The Oregon Ducks are navigating a pivotal stretch in their 2025 football campaign, with a bye week behind them and eyes firmly on the conference grind ahead. After a solid 2-0 start that included a gritty home win over Montana State and a road victory against Oklahoma State, the Ducks face Northwestern next—wait, no, that's already in the books. Actually, with the calendar flipping to mid-October, Oregon's schedule ramps up quickly. Week 7 brings them back to Autzen Stadium for a marquee matchup against the Michigan Wolverines on October 18, a game that's already buzzing with Big Ten implications.
Indeed, the Ducks' full slate this year has been a mix of familiar foes and new rivalries since joining the Big Ten. They opened with that 1 p.m. kickoff against Montana State on August 30, drawing a crowd that shook the stands. Then came the trip to Stillwater for Oklahoma State, broadcast on CBS, where Oregon pulled out a close one. Now, post-bye, Michigan looms large. Key dates ahead: October 18 vs. Michigan (3:30 p.m. ET, NBC), followed by Ohio State on October 25. It's a brutal run, no doubt, testing Dan Lanning's squad amid rising expectations for a playoff push.
Adding to the excitement, ESPN's College GameDay is rolling into Eugene for the week 7 festivities. The pregame show, a staple for big games, will set up shop outside Autzen on October 18 morning, capturing the green-clad frenzy. This marks the third visit to Oregon soil this season, after stops for the opener and that Penn State thriller in week 5. However, with the Ducks' defense showing cracks against the run lately, one wonders if the hype will hold up—or expose vulnerabilities early.
Moreover, the schedule beyond Michigan gets thornier: a road tilt at Ohio State, then Wisconsin at home. Oregon's aiming for 8-0 by November, but injuries to key linemen could derail that. Still, the energy in Eugene feels electric, a far cry from last year's inconsistencies.
As the Ducks prep for Michigan, it raises the question: can they sustain this momentum in a conference that's only getting tougher?