We're looking at the toughest three-game stretches for each Pac-12 team. Today, we'll keep things going with Oregon.

Stretch:

Nov. 14 at Stanford

No. 21 vs USC

Nov. 27 vs Oregon State

Why it’s tough: Oregon’s schedule reads a lot like a roller-coaster in terms of the ups and downs of the difficulty levels right up through the final three games.

The Stanford-Oregon game has quietly (away from the West Coast) turned into one of the most important games nationally every year. Though Stanford took a step back last season, the winner of Stanford-Oregon played a deciding factor in which team won the conference the previous four seasons, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone if that was again the case in 2015. The Cardinal needs to replace a lot on defense, but with quarterback Kevin Hogan set to begin his fourth season as the starter, expectations are high.

If Oregon get through Stanford and puts itself in position to play for consecutive conference titles, a championship game preview could be waiting the following week against USC. Even if it’s not a conference title game preview, the Trojans figure to present the last big regular-season opportunity to impress the College Football Playoff selection committee should it matter.

With Oregon State seemingly set for a rebuild, the temptation to label the Beavers as potential spoilers is there, but ... it’s June. The Civil War is always a must-watch game and that’s really the best way to handicap it five months in advance.

Odds for success: If there is a team that deserves the benefit of the doubt, it’s Oregon. And, in this case, there is little doubt how good the Ducks can be. By the end of the season, quarterback Vernon Adams will either be up to speed, or Jeff Lockie will be entrenched as the starter. Hard to see it any other way, with the point being the biggest question mark now -- how the Ducks will look without No. 8 at quarterback -- shouldn’t be an issue.