Oregon's trips to Ohio State, USC could help shape 2026 season
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The Oregon Ducks are geared up for the program’s best chance at a national title under Dan Lanning. With the return of many defensive starters and quarterback Dante Moore under center, the Ducks have a good chance to return to the College Football Playoff and make some serious noise.
The schedule in 2026 is more demanding than it was last season, particularly late in the season. It’s not a necessity to reach the Big Ten Championship Game to crack the 12-team playoff field, but it certainly is a goal for the Ducks. To get there, Oregon will have to go through some of the conference’s best.
CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford ranked the top 15 most meaningful games in the 2026 season, and Oregon is set to appear in a couple of games that could have a big impact on the rest of the country. Crawford ranked Oregon’s trip to Los Angeles to face USC as the No. 10 most meaningful game of the season, and it’s easy to see why.
“This feels like one of the Big Ten’s most pivotal regular-season games because of what’s at stake for both programs,” Crawford wrote. “The Ducks have become the conference’s newest powerhouse under Dan Lanning and enter every season with playoff expectations, while USC is still trying to prove it can consistently contend for championships in its new league home.”
The rivalry between Oregon and USC has been intense this offseason, particularly on the recruiting trail. The Ducks haven’t lost to the Trojans since 2016, however. USC coach Lincoln Riley believes the program’s championship window is finally open in his sixth season at the helm. The best way to prove the Trojans are a force would be to dethrone the Ducks as the top program out west.
It’s a critical game for Oregon, not just to maintain West Coast superiority, but to give the Ducks some breathing room. If the Ducks lose, they would need to be nearly perfect for the rest of the season. November is a daunting month, beginning with a trip to Ohio State, which ranks fifth on Crawford’s list.
“If recent results taught us anything, it’s that Oregon and Ohio State are likely to be involved in championship conversations at season’s end,” Crawford wrote. “There won’t be many games all season featuring this much talent on one field. Given the Ducks’ veteran-heavy two-deep, it would surprise no one if Lanning’s squad goes into Columbus and prevails.”
Oregon beat Ohio State in Eugene in 2024 en route to a Big Ten title, but was later pummeled by the Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl. The teams are very different now, but the Ducks need to survive the Buckeyes to pick up a marquee victory before tackling the rest of the month, which includes games against Michigan, at Michigan State on a Friday night, and back home against Washington.
The Big Ten Championship Game ranks No. 3 on Crawford’s list, and it could be a potential play-in game for the top overall seed in the playoffs, if the Ducks can get there.
The Trojans and Buckeyes are the two biggest contenders on Oregon’s schedule. One is looking to make the playoffs for the first time, while the other is looking to reestablish its dominance in the conference. The Ducks will rely on their veteran core to take the team into those heavyweight matchups.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon vs. Ohio State, USC among most meaningful games, per CBS Sports
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