Oregon

The pressure is officially on in Eugene, where anything short of a national championship will feel like failure after two straight College Football Playoff exits. Dante Moore returns as the starter and potential top-five NFL Draft pick, leading a roster that grades out sixth nationally at +22.9 points behind elite units on both sides of the ball. The Ducks added significantly more talent than they lost through the portal, headlined by Nebraska transfer quarterback Dylan Raiola and UAB receiver Iverson Hooks, while losing tight end Kenyon Sadiq to the NFL Draft and running back Jayden Limar to Washington. New coordinators Drew Mehringer and Chris Hampton take over an offense that ranks sixth nationally and a defense that sits eighth.

JP+ projects 9.4 wins for Oregon in their Big Ten campaign, slightly under the market's 10.5-win expectation, with road trips to Ohio State, USC, and Illinois representing the toughest tests on the schedule. The gap comes from mixed continuity concerns on offense, where the Ducks return just 37% of their target share despite Moore's presence under center, though the defense remains stable with minimal departures. If Moore lives up to his draft billing and the new offensive pieces mesh quickly, this roster has the talent to finally break through to the sport's summit. If the offensive continuity issues create early-season growing pains, another playoff disappointment could be waiting.