#2 Ohio State @ #3 Oregon (Oct. 12, Sat 4:30 PM NBC)

[greenyellow]

It's going to be a top 3 matchup in Eugene in prime time. Might be the biggest game ever at Autzen.

[DmoneyDuck]

Was thinking if it was going to be the biggest game ever in Autzen, and it's up there. Rankings-wise, it definitely is. Personally, I'm not sure anything has topped 2009 vs. Oregon State with the Roses on the line. And with the new playoff format, the losing team isn't way behind in its pursuit to win a Natty. But it's definitely top 5, maybe Top 3 on rankings alone, then factor in the opponent's prestige, and I am really hoping for a vintage Autzen crowd performance.

[UOducksTK1]

Massive, massive game. Top 3 matchup. Winner of this very likely will be in the Big Ten championship game.

How fun! Go ducks!

[StevensTechU]

Biggest regarding rankings (can someone remind me the rankings when we played USC at home on Halloween weekend?). But stakes are pretty low, it seems. These teams could see each other one or two more times this year. The winner can probably drop 2 games and still make the playoffs.

[nogerO]

I think this one is more likely to be the top 25. SEC bias and all...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/ ... 847d&ei=47

[Duck07]

Biggest regarding rankings (can someone remind me the rankings when we played USC at home on Halloween weekend?). But stakes are pretty low, it seems. These teams could see each other one or two more times this year. The winner can probably drop 2 games and still make the playoffs.

USC was 5th and Oregon 10th in that matchup in 2009.

2 vs 3 has to take the cake but I'm not sure we've had another Top 10 vs Top 10 matchup let alone Top 5 vs Top 5.

[StevensTechU]

Gracias

Ohio State's schedule has been cake so far but is brutal from here forward. Iowa wasn't a slouch, then @ #3 Oregon, Nebraska (#27 in AP votes), @ #4 Penn State, #18 Indiana, and rivalry game with #24 Michigan.

[JIDuck97]

I cannot wait to be at this game! Go Ducks!

[frogsnouts]

Biggest regarding rankings (can someone remind me the rankings when we played USC at home on Halloween weekend?). But stakes are pretty low, it seems. These teams could see each other one or two more times this year. The winner can probably drop 2 games and still make the playoffs.

USC was 5th and Oregon 10th in that matchup in 2009.

2 vs 3 has to take the cake but I'm not sure we've had another Top 10 vs Top 10 matchup let alone Top 5 vs Top 5.

There have been a couple other top 10 games! Michigan State in 2014 (#3 vs. #7), UCLA in 2022 (#10 vs. #9, but probably the least memorable top 10 game ever?), Stanford in 2010 (#4 vs. #9) and 2007 of course had the incredible back to back USC and Arizona State top 10 games as well as the Cal game where it was #6 vs #11, probably the best home slate ever.

For the most part those games all delivered! I didn't go back further but this has to be the first top 5 matchup in Autzen history?

[StevensTechU]

Ducks open as 3.5 underdogs.

[pezsez1]

Love that Oregon opened as the underdog. I don't see the Ducks losing this.

[StevensTechU]

Love that Oregon opened as the underdog. I don't see the Ducks losing this.

I may have placed a small wager, split between covering and winning outright.

[wlduck]

Biggest regarding rankings (can someone remind me the rankings when we played USC at home on Halloween weekend?). But stakes are pretty low, it seems. These teams could see each other one or two more times this year. The winner can probably drop 2 games and still make the playoffs.

I keep hearing about how the stakes are lower, but I think that’s being overstated some. Whoever loses this can only afford one more slip up. We still make 3 trips across time zones, and OSU has Penn State, Michigan and the suddenly formidable Indiana Hoosiers on their schedule. I’ll grant it’s not as do or die as before, but the loser still takes a big hit to their playoff hopes.

One caveat- if the loser wins out and gets the 5 seed in the playoff, that’s not a terrible thing. I just don’t underestimate the winning out part.

[rsbgduck]

Biggest regarding rankings (can someone remind me the rankings when we played USC at home on Halloween weekend?). But stakes are pretty low, it seems. These teams could see each other one or two more times this year. The winner can probably drop 2 games and still make the playoffs.

I keep hearing about how the stakes are lower, but I think that’s being overstated some. Whoever loses this can only afford one more slip up. We still make 3 trips across time zones, and OSU has Penn State, Michigan and the suddenly formidable Indiana Hoosiers on their schedule. I’ll grant it’s not as do or die as before, but the loser still takes a big hit to their playoff hopes.

One caveat- if the loser wins out and gets the 5 seed in the playoff, that’s not a terrible thing. I just don’t underestimate the winning out part.

Not to be a smartass, if the loser wins out they would be the BIG10 Champion and receive a first round bi and most likely be a 1, 2 or at worst a 3 seed.

[buckmarkduck]

Biggest regarding rankings (can someone remind me the rankings when we played USC at home on Halloween weekend?). But stakes are pretty low, it seems. These teams could see each other one or two more times this year. The winner can probably drop 2 games and still make the playoffs.

USC was 5th and Oregon 10th in that matchup in 2009.

2 vs 3 has to take the cake but I'm not sure we've had another Top 10 vs Top 10 matchup let alone Top 5 vs Top 5.

In 2000 we knocked off #6 ranked UW and then #6 ranked UCLA the next week. I believe we were too 10 in one of those games.