Oregon Athletics 2025 Year in Review: Ducks Adjust, Thrive, and Build for What’s Next
2025 marked a bold new era for Oregon athletics, as the Ducks officially took flight in the Big Ten. From the hardwood to the track, the transition came with growing pains, but also flashes of brilliance that hint at a bright future. Let’s break it down sport by sport.
Basketball
Women’s Team:
After a rocky farewell season in the Pac-12, the Oregon women bounced back with a 20-12 record (10-8 Big Ten), good for 8th in their new conference.
They didn’t make a deep run in the Big Ten Tournament, but showed resilience in March Madness. A gritty overtime win over Vanderbilt punched their ticket to the Round of 32, where they ran into powerhouse Duke.
The Blue Devils ended their run, but not before the Ducks proved they belonged on the national stage.
Men’s Team:
The men’s season followed a familiar script: a mid-season slump in January, then a late surge when it mattered most.
Oregon finished 25-10 (12-8 Big Ten), locking in a 7th-place conference finish. They fell to 7th-ranked Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament, but bounced back in the NCAA Tournament.
A dominant opening-round win over Liberty set up a showdown with Arizona - a familiar foe. This one was tight, but the Ducks came up just short.
Still, a 25-win season in year one of Big Ten play is no small feat.
Tennis
The move to the Big Ten came with high hopes on the tennis courts, but the results didn’t quite match the expectations. The men’s team finished 13-13 (5-8), while the women struggled to a 9-13 mark (2-11).
Neither squad made the postseason. Whether this was just a transitional hiccup or a sign of deeper issues remains to be seen.
But in a conference with serious tennis pedigree, the Ducks will need to regroup quickly.
Lacrosse
Oregon lacrosse always hovered in the middle of the pack in the Pac-12, and the jump to the Big Ten - where the sport has deep roots in the Northeast - was never going to be easy. Year one was tough: a 6-10 overall record and winless (0-8) in conference play. But with a full season under their belt and a better sense of the competition, the Ducks will aim to notch their first Big Ten wins this spring.
Acrobatics and Tumbling
Oregon remains a national powerhouse in a sport they helped define. The Ducks went 7-3 on the season, with all three losses coming at the hands of their nemesis: Baylor.
That’s the one team Oregon hasn’t been able to crack - yet. But if history is any indicator, we’re likely headed for another Ducks vs.
Bears showdown in 2026. This program continues to operate at an elite level.
Track and Field
TrackTown USA lived up to its name. Oregon swept both the men’s and women’s Big Ten Indoor Championships, then followed it up with a strong outdoor campaign.
The men took home the outdoor title, while the women finished second - only behind fellow Pac-12 transplant USC. At the NCAA Championships, several Ducks earned top-five finishes, but the crown jewel was Aaliyah McCormick’s national title in the 100m hurdles.
The tradition continues.
Golf
Men’s Team:
A solid showing from the men’s squad, who finished 4th at the Big Ten Championships and 9th out of 13 in the Auburn Regional. Not a breakthrough year, but a step forward.
Women’s Team:
This group, on the other hand, is operating on another level.
The Ducks won both the Big Ten Championship and the NCAA Gold Canyon Regional, then powered their way to a 3rd-place finish in stroke play at the NCAA Championships. They advanced to the semifinals in match play, beating Texas before falling to Northwestern.
And here’s the kicker - the entire championship lineup was made up of underclassmen. With another strong recruiting class on the way, the Ducks are set up to contend again in 2026.
Softball and Baseball
Baseball:
The regular season was everything Oregon fans could hope for.
The Ducks finished first in the Big Ten, edging out UCLA thanks to a series tiebreaker. But the postseason didn’t go to script.
An early exit in the Big Ten Tournament after a loss to Nebraska was compounded by a stunning home regional collapse - losses to Utah Valley and Cal Poly ended their season abruptly. A promising year that ended with more questions than answers.
Softball:
Now this was a storybook run.
After claiming the regular season Big Ten title, Oregon was upset by Michigan in the conference tournament. But the Ducks regrouped and went on a tear in the NCAA postseason.
After dropping an early game in their regional, they bounced back with back-to-back wins over Stanford to advance. Then came the sweep of Liberty - who had just stunned #1 seed Texas A&M - in the Super Regionals.
That punched Oregon’s ticket to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City. Though losses to UCLA and Oklahoma ended their run, a win over Ole Miss gave the Ducks something to build on.
This was a postseason to remember.
Cross Country
Oregon’s dominance on the track spilled over to the trails. Both men’s and women’s teams swept the Big Ten Championships and advanced to the NCAA Championships. The women finished 3rd in the nation, the men 5th - strong showings that reflect the depth and consistency of the program.
Soccer
It was a tough fall for the Ducks on the pitch. Oregon finished 3-10-5 overall, with a 1-6-4 record in Big Ten play.
But they ended the season on a high note, upsetting #8 Washington in Eugene. That kind of win can be a spark - and the Ducks will be looking to build on that momentum heading into 2026.
Volleyball
This was always going to be a transition year. A coaching change and a brand-new roster, combined with the gauntlet that is Big Ten volleyball, made for a challenging season.
But Oregon still managed a 17-13 record (8-12 in conference), including wins over ranked opponents - even one in the top 10. They missed the NCAA Tournament, but the young core got valuable reps, and with some key veteran transfers coming in, there’s reason for optimism in 2026.
Beach Volleyball:
Still a work in progress.
The team continues to struggle with limited resources and middling results. The pieces aren’t quite there yet, but the potential is.
Football
The Ducks followed up their undefeated Big Ten title run in 2024 with another powerhouse campaign in 2025. Oregon finished the regular season 11-1, with their lone loss coming at home to #1-ranked Indiana.
Still, they secured a spot in the College Football Playoff, taking care of business against James Madison in the opening round at Autzen. Now, they’re headed to the Orange Bowl, where they’ll face Texas Tech on New Year’s Day.
Another shot at glory awaits.
Final Word
Oregon’s first year in the Big Ten was a mixed bag - some growing pains, some big-time wins, and plenty of signs that the Ducks are settling into their new home. From the track to the softball diamond, from the golf course to the gridiron, the Ducks showed they’re not just surviving in the Big Ten - they’re starting to thrive. And with young talent across the board and momentum building, 2026 could be even bigger.