Oregon Football: 3 toughest opponents on 2021 schedule

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 06: CJ Verdell #7 of the Oregon Ducks breaks free for a 70 yard touchdown run in the middle of the fourth quarter during the Pac-12 Championship football game against the Utah Utes at Levi's Stadium on December 6, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. The Oregon Ducks won 37-15. (Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – NOVEMBER 24: Solomon Enis #21 of the Utah Utes catches a pass against the Brigham Young Cougars in a game at Rice-Eccles Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /

3. Utah Utes (Nov. 20)

I was very tempted to list a road game against UCLA here as the Ducks will face their former coach in his fourth season with the Bruins. The Bruins aren’t going to be a pushover anymore, especially after taking a step in the right direction in 2020.

But with Utah adding Charlie Brewer from Baylor this offseason, it just makes too much sense for this to be the third-toughest opponent on the schedule.

Plus, with this being a road game in late November, this could have serious “elimination game” vibes. Utah could be contending for a Pac-12 title and it’s expected Oregon will be right in the thick of the race as well, but a loss here could break the Ducks’ season. A win could also help make the season.

Utah went 3-2 in a COVID-19-shortened 2020 season and they return a wealth of players on both sides of the ball and while no one is talking about the Utes as playoff contenders, they very well could be with Brewer running the show.

Oh yeah, and Kyle Whittingham is arguably the best coach in the league. The Utes will be tough.

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