BILL BOARD BO
OREGON’S CAMPAIGN FOR THE 2023 HEISMAN TROPHY IS SCALING GREAT HEIGHTS ACROSS THE NATION




OREGON’S CAMPAIGN FOR THE 2023 HEISMAN TROPHY IS SCALING GREAT HEIGHTS ACROSS THE NATION
GAMEDAY, the Emerald’s football edition, is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit news company at the University of Oregon founded in 1900.
EMERALD MEDIA GROUP
1395 University St., rm.302, Eugene, OR 97403 541.346.5511 | dailyemerald.com
NEWSROOM Editor in Chief
Evan Reynolds
Print Managing Editor
Emma J Nelson
Sports Editors
Nina-Grace Montes
Brady Ruth
Copy Chief
Olivia Ellerbruch
Reporters
Emma Logan
Jack Lazarus
Ruby Wool
Joe Moore
Jonathan Suni
Photo Editor
Molly McPherson
Design Editor
Liz Blodgett Designer
Ryan Ehrhart
Payton Liebelt
Esther Szeto
BUSINESS
President & Publisher
Bill Kunerth x317
Vice President, Operations
Kathy Carbone x302
Creative Director
Anna Smith x327
ADVERTISING
Director of Sales and Digital Marketing
Shelly Rondestvedt x303
Account Executives
Lola Tagwerker
Cori Caplinger
ON THE COVER
The Oregon Ducks stamp their starting quarterback in one of the biggest cities for football in the nation, Dallas, Texas.
(Jonathan Suni/Emerald)
The Oregon Ducks mascot dances during the third quarter. (Ali Watson/Emerald)
TROY FRANKLIN
TRAESHON HOLDEN
TEZ JOHNSON
JOSH CONERLY JR.
JUNIOR ANGILAU
JACKSON POWERS-JOHNSON
STEVEN JONES
AJANI CORNELIUS
TERRANCE FERGUSON
BO NIX
BUCKY IRVING
KYLER KASPER
KRIS HUTSON
GARY BRYANT JR.
GAAOPE LALOULU
MARCUS HARPER II
NISHAD STROTHER
GEORGE SILVA
BRANDON DORLUS
POPO AUMAVAE
CASEY ROGERS
JORDAN BURCH
JEFFREY BASSA
JESTIN JACOBS
MASE FUNA
KHYREE JACKSON
TYSHEEM JOHNSON
EVAN WILLIAMS
NIKKO REED
COLE MARTIN
JOHNNY BOWENS III
TAKI TAIMANI
KEYON WARE-HUDSON
MATAYO UIAGALELEI
JAMAL HILL
CONNOR SOELLE
JAKE SHIPLEY
TRIKWEZE BRIDGES
BRYAN ADDISON
STEVE STEPHENS IV
FELIX-FUALALO
ARASI MOSE
SOLO VAIPULU
KA’ENA DECAMBRA
DEVON TAUAEFA
JAKE FARRELL LANDON SIMS
JONAH PANOKE
ANDREW CHOI
KUAO PEIHOPA
JOHN TUITUPOU
JONAH KAHAHAWAI-WELCH
ISAIAH TUFAGA
LOGAN TAYLOR
VIRDEL EDWARDS II
PETER MANUMA
MEKI PEI
CAM STONE
ELIJAH PALMER
TARIQ JONES
ANTHONY SAGAPOLUTELE
EZRA EVAIMALO
WYNDEN HO’OHULI
NOAH KEMA
JALEN SMITH
CALEB BROWN
MATAGI THOMPSON
JUSTIN SINCLAIR
JOJO FOREST
CJ
MATTHEW SHIPLEY
BEN FALCK SOLOMON LANDRUM
KAI KLUTH
HUNTER HIGHAM
JAKE FARRELL
TYLAN HINES
CHUUKY HINES
KANSEI MATSUZAWA
After the second week of the football season, a record eight teams from the Pac-12 cracked the AP Top 25. It’s the most teams the Pac-12 has ever seen on the poll at the same time. Oregon snuck out of Lubbock, Texas, with a win. But what did the other teams do?
WASHINGTON STATE (2-0) STUNS NO. 19 WISCONSIN (1-1) 31-22 FOR ANOTHER UPSET-WIN OVER THE BADGERS
Fans rushed the field in Pullman after beating a ranked Wisconsin team for the second straight season. Washington State — now ranked No. 23 — pounced on three fumbles to pull off a thrilling win and build some series momentum for its Week 3 game against Northern Colorado (0-2).
