The Oregon Ducks are set to be right in the middle of the Big Ten’s biggest 2026 games, and that’s before the season even kicks off.
That’s the takeaway from the Crain & Cone college football show, whose former collegiate athletes ranked the top five Big Ten games for 2026. Their No. 1 matchup is Ohio State vs.
Indiana, but Oregon’s trip to Ohio State landed at No. 2 - with the crew saying it “could easily be No. 1.”
It’s not hard to see why. The Ducks and Buckeyes have already delivered two wild regular-season meetings in recent years.
Oregon’s last trip to Columbus ended with a 35-28 win in 2021, powered by three touchdowns from running back C.J. Verdell.
More recently, Oregon beat Ohio State 32-31 at Autzen Stadium in a game that came down to the final buzzer, with former Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard sliding to the turf as the clock hit triple zeroes and Ducks fans rushing the field.
That history is exactly why the 2026 rematch in Columbus has the feel of a must-watch game. Ohio State will be looking for payback, and Oregon will be trying to survive one of the toughest road tests on its schedule. Either way, it figures to be one of the most-viewed games on the college football calendar.
Oregon shows up twice more in Crain & Cone’s top five, too. The Ducks’ regular-season finale against Washington at Autzen Stadium made the list, and so did their conference opener at USC.
The Washington game could carry major Big Ten implications if Oregon is in the hunt for a spot in the conference title game. The Pacific Northwest rivalry could end up being the one that decides whether the Ducks get there.
The USC matchup brings its own pressure. Oregon has had a long run of success against the Trojans, but USC enters with the No. 1 recruiting class and quarterback Jayden Maiava back in the mix, with the Trojans trying to make a postseason push.
Another Oregon game that could easily fit on any Big Ten marquee list is the home meeting with Michigan at Autzen Stadium. With what’s expected to be a big crowd in Eugene and former Utah Utes coach Kyle Whittingham leading the Wolverines, that one also has the ingredients for a tight finish.
The Ducks aren’t alone in facing a demanding 2026 slate. Ohio State also has USC, Michigan and Texas on its schedule, along with Indiana and Oregon.
Indiana gets Michigan, USC, Ohio State and Washington. USC’s list is just as brutal, with Oregon, Indiana, Washington, Penn State and Ohio State all waiting.
Against that backdrop, Oregon’s schedule looks a little lighter than some of the other teams expected to sit near the top of the Big Ten. If the Ducks handle their business, the league could spend a lot of 2026 knocking itself out.
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Oregons Running Back Room Just Earned A Massive National Ranking
Oregons backfield is drawing national attention again, and for good reason. CBS Sports placed the Ducks running back room third in the country, a nod to the kind of production and depth that has become a calling card in Eugene. At the center of it are sophomores Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr., who return after combining for more than 1,500 scrimmage yards and 21 total touchdowns in 2025.
The top of the room is established, but the more interesting part for Oregon is what comes next. Colorado transfer Simeon Price has entered the mix, and freshmen Brandon Smith and Tradarian Ball are also pushing for snaps, giving the Ducks a group that looks deeper than just two proven names. How that third spot shakes out could end up mattering as much as the headline ranking itself. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Is Pushing Early For A SoCal Defensive Back Fans Know Well
Oregon is making an early push for Mission Viejo safety Jordan Hicks, a 2028 prospect whose name is already drawing plenty of attention on the West Coast and beyond. The Ducks have been active with Hicks from the start, and he has built a steady connection with safeties coach Rashad Wadood while making multiple trips to campus.
That kind of head start matters in a national race that already includes Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Notre Dame and UCLA. Hicks is still early in his recruiting process, but Oregon has clearly put itself in position to matter here, and the Ducks will have to keep that momentum going as the list of suitors keeps growing. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Is In The Big Ten Elite Conversation Again But One Doubt Remains
The Big Tens new hierarchy is starting to feel familiar again, and Oregon is right there in the mix as the 2026 season approaches. USA TODAYs Paul Myerberg slotted the Ducks third in the league behind Indiana and Ohio State, a reminder that Dan Lannings program has stayed in the elite conversation even as the conferences top tier has shifted around it.
What still separates Oregon from the two teams sitting above it is the one achievement that changes the conversation entirely. Ohio State and Indiana have recently climbed to the sports summit, while Oregon is still chasing that first national title, even with a roster that looks built to contend again behind Dante Moore and a strong returning core on both sides of the ball. The Ducks have the pieces to stay in the race, but the final step remains the one they have not taken yet. [Read more 🡒]