The Ducks were pulling rabbits out of a proverbial hat on National Signing Day. Dan Lanning’s 2025 class, now ranked n0.2 in the country, was at the epicentre of all the drama ensuing around CFB. In the biggest shock of the evening, Oregon bolstered their already stellar secondary when they flipped cornerback Na’eem Offord from Auburn. They’re seemingly not satisfied just yet. The focus this time is on the other side of the ball, and Sherrone Moore’s Michigan are the ones stationed precariously.

Amidst all the fervor and excitement around Oregon’s escapades on Signing Day, one key facet got overshadowed. The Ducks’ long-drawn pursuit of 5-star tight end Linkon Cure fell flat. They couldn’t quite flip him from Kansas State. As a result, Lanning and co. have pivoted to Michigan Wolverines’ commit, 4-star Andrew Olesh. Olesh has reportedly pushed back his final decision to Friday afternoon in light of this development. Oregon insider Justin Hopkins dropped his two cents on Olesh’s final landing spot.

In an appearance on the On3 Recruits YouTube channel, Hopkins discussed how the Linkon Cure news may have been the reason for Andrew Olesh delaying his verdict. He said, “I think if you’re Oregon, obviously, when you miss on Cure, all of a sudden, Olesh gets an exclamation point in terms of recruiting him. We know Dan Lanning loves to finish strong. So I can definitely see them being a team that gets his commitment.”

Hopkins also gave his insight on what factors will decide which school manages to get their man. “I don’t know that this is strictly an NIL battle. Obviously, Michigan’s shown that they’ve got NIL resources. We know Oregon does. So, I don’t think it’s just going to be the highest bidder. It’s going to be, you know, where he fits, feels most comfortable, and if leaving home is going to be an issue for him or not. So, it would be great for Oregon. It would be an absolute cherry on top. I still think it’s probably Michigan’s to lose, but it’s really close, and I guess we’ll have to see how it shakes out in the next 24 hours or so.”

Andrew Olesh was in Eugene last weekend on an official visit for Oregon’s final regular season game. While the Pennsylvania native has expressed a preference for staying close to home in the past, there is one sticking point for Michigan. Olesh’s family have had concerns about the impending punishment bestowed upon the school due to the sign-stealing controversy. Issues birthed under the old regime are still affecting Sherrone Moore. It seems like Michigan’s newly found riches aren’t aiding them beyond Bryce Underwood, either.

Michigan’s $200 million war chest not moving the needle against the mighty Ducks

The University of Michigan recently announced a groundbreaking deal with fan-engagement platform Passes. This deal is potentially going to become a major revenue channel for NIL. The agreement, worth a gaudy $200 Million, is a watershed moment in the school finally embracing the NIL era.

Passes is essentially a digital content service founded in 2022. It allows fans to pay a certain amount to gain access to exclusive content, merchandise, and experiences related to the various varsity sports at Michigan. A percentage of this amount then goes towards the university’s NIL fund. The service allows fans to get closer to the athletes, and Athletes can build their stock off the field in return.

Sherrone Moore will hope this, in tandem with a plethora of other reasons, drives Andrew Olesh towards Ann Arbor. The post-Harbaugh era kicked into gear on the weekend after Michigan’s triumph in Columbus. Success on the recruitment front will be another step in the right direction. A life-altering decision beckons for young Olesh.