Oregon
2025 Look-Ahead: Will Oregon Lose a Game?
The Oregon Ducks’ 2025 football schedule released earlier this week and laid out the team’s path for next season. Here I’ll take a look at each game and offer a tentative prediction, fully knowing that rosters and game times have not yet been set.
August 30th vs Montana State
Not too much to consider here. Montana State is a respectable FCS program but shouldn’t hold a candle to Oregon on the field.
The Ducks had a bit of a tough time against Idaho in week one this year but I trust that that was an aberration.
Prediction: Oregon wins
September 6th vs Oklahoma State
This makes for a fun out-of-conference power four game that shouldn’t be too worrisome for fans. Oklahoma State has had a great run under coach Mike Gundy but appears to have lost its step a bit this year.
Prediction: Oregon wins
September 13th @ Northwestern
This could be a bit of a weird one as Northwestern breaks in a new stadium but the Ducks will still be relatively fresh which tamps down concerns about a trap game. The Wildcats don’t recruit or develop at a level that should create any real threat to Oregon and this game takes place before weather should really be a factor.
Prediction: Oregon wins
September 20th vs Oregon State
Oregon will welcome the Beavers back to Autzen Stadium again for just the second non-conference matchup between these programs. Credit to Oregon State for managing to recruit at a reasonable level this year (68th nationally per the On3 Industry Rankings), well above many power conference teams but I don’t think it’ll be nearly enough.
Prediction: Oregon wins
September 27th @ Penn State
As a rule I don’t predict undefeated seasons so there has to be a loss somewhere. Presumptive 2025 starting quarterback Dante Moore will not have played in an environment comparable to Beaver Stadium and the Ducks will be playing their fifth game in as many weeks.
I expect a charged atmosphere in College Park for this one and although Penn State has struggled to beat elite teams under coach James Franklin, I’ll say they snare Oregon here.
Prediction: Oregon loses
October 11th vs Indiana
Bit of a tough one to analyze here. It’s unclear how much of Indiana’s roster will be retained past 2024 and while this has been an incredible year for the Hoosiers, I don’t expect them to be winning double-digit games on a consistent basis.
This will the their first trip to Autzen Stadium and I think the roster differential as well as home environment will be too much to overcome.
Prediction: Oregon wins
October 18th @ Rutgers
Just two weeks removed from a bye, I expect a sharp outing from Oregon here. Rutgers is a stable, well-coached operation but realistically isn’t in the same hemisphere as the Ducks. I have all the respect in the world for Scarlet Knights’ coach Greg Schiano but Rutgers isn’t known for being especially difficult to win at and there are any number of reason to not be concerned here.
Prediction: Oregon wins
October 25th vs Wisconsin
Is this a revenge game? Wisconsin pushed Oregon to the brink this year, holding the team to 16 points and maintaining a lead into the fourth quarter.
Next year figures to be a little different. The Ducks were on the last game of eight in a row this season and clearly wore it on the field.
With motivation to put 2024’s nail-biter behind them as well as the Autzen crowd at their backs and a better rest situation, I don’t expect many challenges.
Prediction: Oregon wins
November 8th @ Iowa
In my mind this is the biggest trap game of 2025 as Iowa consistently fields a disciplined unit that makes you beat them. It’s hard to imagine coach Kirk Ferentz adapting his system much between this year and next so points will likely be at a premium for the Hawkeyes once again.
On the flip side this will be a quality team that has a good home atmosphere and should be excited to host a West Coast power in Oregon. It’s one of my lower-confidence predictions but I think the Ducks, fresh off a bye, get this one done with a far more dynamic offense than Iowa has been able to muster.
Prediction: Oregon wins
November 15th vs Minnesota
I like coach P.J. Fleck as much as the next guy but the talent discrepancy here will, again, be tough to overcome. A reasonably rested Oregon team will be playing its second-last home game of the year and should be in the thick of the playoff mix, leaving little room for an upset.
