Oregon
Chris Hampton Speaks Openly On Oregon’s Defensive Improvement
The Oregon Ducks have officially wrapped up their first week of spring practice as preparations for winning their first national championship in program history have begun. After finishing the 2025 season with a 13-2 overall record, the Ducks enter 2026 with two new coordinators on offense and defense.
One of those coordinators is Chris Hampton, who is set to lead the defensive playcalling for the Ducks next season. After the departure of Tosh Lupoi to the California Golden Bears, Hampton takes over as defensive coordinator and looks to keep the Ducks the most dominant group in college football this season.
Eug 031623 Uo Spring Fb 06 | Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK
Following Saturday’s practice, Hampton spoke about how the Ducks’ defense has looked through the first few days of spring football and the strides they are taking to remain dominant heading into the 2026 season.
Getting Better On Defense:
“I think we can get better, we can obviously grow. We’ve been good on defense, but we want to be elite. I think there’s room for growth for sure. Putting my stamp on it, it’s really not about me and my opinions, it’s about tapping into the players and putting the players in a position to evaluate our talent and how can I utilize our talent to put guys in the right position to make plays,” said Hampton.
On Jett Washington:
“He’s obviously got a rare size-speed combination. He’s a guy who is every bit of 6-5, you know, and he looks the part, for sure. Anyone that comes out there and see him is like, ‘God, that guy’s huge.’ You know, he’s got the right mindset. He really does, man, I love this guy;s mental makeup. He is infatuated with the details. I mean, he watches a lot of film on his own, asks a lot of great questions. He’s a fast learner. I think he’s gonna have a very bright future here.”
Adjusting to New Changes In Secondary:
“Every year is new, especially in today’s age of college football with the transfer portal, you’ve got to be able to adapt and adjust. If you can’t adjust right now, you’re going to die as a coach. Your team may change year to year,” said Hampton.
“I think last season we had to replace five starters. This year, we’ve got a lot of guys coming back, but we lost a lot of guys as well. We’ve got a lot of youth that we’ve got to develop, so it’s just starting over each and every year,” Hampton continued.
Brandon Finney’s Improvement:
“Looking back on it with Brandon, and he and I did a study over the offseason, and all we talked about was how he can get better? I think everybody in social media and everybody’s patting him on the back for how great a season he had, and he did. He had a great season, but there’s a lot of room for growth for him, and a lot of room for improvement,” said Hampton.
“Brandon is the type of kid that wants to get better; he’s not really talking about what I did last season, he’s talking about what I didn’t do. What was I not good at? How can I improve, and that’s how you get better. Everybody likes to talk about their strengths and what they’re good at, but if you want to be elite, you’ve got to master your weaknesses, and he does that,” Hampton continued.
SIGN UP FOR THE OREGON DUCKS ON SI NEWSLETTER HERE!
The Oregon Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at July 15, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from July 15 drawing
02-07-18-29-38, Powerball: 16, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 15 drawing
1PM: 5-9-5-3
4PM: 8-9-0-3
7PM: 4-9-6-7
10PM: 4-2-1-8
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Win for Life numbers from July 15 drawing
10-37-56-61
Check Win for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Megabucks numbers from July 15 drawing
14-22-26-29-35-46
Check Megabucks payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Oregon Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 7:59 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 7:59 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 4: 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. daily.
- Win for Life: 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Megabucks: 7:29 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Oregon editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Entering the 2026 college football season, the Oregon Ducks are looking to not only win their first national championship in program history but also their second Big Ten title in the last three seasons.
When the Ducks joined the Big Ten in 2024, they kicked off their inaugural season in the conference in style, finishing the regular season undefeated at 13-0. This regular season was concluded with a thrilling 45-37 win over the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Big Ten championship game.
Eug 040522 Lanning 02 | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
The Ohio State Buckeyes, however, got revenge for their loss to the Ducks at Autzen Stadium earlier in the regular season, beating Oregon 41-21 in the CFP Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl. Entering the 2026 season, here’s a look at the Ducks’ chances of winning the Big Ten for the second time.
Oregon Ducks Big Ten Title Odds: Who’s The Biggest Threat?
According to the latest betting odds by FanDuel Sportsbook, the Ducks have +270 odds to win the Big Ten championship this season. The one team ahead of them is the Ohio State Buckeyes at +190, who, believe it or not, are in search of their first Big Ten title since 2020. The Buckeyes were upset by the Indiana Hoosiers 13-10 in the Big Ten championship last season.
Among the top teams in the Big Ten next season, Ohio State poses the biggest threat to the Ducks’ chances of not only winning a conference title but also the national championship. The Buckeyes and Ducks will face off in what could be the game of the year in Columbus on Nov. 7.
As exciting as this matchup will be for college football fans, it likely won’t be the only one between the Buckeyes and Ducks. Regardless of which team wins the Nov. 7 showdown in Columbus, the Buckeyes and Ducks could match up again in the Big Ten title game and in the CFP.
Other Teams That Pose a Threat to Oregon
While the Buckeyes are the main threat to the Ducks’ Big Ten title aspirations, other teams will be worth watching. One of those teams is the defending national champions, the Indiana Hoosiers.
Despite the key losses this offseason, which include Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, coach Curt Cignetti’s Hoosiers restocked talent with the addition of TCU Horned Frogs transfer quarterback Josh Hoover and Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Nick Marsh.
The only two losses that the Ducks suffered last season came against the Hoosiers. If the two face off in the Big Ten championship, Indiana looks to continue its dominance over the Ducks. The Hoosiers and Ducks don’t play each other during the regular season.
The USC Trojans, whom the Ducks will face at the Los Angeles Coliseum on Sept. 26, also look to knock off Oregon in what should be one of the top games of the first month of the college football season. Oregon coach Dan Lanning is undefeated 2-0 against USC’s Lincoln Riley and looks to extend the Ducks’ winning streak against the Trojans to five games.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram for the latest news.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
The Oregon Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at July 14, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from July 14 drawing
02-04-10-48-56, Mega Ball: 22
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 14 drawing
1PM: 6-3-6-3
4PM: 7-0-0-9
7PM: 2-0-6-0
10PM: 2-5-1-5
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Oregon Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 7:59 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 7:59 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 4: 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. daily.
- Win for Life: 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Megabucks: 7:29 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Oregon editor. You can send feedback using this form.
-
Science9 minutes agoThe Wildfire Researchers Who Burn Houses Down on Purpose
-
Lifestyle33 minutes ago
Apache chef Nephi Craig says cooking Native food saved his life
-
Technology45 minutes agoGoogle is better at playing the AI regulations game
-
World51 minutes agoIran calls on Houthis to prepare to cut off Red Sea gateway — can the terror group do it?
-
Politics57 minutes agoTodd Blanche roasts Adam Schiff in heated hearing: ‘You’re a lawyer, you know the rules’
-
Health1 hour agoGame-changing cholesterol pill wins FDA approval after cutting LDL nearly 60%
-
Sports1 hour ago2026 AL, NL MVP Odds: Ohtani Favored; Alvarez Holding Off Challengers
-
Technology1 hour agoTesla helped save a driver. Is your car ready?
