Oregon Ducks Football: 5 Toughest Games on PAC-12 Schedule

The beauty of college football is conference play. It offers tradition, rivalry, and bragging rights that last a year.  And for those who stumble early, it offers redemption. 

Since Chip Kelly has been Head Coach, the Oregon Ducks have dominated conference games reeling off a record of 17-1 since 2009.  For the past two seasons the Ducks have treated their fans to not only wins, but also a number of nail-bitters.  In 2009, the Ducks mounted late game rallies against Arizona and Oregon State.  In 2010, the Ducks dropped 18 points to Stanford only to pull away to a 52-31 finish.  Later in the season the Ducks would get sandbagged by Cal, but narrowly escaped with a 15-13 win.

Going into the 2010 season, few would have guessed that Cal would present the Ducks with their biggest challenge.  The following list is not a ranking of the top PAC-12 teams, but rather a ranking of those teams who have the best chance of going the distance with the Oregon Ducks. 

Here are the Oregon Ducks five toughest PAC-12 games.

#5 Arizona

The last time the Ducks were in Tucson, they were showered by water bottles.  Wildcat fans began to celebrate early only to see the Ducks dash their dreams with a 44-41 double OT win.  At which point Arizona fans let loose a volley of overpriced water on the victorious Ducks. 

This game has potential to be great because Arizona will be jacked up to take their revenge on the Ducks in front of an angry home crowd. 

After getting smashed by Oklahoma State, Arizona faces Stanford, then Oregon.  Arizona will keep it close in the first half, but as the game wears on, the Cats will wear out.

#4 Cal

While this game will be played in Eugene, we could see a repeat of last year’ defensive battle. 

The key for Cal is a bi-week going into the game.  As it is, Jeff Tedford seems to have a solid grasp of how to stop this Oregon offense; given an extra week the Cal Golden Bears become that much more dangerous against the Ducks PAC-12 hopes.

Luckily, the Ducks also come off a bi-week.  Last year, Oregon’s most explosive game was in Eugene coming off a bi-week; the Ducks shellacked UCLA 60-13.  Cal brings more to the table than UCLA and will likely keep this game close till the final minutes. 

#3 the Civil War

The past three Civil Wars had implications in one national championship and two Rose Bowls. 

The Civil War is no longer just the biggest annual sporting event in the great state of Oregon: it has become a major game in college football at large.

When the Oregon Ducks face off against the Oregon State Beavers in the 115^th Civil War game, stats and records will mean nothing.  This game is almost always close regardless of how the season shook-out.  When it comes to Oregon sports tradition, it doesn’t get any better than the Civil War. 

#2 Stanford

Everyone has circled this game as being the marquee PAC-12 showdown.  BCS, PAC-12 and Heisman hopes will all be on the line in this one. 

Fortunately for the Ducks, their previous three games will be against Colorado, Washington State, and Washington.  

All this while Stanford will be coming off road games against USC, then Oregon State.  An easier schedule late in the season should give the Ducks an edge in this game.

This will be the Ducks first major road game since the season opener; the Ducks need to prove they win a big game on the road.  The last time the Ducks were at Stanford in 2009, they were pushed all over the field in a 51-42 defeat.  The ducks have the motivation and Stanford has the skill to make this one a battle to the end.

#1 USC

There has always been an uncomfortable relationship between the Pacific Northwest and Southern California.  Both regions represent a hemisphere of the bi-polar West Coast identity: the fast-pace of Southern California versus the weird Northwest.  This cultural division is no less apparent in college football. 

Oregon fans have always relished their victories over USC.  This success is often seen in the larger context of the north-south culture clash.  Oregon couldn’t beat USC with traditional tactics, so Oregon found a new way of playing football.  While USC is not technically an Oregon rival, it is hard to find a more important game on the Ducks schedule year-in and year-out.

USC may not be the best team in the PAC-12 this year, but they are still loaded with talent.  Perhaps more importantly: Oregon will be coming off a road game at Stanford.  This could be Oregon’s trap game.

USC travels to Eugene with a lot to prove.  USC has not won a game in Eugene since September 24, 2005.  This will be the game of the year for Oregon, and an instant classic.