Even with elite talent, a looming concern threatens Oregon's 2026 season: special teams must improve to avoid holding back the Ducks.
The Oregon Ducks will enter the 2026 season with one of the best college football rosters on paper.
The Ducks will have quarterback Dante Moore under center, who would have likely been a first-round pick if he decided to come out for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Dakorien Moore and Evan Stewart should be elite pass catchers, while Oregon evaluates some talented freshmen this fall. The Ducks’ backfield is stacked. So is most of the defense.
College football analyst Josh Pate has been worried about Oregon's offensive line all offseason. He has a fair point, as the offensive line was a problem in both losses to Indiana.
It certainly wasn't a plus in the 23-0 win over Texas Tech in the College Football Playoff.
In addition to the offensive line, Pate is now worried about the Ducks’ special teams. During "Josh Pate's College Football Show" this week, the host called out special teams coordinator Joe Lorig.
“And I'm going to do Joe Lorig a big favor," Pate said. "Special teams look terrible in the spring game. And so I can only assume that Oregon’s special teams will suck this year until someone proves otherwise.
"And a good close personal friend of the program happens to be the special teams coach up there. So Joe Lorig's just got to do better, just got to do better. I'd hate to see special teams hold them back.”
While special teams are a concern this spring, Pate believes the defensive line might be one of the best units on the field.
"So they bring back their entire starting four on the defensive line," Pate said. "And so Elijah Rushing, Matth(ew) Johnson, like Aydin Breland, those dudes aren't maybe even trotting out there with the ones in week one.
"And it is an extremely deep defensive line group. It's an extremely deep pass-catching group. They may have the first overall pick in the upcoming draft with Dante Moore. So offensive line is going to be a question there.”
No team is going to be without flaws. For the Ducks, they have the firepower to overcome issues with the offensive line and special teams.
Moore can overcome a weak offensive line by getting the ball out of his hands faster and making quicker decisions. After all, working on that was why he returned to Oregon.