Ducks primed for another title run

Oregon is hot on the presses as a favorite to reach the national final

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Is this the year the University of Oregon finally wins its national championship in football?

More than a few people across the nation think so as the Ducks opened the season of polling at No. 2 behind Ohio State.

Oregon vs. Ohio State in the national championship game - both Big 10 schools, is a solid bet although actual betting favors a title game of Ohio State vs. Notre Dame in preseason action.

The Ducks have been in the national title discussion since coach Dan Lanning arrived in December of 2021, playing to a record of 48-8 in four seasons. Oregon won the Big 10 Title in its inaugural season in the Conference: 2024, and has lost only three games the past two seasons - and just once during the regular season.

Oregon played in the Final Four last year, when it lost to Indiana for the second time during the season. The Hoosiers then won the national title. Oregon's lone loss in 2024-25 was to Ohio State, which also went on to win the national title.

The Ducks begin their season Sept. 5 with a home game against Boise State with the game scheduled for a national audience on CBS. They play at Oklahoma State the following week before returning to play host to Portland State on Sept. 18, which is a Friday.

Oregon plays at Ohio State November 7, and closes the regular season at home against Washington, Nov. 28.

The Ducks have played into the national final twice: at the close of the 2010 season - a 22-19 loss to Auburn in January of 2011; and at the close of the 2014 season - a 42-20 loss to Ohio State in January of 2015.

The Big 10 Conference title game is set for Dec. 5 in Indianapolis, Ind.

Since reaching the Independence Bowl in 1989 Oregon has played in a bowl game or the national title game in all-but-five seasons. That string is 20 of the past 21 seasons - Oregon missed the 2016 bowl season.

OREGON FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Sept. 5 Boise State

Sept. 12 at Oklahoma State

Sept. 18 Portland State (Fri)

Sept. 26 at Southern Cal

Oct. 10 UCLA

Oct. 17 Nebraska

Oct. 24 at Illinois

Oct. 31 Northwestern

Nov. 7 Ohio State

Nov. 14 Michigan

Nov. 20 at Michigan State (Fri)

Nov. 28 Washington

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OREGON UNDER DAN LANNING

2022. 10-3 Won Holiday Bowl over North Carolina

2023. 12-2 Won Fiesta Bowl over Liberty

13-1 Won Big 10 Title Game over Penn State, lost Rose Bowl to Ohio State

13-2 Won Orange Bowl over Texas Tech, lost in Final Four to Indiana

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Ducks

Championships

Cliff Pfenning

Cliff is a lifelong resident of Oregon and has four decades of experience as a writer, photographer, videographer, broadcaster and now producer. He's a grad of Benson High in Portland and the University of Oregon. His writing background includes stints at The Oregonian, The Register-Guard, The News-Review in Roseburg, The Portland Tribune, The Portland Observer as well as regular contributions to The Medford Mail-Tribune and Willamette Week. He was set to be a content provider for Action Sports Cable Network if it had began operations in 2000. He also has taught sports broadcasting through the high school program at KBPS in Portland.

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