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GAMEDAY

10.19.23

Emerald Media

THE OREGON

STANDARD Oregon has unapologetically built its brand on flash. Just don’t mention that to Dan Lanning or his players. O R E G O N D E B U T S R E T R O U N I F O R M S P G . 1 4 • H OW O R E G O N L O S T P G . 1 7 • WA S H I N G T O N S TATE PREVIEW PG. 18

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GAMEDAY, the Emerald’s football edition, is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit news company at the University of Oregon founded in 1900. EMERALD MEDIA GROUP 1395 University St., rm.302, Eugene, OR 97403 541.346.5511 | dailyemerald.com

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Editor in Chief Evan Reynolds

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Sports Editors Nina-Grace Montes Brady Ruth Copy Chief Olivia Ellerbruch Reporters Ruby Wool Joe Krasnowski Jack Lazarus Joe Moore Photo Editors Molly McPherson Jonathan Suni

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ON THE COVER

Khyree Jackson (5) attempts to disrupt a touchdown pass opportunity. The University of Oregon football team lost to the University of Washington Huskies on Oct. 14, 2023 in Seattle, Wash. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)

The Oregon Ducks mascot dances during the third quarter. (Ali Watson/Emerald) T H U R S D AY, O C T O B E R 1 9 , 2 0 2 3

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OREGON OFFENSE PLAYER TROY FRANKLIN TRAESHON HOLDEN TEZ JOHNSON JOSH CONERLY JR. JUNIOR ANGILAU JACKSON POWERS-JOHNSON STEVEN JONES AJANI CORNELIUS TERRANCE FERGUSON BO NIX BUCKY IRVING KYLER KASPER KRIS HUTSON GARY BRYANT JR. GAAOPE LALOULU MARCUS HARPER II NISHAD STROTHER GEORGE SILVA PATRICK HERBERT TY THOMPSON NOAH WHITTINGTON

WSU OFFENSE

POS

YEAR

PLAYER

POS

YEAR

No. 11 No. 5 No. 15 No. 76 No. 54 No. 58 No. 74 No. 65 No. 3 No. 10 No. 00 No. 17 No. 1 No. 2 No. 75 No. 55 No. 50 No. 71 No. 88 No. 13 No. 6

WR-X WR-Z WR-F LT LG OC RG RT TE QB RB WR-X WR-Z WR-F LT LG/OC RG RT TE QB RB

JR SR/TR SR/TR SO RS SR/TR JR RS SR RS JR/TR JR SR/TR JR/TR RS FR JR RS JR/TR RS SO JR RS SR/TR JR/TR RS JR RS SO JR/TR

JOSH KELLY KYLE WILLIAMS LINCOLN VICTOR ESA POLE CHRISTIAN HILBORN KONNER GOMNESS MA’AKE FIFITA FA’ALILI FA’AMOE COOPER MATHERS CAMERON WARD NAKIA WATSON TSION NUNNALLY CARLOS HERNANDEZ ISAIAH HAMILTON ZACK MILLER BROCK DIEU DEVIN KYLANY RODRICK TIALAVEA CHRISTY NKANU BILLY RIVIERE III JOHN MATEER

No. 3 No. 2 No. 5 No. 76 No. 61 No. 77 No. 66 No. 79 No. 24 No. 1 No. 25 No. 81 No. 8 No. 9 No. 74 No. 65 No. 70 No. 57 No. 68 No. 42 No. 10

WR-X WR-Z WR-H LT LG OC RG RT TE-Y QB RB WR-X WR-X WR-H LT LG OC RG RT TE-Y QB

RS JR/TR JR/TR SR/TR JR/TR RS OS RS JR RS JR RS SO JR JR/TR RS SR/TR RS SO FR RS SR/TR RS FR RS SO RS SO RS SO RS SR/TR RS JR/TR RS FR

POS

YEAR

No. 10 No. 15 No. 60 No. 80 No. 52 No. 8 No. 3 No. 25 No. 00 No. 6 No. 4 No. 20 No. 89 No. 98 No. 45 No. 18 No. 59 No. 23 No. 28 No. 33 No. 1 No. 30

LDE LDT RDT RDE WLB MLB LCB SS FS RCB NB LDE LDT RDT RDE WLB MLB LCB SS FS RCB NB

RS SR JR/TR RS SO RS SR RS JR RS SR/TR SR/TR RS SO RS SR/TR JR JR/TR JR SR/TR RS SO RS SO RS FR RS SR/TR RS FR RS FR FR RS SO/TR RS SO

