Despite a roster loaded with elite talent, Oregon and Dan Lanning’s squad must overcome recurring blowout losses and prove they can finally outmuscle the nation's heavyweights on the biggest stage.
The Oregon Ducks might not have a better opportunity to win the College Football Playoff national championship than they do this season.
The Ducks have a loaded roster that will be led by a potential No. 1 draft pick in quarterback Dante Moore. After being blown out 56-22 by Indiana in the CFP semifinal in January, Oregon should be motivated to take the next step this fall.
Oregon will have a tough schedule, but it has the talent to survive the Big Ten and make a run to the CFP.
With that being said, Joel Klatt is concerned about the Ducks' ability to win in a big game in the CFP. On his show this week, he argued that competing against elite teams will be the biggest litmus test for Oregon in the upcoming season.
“The biggest question for my No. 1 team, Oregon, this one is about their big-game issues," Klatt said on his show, via On3. And they have them. That’s now become an issue. Maybe not quite Penn State-James Franklin, but it’s getting there.
"The one caveat I’ll say about this is that Oregon has taken a step forward every single year. Every single year under Dan Lanning.”
The Ducks won the Big Ten championship in 2024. Last season, they won two CFP games. However, both seasons ended in blowout losses to Big Ten teams.
Lanning won't have an excuse with this team. Oregon has the resources to compete with any team in the country, and they arguably have the best player at the most important position in football.
Lanning believes this team is different. The Ducks have players with high football IQ. However, Oregon will need to work on physicality, something that plagued them in both losses to Indiana last season.
"We became a much more connected team this spring... We have to get stronger," Lanning said after the spring game.
"We have to continue to become the physical team that we've been here in the past. There are a lot of areas still for growth, but I think we're a really smart team right now and understand what we want to accomplish."
Oregon should want to accomplish the national championship.