Oregon’s place near the top of the preseason AP Top 25 came with the kind of schedule that can sharpen a contender fast. The Ducks landed at No. 2 when the rankings were released Monday, and the path ahead includes several ranked opponents that could shape the season long before November arrives.
The first big test tied to that ranking comes early, and it comes in conference play. On Sept.
26, Oregon opens Big Ten play at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum against No. 14 USC.
That matchup carries plenty of weight, and some already see it as the Ducks’ first real chance to slip. Oregon has handled Lincoln Riley’s Trojans well lately, going 2-0 against them, including a 42-27 win at Autzen Stadium last season.
But both of those victories came in Eugene, and this time the Ducks walk into a different setting against a team that should be motivated.
That game also puts two quarterbacks who are drawing Heisman attention front and center: Oregon’s Dante Moore and USC’s Jayden Maiava. It’s the kind of matchup that can tilt the night in a hurry.
If USC is the first major hurdle, Ohio State is the biggest one. On Nov. 7 in Columbus, Oregon will face the only team ranked ahead of it in the preseason poll, the No.
1 Buckeyes. That game could carry huge Big Ten and College Football Playoff implications, with a top seed and the conference race potentially hanging in the balance.
The Ducks will also have revenge on their minds after their undefeated run ended in the 2025 Rose Bowl CFP Quarterfinal, a 41-21 loss to Ohio State. Moore and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin are both in the early Heisman conversation, and DraftKings Sportsbook has the Buckeyes as six-point favorites.
Back at Autzen after that trip, Oregon gets another ranked challenge in No. 16 Michigan on the schedule.
The Wolverines come in under first-year coach Kyle Whittingham, and Michigan fans are hoping Bryce Underwood gives the offense a lift. Oregon has had success against Whittingham before, going 2-0 against his Utah teams when he was with the Utes.
The Ducks also beat Michigan 38-17 in Ann Arbor on Nov. 2, 2024, and this home date could end up being one of the biggest in Eugene.
The regular season closes with the rivalry game against Washington on Nov. 28 at Autzen Stadium. Oregon started 0-3 against the Huskies under Dan Lanning, but it has since won two straight and is trying to make it three.
Last season’s meeting went Oregon’s way in Seattle, where the Ducks won 26-14 and largely contained Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr., who finished 15-of-30 for 129 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. This time, Oregon will try to do it again with the home crowd behind it.
There are also three teams on Oregon’s schedule that received votes in the preseason AP poll: Boise State, Oklahoma State and Illinois. Boise State, which opens the Ducks’ season on Sept. 5 at Autzen Stadium, led that group with 43 votes.
Illinois had nine, and Oklahoma State had eight. Boise State will not be ranked for the opener, but Oklahoma State and Illinois still have time to climb into the poll before facing Oregon.
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The bigger picture for USC is the way Grahams growth fits into the secondary picture heading into his second year. He is already in the mix for the starting nickel role, while also helping the Trojans bring along the 2026 recruiting class, which says plenty about how quickly he has earned trust inside the room. For a defense looking to keep building under Patterson, his progression is one of those small but meaningful developments worth watching. [Read more 🡒]