Oregon committed to finding best path to national championship after financial investment

As conference realignment talk swirls, Oregon has been a relatively quiet player. The Ducks have been mentioned as a possible target of the Big Ten, but so far they haven’t really been involved in much drama as they continue their hunt for a national championship.

Top brass has made it abundantly clear that’s the goal.

“It really is, I think regardless of any of this, I think with Dan Lanning‘s contract that was recently renegotiated and some of these other things, I think you’re seeing Phil Knight say, ‘Look, whatever it takes to win, I want to do it. Of course legally within the rules and reasonably, I’m not just going to sit here and throw money and throw money,’” ScoopDuck’s Justin Hopkins said on Andy Staples On3.

The Ducks have been close a few times of late but haven’t been able to push over the hump. The last real shot at a national championship came during the 2014 season, when Oregon knocked off Florida State in the College Football Playoff semifinal to set up a showdown with Ohio State.

Ohio State topped Oregon 42-20 and it’s been a while since Oregon has gotten back close to that level, appearing in the Rose Bowl in the 2019 season and the Fiesta Bowl in the 2020 season.

It’s easy enough to see this year’s Oregon team competing for the Pac-12 crown, though there are other contenders.

USC will likely be the chief competition, with the Trojans returning a stacked roster led by Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams. Then there’s Utah, the team that just keeps winning the Pac-12 without a whole lot of fanfare. There’s Washington, with its elite passing game.

Bottom line: Oregon has a lot of work to do if it wants to live up to Phil Knight’s goal.

“But I think if you’re Oregon you’re looking at this conference realignment stuff and that’s probably one of the biggest parts of this decision, I think, for Oregon, is the fact that they’re very well aware they want to try and win a national championship,” Hopkins said. “It’s something that Phil has stressed repeatedly is on his mind. And I think that is a piece of this conversation that, again, might not be something for Arizona and Colorado. They’re in different situations.”

If Oregon wants to win a national championship, it may not get a much better chance than it’ll have in 2023. Sure, the conference slate will be tough, but the Ducks have some serious pieces on the roster.

None bigger than quarterback Bo Nix, who returns after throwing for 29 touchdowns and nearly 3,600 yards, while rushing for 510 yards and 14 scores last season. He’ll be the veteran anchor for a team with lofty ambitions and the realignment talk will quickly be forgotten when toe meets leather this fall.

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