Oregon's Justin Hollins rushes Utah QB Tyler Huntley during last year's meeting.

Oregon's schedule has already been much maligned this spring. ESPN called the Ducks three-game non-confence schedule the easiest in the country, while Athlon called the team's September match-up with Portland State the season's most "shameful game".

Yet, while the in-state match-up apparently acts as the Ducks', and the rest of the country's, most shameful game, which is the team's most important for 2018?

Earlier this week ESPN offered up an answer to that question for each of their Top 25 teams. Their answer for the No. 24 Ducks? The team's Nov. 10 contest in Salt Lake City against the Utah Utes.

"Oh, that home game with UCLA means the return of Chip Kelly," ESPN's Edward Aschoff wrote of Oregon's most integral game. "It should be great, but new coach Mario Cristobal is probably thinking about a Pac-12 title. That means a win on Nov. 10 at Utah is crucial to making that happen. Oregon thrashed Utah 41-20 at home last year."

Oregon dominated last year's outing with a 41-20 victory at Autzen Stadium. The win was the team's only with Justin Herbert out of the line-up. Oregon also won the last time the teams met at Rice-Eccles Stadium, a 30-28 upset victory thanks to a late Darren Carrington touchdown catch.

It is interesting that the selection and explanation seem to ignore two crucial Pac-12 North contests with Stanford (Sept. 22) and Washington (Oct. 13). Both games will be played at home, and the results could help form the race for the division title.

The choice is made even more interesting given that Oregon's game with the Huskies was picked as the most important for the nation's sixth-ranked team.

"That opener in Atlanta against Auburn is mighty tempting," Aschoff said of the Huskies. "But even if the Huskies lose that game, their CFP hopes aren't technically done. Without USC on the schedule, the defining moment for Washington will be the Oct. 13 trip to Eugene to play an Oregon team that could be very pesky in the Pac-12."

After winning 12 straight over the Huskies, the Ducks will be trying to snap a two-game skid including the embarrassing 70-21 blowout loss at Autzen Stadium in 2016 which snapped the win streak. Washington beat the Ducks last year 38-3 without Herbert.

A few other Pac-12 selections of note include No. 14 Stanford's trip to Seattle on Nov. 3, and No. 17 USC's game against Kelly and the Bruins at the Rose Bowl on Nov. 17.

Oregon kicks off the 2018 season with a Sept. 1 meeting with Bowling Green.