Oregon begins national championship chase with hard work in the early mornings

Everybody in college football does them, but few programs approach winter workouts with the speed and intensity of the Oregon Ducks.

The pursuit of the 2026 National Championship began in earnest at the Moshofsky Center at 6 a.m. in the morning on February 1st.

In Winter Workouts, leadership is what you DO, not what you say

Winter workouts are the crucible where leaders emerge and improvement is born. The explosiveness and physical toughness that characterized this team is shaped by their standard of work under the watchful eye of strength and conditioning coach Wilson Love.

Don Smalley of Ducks Wire wrote a great story this morning covering the Ducks and Dan Lanning speaking to fans on National Signing Day Wednesday. "You've got a group of guys who are coming back who are hungry. We've all got a little sour taste in our mouth, which is awesome when the only success is measured by what can we do and how does this look at the end of the season," Lanning said.

"You've got a motivated team. You've got a bunch of guys who want to get better," Lanning told the fans. "I think there isn't an absence of leadership with this group. We've got a bunch of guys coming back who are leaders, who can step up and continue to develop that."

Talk is cheap. The airwaves and the internet are full of way-too-early predictions about Oregon as a Top Five team or a playoff favorite, but what the makes the talk real and tangible is the commitment and sacrifice the team pursues every morning in February, long before the fans arrive at Autzen Stadium.

In the film clip Lanning says, "February 1st, it starts. Right now, the whole thing in this off season is about being a pro."

The theme this winter is "tougher together." Lanning challenged his players at their first meeting as Winter Term began. "If you're a great player, you should want to work."

At this point progress is measured not in yards, tackles and first downs but in pushing through, pulling the sled, exploding off the line, beating your body to the point of exhaustion on the battle ropes. Thirty years ago teams used to use fall camp to get in shape, but the game has changed dramatically. Now, peak physical condition and elite speed, strength and explosiveness training occur at Zero Dark Thirty in February.

By the time spring practices begin at the end of March, the Oregon players will have already made a significant down payment on the goals they've set for themselves this season.