After the sport between Oregon and Oregon State, a storied rivalry that dates again greater than a century will go on hiatus. However maybe not for lengthy.
The Beavers will go to the No. 6 Geese at Autzen Stadium within the 129th assembly between the 2 former Pac-12 rivals. The one time the sequence has been interrupted was throughout World Conflict II.
It gained’t be performed in 2026 as a result of schedules had been set some time in the past, however earlier this 12 months Oregon reworked a future sequence with Utah State, paving the way in which for the rivalry to probably resume in 2027.
“It’s actually a recreation that I hope stays on the schedule for the chance to get to play anyone in state. Clearly, we journey somewhat bit extra within the Massive Ten, I do know their convention goes to be reset (subsequent 12 months) and be totally different, they usually’re going to be touring somewhat bit extra,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning mentioned. “I feel it is smart to have groups that may play one another which might be comparatively shut. I feel it’s what, 129 years that this rivalry has existed? That’s one thing you’d prefer to preserve alive.”
Each groups come into the sport in very totally different locations.
The defending Massive Ten champion Geese are 3-0 and coming off a 34-14 victory over Northwestern on the street — which, whereas a win, nonetheless resulted in dropping Oregon two spots from No. 4 within the AP Prime 25.
The Beavers are 0-3 and are enjoying as independents this season earlier than the new-look Pac-12 relaunches subsequent season. They’ve misplaced 9 of their final 10 video games relationship again to final season, once they went 5-7.
Oregon State is coming off a disheartening 45-14 loss at Texas Tech. Second-year coach Trent Bray, who performed linebacker for the Beavers from 2002-05, was requested this week why he thought he was nonetheless the appropriate individual for the job.
“Properly, I feel for a similar motive after I took over. That’s the love for this place, love this program,” Bray mentioned. “I feel we’ve acquired good coaches. We’ve acquired good gamers. We’ve acquired to proceed to get higher and proceed to get the perfect out of those guys.”
Whittington standing
Oregon working again Noah Whittington was in uniform and warmed up earlier than the sport final Saturday in opposition to the Wildcats however didn’t play due to an undisclosed harm. His standing for the sport in opposition to the Beavers is “to be decided.”
“We’ll see. , if he’s prepared, we’ll have him on the market,” Lanning mentioned.
Whittington has rushed for 159 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns this season.
Honoring Phil
The Geese, well-known for his or her many uniforms, are revealing a brand new one for the sport in opposition to Oregon State that honors Nike cofounders Phil Knight and the late Invoice Bowerman.
Dubbed the “Shoe Duck” uniform, it options darkish anthracite jerseys and pants with white numbers circled in gold, white marbleized helmets and gold cleats. A shoulder patch commemorates the handshake settlement between Knight and Bowerman to start out what was then referred to as Blue Ribbon Sports activities.
“I feel if anyone would have requested Phil prematurely, he’d say, ‘No, no, thanks,’ proper? However after we had been capable of current that to him, I feel it meant so much to him due to what it stood for,” Lanning mentioned. “It’s not nearly Phil, it’s about that partnership between him and the coach, and the way that grew into an unbelievable model and created plenty of success for lots of people, clearly Oregon, but in addition lots of people internationally.”
Passing assault
The Beavers have a stable passing assault, ranked No. 22 within the nation and averaging 304 yards a recreation.
Beavers QB Maalik Murphy, a switch from Duke, has thrown for 896 yards and 6 TDs but in addition has 5 interceptions. His favourite goal is Trent Walker, who has caught 23 passes for 302 yards however to date no touchdowns.
Murphy mentioned the workforce should push previous the adversity.
“What’s already occurred has already occurred. There’s nothing you might do concerning the previous. All you might do is put together for the long run and do what you are able to do to jot down the subsequent steps the way in which you need it, whether or not that’s placing in additional work, whether or not that’s watching additional movie, you’ve acquired to do no matter you’ve acquired to do to be sure that historical past doesn’t preserve repeating itself,” Murphy mentioned.