Months of speculation surrounding who may or may not start for Oregon when they tee things up for real on September 1 vs. Bowling Green is finally over.

On Monday, Ducks head coach Mario Cristobal made available the official depth chart (reflected here) for Saturday’s season opener, giving us a crystallized glimpse at the players most likely to start and see extensive playing time as the much anticipated season gets underway.

Below we take a look at the biggest takeaways from the unveiling of the depth chart, and try to put into context what it might mean for the Ducks in 2018.

Burmeister, Shough continue to battle it out for QB2

Following a lengthy offseason that included tight competition through winter conditioning, spring drills, and fall camp, it appears there is still very little that separates sophomore Braxton Burmeister and true freshman Tyler Shough for the backup quarterback spot behind clear-cut starter Justin Herbert. On Monday, both players were listed as “OR” in reference to the backup quarterback position. Burmeister has been mentioned throughout the offseason as a player who has made marked improvement after posting a 1-4 record through five games as the starter last season in the aftermath of Herbert’s collarbone injury. Known primarily as a scrambler, Burmeister struggled as a true freshman when he was confined to the pocket, largely lacking the poise, vision, and accuracy to be a consistent downfield threat as a passer. How far he’s come may shed light on how far Shough needs to go in order to pass Burmeister on the depth chart. Rated as a four-star prospect and the top overall prospect in the state of Arizona by 247Sports’ Composite Rankings, Shough possesses many of the same physical qualities as Herbert when he arrived on campus in 2016. At 6-foot-5 and 204 pounds, Shough has a big arm and a large frame, which will allow him to tack on healthy weight as he matures. His performance in the spring game, which saw him completed 5-of-8 passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns, provided glimpses of his tantalizing potential, however developing consistency and familiarity within the offense will be critical to his hopeful progression.

No clarity at running back behind Tony Brooks-James

The talk entering fall camp was whether senior Tony Brooks-James would be able to fend off a hoard of challengers at running back in order to hold down the starting job. Now that fall camp has concluded, it appears as if Brooks-James has solidified his standing as the starter, while the rest of the supporting cast tries to separate themselves from one another. Redshirt freshman CJ Verdell was expected to be Brooks-James’ primary competition at the beginning of August, but an undisclosed injury has reportedly limited him the past several practices. The same kind of circumstances befell sophomore Darrian Felix and true freshman Travis Dye during fall camp, as both players nursed injuries for extended stretches. With that said, Cristobal remarked that he anticipates that all three will be “full-go” for the opener. Senior Taj Griffin and redshirt freshman Cyrus Habibi-Likio were healthy throughout fall camp, though neither was able to gain a leg up on the competition. Given the easy non-conference schedule, look for a definitive pecking order to be established here over the next three weeks.

Redd edges out Hines as starting slot receiver

It would have been interesting to see what might have occurred had Tabari Hines been healthy from the outset of fall camp. After undergoing a relatively minor surgical procedure on his knee this offseason, Hines – the Wake Forest grad transfer – was largely sidelined for the first week, week and half of fall camp. Once he got his legs under him, however, he made a rapid ascent up the depth chart at slot receiver. Sophomore Jaylon Redd nursed a minor ding of his own towards the tail end of fall camp, but showed enough over the first few weeks to hold off Hines and earn the starting nod for Saturday’s game. Expect this to be a back and forth battle between the two as the season unfolds.

McCormick, Breeland listed as co-starters at tight end

One of the more surprising developments over the early portion of fall camp was redshirt sophomore Cam McCormick’s place atop the tight end depth chart over redshirt junior Jacob Breeland, who many expected to be the undisputed starter to begin the year despite a nagging back injury that lingered over the course of last season and into the offseason. Breeland’s injury, however, seemed to be enough of a hindrance that it opened the door for McCormick, who has made steady improvement year after year since arriving on campus in 2016. In general, the competition at tight end will be fascinating to watch. Not only will McCormick and Breeland figure heavily into the mix, but so will USF grad transfer Kano Dillon and redshirt junior Ryan Bay, who each reportedly provided encouraging moments of their own these past several weeks.

Sewell, Warmack lock up starting job along the offensive line

Everyone knew going into fall camp that the Oregon offensive line was both massive and stocked full of talented options. What wasn’t necessarily expected, however, was the emergence of newcomers to team in true freshman Penei Sewell and Alabama grad transfer Dallas Warmack. While it comes as no surprise that either player was able to position themselves for considerable playing time entering the season, to see both players beat out established veterans for starting jobs is noteworthy. Particularly in the case of Sewell, who comes to Eugene as one of the highest rated offensive linemen to ever sign with the Ducks. Though he’s listed as an “OR” alongside Brady Aiello and Calvin Throckmorton, Sewell is the first name listed at right tackle; a reward for his consistently stellar play throughout the month of August.

Apelu, Slade-Matautia pegged as co-starters at MIKE linebacker

One of the more heated competitions during fall camp evidently sits at a dead heat, as senior Kaulana Apelu and redshirt freshman Isaac Slade-Matautia have been listed as co-starters on the opening week depth chart. A former walk-on, Apelu hasn’t flinched in the head-to-head battle with Slade-Matautia, who has drawn rave reviews from fellow teammates and members of the coaching staff this offseason. Though undersized and coming off a season-ending ankle injury, Apelu flashed playmaking potential in the spring game with his 100-yard interception return for a touchdown. He’s currently the first name listed on the depth chart, but expect Slade-Matautia to chip away at playing time along with sophomore Sampson Niu, who had a promising fall camp of his own after nursing an injury that sidelined him in the spring.

True freshmen secure backup roles in the secondary

Oregon’s lack of depth at corner has been well-documented this offseason, though Monday’s release of the depth chart for the season opener offers hope that the depth concerns aren’t as dire as originally thought. After arriving in Eugene this past January, true freshman Verone McKinley has reportedly made tremendous strides in his development, and will likely be a primary fixture in the rotation at nickel alongside senior defensive back Ugo Amadi this season. In addition to McKinley, true freshman Kahlef Hailassie has similarly positioned himself for considerable playing time this season after a very impressive past couple weeks of fall camp. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 188 pounds, Hailassie is a player who could be just scratching the surface of his potential, as his body type, athleticism, and physicality provide him with the tools to be a potential star. Lastly, after his spectacular performance throughout fall camp, safety Jevon Holland is listed as the primary backup to Amadi at free safety. Rated as one of the best safety prospect to ever pledge to the Ducks, Holland quickly earned a reputation as a turnover machine over the course of fall practices. Like Sewell, Holland has blown teammates and coaches away with his natural talents since stepping foot in Eugene. Expect him to be a significant contributor on defense this season.

A pair of walk-ons win jobs as specialists

Though the odds were largely stacked against them, redshirt junior Blake Maimone and redshirt senior Devin Melendez have earned starting nods at punter and long snapper, respectively. Having attempted only one punt that traveled 46 yards since arriving at Oregon as a walk-on, the 6-foot-6 Maimone beat out sophomore Adam Stack (last year’s starting punter) and true freshman Tom Snee, who comes to Oregon from Melbourne, Australia having yet to face a live rush while punting in a game setting. Melendez hasn’t appeared in a game since his true freshman year in 2014, though he edged out true freshman and former U.S. Army All-American Karsten Battles, who Cristobal says will also receive reps as the long snapper in games this season.