Ranking Oregon Ducks' 2025 opponents from easiest to toughest, per ESPN FPI
The Oregon Ducks have a lot to prove entering the 2025 college football season, looking to show that their Big Ten Championship a year ago was far from a fluke while also establishing themselves as national championship contenders once again under Dan Lanning in his fourth year at the helm.
It won't be easy to do, with a new-look roster taking over in Eugene and a lot of young and talented players stepping into bigger roles. Fortunately, the Ducks won't have a grueling schedule to deal with. In our most recent ranking of the toughest schedules in the conference, Oregon finds itself in the middle of the pack at No. 11 out of 18 teams. Trips to Penn State, Iowa, and Washington could prove tough, but the Ducks do get the benefit of hosting the likes of Indiana, USC, and Wisconsin.
Which of those games will prove to be the toughest, though? While we may have an idea, a tool that was released this week — ESPN's Football Power Index — can help us.
For those unfamiliar with ESPN's FPI, it is an index that 'relies on past performance on offense and defense, returning and transfer production and past recruiting data for players on the roster to form a rating.' In essence, it's ESPN's way of declaring the top teams in the nation, looking at their roster, their schedule, their percentage to win each game, and where that ultimately lands them after the season comes to an end.
Here's how the FPI see's Oregon's schedule broken down, from the easiest game on the docket to the toughest:
No. 12 — Week 1 vs. Montana State Bobcats
National FPI Rank: None
As an FCS team, Montana State doesn't get an FPI score from ESPN, but don't let that allow you to look past the Bobcats. Last season, they lost to the North Dakota State Bison in the FCS National Championship Game, which was their second loss in the title game since 2021. This is a talented and well-coached team that could surprise someone in Week 1.
No. 11 — Week 4 vs. Oregon State Beavers
National FPI Rank: No. 80 (-4.5)
This may be a great rivalry, but it likely won't be a very great product on the field for quite a while. The two programs appear to be going in different directions thanks to conference realignment. As long as this game continues, we will have traditions staying alive, but as for interesting football, we may be out of luck for a while.
No. 10 — Week 3 at Northwestern Wildcats
National FPI Rank: No. 74 (-3.6)
Northwestern might be a bit better this year than they were in 2024 thanks to a new QB in Preston Stone, but it's hard to imagine that they're going to be giving Oregon a major test this early in the season.
No. 9 — Week 2 vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys
National FPI Rank: No. 67 (0.3)
As far as name brands go, this matchup between Oregon and Oklahoma State is a pretty solid non-conference clash, but based on where the Cowboys stand going into this year and their recent history, it likely won't be too interesting of a game when all is said and done.
No. 8 — Week 8 at Rutgers Scarlet Knights
National FPI Rank: No. 55 (3.5)
Greg Schiano may be able to win some games in the Big Ten this year with a decent roster, but I don't think Rutgers is going to be good enough to give the Ducks any trouble, even across the country on a long road trip.
No. 7 — Week 12 vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers
National FPI Rank: No. 43 (5.2)
I'm interested to see what PJ Fleck can do with the Minnesota roster this year, but with Drake Lindsey under center, they probably won't be among the top teams in the conference, and should be a big underdog on the road at Autzen.
No. 6 — Week 11 at Iowa Hawkeyes
National FPI Rank: No. 39 (6.3)
Iowa will go as far as transfer QB Mark Gronowski can take them this year. He has the talent to be really good for Iowa, coming over from South Dakota State as a high-level FCS QB, but whether or not that's good enough to make the Hawkeyes dangerous in the Big Ten is a different question. Fortunately for Oregon, this game comes later in the season, so there shouldn't be any surprises.
For more Iowa news and analysis, check out Hawkeyes Wire!
No. 5 — Week 9 vs. Wisconsin Badgers
National FPI Rank: No. 38 (6.3)
Will Wisconsin be the home that Billy Edwards Jr. needs to reach his ceiling? That's the central question for the Badgers this year. If the answer is yes, then this game late in the season in Eugene might be interesting. If not, I don't think the Ducks will have any trouble with getting a win here.
For more Wisconsin news and analysis, check out Badgers Wire!
