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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MIAMI GARDENS, FL – JANUARY 11: Jeremy Ruckert #88 of the Ohio State Buckeyes and his teammates get pumped up before taking on the Alabama Crimson Tide during the College Football Playoff National Championship held at Hard Rock Stadium on January 11, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) /

1. Ohio State Buckeyes (Sept. 11)

Ohio State is heads and shoulders ahead of the rest of the opponents on Oregon’s 2021 schedule and that’s not a knock on Utah, UCLA, or Washington, but the Buckeyes will easily be the favorites to win the Big Ten this season and probably make another College Football Playoff.

Losing Justin Fields is going to hurt, but if we know anything about Ohio State, it’s that the Buckeyes never have to rebuild, they just reload.

And that includes the quarterback position.

CJ Stroud looks like a solid option to win the starting job and his dual-threat ability may just be an extension of Fields’ game. That’s bad news for opposing defenses.

Ohio State has an elite receiving corps, a solid offensive line, loaded backfield, and potentially stout defense. This team is going to be scary good and Oregon will learn what type of team it has very early in the season.

If Oregon wins in Columbus in Week 2, this will be a special season.

dark. Next. Ranking Oregon's position groups from worst to best

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