Chris Hampton is stepping into a bigger spotlight at Oregon, and he’s not pretending the adjustment has been seamless.
After three seasons as the Ducks’ co-defensive coordinator, Hampton was elevated this offseason when Tosh Lupoi left to become the new coach of the California Golden Bears. Now, with Oregon chasing its first national championship in program history, Hampton is the man tasked with steering a defense that is expected to carry a major load.
He’s not new to the role, though, and he pointed back to his time as Tulane’s defensive coordinator from 2021 to 2022 when talking about how he’s handled the transition in fall camp.
“I think so. Just from more of an aspect of understanding how to control a group, but I mean, the game has changed, and I think that it's probably a little different than what it was in 2022. The biggest piece is the helmet communication is different than what it was then.”
Hampton said the work this summer has been about seeing the game through a coordinator’s eyes again.
“So, just coloring the game, and I’ve watched a lot of games this summer, and just putting myself in a position of what would I call in this situation? What would I do? Watching some of our games, watching some of my future opponents, and I need practice just like the players do.”
He also noted that Oregon has built in practice situations that force him and coach Drew to make live decisions without knowing what’s coming next.
"So, we do a lot of what we call it periods at practice, where Coach Drew and myself, both call plays and get opportunities to react, and we don’t understand. We don’t know what the situation.”
“It’s not predetermined what the situation is going to be. We’ve got to react.
Is it first down? Is it third down?
Is it fourth down? Is it second and 10?
Was it second and one? Those are completely different downs.
And so, I think that’s been good by coach Lanning.”
On the field, Hampton will have plenty of talent to work with, starting in the secondary. Sophomore cornerback Brandon Finney Jr. and safety Koi Perich are two of the biggest names he’ll be leaning on.
Finney could be one of the best cornerbacks in college football this season after breaking out in Oregon’s 23-0 shutout win over the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the CFP Quarterfinal at the Orange Bowl to open the 2026 calendar year. He finished that game with six total tackles, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery.
Perich comes to Eugene from Minnesota with a strong résumé and plenty of buzz. The transfer safety was one of the top defensive players in the portal this offseason, and his reason for choosing Oregon was simple: he wanted to play for a contender. In two seasons with the Golden Gophers, he posted 128 tackles, six interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a sack.
At linebacker, Hampton will count on returners Devon Jackson and Jerry Mixon, while second-year player Nasir Wyatt is looking to grow into a full-time role.
The front of Oregon’s defense may be the deepest area on the roster. Matayo Uiagalelei, Teitum Tuioti, Bear Alexander, and A’Mauri Washington are all back after weighing the 2026 NFL Draft and choosing to return in pursuit of a national title.
Oregon opens the season on Sept. 5 at Autzen Stadium against Boise State. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. PT, and the game will air on CBS.
In Other News...
Dan Lanning Makes Oregons Stance On NCAA Rule Change Clear
The NCAAs switch to a new 5-for-5 eligibility model has changed the way coaches around the country think about roster building, but Dan Lanning does not sound especially concerned about it altering Oregons plans this fall. The new rule gives student-athletes five years of eligibility instead of four and removes the old four-game limit that freshmen had to stay under to preserve a redshirt season, making the whole system a little easier to manage on paper.
For Oregon, though, Lanning indicated the practical impact should be limited in the upcoming season because of the way eligibility still has to line up within the program. That leaves the Ducks in a familiar spot, working through the roster with an eye on development and depth, but without needing to overhaul their approach simply because the NCAA changed the language around redshirts. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Lanning Just Ignited A New Oregon Mount Rushmore Debate
Oregon football debates have a way of resurfacing every time a coach or former player starts naming names, and Dan Lanning just gave Ducks fans a fresh one to chew on. Asked for his personal Mount Rushmore, Lanning went with Marcus Mariota, Haloti Ngata, De'Anthony Thomas and LaMichael James, a group that blends the programs biggest star power with some of its most electric playmakers.
Mariota, of course, stands alone as Oregons only Heisman Trophy winner, while Ngatas place in the College Football Hall of Fame gives the list some heavyweight credibility. Thomas and James also carry their own strong cases based on how they shaped the Ducks during their eras, and Lanning admitted the fourth spot was the hardest call before settling on James. For a program with no shortage of iconic names, the conversation is as much about who gets left out as who makes the cut. [Read more 🡒]