NO. 22 COLORADO (2-0) ROLLS PAST NEBRASKA (0-2) IN 36-14 HOME OPENER
The Buffaloes are alive! After a slow first start against the Huskers, the Colorado offense got going in the second frame for its second straight win. Both Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff and ESPN’s College Gameday will be in Boulder for the Buffs’ Week 3 matchup against Colorado State (0-1). The Rams were initially the only game Colorado was supposed to win in a season in which it’s already surpassed its 2022 win total.
NO. 8 WASHINGTON (2-0) THUMPS TULSA (1-1) 43-10
It would be foolish for any team to overlook what the Huskies are doing right now. A Washington offense that’s expected to be one of the nation’s best this season impressed again by collecting 563 yards and six scoring drives against Tulsa. The Huskies’ first real test will come next Saturday as they play Michigan State (2-0) on the road.
NO. 12 UTAH (2-0) ESCAPES WACO WITH 20-13 WIN OVER BAYLOR (0-2)
Oregon’s win over Texas Tech wasn’t the only nail-biter that the Pac-12 came out on the right side of in Texas this week. A late score, interception and another score turned what seemed like an impending loss into a surprising win. The Utes are desperate to get quarterback Cameron Rising back from his lower body injury, and hope he can return for next week’s game against Weber State (2-0).
NO. 6 USC (3-0, 1-0 PAC-12) EARNS FIRST CONFERENCE WIN 56-10 OVER STANFORD (1-1, 0-1 PAC-12)
So far, the biggest question in the conference is whether any other team can catch the Trojans. Quarterback and Heisman-favorite Caleb Williams had more total touchdowns (four) than incompletions (two) on another night where Lincoln Riley’s squad balled out. Stanford will look to regroup next week against Sacramento State (2-0) while USC enjoys a well-deserved bye week.
NO. 16 OREGON STATE (2-0) ROLLS PAST UC DAVIS (1-1) 55-7 FOR SECONDSTRAIGHT 2-0 START
So far, D.J. Uiagalelei has been the leader the Beavers were needing in 2023. He
led his new squad in an offensive explosion that’s setting Oregon State right up there with all the contenders the 2023 Pac-12 has to offer. The Beavers host San Diego State (2-1) next week as they look to continue to rise in the national rankings.
UCLA (2-0) HANDS SAN DIEGO STATE ITS FIRST LOSS IN 35-10 WIN
Dante Moore’s second game went much better than his first. UCLA’s freshman quarterback racked up 290 passing yards and three touchdown passes on Saturday evening while the Bruin defense held the Aztecs to just 259 yards of total offense. Now ranked No. 24, UCLA will look to stay undefeated against North Carolina Central (2-0) next Saturday.
ARIZONA (1-1) FALLS 24-31 IN OVERTIME TO MISSISSIPPI STATE (2-0)
Too many Wildcat turnovers — four interceptions and a fumble — sunk Arizona in its first loss of the 2023 season. Despite being underdogs, the Wildcats hung with the Bulldogs until the end, but their mistakes were just too severe to overcome. Arizona can bounce back in Week 3 with a win over the University of Texas El Paso (1-2).
CALIFORNIA (1-1) LOSES LOW-SCORING GAME TO AUBURN (2-0) 14-10
A sloppy game that saw just 503 yards of total offense and nine punts went the way of the Tigers on Saturday night. A very winnable game fell through Cal’s grasp as a team needing every win it can get for bowl-eligibility hopes turned the ball over thrice. The Golden Bears will host Idaho (2-0) next week.
ARIZONA STATE (1-1) DROPS 27-15 LOSS TO OKLAHOMA STATE (2-0)
Kenny Dillingham suffered the first loss of his head-coaching career as his Sun Devils fell to a talented Cowboys team on the road. ASU looked better than last week and are on the right path for a challenging matchup with Fresno State (2-0) next Saturday.
When the 2023 Oregon football season’s schedule was released, I immediately had my eye on four or five games that I knew would be crucial for the Ducks’ success in quarterback Bo Nix and head coach Dan Lanning’s second season.
One such game was a Week 2 road test in Lubbock, Texas, against Texas Tech. Living in Denver — and the game occurring well before the academic school year actually started — the game was drivable. So, I took advantage of it.
I was smack in the middle of a tense 38-30 Oregon victory, soaking in the atmosphere of a Red Raider home game all night long.
I have to say, it was incredible. Texas Tech knows how to throw together quite the stadium, environment and traditions.
