Oregon is back near the top of the preseason college football conversation.
The Ducks checked in at No. 2 in the preseason US LBM coaches top 25 poll released Aug. 4, trailing only Ohio State. That sets up a heavyweight meeting between the two on Nov. 7 in Columbus, Ohio.
Oregon drew six first-place votes from the 72 coaches who took part in the poll. Ohio State led the way with 38, while defending College Football Playoff champion Indiana finished with 14 first-place votes but landed at No. 6 overall.
The Ducks are coming off a 13-2 season and were ranked fourth in the final US LBM coaches poll a year ago. Their rise in the preseason rankings keeps them firmly in the national spotlight as fall camp opens.
Oregon’s first practice of fall camp is Wednesday, and the countdown is already on to the Sept. 5 opener against Boise State at Autzen Stadium.
The Big Ten is well represented near the top of the poll, with Southern California at No. 14, Michigan at No.
16, Penn State at No. 17, Washington at No. 19 and Iowa at No.
- Oregon will see USC early, too, with the Ducks visiting Los Angeles on Sept. 26 for their conference opener.
At the top of the poll, Ohio State sits first, followed by Oregon, Georgia, Texas and Notre Dame. Indiana’s No. 6 ranking comes after its perfect 16-0 season, even though the Hoosiers collected more first-place votes than anyone except Ohio State.
Preseason US LBM coaches poll top 25: 1.
Ohio State (12-2) 2.
Oregon (13-2) 3.
Georgia (12-2) 4.
Texas (10-3) 5.
Notre Dame (10-2) 6.
Indiana (16-0) 7.
Miami (Fla.) (13-3)
- Texas A&M (11-2)
- Oklahoma (10-3)
- Mississippi (13-2)
- Alabama (11-4)
- Texas Tech (12-2)
- LSU (7-6)
- Southern California (9-4)
- Brigham Young (12-2)
- Michigan (9-4)
- Penn State (7-6)
- Tennessee (8-5)
- Washington (9-4)
- SMU (9-4)
- Utah (11-2)
- Iowa (9-4)
- Clemson (7-6)
- Houston (10-3)
- Missouri (8-5)
In Other News...
Gernorris Wilson Just Reentered Oregons Tackle Battle
Gernorris Wilsons first start at right tackle was supposed to be a big step forward, a chance to see how the redshirt freshman fit into Oregons offensive line plans. Instead, the game turned quickly when he broke his foot and the injury wiped out the rest of his 2025 season, then kept him sidelined through spring practice as the Ducks kept sorting out the edge of their front.
Now Wilson is back in the conversation as fall camp approaches, and that alone gives Oregon another live competition to watch on the line. He says he expects to be fully ready when camp opens, and he is open to lining up wherever he is needed, which should make him part of a crowded battle for a starting spot as the Ducks try to settle the tackle picture. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Lanning Just Raised The Stakes For Oregon's New-Look Offense
At Oregon media day, the conversation around the Ducks offense had a clear theme: continuity with a twist. Offensive lineman Kawika Rogers had praise for new coordinator Drew Mehringer, and Dan Lanning underscored the value of keeping things in-house when staff changes hit. The message was that Oregon is not starting from scratch as it retools, even with a different voice guiding the unit.
Lanning also pointed to the running back room as a group that should help define the offense early, while outside linebacker Nasir Wyatt offered a snapshot of how the roster is changing physically this offseason. Wyatt talked about his own added weight and also noted teammate Matayo Uiagaleleis trimming down, a detail that caught attention because of the way it fits the Ducks broader push to get faster and more efficient across the board. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons New Quarterback Just Added Intrigue Behind Dante Moore
Dylan Raiolas arrival gives Oregon another layer at quarterback, even with Dante Moore clearly in line to lead the offense. After transferring from Nebraska, Raiola is working his way back from the broken ankle he sustained during his sophomore season, but he is healthy enough to take part in practice and begin settling into the Ducks system. For a program that has leaned on quarterback depth and development, adding a player with Raiolas starting experience is a meaningful move.
Raiola is expected to learn from behind Moore for now, which makes the transition as much about patience as it is about talent. He has already handled the pressure of being a starter at Nebraska, and now the task is adjusting to Oregons offense while finding a way to help in a reserve role. The bigger question is how quickly he can carve out a real place in the room, and whether his recovery and comfort level keep building from here. [Read more 🡒]
