What it Will Take for Oregon Ducks, Dan Lanning to Win it All This Season

Oregon football enters the 2026 season with sky-high expectations, but several obstacles stand between Dan Lanning's Ducks and their first national championship.

Jan. 9, 2026; Oregon head coach Dan Lanning watches the Ducks battle the Indiana Hoosiers in the Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Oregon Ducks coach Dan Lanning was quite emphatic when asked whether he’s allowed himself to enjoy the Ducks’ historic No. 2 ranking in the AP preseason poll.

“Hell no,” Lanning said on Aug. 19 during a weekly press conference.

Jan 9, 2026; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore drops back to pass against the Indiana Hoosiers during the Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Oregon finds itself at or near the top of most preseason rankings, including ESPN, which has slotted Lanning’s squad at No. 4 in the country to kick off the season. The Ducks are in an enviable position, considering the AP preseason No. 2 has won a national title four times in the playoff era, the most of any slot.

Lanning, however, understands the potential traps that arrive with the hype. Look no further than last year’s Peach Bowl when preseason AP No. 20 thumped the Ducks en route to a CFP championship.

“Have you ever seen a preseason poll that was right at the end of the year?” Lanning said.

Oregon has been close to this position before but has fallen short of expectations. So, what needs to happen this season for the Ducks to cross that elusive threshold?

Protect Dante Moore, Win Joe Moore Award

Lanning’s offensive lines have established themselves among the elite, earning three consecutive Joe Moore Award finalist nods recognizing the nation’s top offensive fronts.

Oregon boasted the highest-graded pass-blocking unit in the nation (89.3) during the regular season, while ranking No. 5 in the yards per carry (5.8) and No. 14 in rushing yards per game (218.4 yards), including six contests with more than 200 yards on the ground.

Sept. 14, 2024; Oregon center Iapani Laloulu lines up for a snap versus the Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

It all came crashing down, however, in the Peach Bowl where the Ducks rushed for a mere 93 yards, 71 of which came courtesy of a Dierre Hill Jr. scamper.

Oregon enters the season down guard Emmanuel Pregnon and tackles Isaiah World and Alex Harkey from the unit, leaving only center Iapani "Pancho" Laloulu and Dave Iuli as returning starters. Offensive line coach A’lique Terry will likely fill the gaps with guard Kawika Rogers, tackles Fox Crader and Gernorris Wilson, as well as Yale transfer Michael Bennett III. Younger players like Tommy Tofi and Immanuel Iheanacho may also have an early impact.

The group has experience but needs to find its footing quickly given the relentless nature of the Big Ten defenses and to open the run game for quarterback Dante Moore to succeed through the air.

Replace Oregon Ducks' Playmakers

Former Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman wrapped up 96 tackles in 2025 before the Chicago Bears came calling with the No. 25 overall pick. Lanning dove into the transfer portal to land its top-rated safety Koi Perich out of Minnesota. The junior registered 128 career tackles with the Golden Gophers and led the Big Ten with 5 interceptions as a freshman.

Now Perich is being asked to replace one of the defense’s anchors.

July 28, 2025; Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman speaks with reporters during the Ducks Media Day at Autzen Stadium in Eugene. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Former Ducks star Kenyon Sadiq earned Big Ten Tight End of the Year honors after a 560-yard, 8 touchdown campaign that saw him set a school record with 51 catches. With Sadiq now with the New York Jets, Jamari Johnson becomes the next man up. While he pulled in 510 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2025, the redshirt junior needs to step up and become a No. 1-caliber target.

That’s the conference’s reigning Tight End of the Year as well as one of the defense’s anchors and the heart of the backfield that needs to be replaced.

Upset Alert

Since being upset by Oregon State in his first season, Dan Lanning’s squad has lost only five times in the three years since. Those losses came to Washington (twice in 2023), Ohio State (2024) and Indiana (twice in 2025), with three coming when the Ducks’ season was on the line. The Buckeyes and Hoosiers went on to win it all, while Washington fell in the title game.

Jan 1, 2025; Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Davison Igbinosun, right, pushes Oregon Ducks running back Noah Whittington out of bounds in the 2025 Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

The Ducks have managed to avoid the upset sting, but, as their 11-1 record last year indicated, one blemish can be all it takes to sink a once-promising season.

Ohio State fits the bill as a foil once again. The two programs will meet on Nov. 7 in Columbus with control of the conference potentially on the line. Road trips to face USC and Michigan State will present serious challenges, but the Ducks are fortunate to play host to Michigan and Washington.

How the Oregon Ducks Win

A lot must go right for Oregon to finally cross that title threshold. Rebuilding the offensive line, replacing key cogs on both sides of the ball and surviving the Big Ten gauntlet are among them, but manageable.

Dec 7, 2024; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning, right, hugs quarterback Dillon Gabriel after defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

Thankfully, games are played on world class turf, rather than in the polls.

“The people that make those polls have nothing to do with the results on the field,” Lanning said. “So, let’s focus on the things that we control.”

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