Oregon’s (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten) most recent win over USC showcased exactly where the Ducks’ confidence lies: in their run game. Head coach Dan Lanning didn’t hesitate to point toward the ground totals as the deciding factor afterward.

“Coming in here, rushing for 180 yards and them rushing for 52, I think that tells a big story,” Lanning said in postgame last Saturday.

For the Ducks, that dominance has become a defining identity, and entering this rivalry showdown, the numbers reveal just how evenly matched the two teams are when it comes to running the football. Both Oregon and Washington are tied, with 29 total touchdowns scored on the season.

For Washington (8-3, 5-3 Big Ten) the rushing attack leans heavily on senior Jonah Coleman, who leads the team with 651 yards this season. His consistency and veteran presence have made him the centerpiece of the Huskies offense.

Also for Washington, quarterback Demond Williams Jr has accumulated 586 yards on the ground, ranking him second on the team in total yards, and second with touchdowns with six.

After the win over Rutgers back on October 10, Williams proved to a national stage what he was capable of. Surpassing Michael Penix Jr. in total game offense with 538 yards. Fisch said postgame of his young quarterback: “Demond Williams is a superstar.”

The Huskies faced a scare on November 8 when Coleman sustained a suspected ankle injury against Wisconsin. He sat out for the remainder of that game, was out the following week against Purdue, and was listed as questionable heading into the UCLA matchup last Saturday. But still, he saw snaps at the Rose Bowl in Washington’s 48-14 win over the Bruins.

Now tied for ninth in school history, Coleman is now on a record watch list for the Huskies for most touchdowns scored in a season, currently at 14. Despite battling an injury, Coleman ranks 13 in the Big Ten in rushing yards.

For the Ducks, the ground game is powered by a trio that blends youth, and veteran experience. Oregon’s top three running backs include two standout freshmen who have quickly become central to the offense: Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. alongside senior Noah Whittington, who has become the veteran presence anchoring the group.

“Again, if you’re good enough, you’re old enough,” Lanning said after the USC game. “If you can play winning football, you deserve an opportunity to be on the field … ultimately, guys have shown that they’re ready, and when you’re ready for your opportunity, you know, that’s a special moment.”

The “thunder and lighting” freshman running back duo have been crucial to the success of the Ducks on the ground. With 79 carries, 13 touchdowns, Davison ranks 18 in the Big Ten for total yards with 511. And close behind, Hill Jr ranks 25 with 452 total yards, 53 carries and four touchdowns.

For the veteran Whittington, who’s ranked ninth in the Big Ten for rushing yards with 727, credited his success on the field this season to the tactical staff. 

“Our coaches spend a lot of time on game planning and dialing up schemes that will work, and we go out there and execute,” Whittington said after the USC game.

Oregon is currently ranked first in the Big Ten for rushing yards per game with 228.6. The Ducks looks to hold that place against eighth-ranked Washington with 170 yards per game as Oregon angles to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff.