The Oregon football team is coming off of one of the best seasons in program history. A No. 1 finish to the regular season, a Big Ten Championship win, a berth into the College Football Playoffs, and two crownings as the National Champion by major selectors.
However, many experts still don't see the Ducks getting it done in the upcoming season. On3 analyst Andy Staples recently released its projected 2026 College Football Playoff bracket and he had the Ducks losing before they can obtain their long-sought-after National Championship.
NEW: 2026 College Football Playoff Projection via @Andy_Staples👀
— On3 (@On3sports) February 3, 2025
Do you agree? 🤔https://t.co/n3buMGkCH8 pic.twitter.com/dX1fMJIVgs
Despite Staples giving the Ducks the No. 2 seed – seemingly projecting that Oregon will win the Big Ten title once again – he has the Ducks failing to defeat the sixth-seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who are coming off of a loss to Ohio State in the National Championship game.
After Oregon's loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the quarterfinal round of the 2025 College Football Playoffs, a few fans started to question if head coach Dan Lanning has the ability to win on the biggest of stages, despite the Ducks defeating Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan all in one season.
Some of the doubt may be a large part of why Staples didn't have the confidence to put the Ducks in the National Championship game next year. However, the Fighting Irish will have lost a lot of their star power as they head into the upcoming season as Oregon will have further built up its own powerhouse program.
The Ducks will start their 2025-26 campaign on Aug. 30 when they take on the Montana State Bobcats at Autzen Stadium.