Fresh off of a rousing, legacy-validating Rose Bowl victory on Monday, Oregon released its official 2012 schedule on Wednesday. The headliner, of course, is a Nov. 3 showdown at USC, which is sure to have the whole country’s attention and could have national title implications. While it’s way too early to be choosing scores for each game, it seemed appropriate to at least break down the schedule in brief form while making some bold (and at times loony) predictions:
Sept. 1: vs. Arkansas State
I was going to make a joke about this being the exact opposite of the 2011 season opening LSU showdown in Dallas, but Arkansas State was actually quite competent in the Sun Belt Conference this year at 10-2, and is set to play in the storied GoDaddy.com Bowl on Jan. 8 against Northern Illinois. Former Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn was also hired as head coach back in December, and there have been rumblings that Tigers running back Michael Dyer might join him. So basically, this won’t end up being a joke game like New Mexico two years ago. Oregon is still at home, though, and should win handily.
Bold prediction: Darron Thomas comes out of the gates firing with five touchdown passes. Fans still clamor for Bryan Bennett to replace him.
Sept. 8 vs. Fresno State
Now THIS should be a blowout. Fresno State went 4-9 in 2011, and coming into Autzen Stadium in the second week of the season is not a recipe for success.
Bold prediction: When Oregon takes a 38-3 lead in the second quarter, restless fans will start to wish the Ducks had scheduled at least one decent non-conference opponent.
Sept. 15 vs. Tennessee Tech
Be honest: you didn’t know Tennessee Tech existed before seeing this schedule. I know I didn’t. It would be nice if the Ducks had a bit more of a test before beginning conference play, but I suppose it’s also good to be able to chalk up a win well before the game is played.
Bold prediction: De’Anthony Thomas will embarrass an overmatched Tennessee Tech defender in much the same way as he did here:

Sept. 22 vs. Arizona
Rich Rodriguez and Chip Kelly meet for the first time here, as the schedule finally starts to get interesting. Things can only look up for the Wildcats after 2011’s disastrous 4-8 showing, but the departure of Nick Foles pretty much ensures that Arizona won’t be able to keep up with the Ducks at Autzen Stadium.
Bold prediction: We, the media, will spend an inordinate amount of time talking about this coaching matchup in order to cover up the fact that the game isn’t really that interesting.
Sept. 29 at Washington State (in Seattle)
Wow, four straight home games before Oregon finally hits the road in this game. That seems a little strange, no? Anyway, Mike Leach makes his big-game debut here as Washington State’s new head coach. Personally, I think that was a big time hire (even if Leach is a little bit crazy), one that might finally put the Cougars on the map as a threat in the conference. Still, 2012 will likely be a feeling out period for Leach, and there’s no reason to believe his team will be able to keep up with an Oregon team that should be firing on all cylinders by that time.
Bold prediction: (See Arizona prediction above)
Oct. 6 vs. Washington
Wouldn’t it have been funny if Washington had kept defensive coordinator Nick Holt after that absurd 67-56 loss in the Alamo Bowl to Baylor? It would have pretty much guaranteed Holt a lifetime contract; if giving up 777 total yards and 67 points in one game isn’t enough, what is? On a brighter note, though, what I also took away from that game was that quarterback Keith Price is really good. That juke and pump fake on one of his three touchdown runs was sublime.

Price is talented enough to keep Washington in the game against Oregon, but it still won’t be quite enough.
Bold prediction: Firing Holt won’t help much against the Ducks. They’ll still rack up 50-plus points en route to victory.
Oct. 13 Bye week
Oct. 18 at Arizona State (Thu)
Hard to imagine a bigger implosion than what Arizona State went through this season. After starting 5-1 and pushing their way to a No. 18 ranking, the Sun Devils went on to lose six of their final seven games, including a 56-24 shellacking at the hands of Boise State in the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas. It would enough to cost Dennis Erickson his head coaching job, and he’s replaced by former Pitt coach Todd Graham (who, for the record, sounds like a huge sleezeball). New coach or not, there’s no way Arizona State will be able to hang with Oregon, even at home.
Bold prediction: Somewhere at an NFL practice, former Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict will commit an egregious personal foul to commemorate this game.
Oct. 27 vs. Colorado
Sigh. Can the Pac-12 rescind its contract with Colorado? What was the point of adding them to the conference? This is sure to be another snoozer.
Bold prediction: Oregon throws up 30 points in the first quarter before half the stadium falls into a drunken stupor.
Nov. 3 at USC
And now, all of a sudden, things get real serious. Based on what I’ve heard from most fans, this game is already being written off as a loss for Oregon. Matt Barkley is back, as are receivers Robert Woods and Marqise Lee. The Trojans are at home this time. Pretty much unstoppable, right? It’ll be tough, but it would behoove everyone to remember that Oregon came pretty close to beating USC last time around despite playing terribly in the first half. Most of the defense returns, and the secondary should be much improve since its last encounter with the Woods-Lee two-headed monster.
Bold prediction: De’Anthony Thomas puts on a show in his first game at the Coliseum, prompting Lane Kiffin to pull him aside postgame and beg him to transfer.
Nov. 10 at California
You really have to give Jeff Tedford credit. No matter how may times he puts up a mediocre season, he still manages to stay employed. I suppose it’s that Cal realizes it can’t do much better. In terms of this game, Oregon should win, but playing at Berkeley always seems to cause weird things to happen.
Bold prediction: It’s another low scoring affair, but Oregon manages to pull off it’s annual “sloppy win of the year.”
Nov. 17 vs. Stanford
Next year is going to be really weird for Stanford. The program was so thoroughly defined by Andrew Luck that it will probably take more than a year before anyone knows where exactly they are going. Obviously, this won’t be heralded as one of the “games of the year,” as it was in the two seasons prior.
Bold prediction: While Luck impresses early on in his debut NFL season, people finally look back and give the Oregon defense the credit it deserves for containing him so well both in 2010 and 2011.
Nov. 24 at Oregon State
Call me spoiled or accuse me of lacking perspective, but I’m just tired of this “rivalry.” I actually hope that the Beavers are competent next year, just so this game is more exciting.
(Not actually) Bold prediction: It won’t be more exciting, and people will wonder why they made the trip to Corvallis at all.
Nov. 30 Pac-12 title game (Fri)
It’s safe to assume, for now, that Oregon will play in this game — presumably in a rematch against USC. Should be one of the best games of the year with, at the very least, a Rose Bowl berth on the line.
Bold prediction: The Pac-12 will up the ante with the game’s pomp and circumstance by parachuting Larry Scott onto the field during pre game ceremonies.