Eugene, Ore—On a chilly Saturday night, the undefeated No. 1 Oregon Ducks decisively defeated their recent rivals, the Washington Huskies, with a final score of 49-21. This victory improved Oregon’s record to 12-0 for only the second time in program history, the first being in 2010. With 54,603 fans braving the cold at Autzen Stadium, the atmosphere was electric as the crowd cheered on their team.
The win secured Oregon a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game against Penn State. It also marked the Ducks’ seventh consecutive undefeated conference season, a feat they have now achieved twice in a row.
Key Players Return from Injury
Coming off a bye week, wide receiver Tez Johnson and defensive end Jordan Burch rejoined the team. Johnson had been sidelined with a shoulder injury from the Michigan game, while Burch recovered from an ankle sprain suffered two weeks earlier against Wisconsin. Both players made significant contributions in their return to the field.
First Half Recap
The Ducks started strong, with running back Jordan James scoring a 9-yard touchdown on their opening drive, followed by a successful field goal to make it 7-0. The Huskies responded with a 3-point field goal by Jack McCallister.
In the second quarter, Washington capitalized on an Oregon fumble, leading to another McCallister field goal, narrowing the score to 7-6. However, Oregon quickly regained momentum. Traeshon Holden’s 40-yard drive set up James for a 1-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 14-6.
After a Washington fumble, Oregon capitalized again, with James scoring another 1-yard touchdown. The Ducks further extended their lead with a 4-yard run by Dillon Gabriel, making it 28-9. Despite a late first-half touchdown from Washington’s Jonah Coleman, the Ducks maintained a 28-19 lead at halftime.
Second Half Dominance
Oregon’s defense stifled Washington’s offense in the third quarter, forcing repeated punts. Meanwhile, Tez Johnson scored a 9-yard touchdown off a pass from Gabriel, pushing Oregon’s lead to 35-14.
The Ducks continued their dominance in the fourth quarter. Da’Juan Riggs powered through for a 16-yard rush, setting up another 1-yard touchdown to increase the lead to 49-14. While Washington managed a late 28-yard touchdown pass to Giles Jackson, Oregon ran out the clock, finalizing their 49-21 victory.
Postgame Highlights and Stats
Despite the loss, Washington showed flashes of strong performance, completing 85% of their passes for 201 total passing yards. Oregon, however, showcased their superiority with 458 total yards, including 222 rushing yards, while holding the Huskies to a net loss of 63 yards.
“In the end, we just didn’t make enough plays. We had too many negative plays,” said Washington Head Coach Jedd Fisch.
Oregon Head Coach Dan Lanning reflected on the win: “I feel like we can stop and celebrate when the season’s done… In our world, you don’t get the opportunity to feel satisfied.”
What’s Next?
The Ducks now head to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis to face the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Big Ten Championship Game on December 7.
Oregon fans hope their team’s dominant performance will carry through as the Ducks aim for a conference title and a potential spot in the College Football Playoff.
