Oregon
Ranking the Oregon Ducks’ 2025 opponents by smartest teams on the schedule
When looking ahead to the Oregon Ducks’ schedule in the 2025 college football season, there are a number of ways to break down the future opponents. Whether you want to look at historical records between the teams, preseason rankings, coaching imbalances, or player matchups, this is the time of year when we look ahead and break down what’s to come.
Today, we want to look at things through a different lens, though. The question we aim to answer right now isn’t about who is the best team that Oregon will play in 2025, but rather who is the smartest?
While brains off the field may not always translate to brawn on it, it’s a fun way to look at Oregon’s schedule in a different light, and see where the Ducks stack up against their opponents this coming season when it comes to academic prowess and enrollment.
As a new member of the Big Ten, it’s clear when looking at the numbers from the U.S. News and World Report that the Ducks are swimming in a bigger pond when it comes to book smarts in the conference. Here’s a look at where all the teams on Oregon’s 2025 schedule rank in terms of smarts.
For reference, the University of Oregon is ranked as the No. 411 school in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report.
No. 12 — Montana State Bobcats
Date: Week 1, August 30
Opponent Academic Ranking: No. 839
Opponent Enrollment: 14,162
No. 11 — Oklahoma State Cowboys
Date: Week 2, September 6
Opponent Academic Ranking: No. 747
Opponent Enrollment: 26,000
No. 10 — Oregon State Beavers
Date: Week 4, September 20
Opponent Academic Ranking: No. 399
Opponent Enrollment: 36,000
No. 9 — Iowa Hawkeyes
Date: Week 11, November 8
Opponent Academic Ranking: No. 238
Opponent Enrollment: 28,380
No. 8 — Indiana Hoosiers
Date: Week 7, October 11
Opponent Academic Ranking: No. 163
Opponent Enrollment: 67,520
No. 7 — Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Date: Week 8, October 18
Opponent Academic Ranking: No. 156
Opponent Enrollment: 16,826
No. 6 — Penn State Nittany Lions
Date: Week 5, September 27
Opponent Academic Ranking: No. 91
Opponent Enrollment: 42,000
No. 5 — USC Trojans
Date: Week 13, November 22
Opponent Academic Ranking: No. 77
Opponent Enrollment: 42,840
No. 4 — Wisconsin Badgers
Date: Week 9, October 25
Opponent Academic Ranking: No. 72
Opponent Enrollment: 45,254
No. 3 — Minnesota Golden Gophers
Date: Week 12, November 14
Opponent Academic Ranking: No. 72
Opponent Enrollment: 45,082
No. 2 — Northwestern Wildcats
Date: Week 3, September 13
Opponent Academic Ranking: No. 24
Opponent Enrollment: 20,238
No. 1 — Washington Huskies
Date: Week 13, November 29
Opponent Academic Ranking: No. 8
Opponent Enrollment: 49,524
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EUGENE – The Oregon Ducks advanced further into the postseason than they did a year ago, but the end of the 2025 season still left much to be desired. Several starters were quick to announce their intention to forgo the 2026 NFL Draft and return to Eugene.
Among the players with major decisions to make about their future was Oregon receiver Evan Stewart. Stewart missed the 2025 season with an injury after being considered an early-round prospect by NFL scouts. Stewart is expected to return to Oregon for another year, per Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports.
Wide Receiver Evan Stewart Makes NFL Decision
Stewart faced a tricky decision back in 2025 when it came to declaring for the NFL Draft or staying in Eugene. It was a decision that he had to figure out once again, with eligibility remaining due to injury.
The wide receiver spent the 2025 season sidelined due to a torn patellar injury. He inched closer to his return during the College Football Playoffs, but never saw the field.
Stewart showed his pro potential during the 2024 season in his first year with the Ducks after transferring. He recorded 613 yards and five touchdowns on 48 receptions in 2024.
He spoke about his draft decision during the Ducks’ semifinal matchup against the Indiana Hoosiers. The opportunity to finally play with Oregon quarterback Dante Moore seemed to play a factor in whether or not he’d return.
“Me and Dante were going to be something,” Stewart told 247Sports’ Erik Skopil. “I still want to play with him. If he comes back, it’s going to be lit, I know that.”
