Matayo Uiagalelei isn’t spending much time staring at the preseason buzz around Oregon’s No. 2 ranking. In fact, the Ducks outside linebacker made it pretty clear Tuesday that he’s found a simple way to keep the noise down: he muted his dad.
Uiagalelei, who is heading into his fourth season in Eugene, was asked after practice how much of the social media chatter around Oregon’s lofty AP preseason spot he’s been seeing. His answer came with a grin.
“The most posts I would see about from myself is from my dad. I didn’t unfollow my dad, but I muted his account so I don’t see all of his posts,” Uiagalelei said with a smile. “I talk to him a lot so…I don’t need to see all that.”
"I'll be honest. I feel like the most posts I would see about myself is from my dad. So I don't follow my dad, I muted his account."- Oregon OLB Matayo Uiagalelei said jokingly about not buying into the hype of the Ducks' No. 2 rankhttps://t.co/D1beJwBqf0 pic.twitter.com/YaX6yEUDVe
The social media conversation isn’t limited to Uiagalelei, either. Earlier Tuesday, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore said he has been off social media entirely. That’s the kind of move that makes sense in a sport where online noise can get loud fast, especially once a season gets rolling.
There’s plenty of reason for the attention. Oregon enters the year as one of the national title favorites, and Uiagalelei is part of the reason why. Over his first three seasons with the Ducks, he has appeared in 42 games and put up 90 total tackles, 25.0 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks, eight passes defended, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception.
The betting markets have Oregon right in the thick of the championship race, too. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Ducks have the fourth-best odds to win it all at +750. Ohio State and Notre Dame are listed as co-favorites at +600, while Texas sits alone in third at +650.
A title would be a first for Oregon. The Ducks have come close before, but the trophy has stayed out of reach. They lost the 2010 BCS National Championship Game to Auburn on a last-second field goal, then fell to Ohio State in the first College Football Playoff title game in 2014.
More recently, Oregon has been in the playoff mix for two straight seasons. In 2024, the Ducks were bounced by eventual national champion Ohio State in the quarterfinal. In 2025, they were knocked out by eventual national champion Indiana in the semifinal.
That’s been the pattern for Oregon: the road has kept running into the team that ends up playing for, or winning, the title. Now the Ducks are back in the conversation again, and the question hanging over this season is simple enough: can 2026 finally be the year they break through?
In Other News...
Oregon Faces New Defensive Questions As Tony Tuioti Addresses Key Absence
Tony Tuiotis latest update on Tony Cumberland offered a reminder that Oregons defensive line room is still dealing with more than just the usual preseason churn. The freshman lineman is recovering from injuries sustained in a car accident, and while he is not taking part on the field, he remains around the program and involved with the team as he works through the aftermath.
The timing adds another layer to a defense already adjusting after Tosh Lupois departure, with Chris Hampton promoted to defensive coordinator. For Oregon, the personnel picture on that side of the ball is shifting in multiple directions at once, and Cumberlands situation is another one the Ducks will have to navigate as they sort out depth, development and available bodies for the season ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon's Tank Jones Is Forcing His Way Into A Loaded Rotation
Oregons defensive front already looked deep with all four key starters set to return for the 2026 season, a group that includes Matayo Uiagalelei, Teitum Tuioti, Bear Alexander and AMauri Washington. With so much proven talent back after those players opted to forgo the NFL Draft, there is plenty of competition for snaps, but defensive line coach Tony Tuioti has also spent the offseason pointing to the younger wave behind them as part of the reason the room feels so strong.
Among the names drawing attention is Anthony Tank Jones Jr., along with Aydin Breland, Matt Johnson and DAntre Robinson, all of whom Tuioti said have shown versatility and growth through spring and fall camp. The returning starters still set the tone with their leadership and experience, but the real intrigue for Oregon is how quickly that next layer can push its way into the rotation and turn a loaded group into something even deeper. [Read more 🡒]
Malik Benson Just Put Autzen Fans On Notice Again
Malik Bensons time in Eugene was short, but it made a real impact. After transferring in from Alabama and Florida State, he settled in as Dante Moores top receiving threat and helped push Oregon to a second straight College Football Playoff appearance in 2025, giving Ducks fans one more electric season to remember from a receiver room that always seemed to have a play waiting to happen.
Now beginning his NFL career with the Las Vegas Raiders, Benson has not forgotten where that support came from. He has already spoken about how much Oregon fans meant to him, a reminder that even one season in Autzen can leave a lasting impression when a player delivers in the biggest moments and leaves a fan base wanting to follow his next step. [Read more 🡒]