WSU DEFENSE

OREGON DEFENSE PLAYER BRANDON DORLUS POPO AUMAVAE CASEY ROGERS JORDAN BURCH JEFFREY BASSA JESTIN JACOBS MASE FUNA KHYREE JACKSON TYSHEEM JOHNSON EVAN WILLIAMS NIKKO REED COLE MARTIN JOHNNY BOWENS III TAKI TAIMANI KEYON WARE-HUDSON MATAYO UIAGALELEI JAMAL HILL CONNOR SOELLE JAKE SHIPLEY TRIKWEZE BRIDGES BRYAN ADDISON STEVE STEPHENS IV

POS

No. 3 No. 50 No. 98 No. 1 No. 2 No. 4 No. 18 No. 5 No. 00 No. 33 No. 25 No. 21 No. 91 No. 55 No. 95 No. 10 No. 9

DE NT DT JACK WLB MLB SLB FCB FS BS BCB NB DE NT DT JACK WLB MLB SLB FCB FS BS

No. 22 No. 90 No. 11 No. 13 No. 7

YEAR

SR RS SR RS SR/TR SR/TR JR RS SR/TR SR SR/TR JR/TR RS SR/TR JR/TR FR FR RS SR/TR RS JR FR SR RS SR/TR JR RS JR RS SR RS SR

OREGON SPECIAL TEAMS

PLAYER RON STONE JR. NUSI MALANI DAVID GUSTA BRENNAN JACKSON KYLE THORNTON DEVIN RICHARDSON CAM LAMPKIN JADEN HICKS SAM LOCKETT III CHAU SMITH-WADE KAPENA GUSHIKEN QUINN ROFF NA’IM RODMAN JERNIAS TAFIA RAAM STEVENSON TAARIQ AL-UQDAH JOSHUA ERLING JAVAN ROBINSON REECE SYLVESTER ADRIAN WILSON STEPHEN HALL JACKSON LATAIMUA

WSU SPECIAL TEAMS

PLAYER

POS

YEAR

PLAYER

LUKE DUNNE CAMDEN LEWIS ANDREW BOYLE LUKE BASSO ROSS JAMES TEZ JOHNSON BUCKY IRVING

No. 45 No. 49 No. 98 No. 43 No. 92 No. 15 No. 00 No. 84

PT PK/KO KO/PK LS H/PT PR KR

FR SR RS SR/TR RS SO RS SO/TR SR/TR JR/TR

GR/TR

NICK HABERER DEAN JANIKOWSKI COLTON THEAKER SIMON SAMARZICH ISAIAH HAMILTON LINCOLN VICTOR LUCA RODARTE JAYLEN JENKINS

MATTHEW RIGNEY

No. 38 No. 49 No. 19 No. 34 No. 9 No. 5 No. 37 No. 6

POS

PT/H PK/KO KO/PT LS PR KR/H LS KR

YEAR

JR/TR RS JR SR/TR SR RS SR/TR SR/TR RS FR SO

For a more in-depth chart on both teams, visit ESPN.com

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GAMEDAY

HOW LAST YEAR’S DRAMA AGAINST THE COUGARS LED US TO TODAY

After the dramatic finish in Pullman last season, the Ducks and Cougars have been on drastically different paths ahead of Saturday’s clash in Eugene On Sept. 24, 2022, with 6:42 left in the fourth quarter, it looked like the Washington State Cougars were well on their way to an upset victory over a Top 25 opponent. Quarterback Cameron Ward had been having a fantastic day in the air and the Cougars were on a roll after forcing an Oregon 3-and-out and executing an 81-yard touchdown drive that put Wazzu up 12. The Ducks responded with their own touchdown, but not much was expected of a one-loss team that had been considerably lacking energy on the day. With just under four minutes to play, Oregon dismantled the Washington State offense and forced a dominant 3-and-out. This gave the Ducks some hope, but they still needed to execute on offense — something they had struggled with on that particular Saturday. In only four plays, Oregon reached the 50-yard line. On the next play, quarterback Bo Nix uncorked a beautiful ball to top receiver Troy Franklin to stun the Pullman crowd and put the Ducks in the lead. After a successful 2-point conversion run from Nix, Oregon took the lead 37-34 with 1:21 left in the game.

