Where Oregon Ducks stand in ESPN’s updated preseason top 25

There are some expectations, and then there are some high expectations, and for the 2026 Oregon Ducks football team, it's definitely the latter.

>According to ESPN, Oregon is well-stocked on both sides of the ball, especially on defense, and that makes the Ducks one of the big favorites to win the 2027 national championship. In their preseason rankings, the Mothership has Oregon ranked No. 2, only behind rival Ohio State, of course. That Nov. 7 meeting in Columbus between the two teams should be must-see TV.

>ESPN points out that while the offense is very good, it could be the defense that finally gets the Ducks to their first national title in football.

>"After falling flat in the CFP for the second year in a row, the Ducks got an unexpected boost when quarterback Dante Moore -- a potential top pick in the NFL draft -- decided to return. They'll have two new coordinators after Will Stein and Tosh Lupoi left for head coaching jobs at Kentucky and Cal, respectively," said ESPN writer Mark Schlabach.

>"Coach Dan Lanning promoted Drew Mehringer to offensive coordinator and Chris Hampton to defensive coordinator. The Ducks should be solid on defense after All-Big Ten selections A'Mauri Washington, Matayo Uiagalelei, and Teitum Tuioti decided to return, along with defensive tackle Bear Alexander. Perich was one of the best safeties in the FBS."

>Oregon did lose plenty of talent from last year's squad, but Lanning has been able to fill in those holes with the help of some key players coming from the transfer portal, as well as one of the top recruiting classes in the country, to provide some depth.

>The Ducks kick off the 20026 season Sept. 5 with a home game against Boise State.

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>This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: ESPN has high expectations for 2026 Oregon Ducks football