BY: KENNY VARNER
Dan Lanning enters his fourth season at Oregon after leading the Ducks to a perfect 13-0 regular season, capped off by a Big Ten title that included marquee wins over Ohio State and Penn State. Although the Buckeyes got their revenge in the College Football Playoff, Oregon proved it belongs among the elite. Despite returning just five starters (two on offense, three on defense), the Ducks are expected to reload rather than rebuild. Expectations remain sky-high in Eugene, with Lanning boasting a 35-6 record over his first three seasons—four of those losses coming to teams that played for the national title. Discipline and culture are firmly in place, as Oregon enters the year ranked No. 7 in the Coaches Poll and No. 3 in the rugged Big Ten. The big question: how far can the Ducks go as they navigate this new-look conference with fresh faces?
Offense: Plug and Play Talent
The Ducks have built a machine offensively, and sophomore quarterback Dante Moore is expected to be the next great signal-caller to keep it running. Oregon loses its top two receivers—Tez Johnson (83 catches, 898 yards, 10 TDs) and Traeshon Holden (45 catches, 718 yards, 5 TDs)—to the NFL, but the receiving corps still ranks among the best in the country.
Freshman phenom Dakorien Moore brings world-class speed and will be the No. 1 target from day one. All signs point to him being a future superstar. The competition for reps behind him will be fierce, with Kyler Kasper, Gary Bryant Jr., and Jeremiah McClellan all in the mix to emerge. Florida State transfer Malik Benson adds experienced depth to an already loaded group.
The Ducks struck gold in the transfer portal with Makhi Hughes (Tulane), who rushed for 1,401 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024 after posting 1,378 yards in 2023. Hughes has the experience and talent to be Oregon’s next elite back, especially with so much support around him. Noah Whittington returns to the rotation after a solid season with 543 rushing yards.
Up front, Oregon had some holes to fill but made major portal moves. Lapana Lalolulo returns at center and is considered one of the better linemen in the Big Ten. Isaiah World (Nevada) was a prized portal addition at tackle, while Alex Harkey (Texas State) is another under-the-radar gem. Emmanuel Pregnon (USC), a future NFL talent, comes in after earning Second-Team All-Big Ten honors last season. With the line retooled, Oregon’s offense looks ready to approach the 35 points per game it averaged last year.
Defense: Lanning’s Identity
Despite returning just three starters on defense, Oregon has built a system that’s expected to reload rather than regress. Between talented rotational players and key transfers, the Ducks are again primed to be one of the Big Ten’s top defensive units.
Matayo Uiagalelei broke out in 2024 with 10.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss, becoming one of the nation’s premier pass rushers. On the other side, Teitum Tuioti tallied 58 tackles and 5.5 sacks in a hybrid edge/linebacker role. Inside, Bear Alexander (USC) will anchor the nose with 320-pound A’Maury Washington helping solidify the interior.
Bryce Boettcher, Oregon’s leading tackler last year (94), returns to lead the linebacking corps. Watch for Devon Jackson to break out after notching 47 tackles in a rotational role. In the secondary, the cornerback position should be a strength. Jahlil Florence, who missed all of last season, returns with NFL upside, while Theran Johnson (Northwestern) brings four years of experience and is expected to start immediately. The rotation looks deep and battle-tested.
At safety, Oregon landed one of the most impactful transfers in the country in Dillon Thieneman (Purdue), who shined for the Boilermakers over the past two years. Many believe his elite talent was underutilized—until now.
A Contender Once Again
With Dan Lanning at the helm, Oregon has established itself as a true national contender. While only a handful of programs can claim more raw power, the Ducks are firmly in the conversation. This year’s schedule sets up favorably—they avoid Ohio State and open with a soft stretch: Montana State, Oklahoma State, at Northwestern, and Oregon State. That four-game stretch provides the Ducks a runway to gel before their Sept. 27 showdown at Penn State.
The rest of the slate includes home games against Indiana and USC, and a potentially tricky road trip to Iowa. But with their depth, talent, and system in place, Oregon should finish no worse than 10-2—with upside for much more. If the new faces click, this team will be peaking just in time for a playoff run.
The Ducks are a power. The names may change, but the results won’t.