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During the offseason, the Ducks have climbed to the top of Spencer Butte as a team, held beach workouts on the Oregon coast, and a small group of players even traveled to Tokyo to host a coaching clinic and youth camp.
Now the real fun is set to begin.
"We are about to hop right into the middle of football season," Oregon coach Dan Lanning beamed July 29 during the Big Ten Football Media Days in Chicago. "I can't wait for it."
Lanning – as well as Oregon players Dante Moore, Teitum Tuioti and Jamari Johnson – were on hand at the Hilton Chicago for the conference's football kickoff event.
Fall camp begins next week for the Ducks, who were picked to finish second in the Big Ten in 2026 behind Ohio State by members of the media who cover conference teams. But they are also considered a contender to make the College Football Playoff championship game.
"Nobody's going to have higher expectations for our team than us," Lanning said. "We're the guys in the building doing the work every single day. Certainly really proud of the team and the work they've put in. We have high expectations. We've got a lot that we want to accomplish."
Here are three takeaways from Big Ten Football Media Days.
Oregon's sheer volume of talent last fall helped the Ducks to a 13-2 record and a spot in a CFP semifinal. But they also relied on a number of freshmen or first-year contributors to get them there. Many of those players are back and they've got a year of experience under their belts.
That is especially true on offense, where receivers Dakorien Moore and Jeremiah McClellan, running backs Jordon Davision and Dierre Hill Jr., tight end Johnson and quarterback Moore were all in their first season of significant playing time as a Duck in 2025.
"Walking in this year, what's different from last year, obviously we have some great returning players that have been big contributors to our program," Lanning said. "One thing I recognize is last year I felt like we had a team that had a ton of talent. This year we have a team that has a lot of experience returning. A lot of those young guys that played are guys that have great experience. I am excited to see what that looks like."
The story of Oregon's starting quarterback spurning a shot at the NFL and first-round draft pick money to return to the Ducks for another season (and a nice pay day, as well) has been told and retold all offseason.
It's a tale that still brings a smile to Lanning's face, however, and it's obvious why. Moore threw for 3,565 yards, 30 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and completed 72% of his passes (296 of 412) in 2025 and enters the season as a Heisman Trophy contender. Having him back gives the Ducks their best chance to win a national title.
Still, Moore wasn't perfect last season and though Lanning wouldn't discuss his QB's offseason improvement plan, he had plenty of praise for the work Moore has put in since January.
"There's very few quarterbacks, especially in our system, that in their second year they're not a better version of themselves out there on the field," Lanning said. "... (Moore's) improved, but his maturity, his leadership, is really taking a step. I think his emotional maturity and his self awareness is really high. Everybody in that locker room would follow that guy, and I think that speaks volumes."
The ghosts of how the 2024 and 2025 seasons ended continue to haunt the Ducks.
Last year it was a blowout loss to eventual champion Indiana in the Peach Bowl CFP semifinal. A year earlier, it was a lopsided defeat to eventual champion Ohio State in the Rose Bowl CFP quarterfinal despite being the No. 1 seed.
"Every time we've gotten close, we've always fallen short," Moore said. "But those are just learning moments and I feel like coach Lanning always goes back to the drawing board and will find us a way to get over the hump. This year our goal is to chase history."
To do that will take take focus, outside linebacker Tuioti said.
"We gotta enjoy the process this year," he said. "Obviously there's a lot of talk. There's a lot of things going on, but we got a team that's excited to play for each other. As long as we take those step-by-step processes and go day by day, we're going to get the outcome we want."
Chris Hansen covers University of Oregon football, men’s basketball, track and field, cross[email protected] and you can follow him on X @chansen_RG
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: 3 takeaways from Oregon football's appearance at Big Ten media day
Continue reading...
Now the real fun is set to begin.
"We are about to hop right into the middle of football season," Oregon coach Dan Lanning beamed July 29 during the Big Ten Football Media Days in Chicago. "I can't wait for it."
Lanning – as well as Oregon players Dante Moore, Teitum Tuioti and Jamari Johnson – were on hand at the Hilton Chicago for the conference's football kickoff event.
Fall camp begins next week for the Ducks, who were picked to finish second in the Big Ten in 2026 behind Ohio State by members of the media who cover conference teams. But they are also considered a contender to make the College Football Playoff championship game.
"Nobody's going to have higher expectations for our team than us," Lanning said. "We're the guys in the building doing the work every single day. Certainly really proud of the team and the work they've put in. We have high expectations. We've got a lot that we want to accomplish."
Here are three takeaways from Big Ten Football Media Days.
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Dan Lanning says Ducks have a more veteran presence this season
Oregon's sheer volume of talent last fall helped the Ducks to a 13-2 record and a spot in a CFP semifinal. But they also relied on a number of freshmen or first-year contributors to get them there. Many of those players are back and they've got a year of experience under their belts.
That is especially true on offense, where receivers Dakorien Moore and Jeremiah McClellan, running backs Jordon Davision and Dierre Hill Jr., tight end Johnson and quarterback Moore were all in their first season of significant playing time as a Duck in 2025.
"Walking in this year, what's different from last year, obviously we have some great returning players that have been big contributors to our program," Lanning said. "One thing I recognize is last year I felt like we had a team that had a ton of talent. This year we have a team that has a lot of experience returning. A lot of those young guys that played are guys that have great experience. I am excited to see what that looks like."
Dan Lanning praises Dante Moore for offseason growth
The story of Oregon's starting quarterback spurning a shot at the NFL and first-round draft pick money to return to the Ducks for another season (and a nice pay day, as well) has been told and retold all offseason.
It's a tale that still brings a smile to Lanning's face, however, and it's obvious why. Moore threw for 3,565 yards, 30 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and completed 72% of his passes (296 of 412) in 2025 and enters the season as a Heisman Trophy contender. Having him back gives the Ducks their best chance to win a national title.
Still, Moore wasn't perfect last season and though Lanning wouldn't discuss his QB's offseason improvement plan, he had plenty of praise for the work Moore has put in since January.
"There's very few quarterbacks, especially in our system, that in their second year they're not a better version of themselves out there on the field," Lanning said. "... (Moore's) improved, but his maturity, his leadership, is really taking a step. I think his emotional maturity and his self awareness is really high. Everybody in that locker room would follow that guy, and I think that speaks volumes."
Players' goal for 2026? 'Chase history'
The ghosts of how the 2024 and 2025 seasons ended continue to haunt the Ducks.
Last year it was a blowout loss to eventual champion Indiana in the Peach Bowl CFP semifinal. A year earlier, it was a lopsided defeat to eventual champion Ohio State in the Rose Bowl CFP quarterfinal despite being the No. 1 seed.
"Every time we've gotten close, we've always fallen short," Moore said. "But those are just learning moments and I feel like coach Lanning always goes back to the drawing board and will find us a way to get over the hump. This year our goal is to chase history."
To do that will take take focus, outside linebacker Tuioti said.
"We gotta enjoy the process this year," he said. "Obviously there's a lot of talk. There's a lot of things going on, but we got a team that's excited to play for each other. As long as we take those step-by-step processes and go day by day, we're going to get the outcome we want."
Chris Hansen covers University of Oregon football, men’s basketball, track and field, cross[email protected] and you can follow him on X @chansen_RG
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: 3 takeaways from Oregon football's appearance at Big Ten media day
Continue reading...
