Will the 2o26 ducks make history? Oregon season preview

Oregon is looking to once again compete for its first national title this year. After a disappointing loss to Indiana in the playoffs last year, where the Ducks looked sloppy and disorganized, Dan Lanning's group returned 14 starters, including last year’s projected number 2 pick, Quarterback Dante Moore, who’s looking to compete for the Heisman Trophy and currently has some of the best odds at +900. The Ducks also welcome Evan Stewart back to the receiver room, the standout receiver who had 1776 yards and 11 touchdowns in 3 years at Texas A&M before missing 2025 due to injury. Next to Stewart in the receiver room will be the former #4 overall recruit in the class of 2025, Dakorien Moore, lining up right next to him, who also had a standout season with 500 yards as a true freshman. Dante Moore will have so many elite wideouts to throw to, it’ll be a nightmare for every defense in the country, but the biggest pass-catching draft prospect is actually a tight end, Jamari Johnson, who had over 500 yards while playing behind a first-rounder in Kenyon Sadiq, who was selected with the 16th overall pick to the Jets last year. According to Jordan Reid (ESPN), NFL scouts actually believe Johnson is a step-up from Sadiq, having a more well-rounded game, especially as a pass-catcher and route runner.

The Offensive Line: Except Redshirt Sophomore Crader Fox at left tackle, every player on the Ducks starting offensive line will be in their fourth year or higher, bringing a load of experience on top of having so many elite weapons. The key returner on the line for the Ducks is center Iapani Laloulu, who started every game at center for the Ducks a year ago and has found himself on multiple preseason watch lists for the nation's top interior lineman. After losing OT Josh Conerly to the first round of the NFL draft over the offseason, however, the Ducks line has a big hole to fill. Filling that role will be veteran Andrew Crader, who did not register a sack against him in 68 pass-blocking snaps a year ago. Look for Crader to be a potential weak spot on the offensive line due to his relative inexperience.

Fall Camp Youth?: A notable development out of fall camp is the rise of two true freshman offensive lineman that have pushed for early playing time. 4-star IOL and San Francisco native Tommy Tofi and 6'6 ", 365-pound IOL IImmanuel Iheanacho. Expect the freshman duo to cement both of themselves as starters on the line within the next two years, as offensive line coach A’Lique Terry stated there is "no doubt" the duo will play early. Another youthful contributor for the Ducks looks to be RB Jordon Davidson, who rushed for nearly 700 yards and 15, yes, 15 touchdowns as a freshman. On top of the offense for this year, the Ducks will have a similar situation to when Dylan Moore sat behind Dillon Gabriel in 2024, and now former 5-star and Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola will sit behind Moore this year, in hopes of being the starter next year after transferring from his starting role with the Huskers over the offseason. Raiola tallied 4,819 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions in Lincoln a year ago.

Defensive Ducks: Moving on to the defensive side of the ball, Oregon definitively has one of the best defenses in the country. All six of the starting linemen and linebackers will be seniors. Matayo Uiagalelei and Bear Alexander, both looking to get picked in the first two rounds, have combined for 41 TFLs and 23 sacks in their careers, looking to make a huge splash in the backfield of any opposing offense next year. The secondary is quite the opposite, seeing not a single senior out there. What this secondary lacks in experience, they make up for in talent, however. There ar former five-stars and high four-stars everywhere, including the best safety in the transfer portal, Koi Perich, who put up monster numbers at Minnesota: 6 interceptions in 2 years, and can make an impact everywhere, with 128 tackles, 6.5 of which coming from behind the line of scrimmage. Next to Perich in the Ducks' secondary will be sophomore Brandon Finney, who has the potential to break out and cement himself as CB1 in 2026. Finney was ranked as the #8 CB in the country out of high school, and will have the chance to prove his rank against receivers such as Jeremiah Smith, Andrew Marsh, and Kayden-Dixon-Wyatt in conference play.

The more you look into this Ducks team, the harder it is to find any holes throughout the entire roster, which is why I truly think Oregon will be making a run at the national championship. They have arguably the best offense, and at the same time arguably the best defense. The biggest unanswered question for the Ducks this year is how impacted the playcalling will be with the departures of both their coordinators. Although it may not be as big of an issue as people might think, as new coordinators Drew Mehringer and Chris Hampton were both formerly co-coordinators and know the Ducks' system very well in and out.

I predict an undefeated season and a national championship for the Ducks in 2026; you heard it here first.