New head coach Dan Lanning inherits a talented roster that enters the 2022 season as prohibitive favorites in the Pac-12 North Division. Can Oregon take the next step and become a factor at the national level in 2022? Check out Oregon's futures odds, picks, and preview for the upcoming season.
When Oregon went on the road and defeated Ohio State in Week 2 of the 2021 college football season, the Ducks were instantly thrust into the spotlight as a possible championship contender. Oregon would go on to win nine of its first ten games. The only loss came at Stanford in an overtime game that saw the Ducks get completely hosed by the referees.
Oregon's hopes of securing the school's first trip to the College Football Playoff since 2014 were very much alive entering their penultimate regular-season game at Utah on Nov. 20. Those hopes died a gruesome death in Salt Lake City as they lost 38-7. The Ducks would again lose to Utah in lopsided fashion two weeks later in the Pac-12 Championship Game.
Following Mario Cristobal's departure to the University of Miami, former Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning is now in charge up in Eugene. Oregon will have a new quarterback in 2022 and also must replace the presence of NFL draftee Kayvon Thibodeaux on defense.