Oregon’s coaching job is getting national attention, and FanDuel has the Ducks sitting at No. 9 in its ranking of the best jobs in college football. That puts Oregon behind Alabama, Ohio State, Texas, LSU, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame and Florida, while landing one spot ahead of USC.
Even with that placement, there’s a case that Oregon belongs even higher. The Ducks look built for both right now and what comes next, and the 2026 roster is a big reason why.
On defense, Oregon is bringing back a pair of edge rushers who can wreck a game in a hurry: Teitum Tuioti and Matayo Uiagalelei. Together, they produced 15.5 sacks last season, with Tuioti leading the way at 9.5 and Uiagalelei right behind him with six. Both were at the top of Oregon’s sack chart, and both are back to chase quarterbacks again.
The Ducks also have size and force on the inside with veteran defensive linemen Bear Alexander and A'Mauri Washington returning. Both have been putting in work this offseason, and both are viewed as players who could be ready for a breakout year. If Oregon is going to make a real push for a national championship, that kind of interior presence matters.
There’s plenty back on offense, too. Dante Moore is set to return at quarterback, and he has already been projected as a top-five pick in the 2027 NFL Draft before even taking a snap in the 2026 season. At tight end, Jamari Johnson steps into a bigger role and could give Oregon the kind of receiving impact Kenyon Sadiq provided before him.
The biggest offensive boost may be the return of wide receiver Evan Stewart. He missed the entire 2025 season after tearing his patellar tendon, but he’s healthy again and expected to be ready for week one. Stewart worked with the Ducks during spring camp and is expected to keep building through fall camp.
Oregon’s appeal goes beyond the roster, though. The Ducks have shown they can recruit with anyone in the country, and their pitch is helped by the relationships the staff builds and the visibility that comes with being the flagship program for Nike. New jersey releases also give recruits something they like to wear on official visits.
And once a recruit gets to Eugene, Oregon has plenty working in its favor. The campus scenery helps, and the chance to play in Autzen Stadium is something many prospects see as a dream.
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For Oregon, the interesting part is not just the talent, but the timing. McMiller is expected to help shape the Ducks future in the backfield, and there is already some intrigue around whether he could enroll early and get a head start in spring practice. If that happens, it would give Oregon an even longer look at a runner who brings real speed to the table and seems built to fit the programs style. [Read more 🡒]
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Dan Lanning has already made clear where he stands, criticizing the decision as unfair to players who have earned their spots the hard way. But while Oregon is taking a principled line, other coaches such as North Carolinas Bill Belichick are weighing how to use the ruling, and some schools have already reached out to NFL players about the possibility of coming back. For the Ducks, it is another reminder that the transfer and eligibility landscape can change fast, even for teams trying to build stability from one season to the next. [Read more 🡒]