College Football preseason top 25: Why Oregon’s ranking makes sense

EUGENE, OREGON - SEPTEMBER 6: Dante Moore #5 speaks with Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning during a game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Autzen Stadium on September 6, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images The preseason AP Top 25 poll has been released, and with it comes a hint of history for the Big Ten conference.

Ohio State emerged as the preseason No. 1 team, earning 40 first-place votes. However, another Big Ten program, Oregon, secured the No. 2 ranking, marking the conference's second time ever to claim the top two spots. Five teams received first-place votes in total: Ohio State, Oregon, Notre Dame (6), Indiana (8), and Miami FL (1).

Notre Dame landed at No. 4, while Indiana came in sixth, and Miami finished seventh. Georgia claimed the top spot in the SEC, ranking third overall, while Texas and Texas A&M followed with fifth and eighth places, respectively. Mississippi and Oklahoma rounded out the top ten. Nonetheless, the focus here is on Oregon, the team sitting pretty at No. 2.

This ranking might come as a surprise, but there are solid reasons behind it. Central to this is the return of star quarterback Dante Moore. Instead of entering the 2025 NFL Draft, Moore chose to stay on campus for another season, a decision that has not gone unnoticed. This isn't the first time Moore has deferred his draft eligibility for the Ducks.

The Oregon roster is filled with familiar faces, both on offense and defense. On offense, Dante Moore will be joined by Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr., who last season were the freshman running backs who amassed over 1,300 rushing yards together. Dakorien Moore and Jeremiah McClellan, who made a significant impact as freshmen, will return to their starting positions.

Defensive end Evan Stewart will also return, having missed last season due to a knee injury. Offensively, the addition of transfer receiver Iverson Hooks from UAB will add a boost to the Ducks' passing game, having caught 72 passes for 927 yards and seven scores the previous year. On defense, Oregon returns nearly the entire defensive unit from the previous season.

Defensively, the return of Bear Alexander and A'Mauri Washington from the interior, along with linebackers Jerry Mixon and Devon Jackson, will create a formidable front seven. The edge rushers Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti will provide additional pressure. In the secondary, starting cornerbacks Brandon Finney Jr. and Ify Obidegwu will continue their strong performances.

While Oregon lost safety Dillon Thieneman to the NFL Draft, the team bolstered its defense by signing Koi Perich from Minnesota, who is expected to take the place of Thieneman. In the Athlon Sports college football preview, an opposing Big Ten assistant coach remarked, "That might be the best roster in college football, with the returners they have on the D-line and the back end, with the addition of Koi Perich from Minnesota — and then offensively, they return basically everyone, except Malik Benson, Kenyon Sadiq, and a couple of running backs.

When you watch them on tape, they look like a team with a lot of 5-stars." Oregon head coach Dan Lanning expressed his excitement about the upcoming season at Big Ten Media Days. He emphasized the team's depth of experience, stating that while last year's squad showcased immense talent, this year's team boasts significant experience returning.

Lanning also expressed confidence in Dante Moore, acknowledging that he will continue to grow and improve throughout the season.