The No. 7 Oregon Ducks are preparing for a crucial Week 13 matchup against the No. 15 USC Trojans, an event made more significant by the return of one of the program’s most celebrated alumni, Marcus Mariota.
The former Heisman Trophy winner will serve as the guest picker for ESPN’s College GameDay and will be honored as an inductee into the Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame’s 2025 class.
During a press conference Wednesday, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning discussed Mariota’s profound and lasting impact on the program.
“Marcus is a guy that we’re just so proud of here,” Lanning said, praising Mariota’s success both at Oregon and in the NFL. “Players that have played here in the past, they come back and they give so much… We just want him to know we want him to be a part of what we’re doing. To get the opportunity to honor a guy like Marcus, he’s very deserving.”
Throughout his collegiate career, Mariota rewrote the record books, finishing as the all-time Pac-12 leader in total offense with 13,033 yards and earning first-team all-conference honors three times. His decorated career culminated in 2014 when he won the Heisman Trophy and led the Ducks to a National Championship appearance. That season, he set single-season program records for touchdown passes (42), passing yards (4,454), and completions (304).
A decade after being selected No. 2 overall in the NFL Draft, Mariota’s visit to Eugene is timed with his current team’s bye week, allowing him to participate in the weekend’s festivities. His influence extends beyond his on-field achievements, as he has remained a mentor for subsequent Oregon quarterbacks. Former Ducks star Justin Herbert has previously cited Mariota as a significant mentor, and current players also recognize his status.
“He’s for sure a GOAT around here at the University of Oregon,” quarterback Dante Moore said. “He’s somebody as a quarterback that you just love watching play.”
Mariota will be inducted alongside a distinguished group of athletes, including former center Hroniss Grasu, softball star Janie (Taked) Reed, javelin thrower Sam Crouser, track and field standout Jenna Prandini, and the dominant 2011-14 women’s indoor track and field teams.
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