What are the three most challenging matchups on the Oregon Duck’s BIG-10 schedule ?
With Oregon entering year two in the BIG-10, they face a new set of opponents. Who are the three most challenging games?
The Oregon Ducks took the BIG-10 by storm in their first year in the new conference, winning the league 13-0. Many questioned whether Oregon could withstand the physicality the BIG-10 opponents presented week in and week out, but it’s safe to say the Ducks passed the test with flying colors.
In 2024, Oregon played all three of the conference’s main “powers” and beat each one. The Ducks took on Ohio State at Oregon in what became an instant classic. They traveled to Ann Arbor to take on the Michigan Wolverines and saw Penn State at a neutral site in the BIG-10 title game.
The 2024 schedule was a gauntlet, but the Ducks successfully navigated it and earned a conference championship. The 2025 schedule appears to be a much easier path, as the team avoids Ohio State and Michigan altogether. With that said, no game in the BIG-10 is a gimme, and this slate of games will present a new set of challenges for head coach Dan Lanning and his staff.
Let’s look at the three most challenging games on the Ducks’ 2025 schedule.
Week 5 @ Penn State 9/27/2025
Perhaps the most anticipated college football game heading into the 2025 season, both programs enter the year with legit National Championship aspirations and will likely be ranked in the top 5 when they meet up. Penn State is currently ranked third in the preseason Coaches’ Poll and has an argument to be the best team in the country. The Nittany Lions returned 16 starters from last year’s team, which made it to the semi-final of the college football playoff. Among those 16 starters are quarterback Drew Allar and running back Nicholas Singleton, who would have been likely first-round picks had they declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Penn State is loaded, and it doesn’t help that the Ducks will have to face them on the road and at night in Happy Valley. The game has already been announced as a fan whiteout, so that the atmosphere will be quite electric. How new quarterback Dante Moore handles playing in such a hostile environment early in the season will be key in determining if the Ducks can compete with Penn State.
Week 11 @ Iowa 11/8/2025
One of the more underrated matchups on the BIG-10 schedule, the Ducks travel to Iowa City to take on a tough Iowa team. Iowa is a hard team to beat at home and has won 80% of its home games over the last three seasons. The Hawkeyes are known for playing tough and physical football, often led by strong play from their trenches. The team brought in a new quarterback through the transfer portal, Mark Gronkowski, who won a national championship at the FCS level with South Dakota State. They hope that Gronkowski can spark the offense and make the team more balanced. Oregon will have to limit mistakes on the road in a challenging environment to escape with a win.
Week 14 @ Washington 11/29.2025
Of course, this one makes the list. Oregon’s biggest rival and team that has been a thorn in their side in recent seasons, traveling to Seattle will be no cupcake. The Huskies had a down year last year in Jedd Fisch’s first season with the program, but they likely turn it around in 2025. A major reason for optimism in Washington is the play of their freshman quarterback, Demond Williams JR., down the stretch of the 2024 season. Williams started the season’s final two games for the Huskies and flashed his enormous potential, making plays with both his arm and legs. With NFL talent littered throughout this roster and another year in Fisch’s system, this offense could surprise college football in 2025. After the Ducks beat the Huskies 49-21 at home at Autzen, expect Washington to be ultra-motivated to avenge their defeat in 2025.
