The question of who won the Oregon Ducks football game today actually has a bit of a bittersweet answer if you're checking the scores here on January 16, 2026. If you are looking for a game that happened literally today, there wasn't one. The Ducks' season actually wrapped up just a week ago in a way that most fans in Eugene are still trying to process.
Oregon’s 2025-26 run ended on Friday, January 9, 2026, in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. They didn't just lose; they got handled. The No. 1 ranked Indiana Hoosiers—a sentence that still feels weird to type—beat the No. 5 Ducks 56-22. It was a blowout that felt even worse than the final score suggested, mostly because of how it started.
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What Happened to the Ducks in the Peach Bowl?
Honestly, the game was basically over before the first quarter ended. Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, who had been spectacular all year, had a nightmare start. On the very first play from scrimmage, he threw a pass intended for Malik Benson that was jumped by Indiana's D'Angelo Ponds. Ponds took it 25 yards back for a pick-six. Seven to zero, Indiana, and the stadium hadn't even settled in yet.
Moore did bounce back temporarily with a 75-yard drive to tie it up, but the Hoosier defense turned into a brick wall after that. By halftime, Oregon was staring at a 35-7 deficit. You just don't come back from that against a team like Indiana, which finished the season undefeated and is currently preparing for the National Championship game.
- Final Score: Indiana 56, Oregon 22
- Key Stat: Dante Moore had three first-half turnovers.
- The Bright Spot: Jordan Davison and the rushing attack showed flashes, but they were forced to abandon the run once the lead ballooned.
It’s easy to focus on the blowout, but we should probably remember how they got there. Before the disaster in Atlanta, Oregon looked like world-beaters. They pitched a historic 23-0 shutout against Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day. That was the first time the Ducks had shut out an opponent in a bowl game since 1917. Think about that. Over a century of football, and this squad was the one to finally keep a clean sheet in the postseason.
The Big News Since the Loss
Even though there wasn't a game today, the reason everyone is talking about Oregon right now is because of what happened on Wednesday. Dante Moore sat down on ESPN’s SportsCenter and made the announcement every Ducks fan was praying for. He’s coming back.
Moore was widely projected to be a top-two quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, likely right behind Indiana's Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza. Instead, he’s staying in Eugene for his redshirt junior year. He told the world he wants to "reach our goal and be national champions." That decision alone shifted Oregon's 2026-27 championship odds from +1000 to +800 overnight.
It isn't just Moore, either. While the Ducks are losing stars like safety Dillon Thieneman and tight end Kenyon Sadiq to the NFL, a massive chunk of the defense is returning. Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti—the "Twin Towers" of the edge rush—are both coming back. So is Iapani Laloulu, the Remington Trophy finalist at center.
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Looking Toward 2026
When you ask who won the Oregon Ducks football game today, you're looking at a program that is currently winning the "offseason" battle. Dan Lanning has built something that doesn't just crumble after one bad loss in a semifinal.
The 2026 schedule is already looking like a gauntlet. We've got a massive road trip to Columbus to face Ohio State, and Nebraska comes to Autzen Stadium. Oh, and for those following the transfer portal drama? Former Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola is officially a Duck. The quarterback room is going to be absolutely crowded with talent, which is a "problem" every coach in America wants.
Actionable Steps for Ducks Fans
If you're feeling the sting of the Peach Bowl loss, here is how you can stay locked in as the program transitions to the 2026 cycle:
- Watch the National Championship: Keep an eye on Indiana vs. Miami on January 19. It gives context to just how good that Hoosier team was that beat Oregon.
- Monitor the Portal: The "Winter Window" for the transfer portal is active. Oregon is currently linked to the No. 1 offensive tackle in the portal.
- Spring Game Prep: Mark your calendars for April. With Moore returning and Raiola arriving, the quarterback competition in the spring is going to be the most watched event in Eugene.
The season ended on a low note, but the program's trajectory hasn't changed. Oregon finished 13-2, won a New Year’s Six bowl, and reached the final four. In the modern era of the Big Ten, that’s a massive success, even if the trophy case is still waiting for that first national title.