Oregon Ducks' Biggest Advantage in College Football Playoff Revealed

The Oregon Ducks are the No. 5 ranked team in the College Football Playoff and will host the No. 12 James Madison Dukes at Autzen Stadium in the first round. Will last year's playoff disappointment end up helping coach Dan Lanning and the Ducks?

Nov 8, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning enters Kinnick Stadium before the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes. | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

The 12-team College Football Playoff field is now set. The Oregon Ducks finished the 2025 season with a record of 11-1. This landed them the No. 5 seed in the playoff. 

Oregon will not receive a bye to the quarterfinals, but will host a first round game against the No. 12 James Madison Dukes at Autzen Stadium. Coming off their disappointing exit in last season’s playoff, On3’s J.D. PicKell said on his show that he believes this can help coach Dan Lanning and his Ducks. 

PicKell on Oregon Heading Into Playoff: “They’re Hungry”

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning talks to players in the fourth quarter as the Oregon Ducks face the Penn State Nittany Lions on Sept. 27, 2025, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

PicKell is high on the Ducks heading into to the playoff this season. 

“Look at Oregon’s draw. I think it’s fair to make the case they have the most workable path in the College Football Playoff…If it’s about psychology, are you really betting against Dan Lanning? I wouldn’t,” PicKell said. “I think there is arguably nobody better in college football when it comes to being an elite communicator in getting their team ready to rock and roll.”

In 2024, Oregon went undefeated through the regular season and capped it off with a Big Ten championship to earn the No. 1 ranking in the playoff. It was a short stay for the Ducks, who were dominated in their first game against the eventual national champion Ohio State Buckeyes. 

“Last year’s shortcomings I think will only bolster that statement when it comes to what Oregon is this year,” PicKell said. “They’re hungry, got an edge to them. I think Dan Lanning is going to fix the issues they had in last year’s College Football Playoff run when it comes to preparation. I promise they’ll be ready to roll from the jump.”

Oregon wide receiver Malik Benson breaks away for a touchdown as the Oregon Ducks take on the Washington Huskies on Nov. 29, 2025, at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Despite not having as high of a ranking and a loss already on the season, this year’s Ducks may be better than they were a year ago. Add on top of that the extra experience that the coaching staff has and one can make the argument this team is in a better spot to go on a run.

Psychology played a big factor in last year's playoff. Oregon has a psycho at head coach with his 2nd CFP at-bat. I like it.https://t.co/TyTtChty1h pic.twitter.com/c0sbk9XVwc

— J.D. PicKell (@jdpickell) December 8, 2025

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Oregon Hosting First Round Playoff Game 

Sep 5, 2025; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; James Madison Dukes quarterback Matthew Sluka (9) fakes a handoff to running back George Pettaway (6) during the second half against the Louisville Cardinals at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. Louisville defeated James Madison 28-14. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Oregon’s playoff journey will begin at Autzen Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 20 against the James Madison Dukes. JMU won the Sun Belt conference championship to secure their first ever trip to the CFP. 

If Oregon were to take care of business at home, they would move on to the Orange Bowl where they would play the No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders in Miami, Florida. If the Ducks were to win their first two games in the CFP, Lanning and company would face the winner of the Rose Bowl (either the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers, No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners, or No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide) for a spot in the National Championship.