“Coming Home (Oregon)” by Mat Kearney is the iconic song played during the interlude between the first and second quarters of the University of Oregon football games. It is a tradition that started when the Eugene native released his song in 2015. It is also Liv Ingamells’ touchdown tune every time she lands at the Eugene Airport — a ritual she began before her freshman year at UO in 2023. Each time she flies in from a school break, she turns on her “Go Ducks” playlist where “Coming Home (Oregon)” sits at the top of the queue.

The young Duck heard the song for the first time at IntroDUCKtion, and now she will be hearing it live from the Autzen Stadium field at her first-ever spring game on April 27. 

Oregon football fans found out on April 8 via social media that Kearney and his band would be “Coming Home” for a postgame concert in Autzen. In the GoDucks Instagram post, head coach Dan Lanning “called in a favor” from the folk-pop musician who gladly accepted the invitation. 

“I immediately texted my roommates when I found out,” Ingamells, originally from California, said. “Of course, we love singing “Shout,” but there is something about his song that just resonates with me. Even though I’ve only known about it for less than a year, I feel like I’ve been singing it my whole life.” 

For some Oregon students, this song has actually been playing from their family’s stereo and speakers since they were little. 

“I grew up listening to Mat; every time we traveled to Oregon to visit my grandmother, my mom would play the song for us,” said Thatcher Downard, a third-year business student. “All of my memories coming to Oregon are encapsulated in the song, so it is always a good reminder of my love for my family and Oregon.”

Downard’s mom, grandmother and two brothers — Duck alumni and fellow third-year student — will also be in Autzen on Saturday for the intrasquad scrimmage and outdoor, open-access show. 

“I expect my whole family to be voiceless after the day, from cheering on the Ducks and shouting the lyrics to Kearny’s songs,” the Arkansas native said. He says the spring game is the closest equivalent to the southern college football scene — where the streets are packed before games and the weather is sunny and in the seventies.  

The prospect of a sunny day watching football with friends in Autzen is enticing, especially for UO senior Cameron Truong who said, “I love the spring game atmosphere and attire. Everyone’s there to have fun, and it’s one of the few games you don’t have to bundle up and wear jeans to.”

While Saturday’s game will mark Truong’s last time stylishly sitting in either Section 7 or 8, the seats reserved for UO students, it will be the first time for many Oregon football players to show off their skill in front of energetic Duck fans. 

So, on top of the traditional spring game festivities, many student fans are also looking forward to scouting out the new additions to Oregon’s stacked roster. 

Freshman Julian Rousseau-Tuan said, “I watched a little bit of Dillon Gabriel last season at Oklahoma, so I am curious to see how he works here at Oregon.” Gabriel will make his Duck debut and lead command behind the offensive line in Eugene while Oregon’s former quarterback, Bo Nix, will be in Detroit, Michigan, for the last round of the NFL Draft. 

Beyond just the anticipated new face and uniform number at quarterback, the other notable transfers and early enrollees generating discussion around campus and among the fanbase include wide receiver Evan Stewart, defensive tackle Ja’Maree Caldwell, defensive back Aaron Flowers and cornerback Jabbar Muhammad. 

“I hope to see Jabbar do his viral celebration, where he outlines a box and puts two thumbs down,” Rousseau-Tuan said, mimicking the motion. Fans will get to see their team’s newest stars and learn some of their personalized celebrations. 

Regardless of why students attend the spring game — Kearney, the climate or the new roster — Duck football fans will be “Coming Home” to Autzen stadium as the team concludes its spring with the annual spring game. The gates will open at noon to the sound of “Sco Ducks” chants, and the stadium will clear out to the cherished chorus, “Oh, I left my heart in Oregon. Yeah, I left my heart in Oregon (yeah).”