To replace Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota following the 2014 season, Oregon successfully recruited graduate transfer Vernon Adams Jr. from nearby Eastern Washington.
The move paid off.
Adams led the Pac-12 Conference in pass efficiency as the Ducks won nine games.
After Adams’ departure, they followed the same template, plucking another grad transfer quarterback from the FCS ranks.
Montana State’s Dakota Prukop was next up.
The payoff wasn’t quite the same this time.
Oregon, which visits the Coliseum on Saturday to face USC, struggled on offense early this season.
Coach Mark Helfrich found himself in a similar position to USC’s Clay Helton.