The No. 5 Oregon Ducks remain one of the four programs still alive in the hunt for the 2025 national championship, fresh off a dominant 23-0 shutout victory over No. 4 Texas Tech in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Twenty-four hours after that commanding performance, the focus for many fans has shifted from celebration to concern as multiple players have opted to enter the transfer portal.
Among the most notable departures is former four-star cornerback Daylen Austin, who confirmed his decision to leave the program in Eugene.
“BREAKING: Oregon CB Daylen Austin is entering the @TransferPortal, he tells @On3Sports. The 6’1 200 CB totaled 23 tackles, 5 PBU, and 1 INT in his time with the Ducks. He won’t be with Oregon for the rest of the playoffs,” On3’s Hayes Fawcett wrote on X.
Recruited as the No. 10 prospect in California and the No. 12 cornerback nationally in the 2023 class per the 247Sports composite, Austin saw limited action during his time at Oregon.
Over three seasons, he recorded 23 total tackles, four passes defended, and one interception across his appearances.
Austin contributed in all 14 games during the previous year and suited up three times this season, though he did not play in either of the Ducks’ playoff contests against James Madison or Texas Tech.
His exit marks the 11th player from Oregon to enter the portal since the window opened, with five of those coming from the defensive backfield.
The list includes several other highly regarded recruits, such as wide receivers Kyler Kasper and Justius Lowe, both four-star prospects, along with quarterback Austin Novosad and safety Kingston Lopa.
Additional defensive backs departing are cornerbacks Sione Laulea, Dakoda Fields, and Jahlil Florence, while three-star offensive lineman Lipe Moala, cornerback Solomon Davis, and running back Jay Harris have also chosen to explore new opportunities.
These departures represent a significant wave of attrition for a team still deeply engaged in postseason play.
As head coach Dan Lanning prepares the Ducks for a national semifinal showdown, the program must now balance immediate title aspirations with the realities of roster turnover in the modern transfer era.
While the on-field product has propelled Oregon to the brink of a championship, the coming weeks will test the staff’s ability to maintain depth through potential additions from the same portal that has claimed several contributors.