Prediction: Oregon wins
November 22nd vs USC
It occurred to me while writing this that USC’s had to play at Autzen in its last two matchups against the Ducks but I’m not one to feel bad. It will be difficult for coach Lincoln Riley to get this team to a place where they can contend against the best teams in the country in just one offseason and Oregon is never shy on motivation going against the Trojans.
I won’t say I outright expect a blowout but this is definitely a game I could see being over early.
Prediction: Oregon wins
November 29th @ Washington
Second-highest in the trap rankings for next year is a road matchup against the Huskies. It’s hard to call a rivalry a trap game but after trouncing them this year, Oregon could come into this one a little headstrong.
I also expect a much-improved Washington team in year two under coach Jedd Fisch as he did at Arizona, taking the team from one win in his first season to five the next. With that all said, this is another opportunity for Oregon to avenge its 2023 loss at Husky Stadium and likely punch its ticket to another Big Ten Conference Championship appearance.
Prediction: Oregon wins
Record Prediction: 11-1
It was difficult to find a loss on this schedule but like I said, I don’t really predict undefeated seasons due to how rare they are. In any given year even the best team is likely to drop one at some point.
I could see this being another 12-0 regular season for the Ducks but three somewhat dicey games prevent me from calling it outright. I expect another great year for Oregon with plenty of elite talent backfilling losses from this season’s roster and a likely berth in the College Football Playoffs.
Oregon
Oregonians can now file 2025 taxes. How big the kicker is, what to know
IRS releases updated tax brackets for 2026
The IRS has released updated federal income tax brackets and standard deductions for the 2026 tax year, which will apply to returns filed in 2027.
Cheddar
It’s officially tax season. The Internal Revenue Service opened the 2026 filing period for the 2025 tax year on Jan. 26.
Oregonians can file their 2025 federal and state income tax returns until April 15. Those who don’t file by the deadline could face a penalty and may need to request an extension.
The Oregon Department of Revenue will also begin processing state income tax returns filed electronically.
Here’s what to know about filing your 2025 taxes.
When is the first day to file 2025 income tax returns in Oregon?
Oregonians can already file their federal and state income tax returns for the 2025 tax year. The season began on Jan. 26.
When is the 2025 income tax return deadline?
The deadline for Oregonians to file their federal and state income tax returns for the 2025 tax year is on April 15.
When will Oregon issue 2025 state tax refunds?
The Oregon Department of Revenue will begin issuing refunds for electronically filed income tax returns on Feb. 15.
For tax returns filed by paper, the Department of Revenue will begin issuing refunds in early April.
According to agency, the IRS was late in sending Oregon the necessary tax forms for 2025, and as a result, Oregon could not begin processing paper-filed personal income tax returns until late March.
Oregonians are encouraged to file electronically to receive a tax refund sooner.
“This year, if you file a paper return, you’re going to face a significant delay in receiving your refund,” said Megan Denison, the administrator of the Personal Tax and Compliance Division at the Department of Revenue. “Taxpayers who file electronically can avoid the extra wait.”
Additionally, the IRS recommends mailing in paper tax forms earlier than the April 15 deadline, as postmarks are not guaranteed for the same day.
Why is Direct File no longer available on the IRS website?
Direct File was a free tax filing program that could be found on the IRS website and used to file taxes for free.
However, following its two-year pilot phase, the Trump administration discontinued the program. The IRS announced in late 2025 that IRS Direct File will no longer be available at the beginning of 2026.
IRS Free File is an alternative option to file federal income taxes for free in 2026 for households with an adjusted gross income of $84,000 or less.
Direct File Oregon is another option to file state income taxes for free in 2026. The program is currently in its third year and allows Oregonians to file directly with the state of Oregon for free.
How much is Oregon’s 2025 kicker rebate?
Oregon taxpayers who qualify could see a share of a $1.4 billion surplus through the state’s “kicker” credit when they file their 2025 income tax returns in 2026.
The refund amount differs depending on the individual but is calculated to be about 9.9% of their Oregon personal income tax liability for the 2024 tax year.
To get an estimate on how much their kicker could be, Oregonians can visit the Oregon Department of Revenue’s “What’s My Kicker?” calculator at revenueonline.dor.oregon.gov/tap/.
