The early line for Oregon’s trip to Ohio State says plenty about how oddsmakers see this one: the Buckeyes are favored by 6 as the Ducks head into one of the biggest games on their 2026 schedule.
That November matchup in Columbus is shaping up as the centerpiece of Oregon’s conference slate. The Ducks are viewed as a Big Ten title contender, but they still have to navigate league play first, and this road test against Ohio State stands out as the toughest hurdle. DraftKings has opened with Ohio State -6, and while both teams are expected to be in the College Football Playoff picture no matter what happens in the regular season, the winner should have the better path to the conference title game.
The Big Ten landscape has shifted with Indiana’s rise, but Ohio State and Oregon still look like the two programs driving the most attention. Their recent meetings have already delivered plenty.
Ohio State rolled past Oregon 41-21 in the 2025 Rose Bowl and later won the national championship. Before that, Oregon edged the Buckeyes 32-31 in a wild 2024 showdown at Autzen Stadium.
So the next chapter comes with plenty of intrigue around Ryan Day and Dan Lanning.
Ohio State brings back quarterback Julian Sayin, who emerged in 2025 with 3,610 passing yards and 32 passing touchdowns while guiding the Buckeyes to an undefeated regular season. He’ll have Jeremiah Smith back in the passing game as well, with the star receiver projected to be a top pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
The Buckeyes’ defense has some rebuilding to do after losing a historic amount of production in the 2026 NFL Draft, but the next wave is expected to be built around defensive lineman Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and linebacker Payton Pierce. That kind of turnover hasn’t slowed Day down before, though. Ohio State has kept reloading year after year, and there’s little reason to think 2026 will be different.
Oregon isn’t short on returning talent either. Dante Moore is back at quarterback, and Lanning also gets his entire starting defensive line from the 2025 season back. The Ducks added pieces through the transfer portal too, including Koi Perich and tight end Andrew Olesh, both of whom could matter in 2026.
Outside of the Ohio State game, Oregon is expected to be favored in every regular-season matchup. DraftKings has the Ducks favored over USC and Michigan, a reflection of how strong the program has looked in recent years.
Oregon and Ohio State are set to meet in Columbus on Nov. 14. The kickoff time and TV information have not been announced, but the game is expected to land in prime time.
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Oregon Fans Have Every Right To Be Furious Over Brandon Finney Jr
Pro Football Focus latest preseason list is the kind of ranking that invites a double take, especially when it comes to defensive playmakers. The outlets top five ball hawks for 2026 included Leonard Moore, Bryce Fitzgerald, Brice Pollock, John Nestor and Jaquez White, a group that will get plenty of attention as the season approaches.
What stands out for Oregon is the absence of Brandon Finney Jr., who has still been treated like one of the sports premier defensive backs entering 2026. PFF had him high on its overall Preseason College 50, and he has already collected major preseason recognition elsewhere, so leaving him off a list built around turnover-hungry defenders is the sort of omission Ducks fans are not likely to forget anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Just Sent Another Big Recruiting Message Nationally
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The class now stretches across 17 states and gives the Ducks a broad footprint that matches the ambition of the ranking. ESPN also points to five-star cornerback Hayden Stepp as one of the classs top defensive headliners, a reminder that Oregons push is not just about flash on offense but about assembling difference-makers on both sides of the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Is Locked In A High-Stakes Battle For A Blue-Chip EDGE
Oregons recruiting board at edge rusher keeps getting more important, and Elijah Tillman has emerged as one of the names worth watching. The four-star prospect has offers from the Ducks and Miami, and both programs are working to position themselves well as he weighs his next steps. Oregon got involved in April 2026, while Miamis offer dates back to January 2025, giving this one enough history to feel like a real two-team fight rather than a late scramble.
For the Ducks, the appeal goes beyond adding another talented defender. They are planning ahead for possible roster turnover at edge rusher and view Tillman as a player who could fit into that next wave. He is expected to visit both schools, and with the two programs still very much in the mix, Oregon has a chance to make a strong impression before this recruitment starts to narrow. [Read more 🡒]