The Oregon Ducks are making a strong case to host an NCAA regional in Eugene, and their latest RPI jump is a big reason why. After a tough road series against No. 1 UCLA, the Ducks came away with a crucial win that boosted their postseason resume.

Heading into Westwood, Oregon sat at No. 27 in the RPI rankings. But a clutch three-run double from Jack Brooks on Saturday night secured the Ducks' lone victory in the series, propelling them eight spots up to No. 19, according to Warren Nolan. That one win was a significant achievement against a UCLA team that hadn't lost a Big Ten game all season—about as good a result as head coach Mark Wasikowski could have hoped for on the road.

Still, the Ducks (36-14, 18-9 Big Ten) couldn't help but feel they left opportunities on the table after blowing a 6-1 lead on Sunday and dropping the series. But despite that setback, projections from sites like D1Baseball still have Oregon hosting a regional in Eugene. Now, the Ducks have a golden opportunity to solidify those predictions in their final regular-season series at PK Park this weekend against USC.

The Trojans come in at No. 8 in the RPI rankings, meaning this series could deliver a couple more Quad 1 wins for Oregon's resume before the Big Ten tournament kicks off next week. As the saying goes, the biggest series is always the next one, and the Ducks will look to carry momentum from their successful LA trip into this weekend's showdown.

Elsewhere in the RPI landscape, UCLA holds the top spot, while Oregon State sits at No. 16—firmly on the hosting bubble alongside the Ducks. Oregon boasts a 9-8 record against Quad 1 opponents this season, including the Bruins and Beavers. As the final weekend approaches, it's worth keeping an eye on the Beavers' matchups against Portland and Air Force.

Oregon opens its final home series against USC on Friday at 7:05 p.m. PST. With postseason positioning on the line, this is the kind of weekend that can define a season—and the Ducks are ready to make their move.