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The Oregon Ducks and head coach Dan Lanning are among the best programs ahead of the 2026 college football season.

This offseason, Lanning and his coaching staff did a tremendous job of retaining numerous veterans from last season, while simultaneously adding multiple playmakers via the transfer portal. Oregon's excellence this offseason has put the program in a position to compete for a title this season, and the Ducks are finally gaining hype from national media.

On Tuesday afternoon, USA Today officially released its 2026 Preseason Coaches Poll Top 25, with the Ducks claiming the No. 2 spot.

Oregon's Future Outlook in 2026

After failing to reach the National Championship over the last two seasons, it's clear that Lanning needed to go back to the drawing board this offseason.

The recent wake-up call for Oregon forced the program into making significant moves, including a full effort to retain quarterback Dante Moore, defensive tackle A'Mauri Washington, and EDGE Matayo Uiagalelei. Moore was nothing short of impressive during his first season as the Ducks' starting quarterback in 2025, throwing for 3,565 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. On defense, Washington and Matayo were the main catalysts in the trenches, recording a combined 67 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks.

In addition to the return of multiple key veterans, Lanning also targeted former Minnesota Golden Gophers star safety Koi Perich to replace 2026 first-round pick Dillon Thieneman. The highly-touted defensive back finished his 2025 campaign with 82 tackles, three tackles for loss, and one interception. Perich's versatility on defense will allow him to easily transition into Thieneman's previous role in 2026.

While Oregon's roster may be one of the best in all of college football this season, the program still trails behind the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Preseason Coaches Poll. Led by former Heisman Trophy Finalist Julian Sayin, the fellow Big Ten Conference member is set to take on the Ducks in Columbus on Nov 7.

This year's matchup is the first time these two powerhouses will face off against each other since the 2025 Rose Bowl. In that contest, Ohio State swiftly defeated Oregon, 41-21, thanks to the likes of former quarterback Will Howard and star wideout Jeremiah Smith. Howard threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns, while Smith posted an absurd seven catches for 187 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

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