Top 25 in 25: Oregon Football Season Preview

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We’re counting down the final 25 days before the college football season by previewing every one of our preseason top 25 teams! With 8 days left until week zero, we continue our previews with my No. 8 team in the country – the Oregon Ducks.

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Projected Record: 10-2 (7-2)

Ceiling/Floor: 12-0/9-3

Projected Wins: Montana State, Oklahoma State, Northwestern, Oregon State, Indiana, Rutgers, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, USC

Projected Losses: Penn State, Washington

Most Intriguing Game: at Penn State (Week 5)

Coming off a college football playoff quarterfinal exit last year, Oregon is in a very interesting spot heading into the 2025 season. Lots of talent almost everywhere you look on the field, but a lot of being unproven. Head Coach Dan Lanning brought top five portal and high school classes this offseason, but is all the way down at 93rd in returning production from last year’s team, so the Ducks have lots of potential but also lots of uncertainty.

A big determining factor in the Ducks success this fall will be on the shoulders of Dante Moore, who will have to try and fill the shoes of Dillon Gabriel from a year ago. The former five-star prospect has playing experience at UCLA and was able to sit and learn behind Dillon Gabriel in 2024, so that should help his transition into the starting role. Tulane transfer running back Makhi Hughes should be a nice replacement for Jordan James in the backfield, and dynamic weapons on the outside in Evan Stewart and true freshman Dakorien Moore should help Dante Moore in the passing game. An almost completely revamped offensive line is probably the main concern for Oregon’s offense, but the individual talent is there if they can find a way to mesh.

The defensive side of the ball is where Lanning’s unit had more issues a year ago, specifically against the run, so I have a little less confidence in the mostly-new faces in that area than I am with the offense. Mateo Uiagalelei is poised to make another jump off the edge in 2025, but there’s not a lot of certainty outside of him, especially in the secondary. Purdue transfer safety will have to have a big season and anchor the back-end of the defense if Oregon’s going to make a run at a national title.

I have the Ducks winning 10 games and likely being a first or second round playoff exit. But it wouldn’t surprise me if Lanning’s squad went further in the playoff or missed it all together. The Ducks won’t really be tested until they head to Penn State for the white-out game in what will likely be a huge swing game for both teams, both in the Big Ten and nationally.

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