The Oregon Ducks are set up to have one of the most dangerous offenses in the country next season, and Dante Moore is walking into 2026 with real Heisman Trophy buzz around him.
He’ll have plenty to work with, too. Evan Stewart and Dakorien Moore are back, and Dan Lanning dipped into the portal to bring in UAB wide receiver Iverson Hooks.
With that kind of support, Oregon should be able to stress defenses all year long. But the Ducks won’t cruise through the schedule without a fight.
With the regular season opener against Boise State getting closer, four defenses stand out as the biggest tests waiting for Moore and the offense.
Ohio State looks like the most imposing of the bunch. The Buckeyes keep pumping out first-round NFL talent, and 2026 could bring another wave of it.
They may have to replace linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles, along with safety Caleb Downs after the 2026 NFL Draft, but there is still plenty of firepower in place. Safety Devin Sanchez and defensive lineman Kenyatta Jackson are among the names expected to carry that unit forward, and Jackson in particular has drawn praise as one of the best defensive players in the country heading into the fall.
Oregon will have to face that group in Columbus at the Horseshoe, one of the toughest road environments in the sport.
The Ducks also draw USC on the road, and that one comes with a different kind of challenge. Oregon had no issues with the Trojans at Autzen Stadium last season, rolling to 42 points and beating USC for the fourth straight time. This year’s version of the Trojans defense should be better with Gary Patterson taking over as defensive coordinator, which could make the trip to Los Angeles a much tougher assignment for Moore and the offensive line.
Washington is another defense Oregon has to navigate, and the Ducks have had the upper hand there lately. Lanning has beaten the Huskies in each of the last two seasons, and Moore saw them in Seattle last year when he was held in check a bit, finishing with 286 yards and one touchdown. Washington returns key pieces in the secondary, including Big Ten honorable mention safety Alex McLaughlin and linebacker Jacob Manu.
Michigan rounds out the list, and unlike Ohio State and USC, this one comes at Autzen Stadium. That gives Oregon a break, but the Wolverines still look capable of making things uncomfortable. The hiring of former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham is expected to help Michigan take a step forward, and the defense has multiple high-level athletes, including safety Rod Moore and linebacker Chase Taylor.
So the Ducks will face two of their toughest defensive tests on the road in Columbus and Los Angeles, while Washington and Michigan come to Eugene. For an Oregon offense with this much talent, those are the games that will show just how high the ceiling really is.
In Other News...
Lincoln Riley Made One USC Staff Decision Fans Should Love
USCs defensive overhaul under Lincoln Riley came with the kind of staff reshuffling that usually sends fans scanning for both stability and upside, and this one delivered a little of each. The Trojans brought in former TCU head coach Gary Patterson as defensive coordinator and added assistants Paul Gonzales and Sam Carter, while also hiring Mike Ekeler to coach linebackers and oversee special teams. In the middle of that turnover, Riley also elevated Chad Savage from inside receivers and tight ends coach to pass game coordinator, a move that reflects how much USC values the work he has done on the trail and in developing players.
Savages rise fits the larger theme of the offseason: USC is trying to strengthen the defense without losing the staff members who have helped build relationships and keep the roster moving forward. Trovon Reed, the cornerbacks coach, was also retained, a sign the Trojans did not want to lose the recruiting momentum and player trust he has built. With Patterson setting the tone on one side of the ball and familiar lieutenants staying in place around him, Riley is trying to strike the balance between a fresh start and continuity, and that is exactly the kind of staff construction fans usually want to see. [Read more 🡒]
USC Faces Another Massive Receiver Battle Fans Know Too Well
USC is back in familiar territory with four-star wide receiver Dennis Tuaone, another highly regarded pass catcher weighing the Trojans against Miami in a recruitment that has plenty of moving parts. The hometown Hurricanes have been a major presence from the start, but USC has stayed in the mix after offering him in March and bringing him in for his first unofficial visit in June, giving the Trojans a real chance to sell their own pitch.
For Tuaone, this decision is shaping up around the kind of things elite receivers tend to remember: coaching relationships, the feel of a program, and how each staff fits him long term. Miami has been making a strong case with its ties close to home, while USC is trying to stand its ground in a battle that has already seen the Hurricanes track another former Trojans target. [Read more 🡒]
USC Has A New Penn State Threat To Worry About
Penn State enters the season with a passing game in transition after losing its top five leading receivers from last year, and that leaves a wide-open path for someone to seize a bigger role. One of the names USC has to keep on its radar is Amarion Jackson, a former safety who ended up at receiver because of injuries and now looks like a real option for an offense that needs answers.
Jacksons path is a little different from the usual freshman arrival, since he followed coach Campbell from Iowa State to Penn State after flipping his pledge. He has also turned heads in spring work, which only adds to the sense that he could be one of the more important new pieces in Penn States offense when the matchup with USC eventually comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]