The Duck joins Oregon cheerleaders as they sing and dance to Oregon’s third quarter tradition, “shout.” The University of Oregon Ducks hosted and defeated the Oregon State Beavers 38-29, claiming the Pac-12 North champions title. (Emerald/ Ian Enger)
College Games:
North Carolina State (7-3)
NFL
Yellow Team’s, Sean Dollars (5) makes a run outside the defensive line. The Oregon Football team competes in it’s annual spring game on April 23rd, 2022 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)
PLAYER OREGON
KRIS HUTSON
T.J. BASS
MARCUS HARPER II ALEX FORSYTH
RYAN WALK
MALAESALA AUMAVAE-LAULU
TERRANCE FERGUSON BO NIX
BUCKY IRVING
ISAAH CROCKER
No. 11 No. 2 No. 1 No. 56 No. 55 No. 78 No. 53 No. 71 No. 3 No. 10 No. 00 No. 6 No. 19 No. 83
WR WR WR LT LG OC RG RT TE QB RB WR WR
SO SO SO SR/TR S RS SR RS SR RS SR/TR SO SR/TR SO/TR RS JR RS SR/TR RS SO
CAM MCCORMICK
JAY BUTTERFIELD
NOAH WHITTINGTON
KYLER KASPER
MOLIKI MATAVAO
TY THOMPSON SEAN DOLLARS
PATRICK HERBERT
JORDAN JAMES
#
No. 58 No. 52 No. 70 No. 84 No. 9 No. 22 No. 17 No. 8 No. 13 No. 5 No. 88 No. 20
LT
MASE FUNA
BRANDON DORLUS
JORDAN RILEY
CASEY ROGERS
DJ JOHNSON
NOAH SEWELL
JEFFREY BASSA
TRIKWEZE BRDIGES
JAMAL HILL
STEVE STEPHENS IV
CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ
BENNETT WILLIAMS
TREVEN MA’AE
TAKI TAIMANI
No. 3 No. 91 No. 98 No. 2 No. 1 No. 33 No. 11 No. 19 No. 7 No. 00 No. 48 No. 55 No. 95 No. 18
SR/TR
CAMDEN LEWIS
ANDREW BOYLE
EDGE MLB WLB CB S
CB
NB
PT/PK/KO PK/KO KO/PK LS
JR/TR JR RS JR/TR
JAYLEN DIXON
BRAEDEN DANIELS
KEATON BILLS
PAUL MAILE
MICHAEL MOKOFISI
SATAOA LAUMEA
DALTON KINCAID
THOMAS YASSMIN
CAMERON RISING
THOMAS
KENDALL
No. 17 No. 21 No. 25 No. 71 No. 51 No. 54 No. 52 No. 78 No. 86 No. 87 No. 7 No. 9 No. 32
POS
WR-X WR-Z WR-R LT LG OC RG RT TE-Y TE-U QB RB FB
YEAR
PLAYER RS SO SR RS SR RS JR RS SO RS JR RS FR RS SO SR/TR RS JR RS JR/TR JR/TR SR/TR
MAKAI COPE
TAO JOHNSON
ZEREOUE WILLIAMS
TANOA TOGIAI JOHNNY MAEA JAREN KUMP
FALCON KAUMATULE LOGAN KENDALL MUNIR MCCLAIN BRYSON BARNES MICAH BERNARD JAYLON GLOVER
No. 10 No. 11 No. 5 No. 76 No. 73 No. 53 No. 68 No. 59 No. 32 No. 4 No. 16 No. 2 No. 1
JUNIOR TAFUNA
ALIKI VIMAHI CONNOR O’TOOLE KARENE REID
MOHAMOUD DIABATE LANDER BARTON JATRAVIS BROUGHTON COLE BISHOP R.J. HUBERT CLARK PHILLIPS III MALONE MATAELE
No. 83 No. 58 No. 95 No. 81 No. 21 No. 3 No. 20 No. 4 No. 8 No. 11 No. 1 No. 15
LDE LDT RDT RDE ROVER MAC STUD LCB SS FS RCB NB
SO SO SO SO SO SR/TR FR JR SO SR SO SO
MIKI SUGUTURAGA
SIMOTE PEPA
DEVIN KAUFUSI
GABE REID
JUSTIN MEDLOCK LANDER BARTON HAYDEN FUREY FAYBIAN MARKS SIONE VAKI CLAYTON ISBELL ZEMAIAH VAUGHN CAINE SAVAGE
No. 47 No. 77 No. 90 No. 91 No. 6 No. 20 No. 54 No. 23 No. 28 No. 12 No. 16 No. 5
LDE LDT RDT RDE ROVER MAC STUD LCB SS FS RCB NB
SO RS FR SR/TR RS SR/TR FR FR JR SO FR RS JR/TR SO SO
JADON REDDING
JT GREEP
MICHAEL WILLIAMS DEVAUGHN VELE
No. 34 No. 97 No. 57 No. 61 No. 17
PT/H PK/KO LS H/PT PR
JR/TR JR SO JR/TR RS SO
PARKS JORDAN NOYES LOGAN CASTOR JAYLEN DIXON
No. 10 No. 67 No. 65 No. 25
KR/PR PK/KO LS KR
SO SO FR RS SR
The Pac-12 was once again in full swing for Week 11. Each of the dozen conference teams competed over the weekend as the Pac-12 Championship Game creeps closer. Next week will be a crucial week as the top four teams will all play each other, but that didn’t make this week any less exciting – or any more predictable.
ARIZONA (4-6, 2-5 PAC-12) STUNS NO. 12 UCLA (8-2, 5-2 PAC-12) WITH 34-28 ROAD WIN
Have a night, Jayden de Laura! The quarterback had a career night as he led his Wildcats past the highly ranked Bruins in the Rose Bowl on Saturday. He had only six incompletions on the night, and threw for a pair of scores as Arizona won its first game in Pasadena since 2010. The Wildcats fended off a last minute desperation drive and an end zone Hail Mary to earn their fourth win of the season. The Arizona offense has been an impressive surprise in the Pac-12 this season, and it will look to stay hot next week against Washington State (6-4, 3-4 Pac-12) on Nov. 19.
This is undoubtedly the lowest point of the Bruins’ season. As a heavy favorite, UCLA entered Saturday’s game with a great chance at a Pac-12 Championship Game appearance. But after the loss, in which the Bruins’ defense surrendered six scores, UCLA’s playoff chances were significantly reduced. This has been the story for the Bruins all season: a high-powered offense has to be great because the defense will almost certainly give up 30-plus points. Running back Zach Charbonnet’s efforts were all for not. The senior rushed for three of the Bruins’ scores in the loss. Next week’s matchup with No. 8 USC (9-1, 7-1 Pac-12) suddenly becomes a must-win for this UCLA team just trying to stay alive in the Pac-12.
NO. 8 USC (9-1, 7-1 PAC-12) TROUNCES COLORADO (1-9, 1-6 PAC-12) 5517 TO REMAIN UNBEATEN
Coming into Friday night’s game, the Trojans had never lost to Colorado, and there was very little doubt that would change this season. The USC offense was unstoppable and marched all over the Buffs. The Trojans were 9-12 on third downs, and their 55 points scored were the most that a Colorado defense has surrendered since 2020. Quarterback Caleb WIlliams’ night ended after the third quarter, when USC led 41-10, but not until after he had thrown three touchdowns and rushed for another pair. The Trojans play in a marquee rivalry matchup next week against No. 12 UCLA (8-2, 5-2 Pac-12) in a game with major Pac-12 implications.
Colorado led 3-2 after a weird first quarter. But then, like the rest of the Buffs’ season, it went downhill fast. The team accumulated 259 yards and quarterback J.T. Shrout had an embarrassing rating of 5.4. The defense allowed more than double the offense’s total yards as USC collected 531 total yards on the night. The Buffs are now 0-16 all time against the Trojans. Colorado travels to Seattle for a primetime game with the Huskies (8-2, 5-2 Pac-12) next Saturday.
