The buzz around Oregon has already started to harden into something more than preseason noise, and one of the clearest reasons comes down to how Dan Lanning’s team works behind the scenes. The No. 2 Ducks head into their Sep. 5 opener at Autzen Stadium against Boise State with energy, depth and talent drawing plenty of attention, and Big Ten Network analyst Yogi Roth says the real evidence shows up at practice.
Roth laid out his view in a recent YouTube video, where he revisited his long-running belief that the Big Ten is the best conference in college football and said a recent Oregon practice left a strong impression on him.
"I think this team feels a little different than a year ago," Roth said. "Remember a year ago, I think we came on this show - I think it was on Big Ten Network as well - talking about how Dante Moore is going to be one of the best players in America. He wasn't even announced as the starting quarterback (yet)."
What stood out to Roth was the blend of veteran leadership and the way Lanning has shaped the roster and staff. He pointed to the decision to hire from within for the offensive and defensive coordinator jobs over the 2026 season, and he said Oregon has been able to sustain a high-level standard year after year.
Roth also framed the Ducks as a team built on connection rather than image, saying Lanning and his staff keep players in the fold through substance.
"It's been one of the most connected teams in all of college football since Dan Lanning got there," Roth said. "And I think its masterful when he brings in new players, where this culture just brings them in. They do so much work, like a lot of teams do, making sure guys are connected."
He added that the older players he saw carried an "unsatisfied" edge after the 2024 postseason Rose Bowl loss to Ohio State and the 2025 postseason Peach Bowl loss to Indiana.
Physicality was another part of the picture for Roth. He described the Ducks’ pads-on work as the kind of practice players often call "bloody Tuesdays," and said Oregon’s depth makes it easier to push for something close to game-like reps.
That setup matters with what comes next. Oregon’s first four games include Boise State, then matchups with two very different new-look programs in Oklahomas State and Portland State, before the Ducks get their first true Big Ten test on the road against USC.
If Roth’s read on practice carries over to Rich Brooks field against the Broncos, Oregon could be positioned to "chase history" - the phrase Dante Moore has shared as the team motto.
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Freshman Jalen Lott was also not dressed, which opens the door for other Oregon wideouts to pick up snaps and prove their place in the rotation. For a team trying to establish rhythm early in the year, the absence of two receivers changes the look of the depth chart before the first kickoff is even in the books. [Read more 🡒]
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Oregon Just Got A Title Nod That Raises The Pressure Fast
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For Oregon, the attention is flattering, but it also comes with the familiar weight of expectation. The Ducks have been to the national title game before, in 2010 and 2014, and the next step is the one that has eluded them. Being talked about as a future champion is one thing, but living up to a forecast like this starts long before January. [Read more 🡒]