Jones AT&T Stadium — despite being under construction — was really neat. The turf area behind one endzone popped out in the Lubbock night until it was overrun by an oversold student section.
The tall and long sections were themed by color, with red and white-dressed Red Raider fans alternating every other section. It was one of the best executed themed games I’ve ever attended. It looked awesome.
The stadium had an older feel, but the energy and technology were incredibly modern and alive. A large video board and brand-new LED lights around the stadium lit up and electrified Jones AT&T Stadium. Light shows, hype videos, fan shots and music echoed throughout the stadium and amplified the intensity and fun of a thrilling night.
The only knocks I can give the stadium were the narrow walkways and the construction in one end zone. But from what I can tell, and the renderings I’ve seen, Texas Tech fans will have quite the home stadium to boast about when it’s completed.
Lubbock was full of odd, yet exciting, gameday traditions.
For one, there were tortillas everywhere. Yes, you read that right. Every time the Red Raiders kicked off, scored or picked up a first down, a downpour of tortillas filled the skies. I talked to a couple
BY BRADY RUTH • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHARTfans to try and get a reason as to why, but nobody seemed to know. It was just a thing that everyone does. I was shocked and found it odd, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t chuck one myself in response after Jeffrey Bassa’s game-sealing interception.
The other was the bell. Bertha, they called it. Bertha had an honorary ringer for the evening, and she rang on big plays and when the team took the field. In the end, though, her clangs fell dead as the Ducks escaped Texas with a win.
Texas Tech also had no shortage of mascots. A costumed mascot, Raider Red, roamed the stadium not unlike The Duck — although Raider Red didn’t do any push-ups. Tech also had the “Masked Rider,” a woman on horseback dressed like a true western raider. Finally, what appeared to be a student in a cowboy hat was constantly shooting off rifles with blanks on kickoffs and Texas Tech touchdowns.
It seemed a little complicated as to who the one true mascot was, but maybe I’ve become accustomed to Oregon’s one large, feathered friend.
Everything I had read, and everyone I talked to,
told me that the game was going to be loud. At times, it certainly was. Early in the game, and when Tech was playing well, the sold-out stadium was rocking. But in the fourth quarter, when the team needed the noise the most, Red Raider Nation was uneasily quiet — as if they sensed their impending doom.
There were a fair amount of Duck fans. Although I wasn’t sitting directly in one of the two designated away-fan sections, I was still in a small puddle of Oregon fans, and many like mine could be found scattered in the sea of red.
The Texas Tech fans were incredibly kind and hospitable. There were plenty of opportunities where they could have taken their frustrations out on anything green they could find. Instead, there were lots of “good games” and “best of luck”s exchanged throughout the night.
One of the best things about the night was the “Beat Oregon, Duck Hunting” shirts all the fans were wearing. They were creative and extremely well done. I actually bought one on my way out as a reminder of an incredible trip and a trophy from an instant classic in Oregon history.
Murals of Oregon quarterback Bo Nix tower over Manhattan’s Park Avenue and Dallas’ Live Oak Street. The bright yellows and greens beam for several blocks in New York City and Dallas. The two-part installation of Nix throwing a football catches people’s eyes hundreds of yards away. Meanwhile, ostentatious electronic billboards illuminate downtown Los Angeles and Penn Station, with the tagline “BOdacious” accompanying the visuals.
The digital marketing of the “BOdacious” brand is a part of Oregon’s publicity push to grow the Nix 2023 Heisman Trophy campaign. The promotional efforts have reached fans across the nation and provided Nix with visibility in a larger-than-life way.
The bold ads headline football-related pages on the ESPN website and take up entire pages of the New York Times. More subtly, the campaign appeared on Sept. 2 at the site of ESPN’s College Gameday in Charlotte, North Carolina, as fans held up “BOdacious” signs in the packed crowd. Nix seems to
be everywhere off the football field, while he has been covering great ground on the turf.
The last time Oregon invested in a Heisman campaign was in 2001 for Joey Harrington, who ultimately finished fourth in Heisman voting. Harrington, or “Joey Heisman,” as it was declared, had his full-length picture plastered across from Manhattan’s Madison Square Garden. The single 80-by-100 foot billboard attempted to put Oregon at the forefront of football. Two decades later, the Ducks have reestablished their national presence in more than one state and on more than one platform — seemingly important as Oregon athletics will be traveling coast to coast in 2024 following its move to the Big 10 conference.
