs Da’Jaun Riggs, Brandon Smith and Tradarian Ball, who combined to carry the ball one time for two yards through the first two games, recorded a combined 32 carries for 186 yards and two touchdown against the Vikings. Washington wasn’t the only true freshman safety to intercept a pass, as Davon Benjamin joined in on the fun.

As what happens in this age of college football, there’s a high likelihood that not all of the players that were just named will be in the Oregon program for the entirety of their college careers, which now span five seasons. A number of former Ducks have left the program in recent seasons, only to have loads of success in larger roles.

That was the case for multiple former Oregon players in Week 3 of the 2026 season, with Kingston Lopa headlining the group for the third straight week.

Lopa has been one of the most impressive defenders in college football through three weeks. In California‘s 49-7 victory over Wagner, the 6-foot-5 safety recorded his fifth interception of the season, two more than any other player in the nation. He added a team-high five tackles as the Golden Bears got their second win of the year.

Playing against a tough Texas Tech front, Makhi Hughes was a steady presence for Houston in the team’s top-25 matchup in Lubbock on Friday night. He carried the ball 15 times for 71 yards and caught two passes for 28 yards, narrowly missing out on reaching 100 total yards. Unfortunately, the Cougars fell in the end, 28-26.

Though he didn’t start, Luke Moga rotated for the third straight game for the Lobos, completing 4-of-8 passes for 37 yards. He was sacked twice in the 14-6 loss to No. 24 Oklahoma on the road, but New Mexico put forth a strong effort to stay within one score throughout.

Though he was last with the Ducks all the way back in 2023 and didn’t appear in a game, Collin Gill has grown into one of the best Group of Six defenders since joining Charlotte. On Saturday, a 26-21 loss to Appalachian State, Gill paced the team with seven tackles while also picking off a pass and returning it 36 yards for a touchdown. Three games in, and Gill is the 49ers’ leading tackler with 23 takedowns.
Rebels

Playing in the highly-anticipated Ole Miss versus LSU contest, Blake Purchase made his presence felt. He tied for third on the team with five tackles, two of which were solo and a sack in the 32-24 victory over the Tigers. Purchase now has 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

The pair of former Ducks cornerbacks who landed with Missouri each had solid outings in the team’s 27-17 win over Troy. Sione Laulea led the way with four tackles and a pass deflections, including half a tackle for loss. He also added the second interception of his career that he returned for 28 yards. Jahlil Florence also saw time in totaling two tackles and a pass deflection as well.

Rodrick Pleasant recorded the first interception of his career on Saturday to go along with two tackles in UCLA’s 52-38 win over Purdue.

Though he’d gotten off to a slow start with the Crimson Tide, Terrance Green was excellent in Alabama’s Week 3 win over Florida State. By game’s end, he’d amassed three tackles and a sack in the 50-36 victory.

Tionne Gray was among a string of former Oregon defensive linemen that recorded sacks this weekend, as he had two tackles and a quarterback takedown in Notre Dame’s 27-10 win over Michigan State.

Led by former Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein as head coach, Kentucky nearly upset Alabama in Week 2 before the Crimson Tide prevailed in the second half. That wasn’t the case in Week 3, as the Wildcats finished their upset bid against Texas A&M, leaving Kyle Field with a 31-21 win over the No. 9 team in the nation.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: How Oregon Ducks performed in Week 3 of the 2026 season