Oregon got an early dose of where it stands in the Big Ten hierarchy, and the message from the preseason media poll was clear: the Ducks are right in the thick of the championship conversation, but Ohio State is still the team sitting at the top.
Cleveland.com released the annual Big Ten Preseason Media Poll on Monday morning, and Oregon came in second behind the Buckeyes. That setup won’t shock anyone. Both teams bring rosters loaded with talent, and both are expected to spend the season chasing the same prizes.
For Oregon, the bar is already sky-high. After back-to-back trips to the College Football Playoff, simply getting there again is no longer enough to satisfy the standard around the program. The only finish that really changes the mood is a national title, and that expectation is only louder with Dante Moore, Matayo Uiagalelei, and A’Mauri Washington all back for another run.
The Ducks have enough firepower that anything less than a deep CFP push would feel like a letdown. But there are still questions to answer, especially up front, where Oregon has to rebuild its offensive line after several departures to the NFL.
Ohio State has its own issues to sort through, even while sitting first in the poll. The Buckeyes have to replace major pieces on defense, including Arvell Reese and Caleb Downs. That doesn’t knock them out of the top spot, but it does leave some uncertainty that won’t be resolved until the games start.
The poll also turned up one notable surprise: defending national champion Indiana was slotted third. That ranking stands out because the Hoosiers are losing a lot of talent, even if Curt Cignetti has been dominant through his first two seasons as head coach.
For Oregon, the road ahead is stacked with the kind of matchups that will shape the season quickly. The Ducks will see USC at No.
4, Washington at No. 7, Illinois at No.
9, Nebraska at No. 11, UCLA at No.
13, Northwestern at No. 14, Michigan at No.
5, Michigan State at No. 16, and Ohio State at No. 1.
Since joining the Big Ten, Oregon has been tied directly to the league’s biggest heavyweight fight with Ohio State. The Buckeyes knocked the Ducks out of the Playoff two seasons ago in the Rose Bowl, and Oregon now gets another shot at payback.
The preseason poll is only the first reminder of what’s waiting for the Ducks. The hype is already there.
Now it falls on Oregon to back it up. With this roster, anything short of a national championship will feel like a missed opportunity.
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