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ESPN identifies key concern for Oregon in 2025
By Paul Harvey
Published:
ESPN’s host of college football analysts is ready to tackle all the previews for the 2025 season. On Wednesday, that included identifying the key concern for all the top teams in the country, including Oregon.
Last season, Dan Lanning and the Ducks rolled to a 13-0 regular season and the No. 1 seed in the entire country. While the rematch with Ohio State in the Rose Bowl did not go as planned, Oregon capitalized on top-20 units on both sides of the ball to wins over Boise State, Ohio State, Illinois and Penn State.
Entering the 2025 campaign, the pressure is on to replace a host of production on both sides of the ball, including starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel, the team’s leading rusher and key pieces in the receiving room. However, the biggest concern that ESPN’s Paolo Uggetti has comes on the defensive side of the ball.
He pointed to the defensive line, fresh off the losses of Jordan Burch, Derrick Harmon and Jamaree Caldwell to the NFL, as a major question mark:
It’s hard to say whether this is an area of concern just yet, but there are question marks with Oregon’s defensive line as the Ducks lost both Derrick Harmon and Jordan Burch from last year (as well as Jamaree Caldwell). Defensive end is a strength with Matayo Uiagalelei holding down the edge, but the rest of the line will require some newcomers to step up, such as USC transfer Bear Alexander and rising lineman Aydin Breland, who could be in line for a breakout season. A’mauri Washington, one of the few returning players, will likely be a fixture of the new-look line as well.
The good news, if Oregon’s re-shaped defensive line pans out, is that the Ducks should be once again among the top teams in the entire country. DraftKings has Lanning’s program at -300 to return to the Playoff, putting Oregon among the top 5 odds to reach the final field.
Oregon is also +950 to win the national title, putting the Ducks with the 5th-lowest odds to win it all. We’ll see if they can live up to those numbers this fall.
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Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.