The Big Ten’s top tier for 2026 is starting to look like a very exclusive club, and Oregon is in it - just not at the front of the line.
USA TODAY’s Paul Myerberg slotted the Ducks at No. 3 in his conference ranking, placing Oregon behind Indiana at No. 2 and Ohio State at No. 1.
That order reflects more than just recent results. It also comes down to the most important separator of all: national championships.
Indiana enters 2026 as the reigning champion after a 16-0 run in 2025, while Ohio State owns a title of its own from a 14-2 season in 2024. Oregon, meanwhile, is still chasing its first national championship in program history.
Myerberg made his case for the Ducks this way: "Probably the best program in the Bowl Subdivision without a national championship to its name, Oregon played for a pair during the Bowl Championship Series era and then advanced to last year’s semifinals before losing to Indiana," Myerberg wrote. "The Ducks are 46-8 under coach Dan Lanning and have blended into the Big Ten seamlessly with an unbeaten run to the conference title in their first year and an 8-1 record in 2025."
That’s the tension with Oregon right now. The Ducks have been close, consistently dangerous and loaded with talent, but Indiana’s title run changed the conversation.
Without that championship, Oregon would have had a much cleaner argument over the Hoosiers, especially with Curt Cignetti’s arrival still fresh in the picture. Instead, Indiana is the one that finished the job.
Still, Oregon heads into the 2026 season with plenty back in place after its College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Indiana. Dante Moore is set to run the offense, and he’ll have help from a strong backfield duo and a receiving corps with plenty of returning production.
Up front, the offensive line is young but has the look of a group that could become one of the nation’s best again. On defense, the four returning starting defensive linemen should help anchor a secondary that is expected to be a major problem for opposing offenses.
So for now, Oregon sits third in the Big Ten pecking order. But with the roster pieces back and the title chase still alive, this feels like a ranking the Ducks will be eager to challenge. In a year, the picture could look very different.
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