It’s never too early for a “way too early” Big Ten power ranking! Things will change. Players will hurt the portal, players will transfer in, and injuries will happen but for the most part, we have a pretty good understanding of rosters after National Signing Day and so much transfer portal movement.
In each part of this series, we will unveil where each of the 18 teams in the new look conference begins. We started at No. 1 with the revamped Ohio State Buckeyes. Now, the Oregon Ducks come in at the second spot.
It will be Oregon’s first season in the Big Ten, and they have the resources in place to thrive immediately. From a recruiting and financial perspective, they will fit right in for long-term potential and program stability but they also bring back a very talented team in 2024.
The team is coming off of a very good 12-2 season, which included a berth in the PAC-12 championship game and was in contention for a playoff spot until that game. The Ducks have managed to retain the majority of their coaching staff, with Dan Lanning bringing back both Will Stein and Tosh Lupoi to coordinate the offense and defense respectively.
Oregon was also able to convince several players to return for another season, including wide receiver Tez Johnson, tight end Terrance Ferguson, defensive end Jordan Burch, and linebacker Jeffrey Bassa. They also pulled in a good portal haul, getting quarterback Dillon Gabriel (Oklahoma), wide receiver Evan Stewart (Texas A&M), safety Kobe Savage (Kansas State), and cornerbacks Kam Alexander (UTSA) and Jabbar Muhammad (Washington) to cushion the blow of some roster losses.
If everything meshes, Oregon has the chance to make waves in its first year in the Big Ten. There is a path toward a National Championship as well.
Full Big Ten Rankings
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Oregon Ducks
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