Week 0: at Hawai’i – Aug. 24
The Ducks will flock to Honolulu and dominate similarly to last season. When the Rainbow Warriors visited Eugene in 2023, Oregon annihilated the team 55-10.
While Hawai’i will have the home-field advantage, its stadium only has a capacity of 15,194 which is well below the crowds that the Ducks are used to facing.
Head coach Timmy Change only signed 12 three-star and a couple of two-star recruits in his 2024 class. Without any star power to combat Oregon’s top-five roster, Hawai’i will struggle to put points on the board and won’t be able to stop the Ducks’ offense from scoring.
With a new quarterback leading the offense, there won’t be quite as many points for Oregon but that won’t slow them down entirely. With solid defensive play, including an interception or fumble throughout the game, the Ducks will be sitting pretty at the end of four quarters.
I expect a complete blowout in Oregon’s season opener with a final score of 48-6.
Week 1: vs. Idaho – Aug. 31
In the home opener, Oregon will bring the excitement back to Autzen Stadium. Playing against Idaho in the official first week of FBS play, the Ducks will vandalize the Vandals… get it?
Not only will the Ducks have the home-field advantage, but they will also have a position at almost every single position on the field. Idaho head coach Jason Eck fell short of success with his 2024 signing class.
While the Vandals were able to make it into the second round of the FCS Playoffs in 2023, opening their 2024 season in Eugene won’t get the year off on the right foot.
In the FCS versus FBS showdown, I predict Oregon will walk away with its second win of the season and a final score of 38-3.