While all eyes were on the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday night, and will be once again on Friday with more Oregon Ducks expecting to hear their names called in the second and third rounds, Saturday will belong to the spring game in Eugene, with the 2026 Oregon roster taking center stage in Autzen Stadium.
Though the Ducks have a long list of players coming back for another year, when they could have realistically heard their names called in this draft, it will be a fun experience on Saturday to see what the new iteration of the roster looks like, fit with a lot of young players stepping into new roles, and veteran players looking to establish themselves before their careers end in Eugene.
One of our biggest questions going into the week is quite simply, who is going to "wow" us the most when all is said and done? That's not always easy to answer in a spring game. While it would be safe to assume that the theoretical "best" players on the team — someone like Dante Moore or Teitum Tuioti — would be a shoo-in to win the MVP, they are already established as playmakers and may be less likely to get a ton of run in the game, ceding way for some of the younger guys.
For example, last year our MVP of the game was wide receiver Dillon Gresham, who had 96 yards and a touchdown. While he wasn't a major MVP candidate going into the game, he undoubtedly stole the show. So, who will that guy be this time around? Here are our rankings for the top candidates:
A true freshman winning MVP? That may seem like a long shot, but with what Kendre Harrison brings to the table as far as his size goes, I would not at all be surprised to see him get a handful of redzone looks, with QBs throwing it up for him to go and get it. I think he could have a couple of nice grabs that leave fans talking on Saturday.
It is no stretch at all to say that Dakorien Moore could be the MVP on Saturday. He may be the single most talented wide receiver on Oregon's roster, and with a year under his belt to refine his craft, we could be in for a show this year from No. 1.
While I think Oregon's offensive line will be good this year, it's often hard for them to be dominant in a spring game because of the spread-out nature of the two teams. This often leads to defensive lines having a great day, and I think that Elijah Rushing is someone who could feast. He is likely to get a lot of snaps as a younger breakout candidate and could find his way in the backfield early and often.
If I'm going to highlight one player who could be this year's Dillon Gresham, I think it's Gatlin Bair. We know about his speed, and he projects to be someone who could get behind the defense and show out on Saturday. I wouldn't at all be surprised to see him have a big day.
It may be hard for a secondary player to win the MVP in a spring game, but Koi Perich is special, and his potential impact on special teams could factor in here. As a kick returner and punt returner, I think that Perich sees enough of the field to make an MVP case on Saturday.
It's not hard to make a case for JMac to win the MVP award. We saw last year what he could do when it comes to spectacular catch ability, so forecasting a day where he is responsible for a couple of highlight-reel plays with a touchdown is certainly easy.
It's unclear how much RB Jordon Davison is going to play in this game after rehabbing from a shoulder injury over the offseason. In my opinion, this could lead to Dierre Hill getting a lot of run early on, and showing how dynamic of a player he can be in this offense.
There are two factors at work here: First, offensive lines in spring games typically have a tougher time, especially against elite defensive lines, because they are often mixed and mashed together, and not reflective of a starting unit. Second, Nasir Wyatt is an elite player who could be in for a massive breakout this year after adding some weight and expanding he arsenal of moves. Could he have 2-3 sacks on the day and win the MVP? Absolutely.
It may seem as if Evan Stewart is too established a player to get a ton of snaps in the spring game, but in my mind, he fits the mold of an MVP perfectly. Coming off an injury in 2025, Stewart has said that he knows he has something to prove this year and is treating it as a do-or-die season with aspirations of being an early pick in the NFL next year. This leads me to think that he could definitely have a big day on Saturday, showing everyone that he is still one of the best pass-catchers in the nation.
While QB1 Dante Moore may not play enough in this game to win the MVP, it would come as no surprise to see someone like Dylan Raiola take down the title. He certainly has something to prove, coming in as a two-year starter at Nebraska, and will likely get a lot of snaps as the QB2. Is there a world where Raiola throws for 200-plus yards and three touchdowns? I wouldn't be surprised at all.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Ranking the top MVP candidates for the Oregon Ducks 2026 Spring Game