As Oregon women’s soccer continues what has been a difficult season, it’s time to look toward the future at what the Ducks’ new conference will look like moving forward.
The university announced in August that it will leave the Pac-12 conference for the Big Ten in 2024. Washington, UCLA and USC join the Ducks in exiting the Pac-12 for the Big Ten. For women’s soccer, the conference that was once the highest level of competition for collegiate soccer in the United States has essentially collapsed. 

Although the Big Ten likely won’t be as strong as the Pac-12 has been for many years, there will be no lack of talented programs. The conference will have 18 teams in 2024. Here’s a breakdown of five of the top programs the Ducks will face next season:

UCLA

The Bruins will be the toughest opponent in the Big Ten for the foreseeable future, and one that Oregon is very familiar with. UCLA is the defending National Champion, having won against North Carolina in 2022. It also won the National Championship in 2013 and was the runner-up four times since 2000. 

The Bruins have defeated the Ducks pretty convincingly in recent years. It may be a more difficult program than Oregon is ready to contend with at the moment, but it will add a sense of familiarity to the new conference.

USC

The Trojans will be another familiar foe the Ducks will face off against in the Big Ten. USC is also a two-time NCAA Champion, winning in both 2007 and 2016.

The Trojans aren’t quite on the level of UCLA right now, but they’ll still be a difficult opponent for Oregon to prepare for. Most recently, USC handed the Ducks their worst loss of the 2022 season, beating them 4-0.

The two Los Angeles schools will, however, make traveling a little bit easier for Oregon. The Ducks can spend a weekend playing two games in one city rather than traveling back and forth across the country. 

USC and UCLA give the Big Ten a huge boost of talent. Oregon could benefit from continuing to play those schools. If the Ducks have a winning record and defeat or hold the Bruins and Trojans to a draw, that would add to Oregon’s resume and its argument for an NCAA Tournament appearance.       

Penn State

The Nittany Lions have the most history out of existing Big Ten programs. They won the National Title in 2015 and have won the conference nine times. It has produced future World Cup Champions, with Ali Krieger, Alyssa Naeher and Allie Long all being notable alumni. 

Pennsylvania State University made it to the third round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament. This season it is currently ranked in the top five nationally. The Nittany Lions have been the team to beat in Big Ten women’s soccer for a while now and the Ducks will have to make some major improvements to contend with them for conference titles. 
Michigan State

The Spartans are the current champions of the Big Ten conference. They won nine of their 10 conference games in 2022 and also made it into the third round of the NCAA Tournament. This season, Michigan State University currently stands third in the Big Ten as it got off to a 2-1 start. 

The Spartans likely won’t be quite as difficult for Oregon to face as the top teams it’s seen in the Pac-12. Still, Michigan State has made it to the NCAA Tournament, and the Ducks aren’t on that level yet.

Northwestern

The Wildcats don’t have the history of Penn State or as much recent success as Michigan State, but they’re another decent program that Oregon will have to contend with. Northwestern University has appeared in seven NCAA tournaments, including 2022, where it made the third round.

Like all of the teams on this list, the current Ducks squad might have a difficult time against programs at the top of the conference. Unlike Oregon, though, the Wildcats haven’t had to play against powerhouses like Stanford and Cal. The Ducks may find it easier to finish at the top of the conference now that they’re not playing against stronger Pac-12 competition.  

Oregon women’s soccer has struggled to get positive results over the past couple of years. The conference change with new opponents could prove to be a good thing for a program that needs redirection.