The No. 8 Oregon Ducks (5-0, 2-0 Pac-12) and No. 7 Washington Huskies (5-0, 2-0 Pac-12) are set to face off in one of the biggest games in their storied history. Two explosive offenses will collide in Seattle on Saturday in front of the eyes of the nation and ESPN’s College Gameday.

In what is sure to be each team’s biggest challenge so far this season — and there may not be a bigger regular season game for these programs all year — the upcoming game is shaping up to be one of the most exciting and high-scoring rivalry games in college football this season.

There’s no love lost between the Ducks and the Huskies, and both teams are sure to be fighting hard for a crucial win. There’s more than enough to talk about between these two teams — especially their quarterbacks — as Oregon looks to erase last year’s Washington-fueled heartbreak.

History of the rivalry

Oregon and Washington have played 114 times dating all the way back to 1900 (a game the Ducks won 43-0). The Huskies hold a 61-48-5 advantage in the all-time series, but Oregon’s had the upper hand lately, winning 15 of the last 18 meetings.

Washington’s biggest win came in a 66-0 beatdown in 1974, while Oregon’s most dominating effort came in 1973 when the Ducks bested the Huskies 59-0.

The two teams have been evenly matched — especially recently. Of the 114 contests, 60 of them have been decided by 10 points or fewer (including each of the last four meetings).

The Ducks were victorious the last time they played at Husky Stadium with a 26-16 win. Oregon has won two straight in Seattle and look to extend the streak in the biggest game of its season thus far.

Last season’s heartbreak

Oregon fans, undoubtedly, are still dwelling on last year’s instant classic. A 37-34 upset win for No. 24 Washington over No. 6 Oregon brought the Ducks’ season crashing down around them. Washington’s win — the fourth of now 12 straight overall wins the Huskies have earned — was a key factor in propelling second-year head coach Kalen DeBoer’s squad to its current top-10 ranking.

A true back-and-forth game just felt like one in which the team that scored last was going to win. That’s exactly what happened. Michael Penix Jr. connected with Taj Davis for a 62-yard score late in the fourth quarter to tie the game, and a later field goal sealed Oregon’s fate.

The loss sank the Ducks’ playoff hopes and any Pac-12 Championship aspirations. Oregon enters Saturday’s matchup again ranked in the top-10 as it looks to rewrite last season, silence Seattle and truly establish itself as one of the best teams in the country.

Each team’s season so far

Oregon and Washington both enter this game undefeated, and the two squads have already recorded some serious blowouts.

The Ducks’s season consists of an 81-7 win over Portland State University, a 38-30 victory against Texas Tech University, a dominating 55-10 effort over University of Hawaii and a pair of 42-6 wins over No. 19 Colorado and Stanford.

Washington, meanwhile, has bested Boise State University, the University of Tulsa, Michigan State University, Cal and Arizona by scores of 56-19, 43-10, 41-7, 59-32 and 31-24, respectively. The Michigan State game was a highly-anticipated game at the start of the season, but the Spartans’ firing of head coach Mel Tucker just days before the game turned the competition into an easy win for the Huskies.

Oregon’s wins over Texas Tech and Colorado stand out as the most impressive and challenging wins that either team has so far. The Ducks’ resume might be slightly more impressive, but make no mistake, Saturday’s game will be by far the biggest challenge either team has had to face in 2023.

Both teams had an off-week in Week 6, and the two squads have had two weeks now to prepare for each other. This marquee matchup happening so early in the conference season serves as a huge gut-check for both teams as they approach the gauntlet of their seasons. But before Oregon or Washington can worry about their Pac-12 Championship Game aspirations, they have to get past one major obstacle: each other.

Playing to the strengths

There’s no need to beat around the bush or try to find some creative area in which these two programs excel. It’s no secret that both Oregon and Washington have incredible offenses. 

With two potential Heisman candidates in Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and Washington quarterback Penix Jr., it’s hard to imagine Saturday’s contest resulting in anything but a shootout.

Penix Jr. already has 1,999 passing yards through only five games. He’s been the subject of Heisman talks, and for good reason. With weapons like Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk, limiting Penix Jr.’s offense serves as a very tall — and perhaps unrealistic — test.

Oregon, on the other hand, has looked like one of the most complete teams in the nation through its first five games. Nix doesn’t have similar stats to some of the other Heisman contenders, but that’s partially due to him getting pulled in four of five blowout wins. The Ducks’ defense looks steps above Washington’s, and head coach Dan Lanning’s play calling and gutsy decisions almost make it look like he has the ability to toy with his opponents.

Oregon’s main strength is its offense. But the Ducks, as a whole, are a unit. A unit rooted in substance.

Exposing the weaknesses

It’s hard to say Washington’s defense has been much of a concern as the Huskies are winning games by 27.6 points on average, but it’s far from the level the offense is on. Washington hasn’t faced a high-powered offense like it will with the Ducks on Saturday, and it’ll be a major test to see if it can contain Nix and the Oregon offense. If the Ducks are able to effectively use their run and pass game against Washington, the Huskies’ defense could become a major liability.

Oregon absolutely has to minimize penalties on Saturday. The Ducks are averaging 64 penalty yards per game. Although the undisciplined errors have been limited over recent weeks, Saturday’s game is not one that Oregon can afford to hurt itself in. The team that makes fewer penalties and unforced errors will find a win in Seattle.

Future of the programs

As the Pac-12 prepares for its imminent implosion, both the Ducks and Huskies have already found their new home: the Big Ten Conference.

Oregon and Washington made a pact: wherever one school went, the other would follow. And no university would leave the other behind. It was a brilliant move to ensure that two storied universities and programs would at least be together in the uncertain future.

It turned into a package deal that the Big Ten was thrilled to welcome. The conference got to add two great universities — as the Big Ten is known for only admitting schools that meet certain academic standards — as well as a storied rivalry.

The Big Ten has already released its football opponent schedule for the next five seasons and, sure enough, the Ducks and Huskies are slated to play each other in each of them, alternating between games in Eugene and Seattle.

So, while Oregon’s 2023 football season is full of opponents that may never be on the schedule again, Washington remains a constant, largely in thanks to a surprising alliance between bitter rivals.

But there will be no friendly alliances on Saturday as two teams with a hate-littered past clash in front of the eyes of the nation.