Oregon Ducks Receive Surprising College Football Playoff Prediction

The No. 7 Oregon Ducks are quickly closing in on their 2025 campaign. With the start of a new season comes new predictions. 12 ESPN college football analysts were called upon to each put together their College Football Playoff rankings from No. 1 through No. 12.

Only Two Big Ten Teams Unanimously Selected In Prediction

Ryan Day Ohio State Buckeyes Dan Lanning Oregon Ducks College Football Playoff Rankings — Ohio State head coach Ryan Day speaks to the media at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Thursday, July 31, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. | Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Out of the 12 ESPN college football analysts, all of them had the Ohio State Buckeyes and Penn State Nittany Lions ranked somewhere in the CFP at the end of the season. 11 out of 12 analysts had Oregon ranked in their top-12 teams, with the Ducks earning rankings as low as No. 10 and as high as No. 6. Most rankings for Oregon came at No. 7 or No. 8.

It should be noted that one analyst who omitted Oregon from her CFP prediction, Andrea Adelson, went against the grain on most of her other picks as well. Adelson did not have Texas or Penn State ranked at No. 1 like most other analysts, but she had Clemson instead.

Adelson was also the only one to pick Nebraska to make the college football playoff.

Texas, Ohio State Matchup's Serious CFP Implications

Oregon Ducks dan lanning dante moore ryan day ohio state steve sarkisian texas longhorns — July 15, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian speaks during SEC Media Days at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. | Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Also important to note is the fact that no analyst had more than three Big Ten teams in their college football playoff prediction. The week 1 game between Ohio State and Texas could have some massive CFP implications down the line. Should the Buckeyes drop that game, that loss could very well be one that helps Oregon reach the playoff, should they finish around the same record as Ohio State.

The Ducks were the No. 1 ranked team in the CFP last season, but a handful of Ducks fans felt after the Rose Bowl Game that the No. 1 seed somewhat worked against Oregon. The Ducks did not receive a “tune-up” game in the College Football Playoff, as they were thrust into action after having three weeks off.

The Ducks lost to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, and the Buckeyes went on to be crowned national champions.

MORE: Oregon Ducks Battling SEC Powerhouse For Elite Offensive Line Recruit Jayden Dean

MORE: Oregon Ducks Transfer Quarterback Earns California Golden Bears Starting Job

MORE: College Football Analyst Reveals Biggest Concern On Oregon Ducks Roster

MORE: Why Oregon Ducks Freshman Dakorien Moore's Hype Isn't Too High

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates a first down catch during the second half of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against the Oregon Ducks at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2025. Ohio State won 41-21. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Oregon's average ranking fell around No. 7. That could mean history for Oregon, as it would see the Ducks host a CFP game at Autzen Stadium for the first time ever. A playoff game at Autzen Stadium would also be a strong contender to break the all-time attendance record set on October 12, 2024, when 60,129 fans watched the Oregon Ducks defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes.

The Ducks will hope to once again reach the College Football Playoff for the second year in a row. The Ducks' last CFP win came back in 2015, when they defeated Florida State in the Rose Bowl to advance to the National Championship.

Oregon's 2025 season starts on Saturday, Aug. 30, against the Montana State Bobcats.