Anonymous Big Ten coach claims Oregon has 'best roster in college football'
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After spring practice wrapped, the expectations for the Oregon Ducks in the upcoming season only grew. The Ducks are believed to be one of the best teams in the country, thanks to their blend of returning starters and elite recruiting classes, and should contend for the program’s first national championship once again.
The Big Ten has won the last three championships, each by a different program. Oregon could be next in line with Dante Moore passing on the NFL for one more season under center in Eugene. Within the conference, one Big Ten coach thinks the Ducks might have a leg up on the rest of the country because of their loaded roster.
“That might be the best roster in college football,” an anonymous Big Ten coach told Athlon Sports. “With the returners they have on the D-line and the back end, with the addition of Koi Perich from Minnesota — and then offensively, they basically return everyone but Malik Benson, Kenyon Sadiq and a couple running backs, but they played three running backs all year. They lose a couple O-linemen, but I think they feel fine about it. (Dante Moore) was the best quarterback we faced last year.”
The biggest change for the Oregon offense might be off the field, with Drew Mehringer taking over as play-caller and offensive coordinator after Will Stein left to become the head coach at Kentucky. The Ducks are loaded with playmakers around Moore, including wideouts Dakorien Moore, Evan Stewart and Jeremiah McClellan, potentially the top tight end in the country in Jamari Johnson, and Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. forming a powerful duo in the backfield.
Defensively, Chris Hampton is also taking over as a coordinator following the departure of Tosh Lupoi. The Ducks will shift their scheme slightly this season with a more seasoned group in the secondary, which added Perich, and possibly the best defensive line in the country.
“With them, the key is going to be how their coordinators put their guys in position to make plays because at no point did I think what they did on defense was super complicated,” the anonymous Big Ten coach said. “But it was just so sound and everyone was doing their job at a high level. When you watch them on tape, they look like a team with a lot of 5-stars.”
Dan Lanning has continued to stack stars in recruiting classes and through the transfer portal to help the Ducks contend, but this might be the best roster in terms of starting talent and depth since Lanning arrived in Eugene before the 2022 season.
A lot of Oregon’s success will ride on Moore’s ability to improve in big games, and the Ducks should get some early answers. The Ducks will host playoff contender Boise State to begin the season before taking a trip to Stillwater to face a rebuilt Oklahoma State team. Oregon has conference matchups against Ohio State, Michigan, USC and Washington as well.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Anonymous Big Ten coach heaps praise on Oregon Ducks 2026 roster
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