Tosh Lupoi and the Oregon Defense Deserve Their Flowers

If you spend enough time around Oregon Duck social media, or post on any of the fan forums, you have probably heard this phrase a time or two…. “Fire Tosh Lupoi.”

Heck, you have probably heard it more than a few times. It has been a fairly common topic of conversation amongst Duck fans since Dan Lanning and Lupoi came to Eugene.

Now there are rumors that Lupoi could be the front runner for the open head coaching job with his alma mater California Golden Bears. He has the Ducks defense playing very good football this season, and it might be time to give the man his flowers.

The Current State of the Defense

Let’s throw some rankings at you. The Ducks are currently 3rd in yards allowed with 248.7 per game. They’re 8^th in average points allowed with 14.9 per game. They have only given up 164 total points this season, which is 8^th in the country. Oregon also has the third best pass defense in the nation, at 145.7 yards per game.

Those all sound pretty good, right?

In 2021, the year before Lanning and Lupoi got to Oregon, they allowed 370.7 yards per game. That was 57^th in the country. They gave up 25.5 points per game. That was 60^th best in the country. Opponents scored 331 points over 13 games that season. Good enough for 80^th across college football. The Ducks were also 80^th in pass defense that year.

The defense has come a long way since those days, right?

Let’s look at some more advanced stats. PFF has Oregon as the 11^th best defense in the FBS at 92.6. It’s the run defense that has hurt them. They’re currently ranked 32^nd in run defense, but their coverage grade from PFF is very good, where they’re 14^th this season with a 91.1.

Back in 2021 they had the 87^th best defensive grade from PFF, with a 69.4 for the season. That’s pretty bleak. They had the 40^th best defensive efficiency that season as well. They’re currently 5th in defensive efficiency according to ESPN.

Some credit has to be given for that kind of improvement.

Slow and Steady Progress

You can see the work that’s being put in, year after year, as Lanning and Lupoi built their defense from the ground up. Here is where Oregon ranked on ESPN defensive efficiency and PFF’s defensive grade.

2021: ESPN 40^th / PFF 87^th

2022: ESPN 37^th / PFF 58^th

2023: ESPN 15^th / PFF 19^th

2024: ESPN 21^st / PFF 7^th

2025: ESPN 5th / PFF 11^th

Despite a weird regression on ESPN in 2024 and a lower grade by PFF so far in 2025, you can clearly see the steady development of the defense since Lanning and Lupoi took over.

Accomplished Through Solid Recruiting and Transfers

The Ducks currently have the 4^th best roster in college football by composite, behind Texas, Georgia, and Alabama. According to On3, they have by far the best blue-chip ratio of 4- and 5-star players, with 94.44% for 2025. That’s 12% higher than the next best team (Georgia at 82.14%).

For comparison, Oregon had the 6^th best roster by composite in 2021, but only a 78.26% blue chip ratio on that team. That’s a massive jump in overall talent on the roster and has contributed significantly towards the improvement on defense.

It’s not just the overall stats though, but the individual stats as well. In 2021 Oregon’s best corner was Trikweze Bridges. He had a completion percentage of 50. He was allowing an NFL passer rating of 64.3 for that season. Oregon’s best corner presently is true freshman Brandon Finney Jr. He has a completion percentage of 28.1 and he’s allowing an NFL passer rating of 35.3 after 11 games.

Jadon Canady and Dillon Thieneman have been exceptional DBs that were added through the portal this season. Thieneman is currently the highest graded defensive player in coverage with an 89.7 grade from PFF, and Canady is second at 83.8 for the season. These two players have been a huge part of Oregon’s elite pass defense this year.

What Legacy Would Lupoi Leave Behind?

If Tosh Lupoi does opt to leave for the California Golden Bears, what kind of legacy will he leave behind? It is already being speculated that if he were to leave, the job would most likely go to Co-Defensive Coordinator Christ Hampton. Much of the success in the secondary should go to Hampton, who has been the DB coach since he joined the Ducks in 2023.

If Lupoi were to depart, he would leave a defense that has grown and improved consistently every single year since he joined the team with Lanning. He has helped secure some of the best recruiting classes in Oregon history and laid the foundation for a defense that could very well carry this team to a national championship.

While some folks might not love his defensive play calling, I don’t think anyone can question the culture that Lupoi has helped foster on this team and on this defense.

Lanning said this when asked about the possibility of Lupoi taking a head coaching position, “He is an unbelievable coach. He can coach every position on defense, understands offensive ball, puts in the time and effort. So when he gets his opportunity, I know he’ll kill it, and at some point that will happen.”