Oregon fans face heartbreak as experts predict 2026 national championship

They've come close four times, only to get manhandled, jobbed, or blown out in the end. The script has been repeated so many times that another prediction of success elicits not anticipation but fatalism and dread.

Earlier this week the college football writers from The Athletic and The New York Times predicted the 2026 National Champion. Brace yourselves, Duck fans: Nine members of the panel picked Dan Lanning and Oregon. No other program got more than five votes.

Who will win the national championship?

Oregon 9

Notre Dame 5

Texas 4

Indiana 3

Ohio State 3

Georgia 1

LSU 1

Miami 1

Texas Tech 1

Thirteen of the 28 members of the panel chose UO to win the Big Ten. They wrote, "Dante Moore’s return at quarterback makes it clear Oregon is all-in for a title push, even though it must deal with the departures of coordinators Will Stein (Kentucky) and Tosh Lupoi (Cal) to head coaching jobs."

That Moore is joined by Evan Stewart, Poncho Laloulu, Dave Iuli, Jordon Davison, Dierre Hill, Dakorien Moore, Jeremiah McClellan and Jamari Johnson makes the case even stronger, particularly since Matayo Uiagalelei and the entire defensive front returns, and transfer Koi Perich and Brandon Finney anchor a strong secondary, eighth in the nation last year against the pass.

Yet for Duck fans the optimistic previews are likely to produce anxiety rather than hope. Fate has snatched the ball away like a cosmic Lucy, over and over.

The faithful can close their eyes and see the ball skipping off LeGarrette Blount's thigh pads at the 2010 Rose Bowl, see Cam Newton stripped and fumbling in the pocket only to be awarded the ball, see those awful running highlights of belt-to-ass, Ezekiel Elliott running untouched for another touchdown, Jeremiah Smith and Carnelll Tate burning the undersized Oregon cornerbacks to a crisp, see Indiana's Fernando Mendoza threading another perfect pass against a mystified Duck defense, see Moore and his teammates shoot themselves in the foot from the very first play.

In 2026 Oregon indeed has all the elements of a champion. They have talent, coaching, facilities. They'll start the season ranked high and the schedule is mostly favorable. The last remaining element is that kiss on the lips from destiny, the combination of unfolding moments where the toe is in bounds and the batted pass falls into the arms of Bear Alexander or A'Mauri Washington.

Is this the year? Who knows? Cubs fans and Sox fans had to suffer for a century. Blazer fans got one title in 50 years. There's no statute of limitations on suffering or enduring seasons where your team collapses like a table at a Buffalo Bills tailgate.

We learn their names. We love them like family and mark the September wins on the refrigerator calendar with a growing flutter of hope, beating like the heart of an Easter chick, peeping, yellow, fragile in the bright green grass of the spring.

All the while, we secretly prepare to have our heart ripped out. But maybe Dante Moore will have the chance to do what Bo Nix, Marcus Mariota, LaMichael James and Joey Harrington never had the chance to do.