Oregon Ducks 2016 schedule: USC & Stanford back-to-back in November

The Oregon Ducks actually have a bit of a minefield of a schedule to navigate in Pac-12 play. The North has risen to be the stronger of the two divisions, so the Ducks will have to be extra careful about holding their own within the conference.

After the warm up against UC Davis, Oregon must handle two Power five opponents. They first must beat Virginia in Autzen before tripping to Lincoln to face Nebraska. Both of those are winnable games, particularly with how the Ducks have dealt with Mike Riley during his time at Oregon State most of the last decade.

But aside from their first game in Pac-12 play (home to Colorado) and their last (the Civil War, which might be trickier in Corvallis), Oregon faces a very difficult slate. They have three home games to a rising Washington squad, an always game Arizona State, and the nemesis that is Stanford. Their road games take them to Washington State, USC, Cal, and Utah. Oregon struggled to beat all but two of these teams last year, and lost twice at home. This year hardly figures to be easier.

Here is the schedule.

Sept. 3 -- vs. UC Davis

Sept. 10 -- vs. Virginia

Sept. 17 -- at Nebraska

Sept. 24 -- vs. Colorado

Oct. 1 -- at Washington State

Oct. 8 -- vs. Washington

Oct. 21 -- at California

Oct. 29 -- vs. Arizona State

Nov. 5 -- at USC

Nov. 12 -- vs. Stanford

Nov. 19 -- at Utah

Nov. 26 -- at Oregon State