How can Oregonians track their refunds?
Oregonians can track their tax refunds by visiting www.irs.gov/wheres-my-refund for federal tax returns, and www.oregon.gov/dor/programs/individuals/pages/where-is-my-refund.aspx for state tax returns.
Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval can be reached at GSandoval@statesmanjournal.com or on X at @GinnieSandoval.
Oregon
Oregon’s U.S. Senators Pledge to Vote Against Homeland Security Spending
Both of Oregon’s U.S. senators are among the growing opposition to a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, as outrage over federal killings in Minnesota builds to a showdown in Congress.
This week, senators are set to vote on an appropriations package that contains six funding bills, including one for DHS. In separate votes on Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the majority of the package by a vote of 341–88, but the DHS portion of the bill passed by a much narrower margin, 220–207.
Republicans now face a steep challenge passing the $64.4 billion DHS spending package, $10 billion of which would be directed to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The bill will require 60 votes to pass the Senate—that means it needs bipartisan support.
But it comes to the chamber in the wake of the fatal ICE shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, in Minneapolis on Jan. 24, the latest escalation in a string of immigration crackdowns nationwide that have turned increasingly violent. Video footage has since undercut many of the federal government’s initial claims about Pretti, including that he was brandishing a gun. (He was holding a cellphone, and he had been disarmed before agents started firing.) Across the country, public outrage has grown over ICE’s actions in Minneapolis.
Pretti’s death marked the second killing of a U.S. citizen at the hands of ICE this month, after an agent shot Renee Nicole Good on Jan. 7. Good was also 37.
Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have told WW they plan to vote against the DHS spending bill.
Wyden says the Senate has “absolutely no business” approving funding for DHS without “sufficient guardrails against these heinous and intolerable ICE abuses in Minneapolis, Portland and far too many other cities across America.”
Wyden says he’s working with fellow senators to push for reforms, including requiring ICE agents to wear their uniforms and display their badges, and is also pushing against racial profiling during ICE operations.
He adds: “I’m also battling for the rights of elected officials to visit immigration detention sites and for local communities in Oregon to refuse the siting of detention facilities in their towns. I’d also add that I’m keeping receipts on who’s issuing these orders under Trump—as well as who’s following those orders. I’m putting all those people on notice: The courts are not going to forget who broke the law in Oregon, Minnesota or anywhere else in America.”
Merkley says the Trump administration has used ICE to “terrorize communities” while denying people due process and often resorting to violence.
“I oppose giving one more penny to ICE, which already got $75 billion from Trump and Republicans in the Big Ugly Betrayal Bill,” Merkley said. “As long as more funding for ICE is in the DHS bill, I will vote against it.”
Whether the congressional standoff leads to a government shutdown remains to be seen. NBC reports that Senate Democrats have plans to advocate separating out DHS from the spending bills for other agencies in a similar fashion—trying to limit the consequences of a partial government shutdown. (That decision is ultimately up to the Republican majority leader.)
Aaron Mesh contributed reporting.
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Oregon
Junior totals 32 points, leads team to 2 wins, voted Oregon Boys Basketball Player of the Week (1/26/2026)
Congratulations to Canby’s Joe Roberts for being voted The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Oregon High School Boys Basketball Player of the Week.
The junior wing had totals of 32 points (including a varsity high of 22 against Milwaukie), 10 rebounds, five assists and four steals for the Cougars in their victories against Hood River Valley and Milwaukie in Northwest Oregon Conference games.
Roberts received 61.8% of the vote, beating out Lucas LaBounty, a senior on the Thurston team, who finished second with 19.8%. Brody Rygh, a senior on the Sherwood team, was third with 6.3%, and Zane Ozier, a junior on the Portland Christian team, was fourth with 4.6%. There were 400 votes tallied last week.
We encourage Player of the Week nominations from readers every week. If you would like to nominate an athlete, email danbrood91@gmail.com.
For complete coverage of Oregon high school sports, including schedules, scores, recruiting news and additional player spotlights, visit OregonLive’s high school sports section throughout the season.
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