Big Ten Champion Oregon Ducks' 2025 schedule release has plenty of storylines worth noting in quest to repeat
Oregon is still focused on the goals that are in front of them, but while they wait to figure out who their opponent is going to be between Ohio State and Tennessee for the Rose Bowl matchup on New Year's Day, they got a glimpse into the future with the release of their 2025 schedule.On […]
Oregon is still focused on the goals that are in front of them, but while they wait to figure out who their opponent is going to be between Ohio State and Tennessee for the Rose Bowl matchup on New Year's Day, they got a glimpse into the future with the release of their 2025 schedule.
On paper, it looks favorable, but there's plenty of time for rosters to change and shake out before we can get anywhere close to making predictions. Here's the slate of games.
There's a lot to dissect, but let's get into a few of the main takeaways from the schedule.
No Ohio State meeting in 2025 regular season
First and foremost, the most glaring thing that stands out is that Oregon won't be playing against Ohio State in the regular season next year. This year, their meeting on October 12th was arguably the best game of the year in all of college football, and the path still remains for the two teams to have to meet up again in the College Football Playoffs. These two teams are becoming fast rivals in the Big Ten, and without having to play each other, the potential exists for both teams to carry an undefeated record into a Big Ten Championship meeting next season. Obviously that is lightyears away from now and plenty can change, but the two sides won't do damage to the other's record in the regular season. That much we know.
Seven home games
Autzen Stadium is one of the best home field advantages in all of college football, and Oregon will get to play in the comfort of their home seven times in 2025. It remains to be seen what the preseason AP rankings will look like to see which of their home opponents will be ranked, but on paper, Indiana looks to be their hardest home test, and Oregon will get that game on October 11th coming off a bye week. USC will also be looking to rebound from a down season and will have a second-year quarterback in Jayden Maiava developing into his own. That home matchup has plenty of Pac-12 history behind it and will be a rivalry rekindled. Oregon will also open with two home games in a row.
Big Ten Championship rematch on the road
The biggest game on the schedule will be a road trip to Penn State in a Big Ten Championship game rematch at Beaver Stadium on September 27th. It will be Oregon's second road game of the season, and only their second trip to Penn State, their one other visit to the Nittany Lions taking place 60 years ago on October 3, 1964. I think it's safe to assume this will be the Big Noon Kickoff game of the day, but a night game would be wonderfully aesthetic.
Two byes in a five week stretch
In a weird scheduling quirk, Oregon will have their first Bye week in Week 6, and their second Bye in Week 10. Saturday of Week 6 falls on October 4th, with the Saturday of Week 10 falling on November 1. They were one day off from having two byes in the same calendar month.
Oregon will be doing a ton of travel, again
Playing in the Big Ten Conference, travel is now just a part of the norm. Oregon is going to log plenty of frequent flier miles from Oregon to the midwest and back again, and 2025 will be no different. From Week 3 through Week 12 of the season, Oregon has no consecutive home games, instead playing at home one week and on the road in the Midwest (or all the way to the East coast, with a date against Rutgers in New Jersey on the schedule) the next, and back again. The schedule makers put both of Oregon's bye weeks in the middle of this stretch, though, allowing Oregon to get much-needed breaks in their schedule.
Who Oregon is as a team will be a big question that we will have plenty of time to try and answer over the offseason months, but in terms of their schedule, it doesn't get much easier on paper in the Big Ten than this. A heavy load of home games and avoiding Ohio State and Michigan sets Oregon up to continue their winning ways heading into their second season in the Big Ten Conference.
Follow along all year for more Oregon Ducks coverage on A to Z Sports. You can find me on Bluesky @jonhelmkamp.bsky.social, as well as follow our main page @AtoZSports.bsky.social for all the latest news.
