Oregon Football Reloads, Not Rebuilds: Inside the Ducks’ 2026 Mindset
EUGENE, Ore. - “Unfinished business” can be a cliché in college football, but for Oregon heading into 2026, it’s more of a mission statement.
After a humbling loss to Indiana in the College Football Playoff semifinals, the Ducks aren’t just regrouping - they’re reloading. And this isn’t your typical offseason of turnover.
This time, the leaders are staying put. Several key players turned down the NFL to run it back, and the message from head coach Dan Lanning is crystal clear: This team knows what it wants, and it’s not just another Pac-12 title.
“We’re walking into a completely different situation than last year,” Lanning said during Oregon’s Signing Day Special. “Last year, we had 10 guys leave for the NFL.
This year, we’ve got leaders coming back. That changes everything.”
And he’s not exaggerating. Quarterback Dante Moore, center Iapani Laloulu, and all four starting defensive linemen - Matayo Uiagalelei, Teitum Tuioti, A’Mauri Washington, and Bear Alexander - are back in Eugene.
Add in 13 total returners who started at least nine games last season, and Oregon isn’t rebuilding a contender. They’re sharpening one.
This isn’t about nostalgia or loyalty. These players came back with a purpose. That semifinal loss stung, and it left a locker room full of elite talent with a sour taste - the kind that fuels workouts in February and extra reps in July.
As Lanning put it: “We can’t be complacent. We’re not going to get there just because we have an ‘O’ on our chest. We’ve got to do some work.”
That work starts with leadership. Moore, now a seasoned signal-caller, will be the engine of the offense again, protected by a line anchored by Laloulu.
On the other side of the ball, the defensive front returns intact - a rare luxury in today’s college football landscape. Uiagalelei and Alexander, in particular, bring a disruptive edge that can shift games by themselves.
But the defense doesn’t stop there. Linebacker Jerry Mixon and defensive backs Brandon Finney Jr., Ify Obidegwu, and Aaron Flowers are also back, giving Oregon continuity across all three levels. That’s eight starters from their Playoff run returning, and defensive coordinator Chris Hampton knows exactly what that means.
“I’m definitely excited about our team,” Hampton said. “We’ve got a lot of experience.
Last year we had a young team. This year, we’ll have a more mature team.”
That maturity could be the difference between a good season and a championship one. Oregon has recruited well for years, and now the Ducks are in the rare position of pairing that recruiting talent with battle-tested veterans. It’s a formula that championship programs thrive on.
Lanning isn’t just looking for returning players to maintain the status quo - he’s challenging them to level up. “What habit can they develop that matches the goals that they have?”
he asked. “That’s going to be the new exciting goal for us as a coaching staff.”
It’s clear: Oregon isn’t satisfied with just making the Playoff. The Ducks have reached the point where the season is judged by the final game, not the journey. That’s the standard now in Eugene.
And with this much talent, experience, and motivation coming back, don’t be surprised if Oregon’s unfinished business turns into a complete story - one that ends with a trophy.