Oregon defensive lineman Aydin Breland (42) celebrates after his sack as the No. 21 Ducks face the Portland State Vikings in a non-conference college football game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. Credit: Sean Meagher via TNS.
Oregon football entered the season with national championship aspirations as the No. 2 ranked team in the country.?
But after a stunning upset in the a Week 2 39-31 loss to Oklahoma State, a team which had previously lost 12 straight games dating back to last season, the Ducks have had a shaky 2-1 start to the season.
Hey, at least things are never boring in Eugene.
The Ducks’ week 4 showdown against USC in the LA Memorial Coliseum to begin conference play will be a true measuring-stick contest for fans to gauge the Ducks’ legitimacy.?
Win, and everything Oregon wants is still in front of it. Lose, and questions swirling about the Ducks’ season will continue.?
Quarterback Dante Moore hasn’t quite had the Heisman-caliber performance most expected since deciding to return to Oregon instead of declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft. The blame stretches much farther than him.?
No side of Oregon’s performance has been good enough, from an offense that has struggled to establish the run to a defense tagged with missed assignments galore.
With a defensive line touted as one of the best in the country, the Ducks have been largely ineffective against Power 4 opponents, and Oregon’s defensive backs have struggled at times, too.?
The question remains as to whether the Ducks, who made the College Football Playoff semifinal a year ago, will be able to shake off their rocky start to the season.?
