The Oregon Ducks dominate the Big Ten preseason polls and awards

The 2024 Preseason All-Big Ten Poll is officially out and falling into second are the Oregon Ducks.

As head coach Dan Lanning and his team prepare for their first-ever season in the conference, the Ducks are looking dominant ahead of the first kickoff.

In the preseason poll, Oregon only trails the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Ducks are ranked ahead of the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines, the perrennial powerhouse Penn State Nittany Lions, and their former Pac-12 rival Washington Huskies.

Alongside the nod to Oregon's projected dominance in its new conference, coaches and players received attention for their expected prowess throughout the season.

Lanning received the nod as the expected Coach of the Year in the Big Ten. New quarterback Dillon Gabriel earned the award of the preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

Will Johnson, a cornerback for Michigan, earned the Defensive Player of the Year award in the preseason polls ahead of Oregon's Jabbar Muhammad.

Throughout the offseason, the Ducks have garnered national attention for their elite recruiting across the country, repeatedly edging out programs like Georgia and Texas.

Lanning's leadership has led Oregon to a 22-5 overall record over the past two seasons, including two bowl game victories.

At the end of both seasons, the Ducks finished second in the Pac-12, behind USC in 2022 and behind Washington in 2023.

Lanning and Oregon look to earn their first conference title, and hopefully more, together as they join the Big Ten.

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