4-3
1-6 PAC-12)
The Beavers played one of their best offensive games of the season on Saturday as they took down Cal at home. It took four passers to do it, but Oregon State tallied 196 yards and two touchdown passes. Two quarterbacks, a running back and even Jack Colletto, who also features at linebacker, attempted passes and kept the Cal defense guessing all game. The Beavers’ defense, that’s been so strong in 2022, allowed only nine rushing yards as it earned its seventh win of the season. It’ll go for eight next week in the desert against Arizona State (3-7, 2-5 Pac-12)
The bad keeps getting worse for California. The offense collected 156 total yards on Saturday and the turnovers matched the touchdowns with one apiece. Nothing went right for the Golden Bears, which has been a common theme in conference play in 2022. They’ll compete in what might be the worst Pac-12 game of the season next week against Stanford (3-7, 1-7 Pac-12)
WASHINGTON STATE (6-4, 3-4 PAC-12) EARNS BOWL
28-18 WIN OVER ARIZONA STATE (3-7, 2-5 PAC-12)
All of the Cougars’ points scored were in the first half. But – as has been the case all season – the sturdy Washington State defense held. Running back Nakia Watson had three of the Cougars’ early touchdowns, and the cushion was enough for the defense to cling to. The win gives Washington State bowl eligibility for its seventh time in the last eight seasons. The Cougars travel south for a meeting with Arizona (4-6, 2-5 Pac-12) next weekend.
The Sun Devils continue to be unpredictable and almost good enough to win. This team will compete with the top dogs of the Pac-12, but struggle against the bottom feeders. The offense couldn’t get anything going until the second half, and by that point it was already too late. The loss eliminates Arizona State from bowl contention, but that’s a common result for any team that fired its coach after week three. The Sun Devils play host to the Beavers (7-3, 4-3 Pac-12) next Saturday.
This was a very Utah-like game. The offense exploded and the defense looked strong. Quarterback Cameron Rising had 219 yards and three passing touchdowns and the Utes’ defense combined for seven sacks on Cardinal quarterbacks. It’s truly humiliating what Utah is doing to some of these Pac-12 teams. Everything is rolling for the Utes right now, and they carry some serious momentum into next week’s game against No. 6 Oregon (8-2, 6-1 Pac-12).
Stanford is bad at football. The Cardinal can’t find success in conference games. They had 177 yards of offense and nine first downs. They play Cal (3-7, 1-6 Pac-12) next week.
When 18-year-old five-star high school superstar Bo Nix committed to Auburn in 2018, it seemed like a fairy tale. He had just been named Mr. Football in the state of Alabama, amassing over 12,000 offensive yards and 161 total touchdowns.
Nix was prepared to reprise his dad’s former role as starting quarterback for the Tigers.
It was somewhat of a fantasy. As we’re all aware, Nix started with a bang, leading the Tigers to a win over No. 11 Oregon on a walk-off touchdown throw in his debut.
Nix’s magic had the Tigers undefeated through five weeks – until he traveled to The Swamp where his efforts fell well short, as he only managed 11 completions on 27 attempts while tossing three picks. These inconsistencies would underpin the general trend for Nix’s Auburn tenure. He’d go on streaks where he’d look like the best in the nation
in his position, then he’d have a game where he was the main reason for the Tigers’ shortcomings.
One week, Nix would ride the bench during the Tigers’ comeback win against Georgia St. The next, he’d be frustrating SEC defenses and fanbases alike with unimaginable improvisational skills.
Having three offensive coordinators and two head coaches didn’t provide any stability for Nix as he tried to put the pieces together.
The Tigers’ quarterback’s luck took a turn for the worse when he suffered a broken ankle against Mississippi St, ending his Auburn career. In three seasons for the Tigers, Nix finished third in program history with 7,251 passing yards and had 39 passing touchdowns.
He could’ve stayed at Auburn, but he sensed the dysfunction in the program and ultimately decided to enter the transfer portal.
Sources around college football thought Nix could transfer to UCF to reunite with the coach who recruited him in Gus Malzahn. He did reunite with a former coach, but it wasn’t Malzahn. Instead, he chose to follow his former offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham to Eugene. It’s been history ever since.
“Why not Oregon? That’s what I told a lot of people. They always have great talent and are well coached in a good conference,” Nix said. “Each and every year they’re a team that can be in the College Football Playoffs. Obviously Coach Dillingham got the job, we already had a great relationship from
where he coached me in the past.”
On Saturday, Nix faced Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who’s had similar obstacles in his path en route to his development.
While not as highly touted in high school as Nix, Penix Jr. was still a three-star quarterback and the No. 21 pro-style quarterback in the nation, according to 247Sports.
