Breaking down Oregon's season-defining game according ESPN

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A quick glance at the Oregon Ducks' 2026 opponents suggested that it wasn't going to be a cakewalk of a season. But when the schedule was released in January, the path proved to be even tougher, as a tough November included an away test against the Ohio State Buckeyes before hosting the Michigan Wolverines finished off with a home game against the rival Washington Huskies.

The early-season schedule isn't particularly easy either, as they'll travel to take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys led by the nation's leading passer in quarterback Drew Mestemaker in Week 2 before a road game against the USC Trojans in Week 4.

All of which will be uber important for the Ducks to reach their goals of winning the Big Ten and a national championship, but one sticks out according to ESPN college football writer Bill Connelly.

In an ESPN article circling one season-defining game for every Power 4 program, Connelly touted the Ducks' Nov. 7 meeting with the Buckeyes as one that could be a make-or-break game in 2026.

"With quarterback Dante Moore and other key contributors returning, the Ducks enter a season where anything short of a national title could be deemed disappointing," Connelly wrote. "They visit USC in Week 4 and also visit Illinois, but Ohio State likely will provide the first gauge of their championship worthiness. Oregon hasn't forgotten the beating it took from the Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl CFP quarterfinal two years ago. The Ducks won their last game at Ohio Stadium, but that was as a Pac-12 member in 2021."

The two teams didn't match up last season, but a number of key contributors on both sides of the ball surely remember the sour taste in their mouths from getting blown out by the Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl. At the same time, Ohio State will be trying to defend their home turf and avoid a second consecutive home loss to Oregon. If both teams take care of business leading up to Nov. 7, the stakes will be extremely high.

But that's not all, as the Ducks are listed as three other team's season-defining game: Ohio State, the Illinois Fighting Illini and USC Trojans.

Illinois was steamrolled by Oregon in 2024 while USC was defeated by 15 at Autzen Stadium last season. The Ducks will travel to both, making them more difficult games than the last time they matched up the Illini and Trojans.

It says something about the caliber of the Oregon program that three program's season-defining game is against them and reaffirms what has been true about the Ducks for many years: there's a target on their back entering the 2026 season.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Ducks' season-defining game comes against Big Ten power, per ESPN

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