Ward and his offense had their way all game, so it didn’t seem likely that the Ducks would get the ball back. Twenty seconds later, linebacker Mase Funa took matters into his own hands, intercepting Ward on the 27-yard line and running it back for the score, putting the game away for Oregon. This late-game turnaround seemed to fuel the Ducks for the rest of 2022, as they looked stellar until some tough breaks cost them two wins late in the season. They finished the season on a high note with 10 wins, capped off with their Holiday Bowl win against the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Ducks’ defensive group has taken a tremendous leap since then, even with a drastically new look this season. They were easily able to replace stalwarts like Noah Sewell, Bennett Williams and Christian Gonzalez with new talent such as Jordan Burch, Tysheem Johnson and Khyree Jackson. The offense has not missed a beat, with one of the most electric groups in FBS led by Nix, Bucky Irving and Franklin. Even in a heart-wrenching loss this weekend to a playoff-caliber squad in Washington, the

BY JACK LAZARUS DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART Oregon wide receivers, Troy Franklin (11) and Khris Hutson (1), pose with the Holiday Bowl trophy during the postgame celebration. The Oregon Ducks face the North Carolina Tar Heels in the annual Holiday Bowl at Petco Park in San Diego, CA, on December 28th, 2022. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)

offense flourished, posting 33 points in Seattle. While that loss ends a tremendous run of form, it is not the end of the line for the Ducks who can still win out and take the Pac-12 title. Ward and his squad saw a much different run of form after their devastating loss at home against the Ducks. The Cougars were 3-0 going into the contest, but they skidded slightly and went 4-5 after their matchup with Oregon. In the first four games, Ward completely dominated every facet of the game with his always impressive arm strength and incredible ability to run the ball. He was even being considered as a major contender for the Heisman Trophy. Their only issue was that they still had a lackluster defense, as they haven’t had a single game this season where they held their opponent under 20 points. So, when their offense put up a subpar performance against a Top 25 opponent in UCLA, the defense was no help and they lost a close one. This past week against Arizona, neither Ward’s offense nor the defense were ever in the game in a meaningful way, losing big 44-6. This was definitely a game to forget for the Cougs, as both the passing and running games were nowhere to be found and Arizona was able to bulldoze their defense all afternoon. It’s hard to look at the events of the fourth quarter of last year’s contest and not see how they have set these teams on their tracks to now. The stunning ending, the Ducks’ resilience and the failure of the Cougars to finish their meal have all been trends leading up to this point. This week’s matchup in Eugene has a lot more to it than meets the eye, and one can only expect fireworks when they meet again on Saturday. The Oregon Ducks faced the North Carolina Tar Heels in the annual Holiday Bowl at Petco Park in San Diego, CA, on December 28th, 2022. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)

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PHOTO STORY

GAMEDAY

DUCK VS. HUSKIES EDITION PHOTOS BY JONATHAN SUNI & ERIC BECKER DESIGNED BY LIZ BLODGETT

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The University of Oregon football team lost to the University of Washington Huskies on Oct. 14, 2023 in Seattle, Wash. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)

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GAMEDAY

HOW CAN OREGON REVIVE ITS SEASON AFTER SUFFERING ITS

LOSS TO WASHINGTON? Dan Lanning, Bo Nix and the rest of the Ducks still have everything they want in reach BY BRADY RUTH • DESIGNED BY LIZ BLODGETT The loss to Washington sucks. It hurts like a punch to the gut. It arguably shouldn’t have even happened.

winning that game. The Ducks might have just played their most complete game of the season. The offense was explosive and the defense was able to keep Oregon in the game against one of the best offenses in college football. A few bad plays

the only one-loss team, would face each other again in the Pac-12 Championship. It could be a chance for redemption, and an outside shot at the College Football Playoff could still be obtainable. The impact that Husky Stadium had on last

