The Oregon Ducks head into the 2026 college football season with true National Championship or bust expectations. Dante Moore, Matayo Uiagalelei, and A'Mauri Washington all deciding to return gives this group an elite core. When you add in all the pieces ready to take a leap, and the elite transfers the Ducks added, this group should at worst make the College Football Playoff.
Heading into the season, the Ducks have the roster to win it all, but the schedule won't be easy. Boise State and the new look Oklahoma State Cowboys are much harder non-conference games than some teams play, and the schedule in the Big Ten always brings significant tests.
National Analyst names Michigan as pivotal game for the Ducks
Heading into the season, everyone looks at Ohio State and USC as the two biggest matchups for Oregon, but CBS's Austin Nivison took a look at a different matchup. Nivison named the matchup against Michigan as the one that could be the most pivotal in the Ducks' season. The point is that losing to Ohio State wouldn't kill Oregon's CFP hopes, but following it with a loss to Michigan could.
The Wolverines will look much different this season as Kyle Whittingham takes over after Sherrone Moore's firing. Whittingham should certainly elevate the Wolverines as he did year after year at Utah with lesser talent. If Whittingham's staff can tap into Bryce Underwood's talent and elevate his game, it wouldn't surprise anyone if the Wolverines were a Playoff contender.
If Oregon is going to win the National Championship, it's going to take refocusing after such a big game with the back-to-back with Ohio State and Michigan. The Wolverines won't be a team the Ducks can overlook, and if the team isn't able to get up for that game, this group will likely fall short of it's goals.
Add us as a preferred source on Google