He committed to Indiana just a month before Nix committed to Auburn.
A torn ACL wiped out his freshman year, forcing him to redshirt.
The Florida native came back to the gridiron with a vengeance that solidified his status as starting quarterback. He combined his instant decision-making skills with a lighting-quick release, leading to tons of explosive plays during the 2019 season. That season, he threw for 232 yards a game along with 10 touchdown passes to four interceptions in six contests.
Not bad for his first year of starting.
In 2020, Penix Jr. put himself and the Hoosiers on the national radar during the shortened
COVID season, ushering Indiana to its best season in decades. Although the team only played four games that year, each outing was extremely impressive.
The stretch included wins over Wisconsin, Maryland, Penn State and a 24-0 shutout effort over Michigan State. Going into the final week of the season, Penix Jr. had the Hoosiers ranked No. 12 nationally. They would go on to nearly upset No. 2 ranked Ohio State by way of Penix Jr. He greatly outperformed soon-to-be first-round pick Justin Fields, throwing for 491 yards, five touchdowns and a pick.
Last season was set to be Penix Jr’s best year yet, receiving mild Heisman hype preseason. Due to a lack of talent around him, those expectations were not even close to being met. Five games in against Maryland, Penix Jr. would suffer another torn ACL, effectively ending his Hoosier career.
It was a despondent ending for a quarterback who changed the program for the better. However, his prolific football career was far from over. He entered the transfer portal.
In December 2021, Penix Jr. announced his intentions to transfer to the University of Washington. The decision has significantly benefited both parties.
“I just wanted to be a part of something special, something going in the right direction. I feel like this is the best for me,” Penix said. “I knew that by coming here, I could increase my level of play, my level of understanding of the game, and all the small things. These coaches have said I can be a great player, and I knew that coming here I’d be able to be that.”
Through 10 games, Penix Jr. leads the nation in passing with 3,640 yards and 25 touchdowns to only six picks. By far his best statistical year thus far in his career. His success has correlated to a 8-2 Husky record, good enough for t-second in the Pac-12.
The No. 24 Huskies traveled to Autzen Stadium and stunned the No. 6 Ducks, 37-34.
I KNEW THAT BY COMING HERE, I COULD INCREASE MY LEVEL OF PLAY, MY LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE GAME, AND ALL THE SMALL THINGS. THESE COACHES HAVE SAID I CAN BE A GREAT PLAYER, AND I KNEW THAT COMING HERE I’D BE ABLE TO BE THAT.”MICHAEL PENIX JR. Oregon quarterback Bo Nix (10) winds back to throw the ball to his teammate. The University of Oregon Ducks hosted the University of Washington Huskies at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on November 12th, 2022 for game 10 of the 2022 season. (Ian Enger/Emerald)
The Ducks seek redemption with a win against Utah.
BY LILY CRANEThe No. 12 Oregon Ducks (8-2, 6-1) will play the No. 10 Utah Utes (8-2, 6-1) on Saturday in their last home game of the season.
The Ducks are coming off a disappointing 37-34 loss against the Washington Huskies that crushed their College Football Playoff hopes. It also ended their 23-game home win streak.
Against Washington, Oregon quarterback Bo Nix limped off the field in the fourth quarter after a 2 yard drive on 3rd-and-5 from the Washington 10. It forced Oregon to go for the field goal to give them the 34-27 lead with 3:54 left.
Washington tied the game, and backup quarterback Ty Thompson replaced Nix. Oregon head coach Dan Lanning opted to go for it on 4th-and-1 from his own 34. Running back Noah Whittington slipped and the Huskies got possession with less than 90 seconds left.
Washington kicker Peyton Henry came on to convert a 43-yard field goal to give the Huskies
a 37-34 lead.
Nix was able to return to the game but failed to get Oregon within field goal range. His lastsecond Hail Mary was well short of the receiver.
In contrast, Utah has been in a groove, winning four straight. This includes handing USC their only loss of the season.
Last weekend, the Utes dominated the Stanford Cardinal in a 42-7 victory, finishing their season with a clean home record. They surpassed 500 yards of total offense for the third time this season.
