After years of falling short in the playoffs, Dan Lanning’s veteran-led roster and a dominant defensive line finally position the Oregon Ducks to claim college football’s ultimate prize.
The pressure might be mounting for Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning for the upcoming season.
Lanning appears to have made a wise decision not to leave for an NFL offer or look for a pay raise from another college program during the offseason.
Oregon appears ready to compete for a College Football Playoff national championship in the upcoming season. With quarterback Dante Moore returning, the Ducks will have their most loaded roster under Lanning.
The Ducks made the CFP after winning the Big Ten in 2024, only to be blown out in the quarterfinal round by Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.
In 2025, Oregon won two CFP games, shutting out Texas Tech 23-0 in the Orange Bowl before being destroyed 56-22 by Indiana in the semifinal at the Peach Bowl.
During "The Joel Klatt Show" on Monday, the host argued that the Ducks are ready to take the next step in 2026. He's predicting Oregon will win the national championship during his way-too-early ranking for the fall.
"I'm going to have Oregon at number one," Klatt said. "And I look at the blueprint of the teams that have won the last two national championships, really the last three national championships, and Oregon fits that blueprint to a T.
"To a T, they are going to be a veteran-led team with talent coming back everywhere. They are going to be the best defensive line in the country. They are going to have an experienced quarterback."
Klatt believes the returning talent for the Ducks will put this team over the edge.
“They got to the national semifinal a year ago," Klatt said. "I believe this is a team that will compete for and be in the national championship game. And I told you about all that veteran talent.
"Take a look at all this talent that this team has coming back. Veteran talent, it starts at quarterback with Dante Moore. You go out wide, Dakorien Moore at wide receiver, Jeremiah McClellan at wide receiver.
"By the way, Evan Stewart is going to be back. He participated in spring ball. Jordon Davison back at running back, Jamari Johnson at tight end."
The Ducks have the talent to win a national championship, but the focus is going to be on Lanning and his new offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer and defensive coordinator Chris Hampton to deliver.
With the money Oregon has invested in this roster, the program needs to make a deep run in the CFP. If the Ducks have another ending in the playoffs like the last two seasons, questions should be asked if Lanning can ever get it done.