Identifying Oregon’s potential thorn in the side of 2024 schedule

The start of college football spring practices is just around the corner. But before they start, On3’s Andy Staples is hopping from place to place, tackling some of the biggest questions heading into spring practices. And recently, the college football expert had a chat with Scoop Duck contributor Justin Hopkins to pick his brain about the ongoings of the Oregon Ducks.

As most college football fans are aware, Oregon is one of four former Pac-12 teams on their way to the Big Ten conference. And in their inaugural year, in their new conference home, the Ducks are tied with the Ohio State Buckeyes for the highest win total line at 10.5 wins in 2024.

Dan Lanning has Oregon in a position where going over that win total is more than achievable. But what games, if any, could be trap games for the Ducks? More specifically, Hopkins answers the question of who could possibly be the thorn in Oregon’s side in 2024. Staples believes the Wisconsin Badgers could be that thorn, and Hopkins is in complete agreement with that assessment.

“This is a November game; this is going to be pretty much uncharted territory. I agree with you; I think Wisconsin is a team that we have circled,” said Hopkins. “And I think there’ll be a thorn in a lot of people’s sides. So yeah, that Wisconsin game, if we’re talking about which one are you most worried about, out outside of the obvious ones; I think that might be it.”

Although Hopkins believes that Oregon’s trip to Madison, WI, on Nov. 16 could spell disaster for Lanning and the Ducks, he is still a fan of college football. And his fanatic side is eager to experience the atmosphere the Badgers faithful will provide on a late weekend in November, with possible College Football Playoff implications on the line.

“I’m going to be honest: that’s one of my bucket list items in the new Big Ten era; that’s a place I’m excited to go watch a football game at,” he said. “I know it’s a lively atmosphere, and that’s the tremendous part about college football: those atmospheres.” 

Currently, there is no betting line on the game, as those numbers typically come out closer to the start of the season and are adjusted accordingly throughout the year. However, given the way Oregon has performed in their first two years under Lanning’s direction and how they have been able to recruit both out of high school and in the NCAA transfer portal, many anticipate the Ducks being right in the thick of the 2024 College Football Playoff race. And if they are, Oregon hopes Wisconsin doesn’t play the role of spoiler for the Ducks in 2024 the way Washington did this past season.