Oregon coach rejected offer amid CFP run

No. 5 Oregon is in a unique situation with its coaching staff as the team prepares to play No. 12 James Madison on Saturday.

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Ducks offensive coordinator Will Stein took over the head coaching job at Kentucky for 2026. Defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi agreed to become the head coach at California.

Stein and Lupoi will remain with Oregon through the CFP, hoping to win a national championship before going full time at their respective programs.

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On Tuesday, Lupoi told reporters he made it clear during the interview process with teams this season that he planned to coach the Ducks through the playoff. Before taking the job at California, he rejected the candidacy of another program that wouldn’t allow him to split time with Oregon during the CFP.

“I made it clear on every one of those Thursday night interviews that I will not participate or even consider the job without finishing through our season,” Lupoi said, via USA Today. “So ultimately, that was a bit of a deal breaker for another place, and that’s fine. I respect their process. But that was very clear.”

Lupoi said he didn’t need a conversation with Ducks head coach Dan Lanning to decide to stay through the CFP.

“People have asked me as well with coach Lanning, you know, how that went about, or how that conversation was, and I honestly don’t even think we had a single conversation,” Lupoi said. “It was just a realized expectation of exactly what would be asked of me and what I would want to do.

‘So, you know, I made it very clear that over my dead body would I ever leave the individuals here.”

Oregon is ranked No. 4 in total defense heading into the CFP. The Ducks are averaging giving up just 251.6 yards per game.

If JMU upsets Oregon, it will likely come via a defensive struggle. The Dukes are ranked No. 2 in total defense.

For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.