For me, June is a favorite time of year as the summer is kicking in, concerts are aplenty, and I know we have three months of nice weather to enjoy as we slide into football season.
It is easy to predict the best possible regular season outcome for the Ducks. That would be 12-0. Which, if the Ducks execute and play to their full potential, is fully possible. I mean heck, they did it last year. But, odds are they will not in 2025. Even Mr. FishDuck took a break from his study of a gun control essay to weigh in with me on the upcoming season.
So, in the spirit of June gloom, what is a realistic worst possible outcome for the Ducks? I would say that the foundation of the Ducks having a “bad” season is quarterback Dante Moore not playing up to expectations.
To be clear, this is not what I believe will happen; I am simply walking through a possible worst-case scenario for the Ducks if things go sideways in 2025.
Now on to the games …
It is hard to envision the Ducks losing any of their first four games against Montana State, Oklahoma State, Northwestern and Oregon State. But, the fifth game of the year at Penn State potentially has an “L” written all over it.
The Ducks are not looking to go 8-4! (Photo by Max Unkrich)
If the Nittany Lions send the Ducks reeling, there could be a second loss of the year against the upstart Indiana Hoosiers who brought in talented Cal QB Fernando Mendoza to go under center in 2025. The Hoosiers might well give the Ducks their first home B1G loss.
Even on the road, Rutgers should not be a problem. The Ducks just got by the Badgers last year in Wisconsin, but they should be able to beat them this year at Autzen. On the other hand, Oregon plays at Iowa the following week, which could be a tough environment for first-year starter Moore for loss No. 3.
Oregon takes care of Minnesota and USC at home, but Dan Lanning’s 2024 reprieve from losing to the Huskies proves to be short-lived as starting quarterback Demond Williams Jr. has a breakout season and proves to be too much for the Ducks in Seattle. Loss No. 4 (Penn State, Indiana, Iowa, UW).
This would have the Ducks at 8-4. Again, this is not my actual prediction. I am simply working through what could be a doom-and-gloom, conceivable, worst-case scenario.
Going 8-4 and ending with a loss to the Huskies would be about as bad as it could get.
Sure, the sky could fall and the Ducks go worse than 8-4, but it’s not very likely. Only in college football could a team have an 8-4 record and consider it a disaster. And, that is one reason we love it!
What is your Ducks’ “worst case” for 2025?
Darren Perkins
Spokane, WA
Top photo credit: Max Unkrich
Natalie Liebhaber, the FishDuck.com Volunteer Editor for this article, works in technology in SLC, Utah
Share your thoughts about this team in the only free, “polite and respectful” Oregon Sports message board, the Our Beloved Ducks forum!
Related Articles:
Darren Perkins is a sales professional and 1997 Oregon graduate. After finishing school, he escaped the rain and moved to sunny Southern California where he studied screenwriting for two years at UCLA. Darren grew up in Eugene and in 1980, at the tender age of five, he attended his first Oregon football game. His lasting memory from that experience was an enthusiastic Don Essig announcing to the crowd: “Reggie Ogburn, completes a pass to… Reggie Ogburn.” Captivated by such a thrilling play, Darren’s been hooked on Oregon football ever since. Currently living in Spokane, Darren enjoys flaunting his yellow and green superiority complex over friends and family in Cougar country.