Boasting a loaded roster and top-three ranking, the Ducks emerge as the team to beat. Now, Dan Lanning must prove Oregon can finally conquer college football's biggest stages.
Like last season, Indiana might be underrated for the upcoming season.
After winning the national championship, many outlets are putting the Hoosiers behind Texas, Ohio State, and Miami.
Oregon is popping around the top 3. The top 5 is where the Ducks should be for the upcoming season. With Dante Moore returning, Oregon arguably has the best roster in the country, though Texas should definitely be in that conversation.
The main question for the Ducks is how can head coach Dan Lanning and his new coordinator get the team to play in big games this fall? After suffering two blowout losses in the College Football Playoff, Oregon has to prove they belong in big games.
Richard Johnson of CBS Sports believes the Ducks are the team to beat coming out of spring practice. The offensive line will need to show improvement, but the rest of the roster is stacked.
"A veteran -- yet somewhat unproven -- offensive line does give me pause, but the skill position groups and fearsome defensive front are enough for me to be extremely high on Oregon coming out of spring practice," Johnson wrote.
"We never got to see what this offense can be at full strength, and the complexion will be different under new coordinator Drew Mehringer as will the defense under new coordinator Chris Hampton. But I'm confident in Oregon's current status as the team to beat in college football."
CBS Sports has the Ducks ranked No. 3 in their preseason poll. They have Ohio State No. 1 and Texas No. 2.
Ohio State has talented playmakers on offense with Julian Sayin, running back Bo Jackson and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. However, the defense lost several defensive starters to Day 1 and Day 2 of the draft, and it will be hard to replace Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs.
Texas spent a lot of money in the transfer portal, adding Hollywood Smothers, receiver Cam Coleman and upgrades on the offensive line to protect Arch Manning. If Manning continues to play the way he did in the latter part of the 2025 season, they should be the only competition for the Ducks in January.