The Ducks are in need of a marquee opponent in 2029. Currently they have games scheduled against Portland State on Sept 1 and Utah State on Sept 15. So who should they add for September 8th? There aren't many Power 4 teams who both (A) have Sept 8th open as of today and (B) don't already have a Power-4 opponent on their 2029 schedule. But by my count there are 5 candidates:

Stanford

Ole Miss

Houston

Texas Tech

Iowa State

So who would be your pick to add? In 2029 the Ducks will have 5 Big-10 road games....so you'd certainly prefer to have one of the above teams come to Autzen in 2029.

Stanford or OSU

TT would bring the most $$$ to the Eugene/Springfield area. We saw how well they travelled.

37 minutes ago, FG Lumber said:

Stanford or OSU

I'd bet on either of those to fill the slot.

Honestly... I think it will be Oregon State. The Rivalry was cancelled for 2028 and the first year to restart without doing back-to-back in Eugene would be 2029. OSU decided they didn't want to play Oregon in 2028 even though we had them penned in for it because they didn't want to come to Eugene twice in a row but we can't afford to have that many away games next season based on our conference schedule.

I believe 2029 our schedule enables us to travel.

However, I wouldn't mind a game against Stanford.

Ole Miss or Iowa State

Ole Miss is visiting Corvallis in 2030, so doubt they would want to make it two years in a row. As of this point, Ole Miss hasn't indicated they want to buy out of the game in Corvallis.

Iowa State generally schedules one major opponent for non-conference. In 2029, they already have a road trip to Tulane.

Texas Tech is visiting Eugene in 2033 if the schedule holds.

For me, as I've advocated in the past, I would like to see Oregon establish a rotation with legacy Pac12 programs....UA, ASU, Cal, Stanford, Utah...rather than schedule Oregon State each season. So, if that list of 5 is accurate, it would be Stanford for me.

Edited May 6May 6 by HDuck
add a clarification

All good points. I think I'd do everything I could to get Texas Tech, Houston or Ole Miss. I'm not sure how good Iowa State is going to be going forward without MC. Stanford and Oregon State certainly have the most history with the Ducks--but neither is going to be seen as a premier opponent. And I don't want the Ducks to be seen as one of the teams that doesn't challenge itself out of conference. So personally, I'd love for them to schedule one of the teams who might be in CFP contention. That will help with the 2029 resume as well.

Going forward, I wish they could find a way to follow the formula of always scheduling 1 Power 4 (or ND) school, Oregon State (G6) and then maybe a D1AA or other "warm-up" game.

4 minutes ago, Bizzle2002 said:

All good points. I think I'd do everything I could to get Texas Tech, Houston or Ole Miss. I'm not sure how good Iowa State is going to be going forward without MC. Stanford and Oregon State certainly have the most history with the Ducks--but neither is going to be seen as a premier opponent. And I don't want the Ducks to be seen as one of the teams that doesn't challenge itself out of conference. So personally, I'd love for them to schedule one of the teams who might be in CFP contention. That will help with the 2029 resume as well.

Going forward, I wish they could find a way to follow the formula of always scheduling 1 Power 4 (or ND) school, Oregon State (G6) and then maybe a D1AA or other "warm-up" game.

Texas Tech is scheduled to visit Autzen in 2033.

There is nothing to be gained by playing a P4 opponent OOC and losing a home game. A Big Ten resume is more than enough. What did Texas get out of playing at Ohio State last season? A seat on the PO bench.

This season, if Ohio State loses in Austin in Week 2, there is no certainty that a 3-loss Buckeyes team will be in the PO field.

In 2023, champion Michigan did not play a P4 team OOC. In 2024, champion Ohio State did not play a P4 team OOC. Last season, champion Indiana did not play a P4 team OOC.

You want to play at least seven home games every season. Especially in the seasons where you play five Big Ten road games.

Fortunately, the 2028 game scheduled to be played at Utah State was canceled, so there is an opening to play Portland State, plus already scheduled North Dakota State, and Baylor.

IMO, OBD should not be tripping to OK State this season. Not with games at USC, Illinois, Ohio State, and Michigan State in November, and home games versus Nebraska, UCLA, Northwestern, Michigan, and UW.

In 2027, with only six home games, why in Hades is Oregon traveling to Waco to play Baylor? In 2027, Oregon is on the road at Michigan, Nebraska, UCLA, and UW. Home versus Ohio State, Penn State, and Iowa. This is a resume that needs out-of-conference help?

Until the PO expands to 24 teams, playing nine Big Ten games provides an adequate strength of schedule. Playing in a 12-team PO champ game means having to play 15 to 17 games. A breather OOC game, an extra week off playing Portland State, makes sense and brings in millions of dollars for businesses in Lane County.

With a Big Ten schedule, there is no need to sharpen the iron OOC, and in an age of NIL, playing games in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Waco, Texas, will not help with recruiting.

