Athlon Sports: Oregon Ducks Among Those In Preseason Top 25

The Oregon Ducks will be looking for respect in 2016 according to the latest Preseason Top 25 list from Athlon Sports.

More from Autzen Zoo

• Oregon football: Ducks and Coach Prime playing it cordial leading up to Saturday
• Oregon Basketball: Non-conference slate features Michigan coming to Eugene
• Oregon football: Ducks find complete game effort in win vs Hawaii
• Oregon Ducks must get run game going against Hawaii
• 8 Pac-12 teams represented in Associated Press Top 25 after Week 2

Athlon Sports recently released their College Football Preseason Top 25 Preview. Several Pac-12 Teams not only made the list, but are ranked well ahead of the Oregon Ducks. In fact, the Ducks have some rebuilding to do in several key areas, which is no surprise.

Oregon comes in at number 24 on the list with four Pac-12 teams slotted ahead of them including the USC Trojans(23), UCLA(15), Stanford(12), and Washington(11) as the highest ranked team in the Conference.

Athlon Sports points out that Oregon’s Defense last season was well, not good. An obvious improvement is in the works from a team that gave up close to 28 points per game.

The top of the list is no surprise with Alabama and Florida State taking the top twp spots. The Crimson Tide can reload better than anyone and the Seminoles have some big men returning but are in search of a Quarterback to lead the Offense.

The Oregon Ducks do begin 2016 with some big storylines that will certainly build as the season gets closer with a Heisman Trophy Candidate at Running Back in Royce Freeman and a new Quarterback in Dakota Prukop along with a new Defensive Coordinator in Brady Hoke who brings with him a new 4-3 Scheme. Fall Camp will bring all the pieces together for the 2016 season.

Next: Oregon Baseball Takes On Portland

Oregon Football team is currently on break following the Spring Game and will reconvene for Fall Camp over the summer.