Week 1 saw the Ducks kick off their season with a historic 81-7 victory over Portland State. Nix threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns, completing 23 of his 27 passes before Lanning benched him to avoid injury early in the third quarter. Their home
opener victory set an Autzen Stadium modern era scoring record. With the season underway, Nix will need to continue to break career and team records if he wants to contend for the most prestigious individual award in college football.
Saturday’s game versus Texas Tech had a much more slim score differential –– the Ducks eventually rallied past the Red Raiders 38-30. This on-theroad Oregon victory marked Texas Tech’s first loss in a home opener since 1999. Nix threw for two touchdowns and 359 yards, without an interception. The fifth-year quarterback passed former Red Raider and two-time Super Bowl champion with Kansas City, Patrick Mahomes, on the career list for yards passing. Nix is at 11,490, while Mahomes tallied 11,252 yards over his collegiate career.
Nix transferred to Oregon from Auburn University in 2022 to exhaust his last two years of eligibility. As a true freshman, Nix led the program to a 9-4 record season and was named the SEC Freshman of the Year.
However, over the next two seasons, Nix and the Tiger offense had trouble improving on the success they achieved in 2019.
A large part of Nix’s transferring decision was to reunite with Kenny Dillingham, who joined Dan Lanning’s team in 2021 as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Dillingham held the same position at Auburn in 2019, during Nix’s standout first-year, but left the Tigers for Florida State in 2020. Following his departure, Nix struggled to advance his statistics, so the Oregon transfer opportunity afforded Nix the chance to pick up where he had left off with Dillingham.
The reunion of Nix and Dillingham evidently rejuvenated Nix’s career. As of 2022, Nix became Oregon’s single-season record holder for completion percentage, 71.9. He also became the first UO starting quarterback to post a completion percentage of 70.0 or better in a season.
However, the dynamic duo faced a similar situation in November of 2022. Dillingham would leave Nix for the head coaching position at Arizona State University. In a scramble to replace Dillingham, Lanning hired Will Stein with the approval of Nix. Stein joined the Ducks as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach after spending three seasons at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Stein has just two weeks under his belt as a Duck, and so far his leadership has proven to be promising. Stein will have to do his best to integrate himself with the Oregon offense and deliver on the ground and in the air for the Ducks. Hopefully, Stein brings the same spontaneous and creative play calling that Oregon fans grew accustomed to with Dillingham; a system that Nix clearly thrived in.
Meanwhile, it is imperative for Nix, a prospective Heisman frontrunner, to remain healthy throughout the season and avoid any serious injuries. Last year, Nix was one of the top contenders to win the Heisman before he suffered a costly ankle injury against the Washington Huskies that derailed his odds, and Oregon’s season.
Going into the third week of the 2023 fall season, BetMGM’s Heisman odds ranks Nix in sixth place, with odds +1,900. In addition to Nix, the pool of potential award winners is highly competitive, with top candidates from within the Pac-12 and throughout the nation.
Currently, USC’s quarterback Caleb Williams is the betting favorite to win a second-straight Heisman. The Trojan junior threw for 47 touchdowns, completed 296 of 448 passes for 4,075 yards and rushed for 372 yards on 109 carries in the 2022 season.
Nix will need to light up the stat sheet to keep Williams from becoming the second player ever — after Archie Griffin in 1974 and 1975 — to win two Heisman Trophies.
According to BetMGM, Nix is also campaigning against Florida State’s quarterback Jordan Travis, +950; Washington’s quarterback Michael Penix Jr., +950; University of Texas Austin’s quarterback Quinn Ewers, +1,100 and University of Michigan’s quarterback J.J. McCarthy, +1,500.
Eight quarterbacks have won the Heisman Trophy in the last ten years, and on average these eight award winners threw for 43 touchdowns, completed 304 of 448 attempts for 4,515 yards with 128 rushes.
Last season, by comparison, Nix completed 71.9% of his passes and accumulated a total of 3,593 yards and 29 touchdowns. Nix will need to work with Stein to find ways to advance his rushing ability and build on his passing success from last season.
In addition to improving his statistics, Nix will have to help lead the Ducks to the final Pac-12 Championship and contend for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Ultimately, Oregon must reach new heights this season if they want to increase Nix’s odds in the Heisman Trophy watch, and his probability of becoming the first Duck to win the coveted award since Marcus Mariota in 2014.
The anticipation is building in Autzen and across the country, as Duck fans wish for the opportunity to see Nix standing next to his New York City billboard in December for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.
