Ducks have to be the PAC-12's best road team to win in 2021

 

2021 Oregon Football Schedule pic.twitter.com/riZJOVfCA7

— Quack Rock 🎸 (@QuackRock1) March 2, 2021

The 2021 Oregon Schedule is daunting, and it will take beady-eyed focus and incredible resilience to survive it.

The Ducks have high expectations this year (as they should) but the schedule makes competing for a conference title or a spot in the playoffs especially difficult.

It begins at home on September 4, a game against Fresno State where they are a three-touchdown favorite. That's a game that should make everyone feel good about the offense and chances for success.

Immediately following is that monumental road trip to Ohio State. The Buckeyes, ranked #2 in the AP Top 25, feature four Pro Football Focus Preseason All-Americans and an other-worldly collection of blue-chip players throughout the roster.  

Runner-ups to Alabama in last year's college football playoff, tOSU is 9-0 against Oregon over their history. Oregon is a 13-point underdog in  this game; ESPN's matchup calculator gives them a 15.4% chance to win. The game is a 9:00 a.m. kickoff for the visitors, a further advantage for OSU playing at home in the Horseshoe.

For the Ducks to pull off the upset in Columbus, they'll need a superlative game from Edge Rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, getting pressure on new quarterback C.J. Stroud. The Oregon offense has to challenge the Buckeye secondary, the most vulnerable unit on the defense.

The schedule continues with a soft landing, two home games against Stony Brook and Arizona where UO will be a big favorite. That will give them time to sort out the uncertain situation at quarterback.

From there it gets hard. The PAC-12's schedule rotation deals Oregon a bad hand in 2021. They have road games at Stanford, UCLA, Washington and Utah. 

While they are spaced out nicely (no back-to-back road games) they meet all their toughest opponents on the road. 

The late November trip to Utah figures to be a particular stumbling block--the Utes are physical and disciplined, loaded on both offense and defense after some judicious transfer portal moves. Graduate transfer quarterback Charlie Brewer threw for 9700 yards and 65 touchdowns in three seasons at Baylor. Running back T.J. Pledger is a four-star pickup from Oklahoma.

Oregon struggled with UCLA last year and this season the game is in Pasadena. Bruin quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson elected to return for his senior year. Chip Kelly will be gunning for an upset as he attempts to save his job after three losing seasons in Westwood.

 The Ducks do miss two of the favorites from the South Division. They won't play USC or Arizona State unless they reach the PAC-12 Championship.

Oregon will have to play some very sustained and focused football to get there. They'll have to be exceptional in hostile environments, displaying a high degree of unity and internal motivation, overcoming the leadership and depth issues that plagued them in the Covid year.

To achieve a 10-win season or a league championship, they'll need some of their talented freshmen and sophomores to mature quickly.