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Preseason College Football Playoff favorite ‘not dead yet’ despite 3 losses
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- Preseason College Football Playoff favorite ‘not dead yet’ despite 3 losses
When the 2026 college football season started, the Oregon Ducks were ranked No. 2 in the country. It made sense, after all. The Ducks returned most of their stars from last season and added some valuable pieces from the transfer portal. The biggest returnee of them all was preseason Heisman favorite Dante Moore.
But a close opening win vs. Boise State might've told the story for Oregon. The Ducks won 34-27 and then suffered a loss against Oklahoma State, 39-31, which won one game last season.
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Then the USC game came two games later, and Moore took a nasty hit to the head, which has sidelined him since — likely the rest of the season .
Oregon enters Week 10 with a 5-3 record and the Ducks head to Columbus to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. But don't count Oregon just yet. At least that's what ESPN's Rece Davis suggests.
MORE: Predicting College Football Playoff rankings entering Week 10 of 2026 season
A path for Oregon to win the Big Ten
Oregon quarterback Dylan Raiola throws a pass as the Oregon Ducks host the Northwestern Wildcats on Oct. 31, 2026, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
There is arguably the most parity in college football that we've seen. And that holds true in the Big Ten Conference. Shockingly, UCLA is the only undefeated team in the Big Ten, and for Oregon, the Ducks essentially hold their own fate.
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Davis put it all out on the table perfectly for Ducks fans. Oregon needs the Bruins to continue to win, and for Oregon to get into the Big Ten title game, the Ducks need to win out and need a loss from both Indiana and Illinois.
"And one that we thought for sure was cooked, and you're going to have to stay with me a little bit on this one, Oregon not dead yet," Davis said on the Pat McAfee Show . "Now, great win against Northwestern, but listen to this, Pat, there's a path. It's not a wide path, it's not an easy one. But if they win out, it's not really crazy that they could get into the Big Ten Championship game. You get into the Big Ten Championship game, then they could win the conference.
"Really, what they need is for UCLA to keep winning, and then Oregon has a lot of advantages and potential tiebreakers should the Ducks be able to win out. So I don't favor them to do it because they've been the epitome of inconsistency, but in this season they got that win against Northwestern Saturday and all of a sudden you look up and you go, really all they need is an Indiana and Illinois loss, and they're in really good shape if they can win out."
Chances of Oregon winning out?
Oct 17, 2026; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning watches his team warm up before a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Nothing has been easy for Oregon this season, but after firing offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer, the Ducks beat Northwestern 34-26. Dylan Raiola has stepped into the starting quarterback role, and while he stunk it up against UCLA , he threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns against the Wildcats.
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Oregon will go into the Ohio State game this weekend, which won't be easy. But it's the time to do it after the Buckeyes looked bad with new starting quarterback Luke Fahey in the loss to USC. If Oregon can get past Ohio State, the Ducks will host Michigan, play at Michigan State, and finish at home to Washington.
If the Ducks can beat Ohio State, there will be more people than just Davis talking about the Ducks making a run.
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