Oregon’s first season in the Big Ten will not be filled with warm-and-fuzzy welcomes from the other teams. Playing against a few familiar faces as well as gearing up to take on new conference rivals, the Ducks have a big year ahead of them.
Head coach Dan Lanning has worked throughout the offseason to build a team ready to play against the best programs in the nation.
Lanning's work in the transfer portal and recruiting one of the best signing classes in 2024 has prepared Oregon for what's to come.
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.
Week 2: vs. Boise State – Sept. 7
Turning their attention to the Mountain West, the Ducks will host the Boise State Broncos for their third game of the season.
As Oregon continues to find its stride in 2024, they will rack up another win when they play the Broncos at home. While Boise State will be a tougher opponent than their previous two, the Ducks will hopefully have found their offensive footing.
The probable starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel is set to be one of the most experienced quarterbacks in college football and will be able to lead the Ducks to a third straight victory.
The Broncos will be coming off their first game of the season against Georgia Southern and will either be looking to bounce back from a loss or continue a successful start to the season. This means that no matter what, their offense will come out firing.
With 19 three-star recruits and transfers like quarterback Malachi Nelson from USC joining the team, Boise State will be a powerful force on the field.
However, Oregon’s impressive defensive line will be able to contain the Broncos’ running game while the Duck secondary will break up any pass attempts.
At the end of the game, the final score will be 37-10 and Oregon will have a 3-0 record.
Week 3: at Oregon State – Sept. 14
The Civil War won’t be the week of Thanksgiving like it usually is but the in-state rivalry is here to stay, for now. Visiting little brother’s stomping grounds in Corvallis won’t slow the Ducks don’t at all.
With many star players leaving Oregon State’s program as their head coach fled to Michigan State and their Pac-12 partners abandoned shop, the Beavers will be nowhere near the level they have been the past few years.
Without Jonathan Smith in East Lansing and quarterback DJ Uiagalelei at Florida State, Oregon State will have to try to put up a dam against any other losses.
Following probable victories over Idaho State and San Diego State, Beavers will have momentum and the home crowd on their side but those won’t be enough to take down the Ducks. Without a returning quarterback and deep in a rebuilding phase, OSU will struggle at home.
Oregon will once again march its way to victory with a 38-17 win over Oregon State.
Week 4 – BYE
Week 5: at UCLA – Sept. 28
Coming off their first bye week of the season, the Ducks will be ready to face another common foe. While expected backup quarterback Dante Moore may not start against his former team, Dillon Gabriel will make the start and dominate the Bruins.
The combination of Gabriel and Moore running the offense plus the Duck defense filled with returners will surely lead to the team’s first Big Ten matchup for the season.
UCLA head coach Chip Kelly will be facing his former team as he was the Oregon head coach from 2009-2012 and the offensive coordinator from 2007-2008.
Kelly hasn’t been able to build the Bruins into the powerhouse team that was expected when he took over the coaching job in Pasadena. Moving to the Big Ten along with Oregon, Washington, and USC, it is expected that UCLA will continue to struggle.
Despite bringing in some impressive transfer players, like Oregon’s former safety Bryan Addison, Kelly and the Bruins will fall short of victory.
The Ducks will win 42-13 in Pasadena.
Week 6: vs. Michigan State – Oct. 5
In the teams’ first matchup since 2018 (a 7-6 victory for the Ducks), Oregon won’t be strangers to everyone on the field.
Oregon State’s former head coach Jonathan Smith is now running the Spartan’s show. Alongside Smith will be former Ducks cornerback coach Demetrice Martin.
While Michigan State has been able to rise in the recruiting ranks during the 2023-24 offseason, its roster doesn’t quite compare to that of Oregon. Head coach Dan Lanning is currently 1-1 against Smith but is hopeful, and likely, to improve that record next season.
Oregon State backup quarterback Aidan Chiles transferred to the Spartans’ program when his head coach made the move and is expected to make the start in 2024.
With Chiles’ knowledge of the game and experience within Smith’s program, the Michigan State offense should be in good hands. However, with a defense similar to the one that struggled to stop opponents last year, I don’t expect the Spartans to be able to stop the Ducks.
Oregon will move to a 6-0 record after defeating Michigan State 30-14.
Week 7: vs. Ohio State – Oct. 12
In a matchup of top teams, I expect the game to be low-scoring yet exciting. Ryan Day and Bill O’Brien are set to revamp the Ohio State offense and with many returners on defense, the Buckeyes will most likely be coming into this game with a 5-0 record.
On the other side of the field, Lanning and offensive coordinator Will Stein are hopeful that their rebuilt offense can tack on enough points as the game progresses.
In 2023, the Ducks allowed just 16.5 points per game 102 yards per game. If they can keep the Buckeyes to similar numbers, the Ducks' defense will be giving the offense a chance to produce.
Dillon Gabriel’s last season saw an impressive upset over the Texas Longhorns who went on to play in the College Football Playoffs. Having the experience against big-time opponents like the Horns will help Gabriel guide the Ducks in this game.
Lanning is also no stranger to talented adversaries as he was an assistant coach at Georgia for four years.
