Michigan Football 2026 Opponent Preview: Oregon

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The Oregon Ducks enter 2026 with aspirations of being the fourth-straight different Big Ten school to win the national title. Dan Lanning’s team returns the best quarterback in the country, the best roster in the Big Ten and a defense built to go the distance. But with two new coordinators, an unproven left tackle and increasing pressure about whether Lanning can win the big one, this season is far from a shoo-in for the Ducks. 

When Michigan travels to Autzen in November for the first time since ‘03, the game could serve as an inflection point, all but locking up a College Football Playoff spot for the winner and relegating the loser to the thick of the bubble conversation.

Let’s better understand why the expectations are so high in Eugene.

Coaching Staff

• Head Coach: Dan Lanning (Fifth season)
• Offensive Coordinator: Drew Mehringer (First season as sole OC & playcaller)
• Defensive Coordinator: Chris Hampton (First season as sole DC & playcaller)

2025 Record

• 13-2 (8-1) Third in the Big Ten

2025 Production Ranks

• Scoring Offense: 10th(Second in the Big Ten)
• Total Offense: 16th (Second in the Big Ten)
• Scoring Defense: 12th (Fourth in the Big Ten)
• Total Defense: Seventh (Third in the Big Ten)

2025 TL;DR Recap

Lanning and the Ducks are 26-3 over the last two years and beat every team on their schedule in 2025 except the eventual national champions. (Similar to 2024, except Oregon was 1-1 against Ohio State that season). Moore developed into the best quarterback in the country, and the defense also had its best statistical season under Lanning. However, the great season/bitter ending — the Game of Thrones corollary — is becoming an unpleasant theme for Oregon, as it once again lost by 20-plus points in a Big Ten rematch in the final game of the season. 

Key Departures

• TE Kenyon Sadiq (51 receptions, 561 yards, eight touchdowns)
• S Dillon Thieneman (96 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions)
• G Emmanuel Pregnon (First-team All-American)
• LB Bryce Boettcher (136 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions, two forced fumbles)
• WR Malik Benson (43 receptions, 719 yards, six touchdowns)
• RB Noah Whittington (829 rushing yards seven total touchdowns)
• LT Isaiah World (Second-team All-Big Ten)
• Offensive Coordinator Will Stein & Defensive Coordinator Tosh Lupoi

Key Returners

• QB Dante Moore (3,565 yards (72 percent completion percentage), 30 touchdowns, 10 interceptions)
• C Iapani Laloulu (30-game starter and Rimington Trophy contender)
• WR Dakorien Moore (34 receptions, 497 yards three touchdowns)
• RB Jordon Davison (667 rushing yards, 15 touchdowns)
• RB Dierre Hill Jr. (656 yards, five touchdowns)
• LB Teitum Tuioti (68 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, two forced fumbles)
• LB Matayo Uiagalelei (34 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, two forced fumbles)
• CB Brandon Finney (42 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions, two forced fumbles)
• DT A’Mauri Washington (33 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack)
• DT Bear Alexander (50 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack)
• WR Evan Stewart (2024: 48 receptions, 613 yards, five touchdowns)

Key Transfer Additions

• DB Koi Perich (Minnesota)
• DB Carl Williams IV (Baylor)
• WR Iverson Hooks (UAB)
• DT D’Antre Robinson (UNC)
• TE Andrew Olesh (Penn State)
• QB Dylan Raiola (Nebraska)

Preseason Preview & Record Predictions

Per Athlon:

“Are the Ducks primed to become the next team to win their first national title? With quarterback Dante Moore and key defenders Matayo Uiagalelei, Bear Alexander, A’Mauri Washington and Teitum Tuioti passing on the NFL for one more season in Eugene, coach Dan Lanning’s squad returns all of the pieces needed to hoist the national championship in ‘26. A line with three new starters and a new play-caller (Drew Mehringer) is the biggest concern on offense. Moore has plenty of help in the passing game with receivers Dakorien Moore, Iverson Hooks, Jeremiah McClellan, and Evan Stewart back, along with tight end Jamari Johnson. And on the ground, the one-two punch of Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill is among the best in the Big Ten. Oregon’s defense also has a new play-caller (Chris Hampton), but eight returning starters provides a strong foundation to prevent any major transition period. Outside of a road game at Ohio State on Nov. 7, the Ducks should be favored in all 11 of their other contests.”

CBS: 11-1

CFN: 10-2 

ESPN FPI: 10.2-2.3

Sports Illustrated: Over 10.5 wins

Maize n Brew Thoughts

With the model of consistency Lanning has built, it’s hard to imagine anything fewer than 10 wins for Oregon in any given season. The Ducks have the most talented roster in the best conference in college football and are in prime position to claim their first national title.

Offensively, no team comes close to matching Oregon’s skill positions. Moore is the Heisman frontrunner. The potent 1-2 punch of Davison and Hill is the most exciting running back tandem in the country, at least until Savion Hiter has his say. And the Ducks always have several dynamic pass catchers on the perimeter. The only potential issue is along the offensive line, a concern that is mitigated with the return of center Iapani Laloulu.

On defense, this unit could be even better than last year. Eight starters return and the defensive line is as good as any single unit in the country. Despite the losses of both coordinators, on paper, everything suggests this is the year for the Ducks with their combination of talent and experience. But there is also an enormous amount of pressure on this program.

Let me pose this to you: Is Lanning on the verge of becoming the next James Franklin? A great regular-season Big Ten coach who struggles to put it together in the biggest moments. To this point, Lanning has had a higher floor than Franklin, but let’s not forget Franklin won 11 or more games in 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2024, and would have benefited more than any single coach from an expanded CFP. Until the Peach Bowl at the end of the 2024 season, the only teams to beat Penn State for two years were Ohio State and Michigan. Similar to what Oregon is experiencing now with Ohio State and Indiana.

“But Andrew, Oregon beat Ohio State.”

Yes, they did in Year 3 under Lanning on that flukey Will Howard slide play as time expired, the same year the Ducks won the Big Ten title. Reminiscent of how Penn State upset the Buckeyes with that blocked kick in Franklin’s third year there in 2016 to help secure the Big Ten title.

It’s not a one-to-one comparison, at least not yet anyway. Lanning could be facing Franklin allegations in five months or could be lauded as the next great coach in college football. A CFP semifinal appearance and the return of the majority of your team is a good way to seize the latter. But it doesn’t guarantee anything — just ask James Franklin.

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