“Chip has identified that Koi Perich is our biggest defensive liability. Is directly attacking him”
3 stories in the last 30 days, from 3 outlets.
As of
Perich arrived as a national name at Minnesota — five interceptions and Freshman All-America honors in 2024, then roughly 82 tackles and All-Big Ten production in 2025 — and he did it as a genuine two-way weapon who also lined up at receiver and returned kicks. Now he's the No. 1 transfer safety in the country and an ESPN top-15 non-quarterback playmaker, landing at Oregon to replace first-round pick Dillon Thieneman. The forward stakes are a featured role on a title contender: a safety with this range, these ball skills and this versatility is the kind of piece a defense builds its disguises around. For Oregon, he's the playmaking centerpiece of a reloaded secondary.
So far in 2026 Perich has 34 tackles, 20 of them solo, two interceptions, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery.
Update (Oct. 28, 2026): Oregon lost 21-10 at Illinois as a 10.5-point favorite on Oct. 24 and is 4-3. Perich has 46 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and a pass breakup through seven games, with 6 tackles at Illinois.
Sources
Play style
Perich is a rangy, ball-hawking safety with rare athletic versatility. The trait that defines him is the ball production — five interceptions as a freshman is elite anticipation and range from the back end — paired with the speed and physicality to play downhill as a tackler (his ~82-tackle 2025 says he'll come up and hit). The two-way utility (snaps at receiver, work as a returner) underlines the athleticism: this is a true playmaker with the ball in the air or in his hands. He's a center-field eraser who can also rob underneath routes, the kind of versatile, instinctive safety the modern two-high game is built to feature.
Activity vs finishing · season enumeration
What the box score actually says
53 tackles. 1 pass defended. 2 interceptions. 0.5 TFL.
Counts only, never a rate — splash-event sample sizes this small (interceptions, pass breakups, TFL) are noise as a rate and signal only as a tally.
Closest statistical matches, adjusted for opponent strength.
from 3 outlets
This Gophers safety believed he could fill Koi Perich’s shoes. So far, he’s right.
Star Tribune Oct 29 · 2 outlets
from 13 outlets
This Gophers safety believed he could fill Koi Perich’s shoes. So far, he’s right.
Star Tribune Oct 29 · 2 outlets
Sports IllustratedDan Lanning Gets Real on Koi Perich's Performance in Second ScrimmageAug 23Sports IllustratedOne Oregon Ducks Freshman Drawing Attention of Chris Hampton, Koi Perich in Fall CampAug 26
The Register-GuardOregon defensive back Koi Perich talks his decision to come to DucksAug 15Sports IllustratedOregon Fans Will Love Koi Perich's Bold Claim About Evan StewartAug 25
Locked OnOregon's Dan Lanning hints at Offensive Changes--Did He Say Anything of Note? Koi Perich StrugglesOct 13
InForum +1Big question for Gophers: How do they replace Koi Perich?Aug 31
247SportsOregon football notebook: Koi Perich's versatility, Ryan Switzer's role and the O-Line competition heating upAug 11
The Daily GopherMinnesota Football: Who will step up to replace Koi Perich?Aug 24Sports Illustrated +1Oregon Ducks Safety Koi Perich's Early Production Draws CriticismSep 29Star TribuneSports Illustrated +1
Yahoo SportsInForum +1The Register-Guard247SportsEach week: his team’s game, the stories about him that week, and the week’s biggest news headline.
Stories we tracked, by school.
Oregon28 stories2026 to nowMost about: camp and practice, in his words, starting job and depth chart.
InForum +1Big question for Gophers: How do they replace Koi Perich?Aug 31Sports Illustrated +1Oregon Ducks Safety Koi Perich's Early Production Draws CriticismSep 29Star TribuneThis Gophers safety believed he could fill Koi Perich’s shoes. So far, he’s right.Oct 29Sports IllustratedSafety Koi Perich Explains Why He Picked Oregon in the Transfer PortalAug 7
FishDuckDucks Ranked No. 1 in Joel Klatt’s Preseason Top 25 as Koi Perich Earns Award NodAug 11
Minnesota12 stories2024 to 2025Most about: awards and watch lists, draft stock, starting job and depth chart.
Locked OnHuge! Oregon Adding Koi Perich from Minnesota is a great Transfer Addition. Thieneman to NFL a Lock?Jan 13Locked OnFinalized? Oregon Ducks’ Transfer Portal Strategy Breakdown Post Jordan Seaton– Koi Perich HeadlineJan 27Locked OnOregon Ducks Defense must Do This for Dan Lanning to Have best Unit Yet in 2025, Koi Perich is VitalFeb 27Stories are headlines grouped by what they are about, counted through Nov 4.
Fans first named Koi Perich vs Boise State.
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Last game (Wk 9): 7 tackles.
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 8 games
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 34-27vs Boise State | 11 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 11 tackles |
| Wk 2 | L 31-39@ Oklahoma State | 4 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 3 | W 84-0vs Portland State | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Wk 4 | W 41-27@ No. 12 USC | 7 | 6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Wk 6 | L 15-17vs No. 21 UCLA | 11 | 8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Wk 7 | W 17-14vs Nebraska | 6 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 8 | L 10-21@ Illinois | 6 | 3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 9 | W 34-26vs No. 20 Northwestern | 7 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 53 | 28 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 2 | 1 |
Oct. 31 · W 34-26 vs Northwestern, play by play
7 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
His game this year: taking the ball away — 2 interceptions in the 8 games with play by play.
How Oregon’s defense played that day
Northwestern’s 11 drives: 5 stopped · 6 scored. While the game was within a score they held 5 of 11.
6 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
6 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
11 tackles, including 1 interception. His interception on 3rd and 5 ended UCLA’s drive (int).
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. It places 12 for him; the box score credits 11.
Intercepted on 3rd and 5. Second quarter, down 10-6. Ended UCLA’s drive (int).
7 tackles, including 1 interception. His interception ended USC’s drive (int).
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Intercepted. Fourth quarter, up 41-27. Ended USC’s drive (int).
1 tackle, including 1 pass broken up.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
4 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
11 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Conference ranks count every player in the conference with a row in that stat, any position. Career ranks count current FBS players, from the games in our log.
Ratings of the games shown run from +7 to +15 points against an average team (SP+ rating of each opponent).
Where his impact shows up on the stat sheet
PD rate
2%1 pass breakupsInterceptions
2interceptionsTackle volume
53tackles this seasonTFL rate
1%0 TFL53 tackles · 0.5 for loss · 1 pass breakup · 2 interceptions.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 8 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home5g | 7.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 |
| Road3g | 5.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-76g | 6.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 |
| Weeks 8+2g | 6.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Dan Lanning
Pass share
52.9%
289 pass / 257 run
Plays / game
68.2
8 games
Team sack rate
3.5%
313 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Balanced.
Player standing · 2025
Picked for an all-conference team by at least one selector.
2026 is in progress.
Honored in a first season.
Trophy case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
ALL-BIG TEN · 2ND TEAM
All-Big Ten 2nd team (2025)
Weekly recognition
1 weekly honor (2024)
Big Ten Freshman Player of the Week
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
2 coachesPlayed for 2 head coaches at 2 schools: P.J. Fleck and Dan Lanning.
Next stop · Transfer
Transferred to Oregon
