High-stakes expectations and a loaded Oregon roster have experts projecting a deep College Football Playoff run, positioning Dan Lanning’s squad as a premier national championship contender this winter.
With a loaded roster that includes likely 2027 first-round pick quarterback Dante Moore, the Oregon Ducks would be surely disappointed if the upcoming season ended with a traditional bowl game appearance.
The Ducks are thinking about the College Football Playoff, and more importantly, a run to the national championship. If this team fails to make the CFP, serious questions about Dan Lanning's ability to lead the team to the title game should be asked.
Brad Crawford of CBS Sports recently revealed his prediction for bowl games this winter. He has the Ducks making the CFP, playing in the quarterfinal round in the Rose Bowl between the winner of a first-round matchup between Ole Miss at Indiana.
If that's the case, one would expect the Hoosiers to rocket past the Rebels for a rematch of January's semifinal at the Peach Bowl. IU won that contest 56-22, but lost a lot of players to the draft, like No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza.
Oregon should be better prepared to play Indiana or any other team in the country this year.
On his show earlier this week, college football analyst Josh Pate, like Crawford, thinks the Ducks are the No. 3 team in the country, though he thinks they will make the national championship to play Texas.
“And I also think that Oregon kind of as a program, they sort of built to (win) this year," Pate said. "That doesn't mean that they were incapable of winning before, but it's like you put yourself in range of playoff and title contention every year. But some years you'll be closer than other years.
"Like Ohio State in 2024, that was their year. They're still going to be close enough every other year. Texas, this is their year. Well, Oregon, this is one of those years. Speaking of Texas, got them at number two. This is the year.”
The Ducks are facing a lot of pressure to succeed this fall, and that could be on of the bigger obstacles they face this season, given their tough schedule.
But the expectations are high in the preseason for a reason.