In Week 3 of the season, the No. 13 Oregon Ducks (2-0) make their return to their Autzen Stadium after a week on the road to face the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (1-2).
So far this season, Oregon has faced off against two different teams, ending in dramatically different scores but two victories nonetheless.
The Ducks traveled to Lubbock, Texas, last week to face the Texas Tech Red Raiders, leaving with a 2-0 record and a 38-30 final score. The game ended in excitement where the victory was solidified in the final minutes of the game. While the game raised some potential areas for improvement in the coming weeks, the Ducks proved they can perform in a tough away environment.
In their season opener and 2023 Autzen debut, the Ducks dramatically defeated the Portland State Vikings 81-7. The Vikings did not test the Ducks on either side of the ball,ultimately leading to their record-breaking win. Most notably, the Vikings did not throw the ball. Quarterback Dante Chachere led the team in passing yards with only 35 yards for five completed passes and one touchdown.
When they make their return to home after an exciting road win and a commanding home victory under their belts, it can be expected that the Hawaii team should not provide any issues, giving Oregon an easy path to victory.
The Rainbow Warriors have played three games this season. Their most recent game against Albany ended in a score of 31-20 and gave them their first win of the season.
In that game, quarterback Brayden Schager threw a career high four touchdown passes as well as completed 23 passes for 266 total yards. This is the third straight game that Schager has thrown for at least three touchdowns. The Oregon defense should be aware that Schager is not afraid to throw the ball as they prepare for this matchup.
In the Rainbow Warriors’ defeat over Albany, running back Jordan Johnson led the Rainbow Warriors in rushing yards with 11 carries totaling 76 yards. Meanwhile, wide receiver Pofele Ashlock led the team in receiving yards with four receptions for 74 total yards.
The Rainbow Warriors play in the Mountain West Conference, but their preseason schedule has seen some bigger names than they are used to.
When they travel to Oregon to take on the Ducks, it will be Hawaii’s third Power Five matchup of the season. The game will kick off at 5 p.m. and will air on the Pac-12 network as the Ducks attempt to bring their preseason record to 3-0 in front of a home crowd.
Unscramble these Jumbles, one letter to each square, to form four ordinary words.
Now arrange the circled letters to form the answer as suggested by the cartoon.
Oregon has started the season 2-0, and through that they have been one of the highest scoring teams in the country. Even with their strong start, the Ducks offense has been a mixed bag in terms of execution on the field.
Even with the absence of standout coordinator Kenny Dillingham, Oregon’s offense didn’t miss a beat in Week 1. The Ducks offense, led by new offensive coordinator Will Stein, was firing on all cylinders in their matchup against Portland State.
Star quarterback Bo Nix had a short day at the office, only playing in the first half and the opening series in the third quarter and completing 23 of 27 pass attempts for 287 yards and three touchdowns. When Nix was in the game, Oregon put the ball in the end zone in all of the first eight possessions, putting up 57 points.
Standout receiver Troy Franklin caught two of those touchdowns, as did Gary Bryant Jr., and both amassed over 100 receiving yards in the blowout victory. Bryant and Franklin have proven to be Nix’s go-to receivers and will see a lot of touches when Oregon moves into conference play and the schedule gets rougher.
The ground game was also very effective for the Ducks, as they scored seven times while running the ball last weekend. Bucky Irving had two lengthy touchdown runs of 52 and 56 yards, which accounted for half of his four carries against the Vikings.
Sophomore Jordan James also added three of his own touchdowns, along with 86 yards, contributing to the total of 387 yards on the ground.
Against a Power Five opponent in Texas Tech, the Ducks offense seemed much more subdued and had a lot of trouble establishing their bread and butter — the run game. It was weak, mostly due to the reliance of RPOs (Run-Pass Option) that took a lot of time to set up. This allowed the Red Raiders to stack the box, be patient and find the ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage every time.
It seems as if they are going with a three-man backfield with Irving taking the lead while James and Noah Whittington mainly do their work in short yardage situations. While Whittington didn’t play in Week 1 due to coaching decisions, his role was clearly established against Texas Tech as the secondary guy to Irving.
The Oregon offensive line had a
difficult time creating holes for their runners, especially in short yardage situations where the Ducks failed to convert on multiple third-andone or fourth-and-one plays. The pass protection held up during the majority of the game, only allowing one sack, but there were multiple third down plays where Nix had to escape the pocket and use his legs to make something happen.
