The Ducks and Beavers are set for one last matchup in a rivalry that dates back to 1894 before Oregon heads to the Big Ten next year and leaves its “little brother” –– a term often used derisively by Ducks fans to describe Oregon State –– behind. The Ducks lead the all-time series 67-49-10 and are looking to add another victory this Friday in the closing chapter of the Pac-12. Ahead of the historic game, members of the Daily Emerald sports desk break down some of the biggest moments between the two foes.
Oregon wins impressive 47-19 game in Corvallis
Nov. 29, 2014 — Lily Crane
Even though the Beavers were far from the Ducks’ toughest opponent in 2014, this was still a matchup with big implications.
The dominant victory paved the way for one of Oregon’s most successful seasons to date. The win secured the Ducks’ spot in the Pac-12 Championship game. Oregon would later win the Rose Bowl and advance to the National Championship.
It was also Marcus Mariota’s last rivalry game with Oregon and the quarterback did not disappoint. He threw for 367 yards and four touchdowns and ran for two more. Not only did the performance influence the team’s postseason run, but it set up Mariota to win the Heisman Trophy two weeks later.
On the Beavers’ side, the game was the end of quarterback Sean Mannion’s career. Mannion still holds the records for most passing yards and passing touchdowns in Oregon State history. This rivalry game signified the ending of the college careers of two of the greatest quarterbacks ever in the state of Oregon. It also marked the Ducks’ seventh straight win in the rivalry series. It may not have been the most important victory of Oregon’s 2014 season, but no season ever feels as satisfying for Ducks fans without a win against the Beavers.
Oregon earns redemption against the Beavers with 69-10 smackdown
Nov. 25, 2017 — Jack Lazarus
This game came a season after a tough matchup in 2016 where the Beavers scored 20 unanswered points in a rainstorm to steal a win from the Ducks, who were led by true freshman Justin Herbert.
The offseason showed that the Beavs were not going to let the rivalry go unnoticed, even given how bad both teams were that season. This gave the Ducks a lot of motivation heading into the 2017 matchup with their in-state rivals.
The Beavs came into Autzen having won only one game in 2017, and with the rising star of Herbert and Oregon State’s constant reminder of the year prior, the writing was on the wall for what happened that day.
Oregon pounded its in-state rivals 69-10 with Herbert and star running back Royce Freeman each shining, taking the prior year’s historic loss personally. Freeman broke the record for most career touchdowns in the Pac-12 that day, breaking a record set by a Beaver with one of his two touchdowns, while his 122 rushing yards put him at seventh in NCAA history at the time.
The Ducks also avenged their loss from the previous year, which had been the first Beaver win at the time since 2007 — Oregon State wouldn’t win again until 2020.
Oregon defeats Oregon State 38-29 in meaningful clash
Nov. 27, 2021 — Nina-Grace Montes
This game will always be close to my heart for multiple reasons. My grandparents came up from California to watch their first college game live and they were in for a show.
After a big loss against Utah, the Ducks bounced back huge offensively with 506 yards — 275 throwing and 231 rushing. It was the perfect revenge performance after losing against the Beavers in Corvallis the previous season. Oregon’s 38 points were the second most that Oregon State had allowed all season, adding salt to the wound of the historic rivalry.
The game also showcased the talents of running backs Travis Dye and Byron Cardwell, my grandpa’s favorite players at the time. After their combined 143 rushing yards, their style of play and performance was all he talked about the rest of the weekend. This game sent the Ducks into the Pac-12 championship and transformed my grandparents from casual fans — supporting the university because they have grandchildren attending — to proud Oregon fans for life.
Oregon earns Bowl Championship Series National Championship spot with 37-20 road win
Dec. 4, 2010 — Joe Moore
The Ducks came into the contest needing a win to secure a spot in the BCS Championship game. While the Beavers, who were sitting at 5-6 on the year, were not the biggest challenge Oregon had faced that season, the game still held the most weight.
With a spot in the Championship on the line, LaMichael James rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns. This game, and the subsequent BCS Championship game, cemented my Ducks fandom at a young age. My earliest college football memories are from that season, and while the events of this matchup against Oregon State are not as vivid as my memories of other matchups in the historic rivalry, I still remember the feeling I had when I knew that the state of Oregon would be represented in the championship that season.
James was my favorite Oregon player of all time for a couple of seasons, being passed only by Marcus Mariota and his own run to a championship game, so watching a dominant performance from James in one of the greatest Oregon football seasons ever was an amazing memory for me as a young football fan.
Oregon resets tone of rivalry in 14-7 win
Nov. 27, 1975 — Brady Ruth
While nobody on our desk and almost no one currently attending UO was alive for this game, it was undoubtedly one of the most important clashes in the history of the rivalry.
Entering this game, the Beavers had won 13 of the teams’ last 15 meetings, including the most recent two matchups. The Ducks’ big win in head coach Don Read’s second season at the helm rewrote the tone of the series for years to come.
After the low-scoring win, Oregon would go on to win 11 of the next 12 — there was a 0-0 tie in 1983 — and wouldn’t outright lose to the Beavers until 1988. Since then, Oregon has had a heavy upper hand in the rivalry.
However, it can always be argued that the biggest meeting is the next one, or in this case, the last one. The Ducks won’t have the Beavers on their schedule next season for the first time since 1944, and look to leave Oregon State with a parting gift of a loss in Autzen Stadium on Friday night.
