Playing in a conference like the Big Ten, you're bound to have difficult matchups on the schedule each and every year. For the Oregon Ducks, the 2026 schedule, particularly late in the year, is going to be a grind.
On Monday morning, the Associated Press Preseason Top 25 was released, ranking the Ducks No. 2 in the nation — the highest preseason ranking in program history. More importantly, four Oregon opponents have also made the list, setting up a potentially tough but rewarding path for the Ducks.
Oregon's Week 4 opponent is a big one, with the USC Trojans coming in at No. 14 in the rankings. After a couple of frustrating seasons, expectations are that Lincoln Riley finally gets this team going in the right direction and competing for a spot in the College Football Playoff. This will be the Ducks' first major road test and a season-defining game in September.
Oregon then has a bit of a break before facing another incredibly tough team, traveling to Columbus to face the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes in early November. This will, obviously, be one of the biggest matchups of the year, and there's a chance it remains a matchup between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the nation, just as the preseason poll suggests.
The Ducks' late-season slog continues just a week later, with the No. 16 Michigan Wolverines coming to town for a showdown in Eugene, with new head coach Kyle Whittingham bringing heralded young passer Bryce Underwood on the road for a potential top-15 game at Autzen.
A short week against Michigan State then paves the way for another preseason ranked matchup at home against the No. 17 Washington Huskies to close out the year.
Three Oregon opponents also received votes to land in the AP Preseason Top 25 — The Boise State Broncos, Oklahoma State Cowboys, and Illinois Fighting Illini.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: How many Oregon opponents rank inside Preseason AP Top 25 in 2026?