The preseason polls are about to start sorting out college football’s contenders, and the Big Ten is once again right at the center of the conversation.
With the conference coming off the last three national championships, the spotlight is squarely on programs like Oregon, Ohio State, Indiana, and USC as the season approaches. The Ducks are drawing plenty of attention with Dante Moore back at quarterback and what’s being described as one of the most talented rosters in the country. Under Dan Lanning, Oregon is being talked about as a team that could finally get over the hump and win its first national title.
Ohio State and Indiana also sit firmly in the mix, while USC is trying to turn a near miss from last season into a College Football Playoff berth in Riley’s fifth season. The Trojans came just short a year ago, and the question now is whether they can finish the job.
The preseason picture starts taking shape Tuesday, Aug. 4, when the Coaches Poll is released. The AP Top 25 follows on Aug. 17.
Elsewhere, the SEC is expected to be loaded again. Texas, with Arch Manning back at quarterback, and Georgia are both projected to land near the top of the rankings. The league’s depth should also keep teams like Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Alabama, Oklahoma, and LSU in the playoff conversation, with the source noting new coach Lane Kiffin with the Tigers.
The ACC and Big 12 have their own teams to watch, including Miami and Texas Tech. Notre Dame is also expected to be highly ranked, with Marcus Freeman’s group led by returning quarterback CJ Carr after being left out of the playoff last season.
And as always, there’s room for chaos. Last year’s Indiana run from preseason No. 20 to a 16-0 national championship is the reminder that the first rankings rarely tell the whole story.
USC’s schedule gives it a few chances to make a statement. The Trojans host Oregon on Sept. 26 and Ohio State on Oct. 31 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, then travel to face Curt Cignetti’s Hoosiers on Nov. 14 at Memorial Stadium.
In the latest FanDuel Sportsbook national championship odds, USC sits at +3500, tied with Michigan. In the Big Ten title race, the Trojans are at +1300, behind Ohio State (+180), Oregon (+260), and Indiana (+310). On the national title board, those same Big Ten programs are all ahead of USC, with Ohio State at +550, Oregon at +750, and Indiana at +950.
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Dan Lanning Is Building Oregons Next Recruiting Advantage
Oregons push to stay ahead off the field is taking shape in a big way, with the football program expanding its facilities to roughly 500,000 square feet from a current building footprint of about 150,000. For Dan Lanning, the project is about more than adding room. It is part of the Ducks effort to keep upgrading the player experience and the day-to-day operation around a program that has long sold itself as forward-thinking in college football.
Construction is still underway, so Oregon has been juggling practice time at Autzen Stadium, the Moshofsky Center and outdoor fields in the meantime. Even with the temporary setup, the broader message is clear: the Ducks are trying to turn infrastructure into a recruiting edge, and Lanning wants the program to remain one of the sports standard-bearers for innovation. [Read more 🡒]
Dana Altman Just Gave Oregons Frontcourt A Big Boost
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Ewin brings a well-traveled rsum that includes stops at Ole Miss, JUCO, Florida State and Arkansas, and his college path has been marked by steady growth along the way. With Sean Stewart already back and several other forwards and centers added, Oregon suddenly has the look of a team that expects its frontcourt to be a strength rather than a question. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons Young Secondary Could Become A Real Strength Fast
With fall camp approaching, Oregons secondary is drawing more attention than it usually would for a group this young. The Ducks are bringing back All-American cornerback Brandon Finney Jr., while freshman Jett Washington and transfer Koi Perich give Dan Lanning a mix of proven talent, raw upside and flexibility that could make the back end of the defense a fast-moving project once practices begin.
Lanning has been encouraged by what he has seen from that group, pointing to their physical tools and the way they approach getting better. Washington and Perich are in position to push for immediate roles in the secondary, with Washington also a candidate to help on special teams and Perich offering versatility from his previous experience. If the development comes quickly, Oregon may not have to wait long for this unit to become a real strength. [Read more 🡒]