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The Oregon Ducks have entered the 2024 season as the No. 3 ranked team in the country in the recently released AP poll. The Ducks are entering their first season in the Big Ten Conference and coach Dan Lanning is poised to make a run at a national championship this year and in years to come.
The Ducks have brought in a plethora of talent through the Transfer Portal, including Derrick Harmon, Dillon Gabriel, Kam Alexander, Evan Stewart and Kobe Savage. Lanning's prioritization of the portal resulted in a team full of veteran leadership even though the Ducks lost some key players to the NFL in April. Oregon is now part of the B1G and will accordingly have new challenges on its schedule.
Week 1: Idaho Vandals
The Idaho Vandals will travel to Eugene, Oreg. to open their season against the Ducks. The history of this matchup is non-existent, as this will be the first time the two schools play each other in football. The Ducks usually open their schedule with a non-Power Four school and handle business when they do so. The Ducls should win this with ease. Oregon wins 63-10.
Record: 1-0
Week 2: Boise State Broncos
The Broncos are traveling to Eugene for this one. Oregon is poised to get revenge after the infamous loss in 2009 when former Ducks running back LeGarrette Blunt knocked Boise's Byron Hout out cold after the game. Boise surprisingly leads this series 3-0. However, they aren't the same program they used to be. The Ducks should win this with ease. Oregon wins 52-14.
Record: 2-0
Week 3: at Oregon State Beavers
This is a classic matchup. The Ducks and the Beavers rivalry is a historic one that the schedulemakers thankfully retained despite the two teams no longer playing within the same conference. The rivalry game formerly known as the "Civil War" is a significant matchup for the two fanbases and things can get heated between them. The Ducks lead this rivalry with an all-time record of 68-49-10. Oregon won last year's matchup as well. The Beavers program is in a rough spot after losing head coach Jonathon Smith to Michigan State. Oregon should handle business here with a projected score of 41-17.
Record: 3-0
Week 5: at UCLA Bruins
The Ducks will have a bye in Week 4, giving them an extra week to prepare for head coach Deshaun Foster and the Bruins. Foster enters his first year in the program after Chip Kelly's departure. Before coaching UCLA, Kelly was successful with Oregon, leading them to a national title appearance in 2011. His tenure with UCLA was widely considered a failure. In addition to losing Kelly, the Bruins lost Dante Moore, a five-star quarterback, who transferred to Oregon. While UCLA leads the all-time series 39-32, Oregon won the last matchup in 2022 in blowout fashion and is currently on a four-game win streak. Oregon wins this one with ease, 38-14.
Record: 4-0
Week 6: Michigan State Spartans
These two teams have not met frequently. Oregon currently leads the series 4-3 and won the last matchup in 2018. Michigan State seems to be rebuilding, so this should be an easy home win for the Ducks. Another point worth mentioning is that Oregon stole Derrick Harmon from Michigan State in the portal this offseason, so he will be facing his old team in this contest. Ducks win, 45-21.
Record: 5-0
Week 7: Ohio State Buckeyes
This game should end up being game of the week and maybe game of the year. Oregon and Ohio State have put together some entertaining games, such as the national championship in 2015, where Ohio State came out victorious, or the most recent matchup in 2021, where the Ducks waltzed into Columbus and stunned the Buckeyes. The Buckeyes lead the all-time series 9-1. This road trip will be tough for Ohio State, and the Ducks will win an absolute thriller, 35-31. This might not be the only time the two teams face off this year.
Record: 6-0
Week 8: at Purdue Boilermakers
These two teams have only place three times. The Ducks lead the series 2-1 and won the last two matchups in 2008 and 2009. Purdue has been predicted to finish last in the B1G this year by many and is in a rebuilding stage. Ducks should win this with ease, 31-14.
Record: 7-0
Week 9: Illinois Fighting Illini
This will be the first matchup between the two teams since Oregon won in 1995. The all-time series favors the Ducks, 2-1. It is not realistic to expect the Illini to fly across the country and defeat the Ducks. Oregon wins 42-21.
Record: 8-0
Week 10: at Michigan Wolverines
This is an exciting matchup for both teams. Oregon will have its first real road test in the B1G here, flying across the country to play in the Big House. Michigan leads the all-time series, 3-2. Oregon won the last two matchups, but the two teams haven't played in over a decade. This is a potential trap game for the Ducks. Michigan holds down their fort, 28-24.
Record: 8-1
Week 11: Maryland Terrapins
This matchup will be the first between the two programs. Let's keep this one simple: Oregon will win this one with ease and start the series off with a 1-0 record. The Terrapins do not have the necessary weapons to fly to Eugene and pull off a major upset. Oregon dominates, 51-10.
Record: 9-1
Week 12: at Wisconsin Badgers
These two teams have played some incredible games, facing off in the Rose Bowl multiple times. The all-time series is currently tied at 3-3. Oregon has prevailed in the last three meetings, two of which were Rose Bowl games. In the most recent meeting, Justin Herbert led the Ducks over the Badgers in the 2020 Rose Bowl. This will be another tough road test for the Ducks, but they are too talented for the Badgers. Oregon survives a scare, 24-21.
Record: 10-1
Week 14: Washington Huskies
This sets up to be a heated revenge game for the Ducks. Oregon will have a bye week to prepare for its biggest rival in recent history, the Washington Huskies. Washington leads the all-time series, 63-48. Washington's upper-classmen led the way to the Huskies' terrific season in 2023, which included two victories over Oregon. However, those seniors and coach Kalen DeBoer are gone now. The Ducks will avenge their losses in 2023. Ducks win 38-21.
Record: 11-1
Oregon Ducks 2024 Overview
2024 will be an incredible season for the Ducks. They will make quite the splash in the B1G, finishing 11-1. A highlight win against the Ohio State Buckeyes on Oct. 12 will put the rest of the conference on notice. But, it is hard to envision them walking into every road game and remaining undefeated. Oregon's finish will push them into a potential rematch with Ohio State in the B1G championship, and whether they win or lose that game, the Ducks should still be a playoff team.
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