These two explosive teams will slow each other down but neither will be stopped entirely. The final score will be 21-18 with Oregon on top – a big thanks to Autzen’s crowd.
Week 8: at Purdue – Oct. 19
Purdue will be a much easier opponent for the Ducks, especially just one week after the Ohio State game.
The Boilermakers have had a tough time in the Big Ten for the majority of two decades and I don’t think the tide will turn in 2024. With Notre Dame and Oregon State as well as the Ducks, the Buckeyes, and the Nittany Lions on their schedule, Purdue will struggle throughout the season.
Head Coach Ryan Walters will be in his second season with the team and looking to improve from last year’s 4-8 record.
Despite the abysmal final record, Purdue did have some big wins last season. Defeating Virginia Tech on the road and Minnesota at home, the Boilermakers had their shining moments where fans could glimpse the light at the end of the tunnel.
Lanning and the Ducks will show no mercy while visiting West Lafayette. Oregon will take down the Boilermakers.
Week 9: vs. Illinois – Oct. 26
Back at home, Oregon will play the Fighting Illini in the team’s ninth game of the year. Now more than halfway through their year, the Ducks will most likely be in a top-four spot on the AP Poll and hoping to appear in the first CFP Poll of the year.
With that as a motivating factor, the Ducks will go into this game with all guns blazing.
Taking full advantage of playing in Autzen Stadium, Oregon will not take their foot off the pedal offensively. Illinois struggled to produce points last year and I suspect the same will be true for the coming season.
Without being able to score and being slow to the punch of defense, Illinois will not be able to hold out hope.
However, with a trip to Ann Arbor in the near future, Oregon may begin to sub out starters to ensure their health for the next week. As backups continue to rotate into the lineup, the Fighting Illinis will eke out a touchdown toward the end of the fourth quarter.
Oregon will win in a dominant fashion. I expect a final score of 52-10.
Week 10: at Michigan –Nov. 2
National Champion Michigan Wolverines will be undefeated walking into this game and ready to continue that trend while hosting the undefeated Ducks.
Playing at the Big House in Ann Arbor is no joke for any opponent, much less for a newly-minted Big Ten team like Oregon. While the Ducks have defeated Michigan in the past, most recently in 2007, the Wolverines are not the same team under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Since taking over the program in 2015, Harbaugh has gone 86-25 including three CFP appearances, winning the national title at the end of the 2023 season.
Offensive players like running back Blake Corum and quarterback J.J. McCarthy are no longer on the team causing the Michigan roster to not be in the top two of the Big Ten. However, the Wolverines are not lacking in talent.
The Ducks will not be able to keep up with Michigan’s pace of play and will slowly but surely get worn down on offense.
The final score will be 54-32, with Michigan remaining undefeated and Oregon falling to 9-1.
Week 11: vs. Maryland – Nov. 9
Coming off the loss to Michigan, the Ducks will be looking to bounce back, quickly. Playing against the Terrapins at home will be just the matchup that Oregon is looking for.
Without starting quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa returning to Maryland’s lineup, the team will be rebuilding their offensive scheme. In a transitional year, the Terrapins will struggle against Big Ten opponents, the Ducks included.
Oregon at home is already a force to be reckoned with much less a Duck team that is trying to bounce back for the last three games of the season.
With the Autzen crowd behind them, the Ducks’ offense will erupt once again, unleashing their full force to stay in CFP contention. With 12 teams making the playoffs in 2024, if Oregon can maintain a one-loss record, the Ducks almost have a guaranteed spot.
Oregon will defeat Maryland 52-6 and will be sitting at 10-1 overall, 6-1 in the conference.
Week 12: at Wisconsin –Nov. 16
Oregon will ride the momentum from week 11 into Madison as they visit the Wisconsin Badgers. In their penultimate game of the regular season, the Ducks will face Luke Fickell in his second season as head coach.
The last time these two teams played was the 2020 Rose Bowl. Oregon, led by Justin Herbert, defeated the Badgers 28-27.
I expect a fairly similar result in the 2024 matchup. Dillon Gabriel will be in his best form, barring any further injuries, and he will have his go-to targets alongside him. The Ducks’ passing game coupled with Noah Whittington and Jordan James at running back will set the team up for success.
Along with offensive prowess, the Duck defense will consist of returners Jeffrey Bassa, Jordan Burch, and more. The experienced secondary and talented D-Line will shut down the Badgers’ attempts to get downfield.
Oregon will squash the Badgers and win 27-9.
Week 13 – BYE
Week 14: vs. Washington – Nov. 30
Revenge sweet revenge. Lanning is 0-3 against the Washington Huskies as the Ducks are on a three-game losing streak to their rivals.
Following the Huskies’ disappointing performance in the National Championship game against Michigan, Oregon has a chance to prove its worth after its loss to the Wolverines.
Both teams will be looking to close the season out with a bang and ensure their spot in the CFPs. With a new head coach, a new starting quarterback, and the NFL-level receiving core out the window, UW will be nowhere near the team they were last season.
Meanwhile, the Ducks are going to be eager to leave their mark on the Big Ten and all of college football.
I predict that Lanning and the Ducks will walk away from week 14 with yet another win, pushing their record to 12-1 overall and 8-1 in conference play.