Oregon’s next two weeks come with a familiar rhythm, and that may matter more than it looks on paper.
The Ducks will head to No. 11 Ohio State on Saturday, Nov. 7, then turn around for a home game against Michigan on Nov.
- That matchup with the Wolverines is set for 12:30 p.m.
PT and will air on FS1, which means Oregon avoids a night kickoff in Autzen Stadium for a November showdown.
That detail could be a small break for Michigan. Oregon hasn’t hosted many night games in Autzen this season, and while the Ducks did beat Nebraska at home after a late kickoff, most of their home games have been played in the 12:30 window. So the Ducks will be operating in a time slot they know well.
The timing also creates an unusual stretch for Oregon, which will face Ohio State and Michigan in back-to-back weeks while playing in the same kickoff window on different networks.
Both teams enter the matchup with quarterback questions, though the issues look different on each sideline.
For Oregon, Dante Moore has not played since suffering a concussion against USC, and Dan Lanning said after the Ducks’ loss to Illinois in week 8 that he is not expecting Moore back this season. Dylan Raiola came on in relief of Moore against the Trojans and helped Oregon to a 41-27 win, but he struggled in his first start, a home loss to No.
5 UCLA. Oregon then turned to Brock Thomas, only to bench him in favor of Raiola, who has started the past two games.
Raiola appears to be the quarterback choice for Lanning and Oregon’s new-look offensive staff after the firing of Drew Mehringer.
Michigan’s situation has played out differently. Bryce Underwood opened the season as the starter and has thrown for 924 yards in six games, completing 58.1 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and six interceptions.
That opened the door for backup Tommy Carr, and he has taken advantage of it. Against No.
6 Indiana, Carr went 20 of 32 for 167 yards and one interception. Against Rutgers, he completed 22 of 27 passes for 266 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, while also rushing for two scores.
Carr has since been named the starting quarterback by Whittingham.
The series between Oregon and Michigan is dead even at 3-3. Oregon won the most recent meeting, a 38-17 victory at The Big House in 2024. The Nov. 14 game will also be the first time Michigan has played Oregon in Autzen Stadium as a Big Ten conference game.
Michigan has been to Autzen once before. In 2003, the then-No. 3 Wolverines lost 31-27 to the Ducks.
Before that showdown arrives, Oregon still has Ohio State in front of it. The Ducks and Buckeyes kick at 12:30 p.m.
PT on Saturday, Nov. 7, while Michigan hosts Michigan State the same day at 4:30 p.m. PT.
In Other News...
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Riley brushed it off in his press conference, calling it a non-issue and saying the emotions of the moment spilled over before the two sides moved on quickly. He did not get into what set it off, leaving the scene as one of those tense little footnotes that follows a big win and invites a little more curiosity than the coach was willing to satisfy. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Oregon Upset Hopes Suddenly Rest On An Unplanned Change
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For the Buckeyes to keep pace with Oregon, the formula looks straightforward even if the execution is not. Fahey has to be protected, Jeremiah Smith needs to be part of the offense early and often, and the defense has to make life uncomfortable for Oregon quarterback Dylan Raiola. Oregon enters at 5-3, and with both teams trying to steady themselves, this matchup suddenly feels like it could hinge on how well Ohio State handles an unplanned pivot. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Just Got A Brutal CFP Wake-Up Call
The first 12-team College Football Playoff rankings delivered an early jolt to the race, and Ohio State came out on the wrong side of it. The Buckeyes landed at No. 12, just outside the current field, after a recent loss and a quarterback injury helped push them down in the eyes of the selection committee.
Notre Dame checked in one spot ahead of Ohio State at No. 11, leaving both programs with work to do if they want to climb back into position. For the Buckeyes, the path forward is about more than style points now - they need to steady the season and make the committee reconsider before the bracket starts to harden. [Read more 🡒]
