Heading into the 2026 college football season, the Oregon Ducks are looking to be the 4th different team in a row from the Big Ten to win the National Championship. After watching Michigan, Ohio State, and Indiana all hoist the trophy, the conference has taken over the college football world, as the Ducks continue to surge.
Dan Lanning has taken the Ducks on back-to-back trips to the College Football Playoff with a Big Ten Championship, but the team hasn't been able to finish off the job. This season, Oregon has one of the most talented rosters in the country, and all the pieces to finally bring a National Championship to Eugene.
The path certainly won't be easy, as playing in the Big Ten presents massive challenges throughout the regular season. This season, far and away the biggest challenge for the Ducks to overcome is heading to Columbus to face off against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Oregon opens as staggering underdogs against Ohio State
According to the early lines set by DraftKings Sportsbook, Ohio State opens as 6-point favorites (-110) over the Ducks. The oddsmakers also see the matchup being a high-scoring affair, with the total set at 52.5 points (-110).
All lines and odds are subject to change
It feels like the last time these teams faced off certainly is in the minds of the oddsmakers, from when the Buckeyes dismantled the Ducks in the Rose Bowl. While that result may factor into the decision, the teams are far different, and the Ducks also won the regular season matchup.
Both of these teams will enter the season as front runners to win the National Championship, and making Oregon 6 point underdogs feels incredibly disrespectful. When you look at these teams on paper, they're both loaded with talent, and you may even favor the talent of the Ducks when you go up and down the roster.
Ohio State will certainly be an impressive team once again, but they also have a ton of questions to answer. Caleb Downs, Arvell Reese, Carnell Tate, and Sonny Styles are all a rare level of player that won't be easy to replace, even if there are talented pieces ready to fill the void.
The biggest challenge for the Ducks is going to be replacing key pieces of the offensive line, which suffered a ton of turnover this offseason. The good news for Dan Lanning is that, like Ohio State, the Ducks recruit at an elite level, and there are plenty of players capable of stepping into the holes and playing at a high level.
This matchup will be filled with high end playmakers with Dante Moore and Julian Sayin at QB, Jordon Davison and Bo Jackson at running back, Jeremiah Smith and Dakorien Moore at wide receiver, and potential 1st round picks as you continue down the rosters. The odds will certainly change as the matchup moves closer, so for now, the early odds and lines are simply bulletin board material for Dan Lanning and his staff.
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