Bouncing back against Utah is no small task for Oregon. Last season, the Utes won both matchups against the Ducks. The Ducks were No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings until a 38-7 loss to Utah turned their season around for the worse. They had a chance for revenge in the Pac-12 Championship Game, but they lost 38-10.
Saturday’s matchup is a must-win for both
sides, who are looking to make the Pac-12 championship in Las Vegas. If the Ducks can win both the game against Utah and their matchup against No. 25 Oregon State the following weekend, then they should have a guaranteed spot in the title game.
Utah will need to win against the Ducks and Colorado to get to the championship. UCLA and USC play each other next weekend in another crucial matchup to determine who will make the trip to Las Vegas.
Tune in Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN to see if the Ducks can avenge last season’s losses against the Utes and get their season back on track.
BY BRADY RUTH • TWITTER @BRADYRUTH10
Bo Nix’s Hail Mary pass was left unanswered.
As the ball hit the ground, No. 25 Washington’s (8-2, 5-2 Pac-12) 37-34 victory was finalized, and No. 6 Oregon’s (8-2, 6-1 Pac-12) playoff hopes were diminished.
Before there was a tsunami of purple storming the field, there was hope. There was hope when Nix returned from his brief injury to lead the team for that final drive. But a slew of penalties and drops left the Ducks short of a last-minute miracle.
“The message is I love this team,” Oregon head coach Dan Lanning said. “We’ve had a connected team all year, and that doesn’t change because of this result.
There was hope when Nix took over in the third quarter, first with a 46 yard strike to Dont’e Thornton and then a 67 yard touchdown pass to Troy Franklin. The Oregon offense erupted in the second half after being limited to 10 first half points. The second half saw the Ducks collect 24 points on 381 yards.
“I just had to make my move across [the defender’s] face,” Franklin said about his score. “Everything else just happened.”
The Washington offense, however, was step for step with Oregon. Led by quarterback Michael Penix Jr., one of the nation’s leading passers, the Huskies’ offense accumulated 408 passing yards and 37 points.
There was hope when Camden Lewis, who had been a sure thing for the Ducks this year, lined up for a 53 yard field goal attempt. But his first miss of the season was added to the list of “almosts” that Oregon collected on Saturday night.
There was hope when Andrew Boyle attempted a surprise onside kick after the Ducks tied the game in the second quarter. It had worked against UCLA, but execution wasn’t present for Oregon this time. It was unsuccessful and gave Washington the ball near midfield, and it was the perfect setup for a scoring drive.
Similarly, the Ducks attempted three fourth down conversions – another area they had been successful in during the 2022 season – but Noah Whittington slipped on a fourth down conversion late in the game, and once again set
the Huskies up with another short field.
Lanning took responsibility for the risks not paying off. “We’ve sat in this room and talked about when they’ve worked out,” he said. “And now we’re sitting in this room and talking about them when they didn’t. That was my decision.”
There was hope when Bucky Irving showed bright yellow flashes of greatness. He had 143 rushing yards and 35 receiving yards on the night. He seemed to be everywhere a Washington defender wasn’t – the win column included.
There was hope each time the Huskies faced a third down. But Washington was 5-of-9 on third downs, and Oregon didn’t record a sack all game for the second straight week.
But mostly, there was hope when Jeffrey Bassa picked off Penix Jr. on the goal line. After failing to find success stopping the Huskies’ offense, it was in desperate need of a turnover. A batted pass and a diving Bassa answered the prayer.
“I saw the ball in the air and just made a play on the ball,” Bassa said. The sophomore linebacker’s
interception set up a scoring drive and an Oregon field goal that gave the Ducks a seven point lead late in the fourth quarter.
There was hope when Nix aired out a final long shot pass. But a wobbling ball never stood a chance.
Lanning said the loss won’t change Oregon’s approach. While a CFP berth is all but alive, a Pac-12 championship is still very much a possibility for this team… but a slim one at that.
There was joy for the Huskies as they broke Oregon’s 23 game home winning streak and a three game streak over Washington. The few Husky fans got loud as the clock hit zero.
And that band that Lanning had blasted all week in practice played on.
There was hope for the 58,756 fans at sold out Autzen Stadium. The cheers and jeers were up and down as the score fluctuated. But in the end, the stadium was silenced as the hope rose into the Eugene sky along with Oregon’s playoff dreams.
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