No. 4 — Week 7 vs. Indiana Hoosiers
National FPI Rank: No. 31 (8.3)
Indiana was the story of the year in the Big Ten last year, and if they can find the same magic in Fernando Mendoza as they did in Kurtis Rourke, then they could once again be a formidable foe. I wouldn't bet against them at this point, but I still think Oregon's talent wins out in this game. It also helps that the Ducks get Curt Cignetti and his squad at home in Eugene.
No. 3 — Week 14 at Washington Huskies
National FPI Rank: No. 27 (8.8)
The Huskies had a down year in 2024 with Jedd Fisch taking over, but don't be surprised to see them bounce back in 2025, with Demond Williams under center and a solid roster around him. I think this game against Washington could be tougher than many Oregon fans want to admit, especially since it will take place up in Seattle, a tough place to play. It should be a fun year in the rivalry, regardless of the outcome.
For more Washington news and analysis, check out Huskies Wire!
No. 2 — Week 13 vs. USC Trojans
National FPI Rank: No. 19 (13.0)
Can USC live up to the hype and put together a solid season, or will they once again hover around .500 and have Lincoln Riley's name in hot-seat conversations? That's something that we have to wait and see, but regardless of how good they are, the rivalry with Oregon will be fun to watch late in the year with likely College Football Playoff spots on the line.
For more USC news and analysis, check out Trojans Wire!
No. 1 — Week 5 at Penn State Nittany Lions
National FPI Rank: No. 5 (21.5)
This is the game of the year for Oregon and undoubtedly the hardest one on the schedule. A neutral-site game against Penn State would be difficult, but having to travel to Happy Valley and be part of a whiteout game is going to be difficult. The winner of this early-season matchup will be in a great spot to get to the playoff and have an inside track on a spot in the Big Ten Championship.
For more Penn State news and analysis, check out Nittany Lions Wire!
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Inaugural HBCU Hoops Invitational Coming to Walt Disney World Resort in December
Link to download photos, b-roll & interviews at Florida A&M, Bethune-Cookman, Hampton and Tuskegee universities among prominent programs participating in new college basketball tournament Dec. 4-7 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex; Format involves four men's teams and four women's teams; Tickets on sale now at LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Aug. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Several marquee Black college basketball programs are taking part in the first-ever HBCU Hoops Invitational at Walt Disney World Resort this winter. The men's field for the Dec. 4-7 tourney features Florida A&M University, Tuskegee University, Florida Memorial University and Barber-Scotia College, while the women's bracket includes Bethune-Cookman University, Hampton University, Edward Waters University and Cheyney University. The Historically Black College and University (HBCU) men's and women's teams will compete inside the State Farm Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in a single-elimination format with the chance to claim the inaugural HBCU Hoops Invitational titles. Florida A&M, which recently hired former Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward as head coach, headlines the men's field, having reached the NCAA Division I Tournament three times, while Cheyney University's women's team is the only HBCU school to ever reach the NCAA Division I Tournament Final Four (1982). Beyond the court, the HBCU Hoops Invitational, which is run by HBCU Hoops Global, Inc., plans to support HBCU players, schools and students by hosting a college admissions fair at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, creating scholarships, providing academic assistance and identifying career development opportunities throughout the year. "The HBCU Hoops Invitational is far more than a basketball tournament—it's a powerful celebration of heritage, excellence and the limitless future of HBCU athletics,'' said HBCU Hoops Global vice president Haywoode Workman, who spent nearly a decade playing in the NBA before becoming an NBA referee. "We are building a legacy that extends well beyond the court to open doors to academic achievement, career readiness and financial opportunity for our scholar-athletes." The new hoops tourney adds to an already bustling college basketball calendar at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, which hosts the WBCA Showcase (Nov. 20-23) and the ESPN Events Invitational (Nov. 24-28) during the Thanksgiving holiday week, as well as several AAU boys' and girls' national basketball championships. "We are excited about the opportunities to bring thrilling, family-friendly events to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and this HBCU Hoops Invitational adds to our lineup of high-caliber youth and college events,'' said Jorge Senior, Disney's Director of Sports Planning and Development. "If you're a college basketball fan, there's no better place to be during the holidays than at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.'' Tickets for the HBCU Hoops Invitational are on sale now at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, located at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, is the home of Disney Soccer and Disney Spring Training and one of the premier sites for amateur sports in