One of the more glaring issues was the lack of offensive line discipline. Oregon had 14 penalties for 124 yards in Lubbock, a lot of which were caused by lapses in the offensive line. They need to be far more disciplined if the Ducks are going to compete with the best in the Pac-12 or in the playoffs. They have all the potential to be really effective and powerful; it just needs to click.
One of the bright spots of the offense was the Nix-to-Franklin connections, which have accounted for over 100 receiving yards in each of Oregon’s games so far. It seems that, when the offense is in trouble, Nix often looks for No. 11 downfield to get the ball moving. After a lackluster first drive, Nix wasted no time and on the second play launched a 72-yard strike to Franklin to get the Ducks started.
Nonetheless, while the offense needs to be better moving forward into Pac-12 play, there are some encouraging signs. Head coach Dan Lanning has often stated that one of his go-to strategies when coaching his defense is doing the most without overthinking. Stein needs to take that mentality to his offense. It seems as if many of the early-down plays, especially the run plays, are run way too slow, which gives time for players to overthink.
Many of the successful pass plays were ones where the main option was ready to receive the ball almost as soon as Nix dropped back. Quick throws and short run plays were the most reliable for this offense when in trouble against Texas Tech, and if these plays are run more on earlier downs, then the RPO and deep passing game open up much easier for the Ducks.
Although the first couple weeks have been a mixed bag for the Oregon offense, there is a lot to be excited about going into Pac-12 play. Behind a star like Bo Nix, the Ducks could see a lot of success this season.
Oregon defensive lineman Taki Taimani (55) looks to get to former Oregon quarterback Tyler Shough (12) before he throws the ball downfield on the opening drive. The Oregon Ducks battled in a close fight to ultimately beat the Texas Tech Red Raiders in their home opener at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas, on Sept. 9, 2023. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)
The Oregon Ducks are currently in the midst of their final season as members of the Pac-12 before they join the Big Ten along with the Washington Huskies, UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans.
Here’s a look at how the Ducks have fared against every Pac-12 school heading into their final season of Pac-12 matchups, and a look back at some of the best moments in Oregon Pac-12 history.
All-Time Record: 29-17
Fresh off of a major upset over Washington in 1994, the Ducks found themselves massive underdogs for the second straight week. However, Oregon’s defense had an elite showing and upset No. 11 Arizona 10-9, improving to 6-3 on the season and winning six consecutive games on their way to Oregon’s first conference championship since 1957.
All-Time Record
Oregon took on Arizona State in 2015 with both teams sitting at 4-3 coming into the game. When the dust settled, a booth review upheld an Oregon touchdown to take a 61-55 victory over the Sun Devils in a tripleovertime thriller.
All-Time Record
42-42-2
In 2005, the No. 15 Ducks took on the No. 23 Golden Bears in a game that would prove to have a large impact on the Pac-10 standings. Oregon and Cal both held the other scoreless in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime, where Oregon prevailed 27-20.
UCLA
All-Time Record
The Ducks and Bruins played each other as the No. 10 and No. 9 ranked teams in the country respectively last season. The two teams entered the game with one combined loss. The game was predicted to be a very tough game for the Ducks, but Oregon cruised to a 45-30 win to hand the Bruins their first loss.
All-Time Record
The Buffaloes and the Ducks have only met nine times as members of the Pac-12, and Oregon has won eight of those nine contests. However, this season seems like it could be a competitive contest following very strong showings from Colorado in its opening games.
All-Time Record
The Beavers will not be moving with the
BY JOE MOORE BY LIZ BLODGETTDucks to the Big Ten, making this rivalry now a non-conference matchup. One of the all-time great moments from this rivalry came in 2009, a game that was nicknamed the “War for the Roses.” The winner of the game won a berth in the 2010 Rose Bowl. The Ducks won a close game 37-33 to win the right to play in the Rose Bowl.
All-Time Record: 22-38-2
The No. 10 ranked Ducks played No. 5 ranked USC on Halloween in 2009 in a game that would give the winner the lead in the Pac-10. Although USC was favored, Oregon collected over 600 yards of total offense in a dominant 47-20 victory in a season that would eventually see the Ducks make their first Rose Bowl appearance since 1994.
All-Time Record: 35-50-1
Highlights from decades of Pac-12 history show an eventful tenure for the Ducks.
DESIGNEDTroy Franklin is lifted up by Marcus Harper II after scoring. The University of Oregon Ducks Football team defeated the Portland State University Vikings in a home match at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Sept. 2, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)