A Big Ten title and a national championship — the two goals that the Oregon Ducks set out for themselves during the 2026 season. And through two weeks, one underwhelming win and a crushing loss, it may seem like time to pack it in. The Ducks have fallen all the way down from the preseason No. 2 team in the AP poll to No. 21. In a sense, the sky is falling.
Regardless of the early-season stumbles, 10 regular season games remain. The opportunity to finish the season 11-1, make the Big Ten title game and have a high seed in the College Football Playoff is still on the table if the ship is righted.
For head coach Dan Lanning, this isn't an unfamiliar feeling as he attempts to regroup his team coming off of the Week 2 loss.
"Ultimately, I've been a part
of teams — I've been a part of two national championships — and in both of those seasons, we had losses," he told reporters after the Oklahoma State game. "Those locker rooms felt similar to this... What did it end up being about? Getting better and going back to work. So I just told the guys the same thing: We have to go back to work."
Going back to work means understanding that everything set out for the Ducks remains ahead of them — but also not looking too far ahead.
"You can't start thinking about the end goal, which I don't think these guys are doing," Lanning said. "You have to think about right now, where we can improve and where we can get better. I've seen it firsthand with teams. That's what we ultimately have to do and go attack."
Oregon's next game will come against the Portland State Vikings on Friday night at Autzen Stadium. The Vikings are a middling FCS team, and one that the Ducks should roll with ease. But, that was the case for both games against Boise State and Oklahoma State, as they entered as more than three-touchdown favorites in both contests.
After hosting Portland State, Oregon will travel to Los Angeles to take on the USC Trojans to open up Big Ten play. The Trojans have their own sights set on a Big Ten title, which starts with taking down the rival Ducks at home.
With Lanning at the helm, all of the Ducks' energy will be on dismantling the Vikings and heading into Week 4 with a 2-1 record. Then, they'll focus on the Trojans. More than ever, it's vital for Oregon to have a one-game-at-a-time mentality. If they do, the sky remains the limit.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: 'Back to work'; Lanning looking for Ducks to move forward from loss