the nation. Designed to provide professional, amateur and youth athletes with championship-level experiences, the complex has accommodated 70 different sports featuring athletes from 70 different countries. The 220-acre facility features a 9,500-seat stadium; a state-of-the-art indoor arena in addition to two field houses for competitive cheerleading, gymnastics, dance, basketball, volleyball, eSports and other indoor sports; plus 12 baseball/softball fields and 17multi-purpose outdoor fields for soccer, football and field hockey. An on-site professional production center also produces content for the Disney family of networks for global distribution. For more information, visit for news releases, photos and videos and for upcoming events. HBCU Hoops Global, Inc. HBCU Hoops Global Inc. (HBCU HG) is a Tampa, Florida based 501(c)(3) that serves as an educational and philanthropic arm of the HBCU Hoops Invitational Tournament. The organization is committed to the elevation of HBCU sports, fostering educational aspirations through scholarships, student achievement, career development and success. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Walt Disney World Resort Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Former Oregon Ducks WR Ryan Pellum commits to play for DeSean Jackson at Delaware State
Former Oregon Ducks wide receiver Ryan Pellum has reportedly found a new home after entering the transfer portal last year and leaving Eugene. According to On3's Pete Nakos, Pellum is transferring to Delaware State, where he will play for DeSean Jackson and the Hornets. Pellum announced his transfer back in January of this year. He was one of four wide receivers in his class to enroll at Oregon, and he was rated by the 247Sports Composite as the No. 145 player and No. 26 WR in the 2024 class. As a freshman, Pellum played just 11 snaps, eight of which were on special teams. Not long after announcing his transfer from Oregon, Pellum was arrested on charges of aggravated assault using a semi-automatic firearm and discharging a gun on Christmas night in East Long Beach that sent a man to the hospital. He pleaded not guilty to these charges. Pellum will now be a name to know at Delaware State, where Jackson will coach his first year in 2025. In 2024, Jackson completed his first year as a football coach, working with the staff at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, Calif. Now he is taking over an FCS school and looking to lead Delaware State to success in the MEAC. Should he be able to do that, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Jackson move up the coaching ranks and become a hot name in the FBS world. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Jared Cannonier not playing analysts' 'reindeer games' ahead of UFC 319
CHICAGO – Sorry, UFC analysts and online pundits. If it's a certain middleweight's skin you're trying to get under, you can transfer to Washington. Transfer to Jefferson. Jared Cannonier isn't playing your reindeer games anymore. Cannonier (18-8 MMA, 11-8 UFC), a former UFC title challenger, meets former Bellator standout Michael Page (23-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) on Saturday at UFC 319. Page will be a small betting favorite in the fight, but his relative newness to the UFC has analysts like Joe Rogan talking more about him than when he was with the competition. And because of that, "MVP" is having labels attached to him like the game's trickiest puzzle to solve. Honestly, it sounds like Cannonier is over it. Very over it. "Everyone wants the '-est' at the end of something – and if they ain't going for that, they want to be a 'GOAT,'" Cannonier told MMA Junkie and other reporters Wednesday at media day for UFC 319 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+), which takes place at United Center, where Cannonier and Page will be part of the main card. "I really don't want to get into that pissing contest: 'Who's the biggest? Who's the bestest? Who's the baddest?' That's for everybody else to determine. I don't even want to go into that conversation. I feel like I would have to lessen myself to even think in that regard. So next question." Once they do inevitably throw some label out, like Rogan did, that means Cannonier is inevitably going to get asked about it. And that part, he's really over, as well as being underestimated by oddsmakers and bettors. He hasn't been really and truly favored since a knockout of Derek Brunson more than three years ago. "If I wanted to let (people underestimating me) motivate me, I could, 'You see what they're saying about me? I'm gonna kick their ass!' You see how stupid I look saying that sh*t?" Cannonier said "I'm a grown-ass man. I'm 41 years old. I don't play games. I don't join in any of the reindeer games. That's what I see. When I watch TV, those are reindeer games going on (with trash talking and online analysts). You guys ask me some of these questions about the reindeer games, I feel like I've got to lower my brain, lessen my thinking ability, become smaller – lessen how I even see myself to think like that and answer your questions." Cannonier got back in the win column in February with a main event knockout of Gregory Rodrigues in the fourth round. The finish was his first in three years and got him a second straight post-fight bonus award. Prior to that, as part of a two-fight skid, he dropped a Fight of the Night bout to Caio Borralho. Check out Cannonier's full media day interview above.
