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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.

The Michigan State Spartans will likely prioritize the positions of wide receiver, defensive back, and the offensive and defensive line units in the 2025 offseason’s transfer portal.

However, they might be in the market for an off-the-ball linebacker. The Spartans will be visited by highly coveted Marshall linebacker Jaden Yates soon, a tell-tale sign. Even then, it is not so surprising when top snap-getters Cal Haladay and Jordan Turner, the latter of which might have been the defense’s best player this season, are done suiting up at the college level.

A name to look out for might be that of Oregon State linebacker Isaiah Chisom, who recently entered the portal. Obviously, there is a connection to head coach Jonathan Smith and the Oregon State transplants on the Spartans’ coaching staff.

Chisom was a highly regarded three-star recruit out of California when Smith landed him in the class of 2023. Therein lies another interesting connection — the Spartans, under Mel Tucker, were his final offer before he signed as an early enrollee.

The 6-foot-1, 220-pound Chaminade High School product was the No. 52 overall linebacker in the class, per 247Sports. This past season, he played in all 12 games and registered 75 tackles, including five for a loss and a forced fumble. He played in five games as a freshman, including the Beavers’ bow appearance.

Chisom is an athletic linebacker who can play downhill and looks the part of what defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Joe Rossi wants in the position.

“Long, athletic, and smart,” Rossi said. “That’s what we look for and that’s a sliding scale … if a guy’s 6-foot and runs 4.4, that’s cool. But if you’re going to be a low 4.8, you better be 6-foot-3 and a half. So my point is — it slides, but the ideal thing, if I’m just giving you three, it’s length, it’s athleticism, and it’s intelligence. Not necessarily in that order.”

For Mike linebacker, a role Rossi will need to fill in 2025 with Turner and Haladay gone, Chisom could find a home. Rossi wants leadership, ability in pass coverage, and intelligence at the position.

Keep an eye on Chisom as a potential Spartans target.

Michael France is Sports Illustrated’s Michigan State recruiting beat writer, covering all things Big Ten recruiting for Spartan Nation. Be sure to follow him on Twitter/X@michaelfrancesi for exclusive Spartans recruiting coverage.

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