Phil wrote:

https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2021/12/oregon-ducks-2022-football-schedule-announced.html

This has to be the toughest first 3 non-conference games that I can remember. The Ducks often play one good game early with 2 cupcakes. I'll be real happy if they can get 2 of the 3. 

Yeah, playing both Georgia and BYU with the Eagles sandwiched in between is tough. Pretty decent PAC-12 schedule. Gonna be an interesting season.

DuckInTheMountains wrote:

Yeah, although to be honest this year wasn't far off of that.  At tOSU might be pretty comparable to UGA in Arlington.  Hosting a 9 win Fresno State team this year may not have been much easier than hosting BYU will be next year.

I agree that winning 2 of the 3 would be a pretty good outcome.

Good point, Fresno State looked good then and turned out to be a really good team.

Phil wrote:

With a new coaching staff and QB I'm not expecting a playoff run or even a Rose Bowl. Looking at the schedule makes doing so look like a tall order. 

More than anything I'd like to see the team improve as the year goes on, particularly on offense. The team regressed especially at the QB position the past couple of years. You could even say they never really improved the passing game much with Herbert. Herbert won the Rose Bowl for us having to use his feet more than anything. Thank goodness he didn't get hurt. It sure is fun to watch him throw now.

A good finish next year could set the stage for a run in 2023.

Totally agree on improvement being the big thing, especially on offense.

I have to say, though, a Rose Bowl run wouldn't surprise me.  The conference games that concern me are @OSU, @WSU, Utah, and UCLA.  I'm not saying we won't drop one of the others but really, we shouldn't.  I'm guessing that if we can win 2 of those 4 we're probably in the PAC championship game, and then, who knows?  And I don't think any of those games should be considered unwinnable with the talent we have coming back (assuming it all doesn't transfer out, but it won't).