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Since Dan Lanning took over as head coach, the Oregon Ducks have steadily moved closer to capturing the elusive national championship. In 2025, Oregon advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinals, but once again saw its title pursuit end short of the ultimate goal.
Now, with a coaching staff that has been able to learn and grow, a veteran core returning, and one of the most talented rosters in the country, the Ducks enter 2026 with a legitimate opportunity to deliver the championship season their fans have been waiting for.
One of the biggest keys — and remaining questions — to that potential championship run rests on the starting offensive line. The Ducks are experiencing quite a bit of turnover at the position this year, replacing three starters from a Joe Moore Award finalist unit. While Oregon has arguably the best quarterback in the nation under center, his production will undoubtedly be impacted by the success of the O-line. If the Ducks are going to go further than they have in the Lanning era, it's going to be on the boys up front to help lead them there.
State of the Oregon Ducks Offensive Line Position
There are few position groups in Eugene that have been as good as the offensive line over the past few years. Since A'lique Terry took over as the position coach, the Ducks have produced three consecutive Joe Moore Award finalist units, recognized as one of the best offensive lines in the nation.
Of course, past recognition does not impact future performance, and in order for the Ducks to make that list a fourth-straight year, they've got some heavy lifting to do. Three of Oregon's starters from 2025 are now in the NFL, and there's a chance that the Ducks will be starting one, and maybe two, true freshmen up front by the end of the year. Oregon has recruited at a high level over the past few years in the trenches, so this fall camp will be critical in determining who steps up and which homegrown talent can become a difference-maker.
If there is any position on the team to feel confident about despite the questions, I would argue that this is it. Terry has routinely taken a mix-and-matched group of unproven players over the years, and found the right answer. But in 2026, the stakes are higher, and the expectations heavier. A lot is riding on whether or not this unit can do it once again.
Who’s Gone, Who’s Back, and Who’s New?
Departures
The Ducks had some upperclassmen make the leap to the next level this offseason, headlined by Emmanuel Pregnon, Isaiah World, and Alex Harkey. That's both starting tackles and an All-American left guard out the door. Not only did Oregon's starting lineup get hit, but they also saw reliable backups like Charlie Pickard and Matthew Bedford graduate. Fortunately, the transfer portal was not a detractor for Oregon at this position.
Returners
Almost as big as what Oregon lost is what they returned. First-Team All-American center Iapani Laloulu is back for one more year in Eugene, as is starting right guard Dave Iuli. Beyond those two headliners, the Ducks were able to return the bulk of their room, which features a long list of former blue-chip recruits that have been developing for multiple years, waiting for their opportunity to step into a starting role. Among this group are potential starters like Fox Crader, Douglas Utu, Ziyarre Addison, Trent Ferguson, Gernorris Wilson, and Kawika Rogers.
Newcomers
The list of newcomers for Oregon this year features a pair of elite recruits who could have a Day One impact and a transfer from Yale regarded as the smartest player on the team. Starting with the freshmen, you have 5-star OT Immanuel Iheanacho — 6-foot-7, 345 pounds — and 4-star OT Tommy Tofi — 6-foot-6, 330 pounds — a pair of players who could realistically start in their very first game and never give up the spot throughout their time in Oregon. You also have Michael Bennett, a former two-time All-Ivy League First-Team player who is coming to Eugene for his final year of eligibility with a chance to win a starting OT role.
Projected Depth Chart
- Left Tackle: Fox Crader (Names to Know: Ziyarre Addison, Immanuel Iheanacho)
- Left Guard: Douglas Utu (Names to Know: Kawika Rogers, Trent Ferguson)
- Center: Iapani Laloulu (Names to Know: Devin Brooks, Koloi Keli)
- Right Guard: Dave Iuli (Names to Know: Tommy Tofi, Demetri Manning)
- Right Tackle: Tommy Tofi (Names to Know: Michael Bennett, Gernorris Wilson)
Predicting the Ducks' starting offensive line at this point is one of the harder things to do in previews. There are so many skilled players, and only a few open spots; it's conceivable that almost any of the above names gets a look. I feel most confident in the five starters I listed, but I would not be at all surprised if we get to September 5 and there are two surprises in the mix. At this point, I feel that the only starter I'm ready to write down in permanent marker is Laloulu; outside of that, it's anyone's job to win.
Biggest Questions Entering Fall Camp
Can Oregon's Recruiting and Development Prove Worthy?
The Ducks have had three consecutive recruiting classes ranked in the top five nationally, and four straight ranked in the top 10. Many of those signees have been on the offensive line, from Iheanacho and Tofi this year to guys like Crader, Wilson, Zac Stascausky, and Addison. These guys have been biding their time, developing behind the scenes, waiting for a chance to earn the starting spot. Now this year, we get a chance to see how good that development process has been. Based on Terry's track record, there should be confidence that this group will be ready for a championship run.
How Quickly Can 'Nacho' Get Up to Speed?
Based on recruiting rankings, size, and raw talent, there are expectations that Immanuel Iheanacho will be a multi-year starter for Oregon and potentially an All-American before becoming a future NFL star. However, he was unable to enroll early, and didn't get with the Ducks until this summer. So do we need to delay those expectations for the 6-foot-7 behemoth? Picking up the offensive line in short order is not easy to do, so it wouldn't come as a surprise to hear that he needs a little bit of time to get up to speed, but much of this year will be spent waiting and watching to see when he is ready to get on the field.
Will Inexperience Rear Its Head in Big Moments?
You can debate the ceiling of this group, and discuss how talented they really are. What you can't debate, though, is the amount of experience on the offensive line. While these guys may be ready to produce at a high level, they have not had the chance to play in big moments in the past. There's an expectation that Oregon will get back to the playoff this year and compete for a national championship. When those lights get bright, and the eyes of the nation are watching, how will that lack of experience present itself?
Player to Watch
Tommy Tofi
Boiling this position group down to one off-the-radar player to watch was incredibly tough. I was inclined to name guys like Fox Crader, Ziyarre Addison, Michael Bennett, Douglas Utu, and Gernorris Wilson, but in the end, I'm landing with Tommy Tofi. While he is just a true freshman, I really do believe that Tofi could be regarded as one of the best OL on the team by the end of the season. It's been since Penei Sewell that we've seen a true freshman come in and start from Day 1, but thanks to the buzz that was created in spring, there's a belief that Tofi might be able to do that. Whether he plays outside at tackle or slots inside at guard, this is one of the players who may be talented and versatile enough that coaches just find a way to get him on the field, no matter where it is.
Final Outlook and Position Grade
I truly believe that the ceiling for this Oregon offensive line in 2026 is very high, and we could end up talking about it as one of the best positions on the team. Of course, I also acknowledge that there are enough questions and unknowns at this point that the floor is relatively low, and if Oregon's season were to go sideways, it could potentially be because the offensive line struggled to gel. In the end, I'm prepared to go into the season with a nice heaping of cautious optimism. A'lique Terry has proven time and again that he can coach up a group and get them prepared. Still, with this many unproven players, it's understandable to be hesitant until we see the final result.
Overall Oregon Ducks Offensive Line Position Grade: B
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks OL preview: Projecting the starting five
