Oregon already 3-0 to start the season faces a tough schedule ahead. After two blowouts to Utah State and UW, the Ducks faced their first real challenge at Purdue. With a young group on offense, a solid veteran defense kept the Ducks in the game and gave them an opportunity to head into overtime. It proved to be very valuable as they clinched the game in double OT at the cost of starting qb Justin Roper for 2-4 weeks.

With a final out of conference home game against Boise state at home, the Ducks will then kick back into Pac-10 play against WSU in Pullman. This season the Ducks have a tough road schedule facing USC, ASU, and Cal all on their home turf. This will prove to be very difficult as Oregon has now lost their first and second string QB's already. Likely to implement some form of a two-qb system for the next several weeks, we will have to see what Jeremiah Masoli (JC transfer) and Chris Harper (true freshman) are made of. Bellotti had this to say of Harper, "Bellotti has called him perhaps Oregon’s best player with the ball in his hands, owing in particular to the way Harper sees the field and sets up blocks." That is no small compliment after watching Jonathan Stewart and Dennis Dixon shred defenses last year.

The Ducks have to look up to USC to win over the conference. And after their dismantling of Ohio State, they look pretty sharp. Do the Ducks have what it takes to knock them off? Week 6 will tell when Oregon travels to Pasadena possibly with Roper back for that game. Two things will have to happen to win this. No mistakes, I mean absolutely zero, and a heavy dose of Oregon's highly capable running tandem Jeremiah Johnson and LaGarrette Blount. Realistically the Ducks may be looking at a possible Rose bowl berth, likely to watch USC march into the NC game. Make no mistake about it these Ducks are focused, great on D, run the ball virtually at will, and have what it takes to finish atop the Pac-10 and in the top 10 in 2008.