Moore was projected to be a top-two pick in the draft, with many believing the New York Jets would select him No. 2 overall. He announced on SportsCenter that he would return to Eugene for another season. Ducks fans should have the opportunity to finally see Moore and Stewart in action together in 2026.
MORE: Fernando Mendoza’s Classy Move After Beating The Ducks Is Turning Heads
MORE: Two Massive Defensive Players Forgo the NFL Draft to Return to Oregon
MORE: Another Oregon Ducks Quarterback Enters Transfer Portal
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Oregon Ducks’ 2026 Wide Receiver Room
The Ducks are set to have a loaded wide receiver room in 2026 with Stewart expected to return. Oregon does lose veteran wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. and its leading receiver in 2025, Malik Benson, due to both players running out of eligibility. Former Oregon wide receivers Justius Lowe, Kyler Kasper and Cooper Perry all entered the transfer portal.
But the program does return former five-star Dakorien Moore, who will enter his sophomore season. Moore missed some time in 2025 due to injury, but still recorded 497 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns, as well as a rushing touchdown.
Moore should continue to thrive as a focal point of the Oregon offense. Meanwhile, Ducks wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan comes off a breakout redshirt freshman season. He tallied three touchdowns and 557 receiving yards.
The Ducks will have a handful a pair of standout freshmen next season. Jalen Lott joins the team after being a consensus top-five wide receiver in the 2026 recruiting class. Former five-star recruit Gatlin Bair will also be part of the wide receiver room after serving on a two-year mission. The program is also set to bring in freshman wide receivers Messiah Hampton and Hudson Lewis.
Coach Dan Lanning added a former UAB wide receiver from the transfer portal. Iverson Hooks joins the team with two years of eligibility remaining and is expected to work in the slot with Bryant gone. He finished the 2025 season with seven touchdowns and 927 yards on 72 receptions.
The Supreme Court case on transgender athletes
The Supreme Court will hear a case on transgender athletes participating in female sports.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Jan. 13 over grant funding conditions the state says require it to agree to discriminate against transgender people.
The lawsuit is Oregon’s first against the Trump administration in 2026. The state sued the administration 52 times in 2025.
“Oregon has worked hard to expand access to medical choice and make sure everyone can get the care they need,” Rayfield said in a statement. “This policy uses federal money to interfere with deeply personal medical decisions that belong to patients, families, and their doctors. Agencies shouldn’t be forced to take care away from people just to keep their funding.”
Eleven other states are parties to the suit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island. They include New York, California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
The lawsuit targets what the states allege is “a novel and ambiguous funding condition” from HHS making receiving some grants dependent on the states following Title IX requirements, including the addition of a Trump executive order.
The order, “Defending women from gender ideology extremism and restoring biological truth to the federal government,” calls for the recognition of two sexes and says federal funding cannot “be used to promote gender ideology.”
The funding goes to federal grants for health, education and research, amounting to more than $300 million for the party states.
The suit argues requiring agreement to comply with the order as a term to receive funding goes against Oregon and other states’ laws that protect against discrimination because of gender identity.
The states’ complaint says HHS has violated the Administrative Procedure Act and the separation of powers and the Spending Clause with the funding requirements.
The suit asks for the gender conditions to be found unlawful and stopped from being enforced.
Oregon filed four suits in 2025 over gender affirming care or threats to funding over gender affirming language.
Anastasia Mason covers state government for the Statesman Journal. Reach her at acmason@statesmanjournal.com or 971-208-5615.
If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.
The No. 8 Nebraska Cornhuskers play against the Oregon Ducks in a Big Ten basketball game tonight. The matchup is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.
The Cornhuskers have played at a high level this season, as they enter this matchup with a 16-0 record. In their most recent game, the Cornhuskers defeated Indiana 83-77.
In order to win tonight’s game, the Cornhuskers will need to rely on their star forward Rienk Mast. He leads the team in scoring this season, as he averages more than 16 points per game.
The Ducks enter this matchup with an 8-8 record, and they have lost back-to-back games. In their last game, the Ducks lost 72-62 against Ohio State.
In order to bounce back tonight, the Ducks will need a great performance from their center Nate Bittle. He averages nearly 17 points per game, which leads the Oregon offense.
Fans can watch this Big Ten basketball game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.
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