The Oregon Ducks, preseason darlings and supposed national title contenders, are off to an absolutely baffling start, and their season point differential already sits at a dismal -2. This was supposed to be Head Coach Dan Lanning’s year, with Dante Moore returning and a roster loaded with talent. After getting closer to the College Football Playoffs in the past two seasons, even losing to Indiana in the semifinals, the hype in Eugene was real. But what we’ve seen so far? Man, games aren’t won on paper, and the Ducks are looking like pure pretenders.
How the Ducks Fumbled Early
First, Oregon barely escaped Boise State at home with a 34-27 win. Not exactly a dominant performance from a supposed powerhouse. Then, they hit the road to face an Oklahoma State team that got absolutely embarrassed in Week 1, losing 24-10 to Tulsa as 13.5-point favorites. What happened? Oregon, a team that entered *both* these games as a monstrous 24.5-point favorite, proceeded to lose to Oklahoma State. Yeah, you read that right. An upset for the history books, and it just screams “average team” not “playoff contender.” This isn’t the kind of performance that gets you anywhere near the big dance, even if you’ve got all the talent in the world.
Talent Isn’t Translating for Lanning
It’s truly baffling how disappointing Oregon’s season has started. You’ve got Dante Moore back, a “loaded roster,” and Lanning at the helm, who’s been inching them closer to the playoffs every year. But this isn’t it. The harsh reality is their high preseason ranking might still give them a shot at the College Football Playoff, but if they get there, they won’t get any closer than they have before. They just look like a different team out there, one that can’t close out games or dominate opponents they should be wiping the floor with.
What’s Next for These Ducks
Oregon faces an FCS opponent, Portland State, in Week 3, which should be a much-needed break to regroup. But after that? Man, it gets rough. They’re looking at a much more challenging stretch, including road games against USC, Illinois, and Ohio State, plus hosting an unpredictable Michigan team. To cap it all off, they’ll conclude the regular season against our own Washington Huskies, who just scraped by Utah State 16-14 in their own tight Week 1 game. After the first two weeks, nothing looks like an easy win for Oregon, not even close. Can Lanning and the Ducks pull it together, or are they simply showing us who they really are this season? That Huskies game is gonna mean a lot for bragging rights, no doubt!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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