This weekend allowed the Oregon Ducks to watch the action around the country and in the Big Ten as the team spent the weekend on bye. Coming off a statement win over USC, Oregon appears to be right back in the mix in the College Football Playoff race, and now it's all about starting to stack wins. Oregon only has Big Ten clashes the rest of the way, making it hard to find easy wins throughout the schedule.
The good news for the Ducks is that some of their outstanding opponents have struggled to start the season, making tough games look a little easier than they were on paper. While some opponents have struggled, other games have started to look much tougher as teams with coaching turnover have started to prove themselves.
Ranking Oregon's toughest remaining opponents after the bye
8. Michigan State Spartans - November 20th - East Lansing, MI
Pat Fitzgerald is looking to rebuild Michigan State, and the team won't be at the level of contending in the Big Ten until he starts to stack recruiting classes. The Spartans lost star running back Cam Edwards to a season ending injury, and the offense is going to struggle to move the ball without him. Oregon can't afford to overlook any game, but this one appears to be the easiest left on the schedule.
7. Illinois Fighting Illini - October 24th - Champaign, IL
Bret Bielema's team has been disappointing this season, falling to 2-3 after a 0-2 start to Big Ten play. The Illini have been abysmal on defense, as Bielema has already fired defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck. Illinois' offense is dangerous enough to keep them in games, but Oregon should be able to outpace the Illini.
6. Michigan Wolverines - November 14th - Eugene, OR
Coming into the season, many would've expected the Michigan game to be one of the toughest, but the Wolverines have been a mess. Kyle Whittingham's staff hasn't helped Bryce Underwood grow, and the Wolverines look like a team without an offensive identity. If the Wolverines continue to look the way they have, who knows what their lineup will look like, as a quarterback change may be in the cards.
5. Nebraska Cornhuskers - October 17th - Eugene, OR
Matt Rhule's team has quietly jumped out to a 5-0 start with a pair of wins in Big Ten play, but the tests begin with back-to-back games against Indiana and Oregon. Anthony Colandrea has the experience to move the ball against any defense, while breakout running back Jamal Rule may return to the lineup when the game rolls around. If Dylan Raiola starts for the Ducks, the game will carry a ton of emotions and will quickly become a headline matchup.
4. Northwestern Wildcats - October 31st - Eugene, OR
David Braun's team has proven they're not an easy out in the Big Ten, playing Indiana close and knocking off Penn State. Chip Kelly has reimagined the Northwestern offense, and he'll certainly dig deep into his bag of tricks for his return to Eugene. The Wildcats just racked up 413 rushing yards against Penn State, and if the Ducks don't commit to stopping the run it could be a long game.
3. Washington Huskies - November 28th - Eugene, OR
Any time Oregon and Washington face off, it's a battle, and even with the Huskies' struggles this season, it's impossible to write them off. Demond Williams Jr. can make any defense pay with his dual-threat ability, while their running back room should only get healthier as the season goes along. The Huskies will look to make the game a shootout, and if Oregon lets Williams find a rhythm, it'll be a long game.
2. UCLA Bruins - October 10th - Eugene, OR
After the bye week, the matchup against the UCLA Bruins stands out as a massive test, as Bob Chesney has instantly flipped the program. UCLA is off to a 4-0 start with 3 Power 4 wins, all of which have been blowouts favoring the Bruins. Chesney's defense has been stout, while James Madison transfer Wayne Knight has been the best running back in the country. Add in that Dante Moore's status is still up in the air, and it may take everyone to beat the Bruins.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes - November 7th - Columbus, OH
Coming into the season, everyone circled the Ohio State game as Oregon's biggest test, and nothing has changed aside from the Ducks losing to Oklahoma State. The Buckeyes are off to a 4-1 start, and easily could've been 5-0 if they had found a way to finish the Texas game. Oregon's toughest task will be finding a way to slow Jeremiah Smith, who appears to be leading the race for the Heisman Trophy, while the Buckeyes' defense is finding its footing after losing several stars to the 1st round of the NFL Draft.
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