Oregon's Roster Gets Disappointing Ranking From CBS Sports

The Oregon Ducks are firmly in the national championship conversation this spring.

Of course, that doesn't mean anything, as there is much football to practice before games start in August.

Oregon should be a favorite to win the national championship with quarterback Dante Moore returning. He's the No. 1 prospect on many scouts’ boards around the NFL for the 2027 draft. 

Moore has plenty of talent around him on offense, including Dakorien Moore  and Evan Stewart.

The Ducks have several defenders that are striking fear around the college football world. 

Brad Crawford of CBS Sports ranked the Ducks as having the No. 4 roster in the country. He thinks the defensive line is the best unit on the team and the best that head coach Dan Lanning has had.

However, Crawford ranked Oregon behind Texas, Ohio State and Georgia. 

"No wonder Dante Moore decided to run it back at Oregon," Crawford wrote. "With weapons around him like tight end Jamari Johnson, the thunder and lighting combo of Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. in the backfield and big-play ability on the outside, Moore's numbers could dwarf a campaign last fall that led to him being a projected top-5 selection.

"Oregon's expected to start seniors across the board along the defensive front and linebacker positions, giving Dan Lanning the most talented unit he's had in Eugene. Pair veterans like Matayo Uiagaleleli, A'Mauri Washington and Teitum Tuioti inside the front seven with lockdown corner Brandon Finney Jr. and you have a high-end defense at all levels that could be the Big Ten's best."

Ranking Texas above the Ducks is fair. Arch Manning will rival Moore for the Heisman Trophy vote this season and could be the No. 1 pick in the 2027 draft. The team added a ton of help for the offense in the transfer portal.

Ohio State has the best player in the country with wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, but there are questions about how the defense is going to replace the several starters that went in April's draft. Quarterback Julian Sayin has much to show in elite games.

Georgia feels like a bold team to put above Oregon. The Bulldogs will have plenty of NFL talent, but they don't have the household names that the Ducks will have in the fall.