As angry as fans are at Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, Ducks’ quarterback Bo Nix or even Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., Oregon football (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12) is very much still alive in the Pac12 and College Football Playoff conversation. It’s unlikely. But it’s possible. Frankly, fans should be glad this loss came when it did. A big thing in college football is when losses come. Yes, losing games hurts playoff chances and conference championship aspirations. But, if a loss is going to be endured, it’s so much better for it to be early in the season. When a ranked team loses, it drops in the rankings. But, dropping early is so much better The University of Oregon football team lost to the University of Washington Huskies on Oct. 14, 2023 in Seattle, Wash. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald) than dropping late. Dropping a week’s game shouldn’t be overlooked. It was loud shaped what was truly an incredibly even contest. spot, as No. 9 Oregon did after its loss to No. 5 and rowdy and hostile. A rematch in Las Vegas The good news is the season is far from dead. The bad Washington, early in the season allows time for would provide a neutral setting for two teams news is the Ducks have to be perfect moving forward. a team to build back up as the season goes on. A that many want to see play again. “We are in control,” Nix said after the loss. “We loss doesn’t sink a squad as it can still rise in the A win in the Pac-12 Championship Game over can win out and put ourselves in a really good spot.” polls. A loss late in the season provides less time Washington would put both teams at 12-1 with the With how talented the Pac-12 is this season, for a team to build back up. Late-season losses only losses coming against one another. But, as it’s unreasonable to think that a team with two can be absolutely detrimental. Oregon learned previously stated, when a team loses is unbelievably conference losses would earn a spot in the Pac-12 this last season with late losses to Washington important. Oregon would leapfrog the Huskies in Championship Game in Las Vegas in December. The and Oregon State. the national rankings because Washington’s loss Ducks, now with one conference loss, would need to It’s only Week 8. There are still six weeks would be recent. The Ducks’ lone loss would be just go unbeaten to close out the season. Such a task will and six games left for the Ducks to win and a faint memory from over a month prior. not be easy with No. 14 Utah (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12), No. 18 rise in the rankings. “These guys are hungry,” Lanning said after the USC (6-1, 4-0 Pac-12) and No. 12 Oregon State (6-1, They’re still a top-10 ranked team. According to Washington game. “They’re hungry to go have 3-1 Pac-12) still waiting on Oregon’s schedule. ESPN’s matchup predictor, the Ducks are favored success. There’s no doubt about that.” The Ducks also need to be pulling for to win each game on their remaining schedule. But, Nix, Lanning, the offense, the defense, Washington in its games against these opponents. There’s no need to panic yet. the kicking and everything else need to be The more one-loss teams remain at the end of Last week, Oregon proved that it can hang unblemished as the season marches on. the season, the more complicated things get with with the big dogs in college football this The journey to save the season starts Saturday tie breakers — some of which the Ducks may season, despite the loss. A couple of poorly with Washington State (4-2, 1-2 Pac-12) looking to not win. If the Huskies and Ducks both win out, executed plays and calls wounded the Ducks, knock off the Ducks at Autzen Stadium. Washington, being undefeated, and Oregon, being but Oregon was just a few plays away from T H U R S D AY, O C T O B E R 1 9 , 2 0 2 3

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GAMEDAY

ROOTED IN SUBSTANCE? The Ducks may be “rooted in substance” on the field, but they sure are flashy off of it BY JOE KRASNOWSKI • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART ROOTED IN SUBSTANCE. It echoed around Oregon’s camp following the Ducks’ 42-6 dismantling of then-ranked No. 19 Colorado. The Ducks – who went viral for a post-game video titled “Ducks vs. Them” that was released on the GoDucks YouTube channel –– have prided themselves on their identity of “substance, not flash.”

Sure, Oregon doesn’t have A-list celebrities on the sidelines or at College GameDay like Colorado did. Certainly, there was validity to Oregon head coach Dan Lanning’s statement that while the Buffaloes were “fighting for clicks,” the Ducks were “fighting for wins.” Oregon did win 42-6. But there was a sense of irony amid Oregon’s talk of being focused on the on-field play. “Today we talk with our pads,” Lanning said in the

video. “When they talk you don’t say [expletive].” Oregon may not talk on the field, but their behavior off the field tells a different story. If there’s one problem with the Ducks’ on-field mantra of being “rooted in substance,” it’s that off the field, they never have been. Which program led the college football uniform revolution? Which program is currently signed to an $88 million apparel deal with Nike? Which program’s quarterback had BO-dacious billboards across the nation before the season had even started? IT’S ALWAYS BEEN OREGON, AND WHY SHOULDN’T IT BE? When you have Phil Knight, the Forbes-reported 28th richest person in the world, as a noted alumni and booster, you can embrace the flash. In 2020, the Ducks installed the biggest jumbotron in all of college football at Autzen Stadium. Before every home game, a custom Harley-Davidson motorcycle leads Oregon onto the field. In Weeks 2 and 7, the Ducks wore shiny chrome helmets. The examples are endless. The Ducks have never been a classic old-school college football program, and they shouldn’t try to be. Why not bring the flash? Yellow and green “stripe-outs” of Autzen Stadium are fun. Why not bring more of that? “Oregon is known for its unbelievable facilities,” UO student Kai Brown said. “Why not embrace that more; if it’s not going to be a money problem, why not have more cool stuff for all of the players and coaches to use and wear?” However, Oregon’s self-imposed dichotomy between substance and flash can be comical at times. The game of Lanning’s infamous speech preaching Oregon’s on-field focus, the Ducks wore cleats that, when exposed to the players body heat, quite literally changed colors. “That’s a great representation of what it’s like to be at Oregon and be connected with a place like Nike,” Lanning said about the cleats after practice. “Those are pretty neat.” Lanning wasn’t kidding; Oregon’s connection with Nike is no joke. From custom Jordans to never wearing the same uniform twice, Oregon and Nike are synonymous. “This game ain’t gonna be played in Hollywood,” Lanning said to his team in the same video. “It’s going to be played on the grass.” Oregon is Hollywood for football, though, The University of Oregon football team lost to the University of Washington Huskies on Oct. 14, 2023 in Seattle, Wash. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)

