If the Oregon Ducks had done nothing this offseason except retain quarterback Dante Moore, it would have been a resounding success. Moore, projected as a top contender for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft—or at worst, a lock for the New York Jets at No. 2—chose to return to Eugene for another season. That decision alone, which meant passing up between $52.1 and $54.6 million in guaranteed money (per Spotrac), immediately thrust the Ducks back into the national title conversation.

But Oregon’s offseason was about much more than one player’s loyalty. Despite losing seven players to the NFL Draft and a handful of others to the transfer portal, head coach Dan Lanning and his staff proved once again why they are among the best in the business. They made savvy moves in the portal, adding depth to an already talent-rich roster built on blue-chip recruits. The result? ESPN ranked Oregon’s offseason as the No. 2 best in the Big Ten, trailing only Indiana.

According to ESPN’s Eli Lederman, Max Olsen, and Adam Rittenburg, the Ducks “retained the core of a team set to challenge for the program's first national title.” That core includes Moore, whose patient career path also helped Oregon land his likely successor: Nebraska transfer Raiola. Perhaps most impressive, the Ducks didn’t lose a single projected starter to the portal. Their entire starting defensive line returns, and wide receiver Evan Stewart—a potential NFL prospect who missed all of last season with a knee injury—is back in the fold. The transfer class also features Koi Perich, a two-time All-Big Ten selection from Minnesota, and Bennett from Yale, adding even more firepower to an already stacked roster.

For Ducks fans, this offseason has been a masterclass in roster management. The pieces are in place for a championship run, and the only question left is how far this team can go.