Oregon Ducks' Potential Opponents in the College Football Playoff

Who will the Oregon Ducks play in the College Football Playoff? After beating the Washington Huskies, Oregon coach Dan Lanning and the Ducks have essentially secured a bid in the postseason for a second consecutive year.

Oregon Ducks coach Dan Lanning at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington | oreogn ducks on si darby winter

After the No. 5 Oregon Ducks beat the Washington Huskies on Saturday, Oregon's focused has shifted towards the College Football Playoff. The final 12-team bracket will not be revealed until Dec. 7, but many fans are wondering who there team will face in the postseason. The Ducks jumped up in the latest CFP rankings after then-No. 3 Texas A&M lost, meaning Oregon could potentially receive a first-round bye.

However, if Oregon is seeded No. 5 or No. 6, the Ducks would face either the No. 12 or the No. 11 seed in the first round at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. The No. 7 seed is also a potential landing spot if No. 9 Alabama beats No. 3 Georgia in the SEC Championship Game.

In the current CFP rankings, the No. 12 seed will likely go to the highest-ranked Group of Five team. The No. 11 seed is expected to be No. 17 Virginia as the ACC Champion, but Duke could make things interesting after reaching the conference title game with five losses. The Blue Devils remain unranked, meaning the No. 11 seed could go to another Group of Five team if Virginia loses.

Nov 29, 2025; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers quarterback Chandler Morris (4) scrambles from Virginia Tech Hokies linebacker Kaleb Spencer (3) in the second quarter at Scott Stadium. | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

As for the Group of Five representative, No. 20 Tulane, No. 24 North Texas, and No. 25 James Madison are considered the most likely candidates. North Texas (No. 21) and James Madison (No. 20) were both ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll, before entering the penultimate CFP rankings.

Texas A&M fell to No. 7 after the Aggies were upset by then-No. 16 Texas. The Ducks moved up after the Longhorns' win, but Oregon could also be moved down if another team enters the top five after championship weekend.

If Oregon slides into the No. 7 seed, the Ducks' opponent becomes much harder to predict. The No. 10 seed could range anywhere from Alabama, Notre Dame, to Miami. Other at-large hopefuls like Oklahoma could be No. 10 on Selection Sunday as well.

Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer watches on during warm ups before Auburn Tigers take on Alabama Crimson Tide at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. | Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Conference Championship Weekend

Some shuffling has yet to take place with conference championship games still to be played, but room for the CFP is already tight with a number of contenders fighting for the at-large spots that are available.

No. 11 BYU could secure a berth with a win over No. 4 Texas Tech in the Big 12 Conference Championship Game, but the Cougars could also be on the outside looking in with a second loss to the Red Raiders.

Aug 30, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Tulane Green Wave head coach Jon Sumrall looks on against Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Yulman Stadium. | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Indiana will likely stay inside the top four no matter which team wins the Big Ten, but the SEC Championship Game could make things interesting. No. 9 Alabama will jump up if the Crimson Tide win the SEC title over No. 3 Georgia. Where would the Bulldogs fall?

Tulane is likely to face North Texas in the American Conference Championship Game, and James Madison has a matchup with Troy to win the conference title in the Sunbelt.