Oregon football wrapped up its 2025-26 campaign with a final nod of respect from the voters, landing at No. 4 in the season-ending AP Top 25 poll. It’s a fitting capstone for a team that spent much of the year in the national spotlight, only to have its title hopes dashed by the eventual champs.
The Ducks closed the season with 1,429 poll points, just behind No. 3 Mississippi (1,492).
Miami, the national runner-up, checked in at No. 2 with 1,584 points. And sitting comfortably atop the rankings?
Indiana - the undisputed national champions - who earned all 66 first-place votes after steamrolling their way through the College Football Playoff.
For Oregon, the climb to No. 4 reflects both how high they soared and how hard the landing was. The Ducks’ only two losses came at the hands of Indiana, and both stung in different ways.
The first was a 30-20 setback in Eugene on October 11, where Curt Cignetti’s squad controlled the game from start to finish. The second came on the biggest stage - a 56-22 blowout in the CFP semifinal at the Peach Bowl that brought Oregon’s title chase to a screeching halt.
Still, the season had no shortage of high points. The Ducks entered the year ranked No. 7 in the AP preseason poll and surged up the rankings behind a dominant early stretch, including a marquee win over Penn State on September 27 that vaulted them to No.
- But two weeks later, Indiana brought them back to earth.
That loss dropped Oregon to No. 8 - their lowest point of the season - before they battled their way back into the top four.
It marks the second straight year Oregon finishes in the top five, after ending the 2024 season at No. 3.
Under head coach Dan Lanning, the Ducks have now posted final rankings of No. 15 (2022), No. 6 (2023), and No. 4 (2025) - a clear upward trajectory that’s turning promise into sustained performance.
The USA Today Coaches Poll echoed the AP’s verdict, slotting Oregon at No. 4 with the same trio of Indiana, Miami, and Mississippi ahead of them. Throughout the season, the Ducks ranged anywhere from No. 9 to No. 2 in the coaches’ rankings, a reflection of just how dynamic - and at times volatile - their season was.
Looking ahead, there’s reason for optimism in Eugene. Quarterback Dante Moore is expected back, along with several key pieces on both sides of the ball. That returning core has oddsmakers placing Oregon among the top contenders for next year’s national title - with most sportsbooks listing them between the second- and fifth-best odds to win it all in 2027.
The road to redemption begins at home. Oregon kicks off its 2026 season on September 5 at Autzen Stadium against Boise State, now a member of the revamped Pac-12. If this past season proved anything, it’s that the Ducks are firmly in the national conversation - and they’re not going anywhere.