Oregon running back Jay Harris plans to play in the Peach Bowl days after entering the transfer portal.
Ducks head coach Dan Lanning confirmed Oregon would have Harris available on Friday against Indiana in the College Football Playoff semifinal in Atlanta. Harris practiced with Oregon on Monday when word of his portal plans broke.
Lanning has not previously allowed players who entered the portal to participate in the postseason. He said Thursday the change is not frustrating but part of the reality that “you are recruiting every single day” as a college coach given the realities of the timing of the transfer portal opening Jan. 2.
Harris has 26 carries for 116 yards this season and is a power back compared to the current top two on Oregon’s depth chart, Noah Whittington and Dierre Hill.
Without Harris, Whittington (829) and Hill (570) would’ve been Oregon’s only healthy running backs for the playoff matchup.
Freshman running back Jordon Davison (collarbone) was the team’s second-leading rusher with 667 yards and a team-leading 15 rushing touchdowns. He is out Friday and backups Makhi Hughes and Jayden Limar exited via the transfer portal.
