Oregon’s climb in the polls this week came without the Ducks even taking the field, but the bigger buzz landed with a fresh College Football Playoff projection that gives fans a familiar, and very intriguing, destination.
On3’s latest bracket has Oregon slotted into a No. 8 vs. No. 9 matchup against Oklahoma State in Stillwater, a setup that would send the Ducks right back to the place where they suffered their first loss of the season.
That meeting in Boone Pickens Stadium also marked the moment Oklahoma State announced itself on the national stage with its upset of the then-No. 2 Ducks.
The projection carries a lot of weight for Oregon for more than one reason. It offers a shot at revenge for Dan Lanning, Dante Moore and the rest of the roster, especially for the players who didn’t perform to their standard in that earlier meeting. It also comes with the added wrinkle that On3 is now projecting Oklahoma State all the way from 1-11 to a Big 12 title in one season.
Oregon’s path, though, is about more than one rematch. The Ducks are still in position to keep the Big Ten’s grip on the national title game intact, with the conference having produced the last three champions. In On3’s view, though, Oregon is not the only Big Ten team in the mix.
Northwestern has jumped into the picture after its 3-1 start and its rout of previously ranked Penn State at the new Ryan Field. The Wildcats are now projected as the conference’s fourth representative, and that brings an interesting date with Oregon into sharper focus.
When Northwestern visits Autzen Stadium on Oct. 31, the game could carry real CFP meaning. It also brings Chip Kelly back to Eugene, where he made his name during the late 2000s and early 2010s.
Northwestern quarterback Aidan Chiles also has familiarity with Oregon, having started his career at rival Oregon State in 2023. In the same projection, Northwestern is headed to Columbus to face No.
7 Ohio State.
Oregon should also get a lift when Moore returns after the concussion he suffered against USC. Even without him, backup Dylan Raiola helped the Ducks beat the Trojans 41-27.
Before any of that, though, Oregon has a dangerous one sitting right in front of it. The Ducks return home on Oct. 10 to face No.
23 UCLA, a matchup that has trap game written all over it. UCLA is now led by former James Madison coach Bob Chesney, who will have his own reason to want a strong showing in Eugene after Oregon beat his final Dukes team 51-34 the last time he was there.
UCLA is one of only two ranked teams left on Oregon’s schedule, and the other is Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are unbeaten now and could be 6-0 by the time they meet the Ducks on Oct. 17.
If Oregon keeps winning, the No. 9 seed projection can change fast. A strong run would boost the Ducks’ chances of reaching Indianapolis for the Big Ten title game in December, and it could even push them into a top-four spot and a first-round bye.
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