The Oregon Ducks are already lining up for a 2026 season that looks loaded from top to bottom, and a few of their Big Ten matchups are drawing more attention than most.
According to Steven Lassan of Athlon Sports, Oregon has four games that stand out as the best matchup of their respective week. That kind of weekly spotlight says plenty about how much interest is building around Dan Lanning’s team.
The first one comes right out of the gate. Oregon’s season opener against Boise State made the list, and it makes sense why.
The Ducks are bringing back important pieces such as quarterback Dante Moore and cornerback Brandon Finney Jr., which has them projected to run the table. But Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen has shown he’s not the kind of player anyone should sleep on.
That gives this one the feel of a measuring-stick game for both sides.
It also edged out a few other notable Big Ten matchups, including UCLA vs. California, Wisconsin vs.
Notre Dame, and North Texas vs. Indiana.
Another Oregon game that landed on the radar is the Ducks’ meeting with USC. These two programs have already spent the offseason going after some of the same recruits, and that has led to some clear shots from the Trojans along the way.
On the field, Oregon should be favored, but USC is never a team to dismiss outright. There’s a good chance this one gets heated, and staying composed could end up being the difference.
If Oregon handles business, the fan base may have a little fun firing back on social media.
The biggest spotlight of all may belong to Oregon’s trip to Ohio State. That matchup has the look of a heavyweight showdown, with both teams expected to be in the national championship mix. It could even end up as the best game on the entire schedule, with future NFL talent lining up on both sides.
A few other Big Ten games were in the conversation for that week, including Maryland vs. Purdue, Penn State vs.
Washington, and Iowa vs. Northwestern.
The final Oregon game to make the cut is the Week 11 home matchup with Michigan. That one has the ingredients for a defensive battle, even if the individual names to watch are mostly on offense. Michigan starter Bryce Underwood was one of the top quarterback recruits in his class, and Moore’s side of the matchup adds another layer because of his upbringing in Detroit, Michigan.
Week 11 also has several other games that could have made a case for top billing, including USC vs. Indiana, Illinois vs.
UCLA, and Washington vs. Michigan State.
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USC Just Changed Everything For Local RB Jaion Smith
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Smiths next stretch should tell a lot about where this race is headed. He enters the season with multiple offers and a growing list of schools showing interest, and the local angle only adds to the intrigue for USC fans watching a nearby talent navigate a wide-open recruitment. For now, the Trojans are firmly in the mix, but Smith is still taking his time and planning to see several more programs before anything gets settled. [Read more 🡒]