No. 6 Oregon closed out its regular season in style Saturday night, knocking off Washington 26-14 in Seattle to finish 11-1 and secure a first-round home playoff game in the expanded College Football Playoff.
The Ducks’ lone blemish remains a 30-20 loss to then-No. 7 Indiana on October 11, a defeat that ultimately kept Oregon out of next week’s Big Ten Championship Game. Still, the résumé is strong enough that the Ducks are virtually guaranteed to host a playoff game at Autzen Stadium when the 12-team bracket is unveiled next Sunday.
While the focus now turns to the postseason, the program is already dealing with significant staff turnover.
On Monday, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein is finalizing an agreement to become the next head coach at Kentucky following the Wildcats’ dismissal of Mark Stoops.
“Sources: Oregon OC Will Stein is the target to be the next coach at Kentucky and the sides working toward a deal,” Thamel posted on X. “He’s a Kentucky native who has emerged as one of the country’s top offensive coordinators and play callers.”
Stein, widely credited for orchestrating one of the nation’s most explosive attacks this season, will remain with the Ducks through their playoff run.
“Per a source, Stein is expected to call Oregon’s offense throughout the College Football Playoff,” Thamel posted. “He’ll juggle both jobs until the Oregon season ends.”
The arrangement is not without precedent, though it rarely goes smoothly. When Lane Kiffin accepted the LSU job years ago, Ole Miss immediately stripped him of coaching duties for the remainder of the season. Conversely, North Texas has already said it will allow Eric Morris to coach a potential bowl game even after he agreed to take the Oklahoma State job beginning in 2026.
Inside the Oregon program, there is quiet concern that Stein’s split focus could complicate 2026 recruiting cycles or create unease among current players worried about potential staff raids from Lexington. For now, head coach Dan Lanning and the Ducks are choosing to keep their play-caller through what they hope is a deep playoff run.
Meanwhile, another prominent Oregon assistant is generating buzz elsewhere. Defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi has emerged as a serious candidate for the head-coaching vacancy at California, with multiple reports linking him to his alma mater in recent days.
As Oregon prepares for its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance, the program finds itself in an unfamiliar but increasingly common position: celebrating a stellar season while simultaneously bracing for significant changes on the sideline.
