Where Oregon Ducks stand in ESPN's SP+ for 2026 season
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Computers and Oregon have a long history, starting with the game Oregon Trail for one of the first Apple computers in the early 1980s. It’s how a lot of us learned what dysentery is.
Since then, computers and Oregon football have become a little more complicated. You can now watch Duck football on a computer that can fit in your hand.
Computer ratings have also become more complicated, and according to ESPN’s SP+ ratings, Oregon should be one of the top teams in the country and seriously contend for a national championship for the 2026 season.
The rankings take four different things into account, which include returning production, recent history, recent recruiting, and the effects of recent coaching changes. Oregon has an abundance of all of those heading into this season. It has to be the reason the Ducks are No. 2 in these ratings, just behind new rival Ohio State.
According to ESPN writer Bill Connelly, it might just be the Ducks’ turn to take all the marbles.
“If the Big Ten is to extend its streak to four different national champions in four years — following Michigan in 2023, Ohio State in 2024, and Indiana last fall — it’s pretty clear that Oregon is the runaway favorite in that regard,” he said. “But Oregon might have to topple a familiar foe to finally win its title ring. Ohio State starts out as a comfortable No. 1 in SP+. That makes sense, of course, as the Buckeyes were No. 1 for most of last season, they boast an immaculate recent history, and they’re a healthy 31st in returning production. They start out a bit ahead of Oregon, Notre Dame, Georgia, and the other most likely contenders.”
Oregon has an overall SP+ rating of 28.3, while the Buckeyes have a 31.8 rating, just barely beating out the Ducks. But Oregon does beat out the Buckeyes in offense, defense and special teams, but when you factor in other intangibles such as recruiting and coaching, Ohio State is still on top, with defending national champion Indiana coming in at No. 5
Thankfully, the actual games aren’t determined on the computer and instead are played out on the field with actual athletes.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Where ESPN’s SP+ has Oregon Ducks before 2026 college football season
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