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On the surface, Oregon\u2014a big winner over James Madison in the College Football Playoff first round and Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl\u2014looks like it\u2019s firing on all cylinders entering the Peach Bowl against Indiana.<\/p>\n
However, the Ducks are desperately shorthanded<\/a> at the running back position. Leading rusher Noah Whittington is questionable for Friday\u2019s showdown, and several teammates are injured or in the transfer portal.<\/p>\n Because of this, per ESPN\u2019s Katie George<\/a> via colleague Pete Thamel, Oregon has been forced to move two defensive players to running back this week. Those two players are Kilohana Haasenritter\u2014who played as a running back for the Ducks in 2022 and 2023\u2014and linebacker Brayden Platt. Platt played running back in high school in Yelm, Wash.<\/p>\n Oregon\u2019s leading rusher in both the first round and the Orange Bowl was the now-injured Jordon Davison<\/a>, who is reportedly nursing a broken clavicle.<\/p>\n The Ducks are seeking to advance to the national championship for the third time in school history. Oregon lost 22\u201319 to Auburn in 2010\u2019s BCS title game, and lost 42\u201320 to Ohio State in 2014\u2019s CFP championship after crushing Florida State 59\u201320 in the Rose Bowl.<\/p>\n The Peach Bowl is a rematch of the Hoosiers\u2019 Oct. 11 voyage to Eugene, Ore., where Indiana downed Oregon 30\u201320.<\/p>\nMore College Football on Sports Illustrated<\/h3>\n