The 2026 Oregon Ducks football schedule is out, and it’s a gauntlet. From a tricky September to a brutal November stretch that could define the College Football Playoff race, the Ducks will have to earn everything this season.
Let’s break it down.
The Schedule at a Glance
- 9/5 - vs Boise State
- 9/12 - @ Oklahoma State
- 9/19 - vs Portland State
- 9/26 - @ USC
- 10/3 - BYE
- 10/10 - vs UCLA
- 10/17 - vs Nebraska
- 10/24 - @ Illinois
- 10/31 - vs Northwestern
- 11/7 - @ Ohio State
- 11/14 - vs Michigan
- 11/21 - @ Michigan State
- 11/28 - vs Washington
Oregon gets just one bye this season, and it comes early-October 3, right after a tough road trip to USC. That means the Ducks will have to buckle in for eight straight weeks of football to close out the regular season.
No breathers. No soft landings.
Just one high-stakes matchup after another.
September: No Easing Into It
The Ducks open with Boise State, a team that has historically played them tough. While Oregon has the talent edge, this isn’t a cupcake opener. Boise knows how to punch above its weight, and they’ll be looking to make a statement in Week 1.
Week 2? Things get even more interesting.
Oregon travels to Stillwater to face an Oklahoma State team that looks entirely different from the one the Ducks dismantled 69-3 last year. Eric Morris, formerly at North Texas, is now at the helm, and he’s brought his high-powered offense with him-including quarterback Drew Mestemaker, who lit up defenses last season with over 4,300 passing yards and 43 touchdowns.
Oh, and Morris brought in 54 transfers. This is a full rebuild on fast-forward, and it could be dangerous if it clicks early.
Then it's Portland State at home-a chance to reset before things ramp up again.
Week 4: USC in the Coliseum
Circle this one. The Ducks head to Los Angeles to take on a USC team that's reloaded and out for revenge after last season’s 42-27 loss in Eugene. Lincoln Riley’s squad is likely to be a Top 25 team again, and they’ve added serious firepower.
USC brought in the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class and supplemented it with key transfers, including Penn State edge rusher Zuriah Fisher and 6-foot-3 receiver Terrell Anderson from NC State. Riley’s offense is always dangerous, but with this kind of talent infusion, the Trojans could be a real threat.
After that, Oregon gets its lone bye week. And they’ll need it.
October: Home Cooking, Then Road Tests
The Ducks return from the bye with back-to-back home games against UCLA and Nebraska. Both are winnable, but neither is a gimme. UCLA always brings a physical edge, and Nebraska under Matt Rhule continues to build a rugged, defensive-minded identity.
Then it’s a trip to Illinois, followed by a Halloween matchup against Northwestern. These are the kinds of games that can trip up even elite teams-midseason, on the road, against opponents that may not be flashy but can grind you down.
November: The Gauntlet
If Oregon is still in the playoff hunt by November, they’ll have to prove they belong-because this stretch is as tough as it gets.
- @ Ohio State (11/7): One of the premier matchups of the college football season. The Buckeyes feature one of the most electric passing duos in the country-Julian Sayin to Jeremiah Smith-and they’ve retooled their defense with a focus on physicality.
Ohio State’s “Grown Man Theory” roster-building philosophy is all about size, strength, and experience. This will be a measuring-stick game for Oregon.
- vs Michigan (11/14): Kyle Whittingham’s squad comes to Autzen, and you know what you’re getting-discipline, toughness, and a defense that doesn’t blink. Michigan has been a playoff regular in recent years, and this late-season clash could have massive postseason implications.
- @ Michigan State (11/21): The Spartans are on the rise under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald. Known for building gritty, overachieving teams at Northwestern, Fitzgerald is already making an impact in East Lansing. This could be a trap game if Oregon is looking ahead.
- vs Washington (11/28): The rivalry finale. It doesn’t get much bigger than this.
Washington, led by third-year quarterback Demond Williams, will come into Autzen with plenty of motivation and likely a lot on the line. This game has become a staple of the college football calendar, and 2026 should be no different.
Final Thoughts
There’s no question-Oregon’s 2026 schedule is one of the toughest in the country. From early landmines to a November stretch that reads like a CFP elimination bracket, the Ducks will need depth, discipline, and a little bit of luck to make it through unscathed.
But this is what elite programs sign up for. If Oregon wants to be in the playoff picture, they’ve got the stage. Now it’s about performance.