The Oregon Ducks suffered another blowout loss in the College Football Playoff when the Indiana Hoosiers demolished them in the Peach Bowl last month. It was the second consecutive humiliating loss for coach Dan Lanning’s Ducks, despite being labeled a national championship favorite.
The Hoosiers’ national championship win continued a trend of Big Ten teams dominating the College Football Playoff, marking the third consecutive season in which a team from the conference has been crowned champion.
Oregon Tabbed To Win National Championship
After a stellar transfer portal window, the Ducks once again have one of the most talented rosters in the country. On Saturday, PFSN analyst Ryan Guthrie gave Lanning’s team the best chance of winning next season’s national championship, citing the Ducks’ improved secondary and retention of their offensive talent.
“8.57% chance to win the national championship (PFSN CFP Playoff Meter). Could the Big Ten really win another national championship? Absolutely,” Guthrie wrote. “Oregon returns QB Dante Moore, who was viewed as the QB2 in the 2026 NFL Draft according to PFSN’s consensus big board, before opting to run it back.
“The Ducks also return elite edge rushers, add Koi Perich (Minnesota), the top safety in the portal, and bring back breakout freshman corner Brandon Finney Jr. That secondary might be the best in the country.”
The Big Ten’s powers have alternated as conference and national champions, with the Michigan Wolverines, Ohio State Buckeyes, and Indiana Hoosiers sharing that honor in the past three years.
Analyst Pegs Dan Lanning’s Ducks As Natty Dark Horses
The future of Dante Moore was the sticking point of the Ducks’ offseason, and after his return to Eugene and the signing of Dylan Raiola as a backup, the Ducks’ offensive depth is among the best in the country. In addition, Oregon will welcome back talented wide receiver Evan Stewart, who had a patellar tendon injury last season.
During Monday’s segment of the “Josh Pate College Football Show,” analyst Josh Pate included the Ducks as one of his dark horses to contend for the national championship next season.
“I kind of think as we got down the stretch of last year, I got the vibe more and more from them (Oregon), they felt that group was kind of a year away,” Pate said. “(Quarterback Dante Moore) is back, and if I could just have that crew largely back, and then I could get better injury luck…Oregon’s a good team.”
Lanning has compiled an impressive 48-8 record since he took the Ducks job in Dec. 2021, including a Big Ten title, a 3-2 record in bowl games, and a balanced 2-2 record in the College Football Playoff.