4 hours ago, Bizzle2002 said:

The Ducks are in need of a marquee opponent in 2029. Currently they have games scheduled against Portland State on Sept 1 and Utah State on Sept 15. So who should they add for September 8th? There aren't many Power 4 teams who both (A) have Sept 8th open as of today and (B) don't already have a Power-4 opponent on their 2029 schedule. But by my count there are 5 candidates:

Stanford

Ole Miss

Houston

Texas Tech

Iowa State

So who would be your pick to add? In 2029 the Ducks will have 5 Big-10 road games....so you'd certainly prefer to have one of the above teams come to Autzen in 2029.

None of the above. How about Portland State instead?

A nine-game Big Ten season requires no resume-building.

What's to be gained by defeating a B12 school? Everything to lose, nothing to gain.

1 hour ago, HDuck said:

Ole Miss is visiting Corvallis in 2030, so doubt they would want to make it two years in a row. As of this point, Ole Miss hasn't indicated they want to buy out of the game in Corvallis.

Iowa State generally schedules one major opponent for non-conference. In 2029, they already have a road trip to Tulane.

Texas Tech is visiting Eugene in 2033 if the schedule holds.

For me, as I've advocated in the past, I would like to see Oregon establish a rotation with legacy Pac12 programs....UA, ASU, Cal, Stanford, Utah...rather than schedule Oregon State each season. So, if that list of 5 is accurate, it would be Stanford for me.

Thanks for the update.

I just feel differently than some of you guys. I don't actually think Texas missed out on the playoff because they lost by 7 to Ohio State on the road....I think they missed out on the playoff because they got hammered by a terrible Florida team.

Yes, other teams have won championships without having a major OOC opponent. But I can point to plenty of other champs who DIDN'T schedule cowardly and still went on to win the trophy.

And how about rewarding the fans with some good games as well. Which game are you more excited to see next season: Ducks vs. Ohio State? or Ducks vs. Portland State?

I understand that reasonable people can have differing opinions on this. I just don't cowardly scheduling is good for the fans or for the team. Not saying that Ducks have been resorting to cowardly scheduling btw. Rather, I'm just saying I hope they find a P4 opponent for their 2029 OOC schedule.

And this may become a moot point eventually anyways. The Big 10 is currently the only P4 conference that doesn't require their teams play at least one P4 OOC opponent. There is quite a bit of pressure for them to begin requiring this, like the B12, ACC and SEC already do.

Edited May 7May 7 by Bizzle2002

First, thanks for the interesting topic. Fun to discuss.

Texas plays UTEP in Austin and wins, instead of traveling to Columbus and losing the game.

Texas finishes with two losses, on the road at Florida and on the road at Georgia. Texas has wins over Vanderbilt and PO teams Oklahoma and Texas A+M, and is in the PO and likely hosting a 1st round game.

Texas used up its mulligan in a road game at Columbus and received not one dime more in media revenue than if it had played UTEP in a home game that would have sold out.

I don't think smart scheduling is cowardly. Heroes often receive their medals posthumously.

Yes, I want to play tough P4 competition, but in the playoffs and not in September. And I don't want to lose home game revenue playing a road game in Waco, Stillwater, Ames, or elsewhere.

Oregon football has ascended to the point that home games vs. G6 opponents sell out. And if Oregon opened every season with a home game vs. Portland State, the game would sell out, and Portland State would receive a check it very much needs.

I see no upside whatever in playing home and home series with Oklahoma State and Baylor. Win, well, you're supposed to win. Lose, and it's a black mark against your resume.

I completely understand and respect your POV, but in today's world of CFB, and under the current media revenue model, first I look at the purse. I think Boise State, especially based on the historic record, is a most worthy OOC opponent.

When the PO field expands to 24 teams and/or revenue is distributed in part based on the number of people watching your games, you'll see me in your corner, arguing for OOC home and home series with an SEC opponent or Notre Dame.

Go to 24, and I believe an annual B1G vs. SEC football challenge will happen, and the Power 2 will be well compensated for playing the games.

Thanks again.

8 minutes ago, Jon Joseph said:

I don't think smart scheduling is cowardly. Heroes often receive their medals posthumously.

Good one Jon!

Stanford!

5 hours ago, Grandpa Duck said:

Stanford!

Stanford has an interesting early schedule in 2026.

Week 0 - Home vs. Hawaii.

Week 1 - Home for a Friday night game vs Miami.

Stanford plays at Notre Dame later in the season.

If a P4 game OOC is to be scheduled by OBD, I agree it should be ACC Stanford or Cal with travel to the Bay Area, not Stillwater and Waco.

No P4 opponents in 2026: UW, USC, Nebraska, Indiana, and Penn State.

Purdue plays Wake Forest and Notre Dame. (Thank you, Mr. AD. 🤬) Wisconsin and Michigan State also play Notre Dame.