Dan Lanning has spent his time in Eugene building Oregon with a clear vision, and the latest 2026 projections say the Ducks are ready to turn that vision into a Big Ten takeover.
CBS Sports analyst Brad Crawford’s newest game picks and win-loss forecast put Oregon at the top of the conference picture heading into the fall. The model has the Ducks finishing 11-1 in the regular season, then rolling into the Big Ten Championship Game and taking home the league title along with the No. 1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff.
That kind of prediction starts with the roster. Crawford called Oregon “one of the nation's deepest rosters on both sides of the football,” and the model expects that depth to show up right away. The Ducks are projected to handle their non-conference slate against Boise State, Oklahoma State and Portland State, then stack up Big Ten wins over USC, UCLA, Nebraska, Illinois, Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State and Washington.
The one projected setback comes on the road at Ohio State. Crawford noted, "Winning in Columbus is one of college football's toughest assignments, even for a playoff-caliber team," while forecasting Oregon’s lone regular-season loss against the Buckeyes.
Even with that stumble, the model still sees Oregon powering through the rest of the year behind “explosive playmakers, veteran leadership and one of the conference's most complete defenses.”
And the biggest test may end up being the one the Ducks get a second chance at. Crawford projects Oregon and Ohio State meeting again in the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis, where the neutral-site rematch is expected to go Oregon’s way. That would give the Ducks the conference crown and put them firmly in the national title conversation.
In Other News...
Ohio State Basketball Suddenly Has A Real Shot At Another Five Star
Jake Diebler has already given Ohio State basketball a real jolt on the recruiting trail, landing two five-star prospects in the 2026 class as he keeps pushing to rebuild the programs standing. The next big swing is already in motion, with the Buckeyes firmly in the mix for DeMarcus Henry, one of the most coveted names in the 2027 class and a player whose list of finalists has started to take shape.
Ohio State is among the schools still standing for Henry, alongside a heavy group of national powers that underscores just how competitive this chase will be. For Diebler, the appeal is obvious: another elite addition would deepen the talent base and help keep the momentum going as the Buckeyes try to turn recruiting traction into the kind of postseason relevance the program is aiming for under his leadership. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremiah Smith Is Still Ohio States Biggest Strength And Biggest Concern
Jeremiah Smith has already done enough to be viewed as the top wide receiver in college football, and his 2025 season backed that up in a way few players can match. Pro Football Focus rated him the best receiver in the country, which only sharpened the expectation that Ohio State can keep leaning on him as the centerpiece of its passing game.
The problem is that the Buckeyes are asking Smith to carry a lot while working with a much less experienced group around him in 2026. Much of the pressure now falls on the young receivers behind him to grow up quickly, while Julian Sayin also needs a cleaner, more reliable supporting cast after the disappointing finish to 2025. If that development does not come soon, Ohio State may have to find a different way to build its offense. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's 2027 QB Pursuit Suddenly Feels Far More Complicated
Ohio States quarterback board for 2027 has started to look less straightforward than it did a few weeks ago. Brady Edmunds is already in the class, but his commitment has not felt completely locked in, and the Buckeyes have also spent time trying to pry Nebraska quarterback Trae Taylor away from his pledge, a sign that the staff is still weighing its options as it maps out the position for the next cycle.
The bigger picture is what makes the pursuit tricky. Tavien St. Clair is expected to be the starter after this season, Julian Sayin is likely headed toward the NFL, and Ohio State is also juggling other recruiting priorities, which could leave the staff leaning on the transfer portal for future depth instead of adding another 2027 quarterback. For now, Edmunds remains the name to watch, but the path from here is anything but settled. [Read more 🡒]