I imagine most of us recall the post game after Dan Lanning's first game at Oregon on 9/3/2022, where Georgia whipped Oregon 49-3 and Kirby Smart remarked, "They'll bounce back from this, and he knows we have better players. He'll never say that, but he knows we've got better players."

The thought at the time from Kirby for Oregon fans (I believe) was for them not to worry as Dan would eventually get his guys and close the talent gap (to be patient). So here we are on April 11, 2026, and I thought I would take a look and see where things stand?

There of course are different ways to do this, such as blue-chip ratios and roster talent composition rankings; but, I was thinking about it and those usually use all commits (usually about 85 out of 105 which most schools seem to roughly be sticking to so far).

Not a bad way, but really using 85 includes nearly 40 players (no kickers included) who likely mostly won't impact the upcoming season. A close look at talent composition that mostly impacts the season should probably be the 44 players in the two-deep.

So, I took a look at rough best guesses for Oregon and Georgia, and threw in Ohio State for another comparison point. I think I have a pretty good best guess on Oregon. Ohio State I follow somewhat closely. Georgia not so much so I took a Spring two deep from a pretty good Georgia site and compared it to a second Georgia site (all 3 teams in a 5 DB base defense).

What did I find? All 3 teams arguably are now nearly about even in talent, at least on paper.

In each two-deeps:

Oregon:

9 five stars

18 top 100 players

37 Blue Chips

Ohio State:

6 five stars

17 top 100 players

39 Blue Chips

Georgia:

9 five stars

20 top 100 players

38 Blue Chips

The Spring rosters. Not the highest rated roster one could put together, but a best guess on the actual two-deep. National ranking 247 Composite.

OREGON TWO DEEP

QB: Moore (#4) / Raiola (#7)

RB: Davison (#172) / Hill (#230)

WR: Stewart (#6) / Bair (#27)

WR: Moore (#9) / Lott (#33)

WR: McClellen (#86) / Hooks (#1875)

TE: Johnson (#190) / Dixon (#655)

OL: Crader (#247) / Addison (#102)

OL: Iuli (#191) / Rogers (#821)

OC: Laloulu (#344) / Brooks (#445)

OL: Utu (#161) / Iheanacho (#29)

OL: Wilson (#388) / Ferguson (#962)

DE: Uiagalelei (#47) / Rushing (#26)

DL: Washington (#246) / Breland (#36)

DL: Alexander (#101) / Robinson (#262)

DE: Tuioti (#213) / Wyatt (#202)

LB: Jackson (#109) ) Williams (#199)

LB: Mixon (#718) / Platt (#178)

CB: Finney (#47) / Offord (#17)

CB: Iffy (#55) / Scott (#51)

S: Perich (#72) / McNutt (#73)

S: Flowers (#102) / Woodyard (#116)

S: Williams (#600) / Brew (#98)

OHIO STATE TWO DEEP

QB: Sayin (#20) / St. Clair (#4)

RB: Jackson (#213) / Rogers (#97)

WR: Smith (#1) / Guilford (#75)

WR: Innis (#35) / Parker (#53)

WR: Henry (#24) / McCuin (#922)

TE: Christian (#408) / Roberts (#203)

OL: Sierveld (#300) / Lowe (#74)

OL: Montgomery (#120) / Van Sickle (#283)

OC: Hinzman (#188) / Cook (#378)

OL: Daniels (#771) / Padilla (#228)

OL: Moore (#168) / Armsteong (#388)

DE: Jackson (#60) / Atkinson (#249)

DT: Houston (#26) / Smith Jr. (#245)

DT: Smith (#41) / Walker (#96)

DE: Grady (#114) / Russaw (#64)

LB: Pierce (#204) / Alliegro (#1271)

LB: Pettijohn (#101) / Alford (#144)

CB: Matthews Jr. (#148) / Calhoun (#397)

CB: Sanchez (#5) / Kelly (#374)

S: McClain (#375) / Rocker (#841)

S: Moore (#1116) / Bing (#208)

S: Little Jr. (#84) / Timmons (#47)

GEORGIA TWO DEEP

QB: Stockton (#124) / Puglisi (#114)

RB: Frazier (#49) / Bowens (#225)

WR: Canion (#194) / Wiley (#91)

WR: Humphreys (#487) / Taylor (#20)

WR: White-Helton (#444) / Roldan (#306)

TE: Luckie (#145) / Williams (#455)

OL: Greene (#45) / E.Oghoko (#72)

OL: Uini (#94) / Calhoun (#113)

OC: Bobo (#664) / Tolliver (#1102)

OL: Glover (#321) / Short (#250)

OL: Gaston (#52) / Jackson (#990)

DE: Griffin (#3) / McLeod (#117)

DT: Hall (#40) / N.Oghoko (#757)

DT: Harris (#66) / Williams (#62)

DE: Q.Johnson (#368) / Gibson (#9)

LB: Williams (#5) / Kruah (#340)

LB: Wilson (#28) / Cole (#29)

CB: Robinson (#2) / Conley (#592)

CB: D.Jones (#50) / Williams (#93)

S: Bolden (#13) / Morgan (#274)

S: K.Jones (#668) / Branch (#58)

S: Dinkins (#363) / Barnes (#399)

Wow! Thanks for the in-depth research. This puts things in perspective. To think that our Ducks are mentioned in the same sentence as Ohio State and Georgia shows how far Oregon is committed to a winning tradition.

