ATLANTA, Ga. — Oregon has one of the most prolific offenses in the country, averaging 38 points a game throughout their 13-1 season. They've done it with a balanced attack, being able to run the ball and throw it practically at will all year long

But as they head into Friday night's College Football Playoff semifinal game against, the Ducks have some serious concerns with their running back room. Their depth has all but disappeared because of injuries and entries into the transfer portal.

The first bit of bad news came after last Thursday's Orange Bowl win over Texas Tech, when it was announced that freshman Jordon Davison suffered a broken clavicle and won't be available for the rematch with Indiana. He rushed for 667 yards and a team-high 15 touchdowns this season. 

It got worse on Thursday when Noah Whittington's name showed up on Oregon's official injury report for the first time. He leads the No. 5-ranked Ducks with 129 carries for 829 yards and six touchdowns. He also has 19 catches for 98 yards and one receiving touchdown.  and six kickoff returns for 126 yards.

Davison has rushed for 667 yards this season and has been one of the team’s best, most reliable threats in the red zone, with 15 rushing touchdowns, more than double the mark of his next-closest teammate.

Whittington, Dierre Hill Jr. and Jay Harris are the only three healthy running backs. Harris entered the transfer portal on Wednesday, but made the trip to Atlanta. He has rushed for 116 yards and averaged 4.5 yards per carry in limited action this season.

Jayden Limar, Oregon’s No. 4 rusher this season, entered the transfer portal and is not available. Makhi Hughes, who transferred to Oregon from Tulane last year. is also back in the portal. He hasn't been much of a factor this season, with no carries after Sept. 20. Da'Jaun Riggs is also out.

"We just find a way," Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein said on Wednesday. "That's what we've been focused on, is the guys that are available. Just put the ball down and play. I mean, shoot, it's football, we'll figure it out. They hired us for a reason, to figure out situations like this.

"It's been the story of our offense all year and I'm excited for the guys that are available to get their opportunities."

If Whittington is limited — of if even worse, not available at all — the burden could fall on Hill, a freshman from Centralia, Ill., who has rushed for 570 yards and five touchdowns this season. Hill had just five carries for 13 yards against Texas Tech, but had 76 yards and a touchdown on just six carries in the first-round win over James Madison. He also had a 40-yard reception.

Oregon coach Dan Lanning talked about the shortages on Thursday, and he said the Ducks will make the most of the situation.

"I truly believe that our coaches and our staff and our players prepared really hard all year to be ready for their opportunities, and sometimes peoples' roles change throughout the year. That's where you have to be selfless.,'' Lanning said. "But we have some guys that can play winning football, and that's the key, do you have 11 guys that can go play winning football?

"And if there's a deficiency, can you cover that deficiency up? That's part of the strategy behind football as well. Ultimately we're really excited about the guys that take the field. I've got complete trust in our players. And regardless of what happens in this game, you go play and you play to win the game. But when you are playing a great team like Indiana, regardless what happens, to be one of four teams left in college football is an unbelievable honor. But I promise we'll have 11 guys on the field that are going to want to play winning football and play to the standard necessary for our team. ''

HOW TO WATCH INDIANA-OREGON: Indiana and Oregon play for a spot in the national championship game on Friday night when they square off in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, a College Football Playoff semifinal game. Here's how to watch, with game times and TV information, a breakdown of the game and the latest on the point spreads. READ MORE 

CIGNETTI TALKS ABOUT HIS FATHER: When Curt Cignetti's father was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame 12 years ago, the Indiana coach wasn't there. He was following his process, staying in Pennsylvania for practice with his team. He talked about his father, and what he's meant to him, during Thursday's press conference. READ MORE

TOM BREW COLUMN: On both sides of the ball and at every level, Indiana has a bunch of fourth- and fifth-year players who have seen a lot on the football field. That experience allows them to practice well — and play even better. They play with confidence and swagger, even at a school with little history of success. READ MORE 

CAN INDIANA BE FOR REAL? The Indiana Hoosiers have defied expectations the past two years. 2024 was great, but many thought it was a fluke. Now, 2025 has been even better, a perfect 14-0 and a first-ever No. 1 national ranking. Can the Hoosiers sustain their historic run during the postseason while a skeptical nation watches on? READ MORE

LANNING RESPECTS INDIANA: Oregon coach Dan Lanning already has first-hand experience with playing No. 1-ranked Indiana. The Ducks had their shot in October but lost 30-20 in Eugene, their only loss of the year. They get a rematch on Friday in the College Football Playoff in Atlanta, and are looking for a different result. READ MORE 

EISEN SAYS INDIANA 'BULLIES OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL': Noted sportscaster Rich Eisen spent much of his podcast on Friday talking about the juggernaut Indiana football team. He said the Hoosiers are ''now the bullies of college football.'' Here are the highlights of his show, with a link to the 15-minute segment. READ MORE

ROSE BOWL COLUMN: Indiana played like the No. 1 team in the nation at the Rose Bowl Thursday, destroying Alabama 38-3 to advance to the College Football Playoff semifinals. They whipped up on their opponent like Alabama's done to others for decades. This year's Indiana team is simply that good. They proved it again. READ MORE