Have the Oregon Ducks ever won a National Championship in Football?

Charlie Zschau Published: Jan 08 2026 19:22

The Oregon Ducks have been amongst the college football elite since the early 2010s, but have they ever been the very best team in the Country?

To answer the question, No.

Oregon has never won a college football national championship, but they have reached the finals on two occasions.

Oregon made one appearance in the BCS National Championship game, and one appearance in the College Football Playoff National Championship.

The BCS National Championship was the postseason bowl game used to determine the Champion of the NCAA Division 1 Football season between 1998 and 2014. The NCAA has since used the CFP National Championship game to determine the NCAA Champion from 2015 to present.

Oregon's 2011 BCS National Championship Appearance

No. 2 ranked Oregon had a 12-0 recording heading into the Championship, but faced off against fellow the undefeated and No. 1 ranked Auburn Tigers (13-0).

Auburn won the championship game 22-19 on a last second field goal from kicker Wes Bynum.

Oregon made a late fourth quarter comeback on the back of QB Darron Thomas and RB LaMichael James, but Auburn's Heisman winning QB Cam Newton led the late drive that allowed Bynum to kick a short, 19-yard field goal as time expired.

This was Oregon's first appearance in a national championship game, but they would soon be back four years later.

Oregon's 2015 CFP National Championship Appearance

Oregon reach the final of the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship game in 2015, and faced off against Ohio State.

Oregon was the No. 2 ranked team in the country again heading into the national Championship, and played the No. 4 ranked Ohio State. Oregon beat No. 3 ranked Florida State convincingly in the semifinal (Rose Bowl), 59-20, but Ohio State would be too much for them in the Championship game.

OSU won the game 42-20, and heartbreak struck Oregon again. Ohio State was down to their third string QB Cardale Jones entering the final, but it was the Buckeye running back Ezekiel Elliot who was the difference in the gam.

Elliot rushed for 246 yards and four touchdowns on 36 carries and was the offensive MVP of the game.

Oregon's defensive line made up of two NFL stars, Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner could not slow down the Elliot.

QB Marcus Mariota only threw one interception, but defensive end Joey Bosa and the Buckeye defense were dominant on third and fourth downs. Mariota - the 2014 Heisman winner - only converted on 2 of the possible 14 third and fourth down conversations which secured Oregon's fate.

The Ducks have not returned to a National Championship game since.

2025/26 College Football Playoffs

Oregon entered the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff with a 13-1 record, and ranked No. 5 in the country. They defeated No. 12 ranked James Madison 51-34 in the opening game, then went on to shutout No. 4 ranked Texas Tech 23-0 in the next round.

Oregon draws the undefeated No.1 ranked team in the country, Indiana (14-0) in the semifinals. The two teams met previously in Big-10 conference play, and Indiana won 30-20 (Oregon's only loss).

Head coach Dan Lanning and sophomore QB Dante Moore will put it all on the line against the Hoosiers on Friday January, 9, 2026.

If the Ducks are able to come out of the game with a win, they will play the winner of Miami (FL) and Ole Miss in the National Championship Game.

Oregon vs. Indiana will be played Friday, January 9, 2026 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. The game kicks off at 9:30 PM ET.