My two cents are Oregon's linebackers are a horrible weakness. Ironically, I believe they outplayed their talent level last year, and I hope this year is similar. Look at Georgia's talent composite at LB. THAT is why the Bear Defense works there. It is not appropriate for Oregon. Not one bit. But I am a hack, will always be a hack so my opinion will never matter in coaching circles.

I do know this, OBD linebackers need as much support as they got last year. This group is slow, covers terribly (looking at that damn QB absolutely hurts), and they are best suited for plugging gaps (as in run blitzes with absolute edge lockdown). It is truly a wonder what Lupoi did last year. I still believe Indiana went to town on his schemes in Atlanta, but the offense really didn't help.

Every other unit on OBD is elite. If I'm a title contender, I am going all out on those LBs. And I mean isolate them in pass situations, and attack regular formations when running. OBD safeties will have their hands full against the elite programs. If I didn't say it loud enough last year, I will say it now: an explosive pass offense is the only path to a title for OBD. As in Ohio State November 24' attack mode. That is the only path I see to a title.

My hack opinion of course. We know the coaches don't pay attention to us hacks. Screen schemes will not win a title (the WR blocking is too inconsistent anyway).

Cig not only won a title at Indiana, but he also stomped on the champ-only Blue Chip roster paradigm.

Indiana, on the way to a title last season without a Blue Chip roster, defeated Alabama, Oregon, and Miami teams with Blue Chip rosters.

And Cig took a good but not great QB from Cal and turned him into a Heisman Trophy winner, the likely No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Indiana's sum was much greater than the parts.

In the 2026 Preseason Sporting News Composite Top 25, Oregon is ranked No. 5. Oregon's schedule is ranked as the 6th most difficult in CFB

7th-ranked Texas Tech's schedule is ranked No. 65 in the 68-team Power 4.

Texas Tech does not play BYU and Utah. The only ranked team TT plays is No. 23 Houston at home in Lubbock.

In Week 4, Oregon travels to LA to play No. 13 USC.

On 11/7 2026, Oregon travels to Columbus, Ohio, to play No. 1 Ohio State. Then returns home to play No. 14 Michigan. Then, a trip to East Lansing, Michigan, to play Michigan State, and then finishes with No. 21 UW.

In its last four games, Texas Tech plays West Virginia, Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Baylor in Waco, and TCU.

The Red Raiders have one Top 25 team on the schedule, No.23 Houston in Lubbock.

Is this a fair fight?

Thanks for the terrific post. The Jimmies and the Joes matter. But the folks doing the coaching matter. And the quality of the opposition and where and when your team plays its games matters.

Especially when the PO committee savants count the number of a team's losses above all else.

Beat Boise!

11 hours ago, Jon Joseph said:

Thanks for the terrific post. The Jimmies and the Joes matter. But the folks doing the coaching matter. And the quality of the opposition and where and when your team plays its games matters.

Especially when the PO committee savants count the number of a team's losses above all else.

Another wonderful post my friend! Yes, Cignetti blew up the narrative. Much like Willie Taggart proved you CAN recruit elite talent to Eugene. Coaching matters. And I believe DL has improved every year, makes no excuses for his team's performance-because he really gets the max from them. So, as much as I disagree with strategy and sometimes use of said talent-I will always back and support the staff. I am very proud of both Will Stein and Josh Lupoi. They put their groups in position to win far more often than not. Even against better coaches and coordinators. Both of them will have fine careers as Head Coaches.

In the beginning there was light. Kirby Smart showed what it means to have talent. Dan Lanning has shown what it takes to elevate a team. The past three years I didn't think the talent level was elite enough to win a title. Both times, Lanning elevated that talent and put both teams in position to defeat better teams. It didn't happen, but I am telling you, when Dan Lanning explained exactly why he chose to let Bo Nix go for those 3 4th down plays-I knew.

This year's team is poised to take it all. Weaknesses included, this team just has to execute and let the chips fall where they will. The team is loaded, and they look confident. Which brings me back to Jon's comment. This forum, agree or disagree this forum with decorum elevates the level of insight and my "game". Thanks Jon for all your contributions, you usually get the process going with your thinking process.

Check out OBD version of getting clicks. This program is on another level for sure:

Thank you, Mike. And right back at you, my friend. The board is brighter whenever you weigh in.

Beat Boise!