Sports · American Football · 4 hrs ago
Oregon slips in power ratings after narrow loss with backup quarterbacks
Oregon, a preseason national title favorite, is now 3-2 after a difficult start to the 2026 college football season.
The Ducks lost by two points on Saturday while playing without their injured starting quarterback.
Oregon turned the ball over seven times and switched to its third-string quarterback, yet stayed close enough to have a chance to win late.
That narrow loss suggests the team still has considerable talent, even though its season has fallen short of expectations.
Oregon dropped in the power ratings, but not as far as expected, because its poor performance came under unusually difficult circumstances.
Starting quarterback Dante Moore could return for this week's game against Nebraska, which would make Oregon a stronger team than the one that played UCLA.
Oregon fell in Tom Fornelli’s college football power ratings after a two-point loss.
The Ducks were 3-2 and had played without their starting quarterback.
Oregon’s backup quarterback struggled, and the team turned to its third-string quarterback.
The Ducks committed seven turnovers but still had a chance to win late.
Oregon remained among the previous week’s top 12 teams.
- Who
- Oregon and its opponents, UCLA.
- What
- Oregon lost by two points and slipped in Tom Fornelli’s power ratings.
- When
- Saturday; the ratings were published October 13, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Oregon lost despite committing seven turnovers, but the rating adjustment was limited because it played without its starting quarterback and nearly won.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Oregon lost by two points after turning the ball over seven times and using its third-string quarterback.
Tom Fornelli published ratings showing Oregon had fallen, but remained among the previous week’s top 12.
- Oregon record
- 3-2
- Margin of loss
- 2 points
- Turnovers
- 7
- Quarterbacks used
- Backup starter; third-string quarterback
- Ratings status
- Fell, but remained among the previous week’s top 12
What people are saying
The fact that Oregon even had a chance to win that game late, despite how horrible it had played, is a testament to the talent on the team and what it's capable of when it plays well.
Sources
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