Oregon football has known its opponents. Now, it knows the order.

The Big Ten released its 2026 football schedules Jan. 27. The Ducks open the season at home against Boise State, begin conference play on the road in Los Angeles and take an early, Week 5 bye. Their marquee matchup, in Columbus, Ohio against Ohio State, is scheduled for Nov. 7.

The Daily Emerald picked out one thing from each game to keep an eye on as the world waits for Week 1:

Week 1: vs Boise State University

The Ducks take on the Broncos at Autzen Stadium for the second time in three seasons. Last time, they had to deal with Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty. This time, Boise State is coming off a 9-5 season where they made and won the Mountain West Championship Game after finishing the season 6-2 in conference.

Week 2: at Oklahoma State

The Cowboys aren’t the powerhouse they were when this home-and-home was scheduled in 2018. Oregon blew out head coach Mike Gundy and a makeshift offense, 69-3 at Autzen Stadium last season. Gundy is gone, but what the Cowboys will have is a new head coach (former University of North Texas HC Eric Morris) and one of last season’s best true freshman quarterbacks in UNT transfer Drew Mestemaker to challenge the Ducks.

Week 3: vs Portland State

This in-state battle hasn’t been historically competitive — the last time they faced off, in 2023, Oregon rolled in a 81-7 win and the Ducks are 6-0 all time against the Vikings. This, then, looks like a warmup before heading on the road to open Big Ten play.

Week 4: at USC

The Trojans return quarterback Jayden Maiava under center, and get the Ducks much earlier in the season than they did when an injury-hit group came to Eugene in November 2025. For Oregon, this could be an early season-defining matchup between two teams that will likely start the season in the Top 25.

Week 5: Bye

Oregon’s bye week once again comes early in the season. The Ducks will play eight straight games after their Week 5 break — injuries will again take center stage. It’s a spot to reset here, though, after a big-time matchup on the road with USC.

Week 6: vs UCLA

Oregon didn’t face the Bruins last season, but it did do battle with newly-hired UCLA head coach Bob Chesney and running back Wayne Knight when James Madison University came to town for the College Football Playoff First Round. Chesney pulled out his bag of tricks for that game, which ramped up after an uncompetitive first half, and now has returning starter Nico Iamaleava to play with at quarterback.

Week 7: vs Nebraska

The Ducks haven’t faced the Cornhuskers yet in Big Ten play — the last time the two teams faced off was a 42-35 Oregon win in 2017. When they do meet, it’ll be with Nebraska’s former starter, Dylan Raiola, on the Ducks’ sideline.

Week 8: at Illinois

Champaign will welcome the Ducks for the first time as a Big Ten school in 2026 — the Fighting Illini started last season ranked but fell out of playoff contention. They finished the year with a Music City Bowl win over the University of Tennessee, but will have to replace quarterback Luke Altmyer, who declared for the NFL Draft.

Week 9: vs Northwestern

The Wildcats come to Eugene with a familiar face: former Ducks head coach Chip Kelly agreed to a deal to head to Evanston as Northwestern’s new offensive coordinator. Last year’s matchup on the lake was a relatively smooth early-season Ducks win (other than some battles with the wind). The last time Oregon saw Kelly, it was in the 2025 Rose Bowl Game, before he coordinated Ohio State’s offense to a national championship.

Week 10: at Ohio State

What’s likely the biggest matchup on Oregon’s schedule comes after a season where two of the Big Ten’s best avoided each other all year long. The Ducks head to Columbus in a crucial spot in their season: mid-November, after more than enough warmups. Expect 2025 Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin to lead the Buckeyes’ offense in his first matchup with the Ducks. 

Week 11: vs Michigan

Another young talent under center comes to Eugene in the form of Wolverines’ starter Bryce Underwood, who flipped from LSU to Michigan before the 2025 season and hung with a struggling program throughout. He’s looking to prove that he’s more than a runner in 2026 — the Ducks didn’t face many dynamic dual-threats last season and will have Underwood circled as one when he heads to Eugene.

Week 12: at Michigan State

A late-season trip to East Lansing could be a trap game for the Ducks, who at this point will be on the seventh of eight consecutive games and in an unfamiliar environment. The Spartans are looking for a spark after changing head coaches and quarterbacks following a 4-8 2025 season.

Week 13: vs Washington

Oregon hosts the Huskies, who should return starter Demond Williams Jr. at quarterback after an offseason contract dispute had the dual-threat star potentially on the way out. What Washington has to replace, though, is the production of star wideout Denzel Boston, who scored twice in the teams’ 2025 matchup at Husky Stadium. Promising freshman receiver Raiden Vines-Bright transferred to Arizona State but another, Dezmen Roebuck, is expected to be back.