Fuelled by Dante Moore’s return and a top-five preseason FPI ranking, Dan Lanning’s veteran-heavy roster enters 2026 as a premier national title contender seeking playoff redemption.
With the 2026 college football season just around the corner, Oregon Ducks fans are excited to see how the program will look with its veteran-heavy lineup this year.
Head coach Dan Lanning made it a point of emphasis to utilize the transfer portal this offseason, which should pay dividends during the upcoming season. However, while fans are optimistic about this year’s roster, where does the national media stand regarding Oregon in 2026?
According to ESPN’s preseason FPI, Lanning and the Ducks will enter the 2026 college football season as the fourth-best program in the nation, trailing behind Ohio State, Texas, and Notre Dame.
Oregon’s 2026 Outlook
After falling short of a National Championship during the 2025 College Football Playoffs, it’s safe to say Oregon will be seeking revenge this season.
Luckily for Lanning and his coaching staff, the Ducks were able to retain some of their top veterans from last season, including quarterback Dante Moore. The highly-touted playmaker is coming off an electric 2025 campaign, where he threw for 3,656 yards and 30 touchdowns, while also completing 71 percent of his pass attempts. And while Moore had the opportunity to enter the 2026 NFL Draft, the polished quarterback is set for another massive season in 2026 with Oregon.
In addition to Moore returning, the Ducks’ defense was also able to hold on to defensive tackle A’Mauri Washington, while simultaneously adding multiple veterans through the transfer portal, such as former Minnesota safety Koi Perich. Washington was nothing short of impressive in 2025, recording 45 tackles and 1.5 sacks, but Perich should be an excellent replacement for the Ducks’ former star safety, 2026 first-round pick Dillon Thieneman.
Currently, Oregon is tied for the third-best odds to win the National Championship in 2026 at +750, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The Ducks trail behind the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and are tied with the Texas Longhorns.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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