Oregon's Recent Success Against Big Ten Schools Bodes Well for 2024

While Oregon football's all-time record against Big Ten competition isn't great, its more recent history against its new conference is far more encouraging.

The Ducks are 17-9 against the Big Ten since 1989, while their all-time record against the conference is a far more mediocre 20-28.

In other words, it's been a tale of two eras for Oregon against the Big Ten, as the Ducks were 3-19 against the conference prior to a 44-6 win over Iowa in 1989. Since then, times have changed.

In the same time Oregon has gone from overlooked to nationally-relevant on the college football landscape, the Ducks have naturally figured out how to compete with some of the country's top programs and conferences.

Duck fans will immediately remember a 2010 drubbing of Tennessee in Neyland Stadium, or a beatdown of Michigan in Ann Arbor just three years prior.

While 2024 certainly marks a step up for Oregon in terms of its annual conference competition, fans that remember these two games know its been a long time coming for the Ducks.

Since that 1989 win over Iowa, the Ducks have picked up the bulk of their program's all-time hardware while seizing control of their series against the Big Ten.

In 2001, Oregon picked up a key, 31-28 win over Wisconsin in Eugene on its way to a Fiesta Bowl victory and a No. 2 ranking in the final AP Poll. In 2012, Oregon trounced the Badgers in a 45-38 classic at the Rose Bowl. Then, in 2014, the Ducks bested Michigan State at Autzen Stadium on their way to their first and only College Football Playoff appearance.

After losing to Ohio State in the National Championship that season, Oregon picked up its first-ever win over the Buckeyes in its most recent contest against the Big Ten, storming Columbus with an eye-opening 35-28 victory in 2021.

In fact, the Ducks are 4-0 against the conference in their four most recent games, dating back to a 42-35 win over Nebraska in 2017.

In 2024, they'll hope to continue that momentum as they enter their first season as "That Team Out West."