The Big-10 is Getting Tougher for Oregon….or NOT?

In arguably, what is the toughest conference in college football, the Big Ten, life is about to get even harder for OBD. In a future article I will make the case that there are five teams that will be responsible for this, but first, let’s look at the 12 teams that did not make my list. I would love your feedback, as the savvy fans on the Our Beloved Ducks forum are quite knowledgeable, and may have some disagreement.

Our own Mr. FishDuck took some time to explore JB casino offers and paused when he saw my article, as he had some things to say about my dirty-dozen below that did not make my top-five. What say you?

THE GIVENS: OHIO STATE & INDIANA

Neither of these two are on my list of five because it is a given that we know life will not be easy with either of them. We already know life is hard with these two, and yes, they both could be about to make our life even harder.

Under Coach Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers are the real deal. There has been nothing “fluky” about their performance these past two seasons. Given Coach Cignetti’s track record (Football, actually.), there is every reason to believe the Hoosiers will be a challenging foe going forward.

Of course, Ohio State is Ohio State. The fact that they are projected to have four players taken in the first ten selections (And one more possible near the end of round one or the beginning of round two.) in the upcoming 2026 NFL draft tells you all you need to know. The Buckeyes will always be a worthy opponent.

THE WANNABEES-NEVERGONNABEES: PURDUE, MARYLAND, AND RUTGERS

(Okay, three years ago, Indiana would likely have been in this grouping. Lightening in a bottle once. Okay. Twice? I think the odds are astronomical, especially in this conference currently.)

While my Big Ten affiliation does not go as far back as the University of Chicago and Amos Alonzo Stagg days, I do have unpleasant memories of Howard Hopalong Cassidy (Ohio State) bulldozing my beloved Hawkeyes along with Alan “The Horse” (“Iron Horse”, actually. Wisconsin.) dicing and slicing up whatever it was Iowa called a defense back in the ‘50s. It is still a struggle for me to remember that Rutgers and Maryland are in the Big Ten. In my day, Northwestern was the outlier.

This trifecta of also rans is always and forever going to be also rans. Okay, never say never, But I will risk it here. I suppose folks in West Lafayette must be asking themselves, “Why Not Us?” instead of their in-state rival, the Hated Hoosiers. The Boilermakers will always have “The World’s Biggest Drum” but that is about all they will ever beat. “Play softly and beat a big drum.”

NORTHWESTERN

Great Journalism School. They are also about to have, what could become, one of the better environments in college football. The makeover (New, actually.) for Ryan Field is a beauty, and the covered overhang may keep the sound in ala Autzen. The 35,000-seat capacity is perfect for this program, and it will be utilized by the neighborhood for concerts during the summer months. Well done!

Occasionally the Mildcats live up their moniker and become Wildcats, fielding a team that will garner the Ducks’ full and undivided attention. Of course, we must acknowledge the “Chipster.” We all spouted “No one is wiser than the man with the visor!” when CK was in town. First year Head Coach David Braun had a decent season in 2025, and maybe Kelly will provide some offensive magic. Northwestern could be a bit of a sleeper here.

However, season in and season out, this will not be an opponent that should prove to be a major roadblock on the schedule.

THE HEARTLAND: IOWA, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA

IOWA

Many of you know I could write at length about the Hawkeyes. Perhaps one of these days I will do that and give props to one of my least favorite folks, Kirk Ferentz. There is one story, a bit under the radar story, that I will mention, that may not bode well for Iowa’s future success or lack thereof. LeVar Woods.

Woods played linebacker for both Hayden Fry and Ferentz at Iowa. After playing professionally, he returned to the Iowa coaching staff and served for 18 years, most recently as Special Teams Co-Ordinator. Iowa built its success on playing solid defense and always having great special teams and hoping that somehow the offense might just score, on occasion. Losing Woods, (More on that story in a future article) could be impactful, and not in a good way for Iowa.

NEBRASKA

I mentioned earlier that I still struggle remembering that Rutgers and Maryland are Big Ten members. Speaking of teams in the Big Ten, why is Nebraska here? There must have been some financial pull that caused them to jump from the tepid frying pan that was the Big Twelve into the hot fire that is the Big Ten.

In years to come, I suspect the folks at Penn State will be happy that the powers-to-be at Cornhusker U extended Matt Ruhl’s contract before they had chance to make that mis-hire. Turns out that for Scott Frost–recruiting to Lincoln was not all that easy after all. Will the dreaded “Black Shirts” ever re-emerge? Nope. Nebraska fans will forever think so/hope so. There is just not that much to do in Lincoln. Great volleyball team, though.

MINNESOTA

The great news here is that we did not end up with PJ trying to “row-row-row” a McKenzie River Drift boat. Anyone think he was ever a serious candidate? I did. Given the circumstances, Fleck has done a decent job, but I do not see them ever competing at the upper level of conference play.

WEST COAST WANNABE

UCLA

It probably says all you need to say or know about this program that I cannot think of much to say about it. Maybe Bob Chesney becomes Curt Cignetti 2.0 for the Bruins. His 21-6 record in his two seasons with the Dukes is every bit the equal of Cignetti’s two-year run of 19-4. Perhaps the story will be discussing down the road is the remarkable turn-around manufactured by the back-to-back hires of those two coaches from that “little school back East.”

THE TWO THAT ALMOST MADE MY LIST: ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN

ILLINOIS

At some point, Bret Bielema must have wondered, or perhaps still does on occasion, what he was thinking when he took the Arkansas job. But he has had the opportunity to resurrect his coaching career with the Fighting Illini. Illinois came close to making my list of teams “About to Make Life Harder for OBD.”

I think Bielema is a decent coach. After a long, very long in fact, series of mis-hires, Illinois has finally found someone who has given the program a semblance of stability/credibility. Bielema was hired in 2021 and has garnered 37 wins in his five seasons as head coach. Hard to remember at this point, but Illinois was favored when they played Indiana this past season. The obliteration that they suffered at the hands of the Hoosiers sort of dropped them off everyone’s’ radar but they finished a decent 9-4.

The days of Lovie Smith et al are ancient history, and Illinois will be a team that will require the Ducks A-game in the future.

WISCONSIN

I thought Luke Fickell was a great hire for the Badgers. “YaSure, YaBetcha.” It has not turned out, thus far, and though they may have begun to show some sort of pulse near the end of last season, they remain a bit of a mystery team for me.

Playing at Camp Randall, especially later in the season, feels like it will always be a challenge.

So, that’s my take on the twelve that did not make my final listing. Let me know what you think, and I will later address the five teams I believe are about to make life harder for OBD.

Don Marsh
Eugene, Oregon
Top Photo by Max Unkrich

 

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