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GAMEDAY and it’s not very good at hiding it. Off the field, Oregon is as extravagant as they come. The Ducks’ play on the field, however, is an entirely different story. “We’re gonna compete to a standard everyday,” Lanning said in his introductory press conference. “The Oregon standard.” And that’s exactly what Lanning and the Ducks have done. Behind Lanning the Ducks have played extremely well, despite a recent tough loss to rival Washington. Behind Lanning, the Ducks are hardnosed, physical and easy to like. Behind Lanning, everything that Oregon wants to accomplish is still obtainable. “We are in control, we can go out and win out,” Bo Nix said after the Washington game. “Put ourselves in a really good spot, that’s all we can control and that’s really all we have to The University of Oregon football team lost to the University of Washington Huskies on Oct. 14, 2023 in Seattle, Wash. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)

control.” When asked to characterize his team’s identity going into a tough stretch of games, Lanning, in typical coach speak, stressed his team’s toughness. “Toughness, right, the toughness has to show up now,” Lanning said prior to the Washington game. “This season is getting longer, and we’re not even at the midway point for us, we have to look to continue to grow.” Lanning’s players have bought into his message, too. “We just go to work, and we let that noise stay outside,” Nix said before the Colorado game. “We let the fans and everyone outside of the program handle all of the noise.” Oregon knows how to toe the line between cocky and confident. But in a rebuke to its own head coach’s mantra, Oregon quite simply keeps being cool. AS IT SHOULD BE. Oregon’s on-field play certainly backs up its flash. The Ducks’ leading wide receiver Troy Franklin is a budding star, and running back Bucky

The University of Oregon Ducks football team were defeated by the University of Washington Huskies in an away match at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Oct. 14, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)

Irving – who starred in Oregon’s unveiling of its throwback uniforms – is a human highlight reel. Nix, amid his Bo-dacious campaign, is a Heisman candidate. Lanning’s play-calling certainly backs up Oregon’s flash, too. He has gone for a two-point conversion in four of their first six games. Against Colorado, the Ducks called and converted a fake punt from their own 17-yard line. It doesn’t always work – as was seen in some controversial decision-making in the loss against Washington –– but Lanning is comfortable with his decisions. “The right time is when they don’t think it’s coming,” Lanning said to GoDucks after the Colorado game. “I’m not really interested in running fake punts when everyone thinks we’re gonna run a fake punt.” Everything about Oregon is flashy, even its special teams. But amid the Ducks’ inalienable swag, their players remain focused on the task ahead. “I just keep the main thing the main thing,” defensive lineman Taki Taimani said before the Washington game. “And that’s winning a football game.” The Ducks are perpetually focused on the next task ahead, not on the noise surrounding the program. “It’s something that you know you look at, but at the end of the day we’re really focused on what we are doing to accomplish our goals,” defensive lineman Casey Rogers said. “You can get into it if you want, but at the end of the day you have to stay focused on what the task is.” Oregon has always been about flash; just don’t tell that to Dan Lanning or the rest of the team.

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GAMEDAY

REPPIN’ THE RETROS “Mighty Oregon” football uniforms are a fashion-forward throwback look BY RUBY WOOL • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART The University of Oregon football team continues to set records and start trends, making the football field its runway. On Oct. 1, the GoDucks media team released a teaser for the “Mighty Oregon” football uniforms. The uniform drop announcement left room for lots of ambiguity, as it said the jerseys will be available for purchase soon without exactly specifying when, or even if the team was planning on wearing them this season. In the post, the Ducks’ star running back Bucky Irving modeled the fashion forward throwback threads. Irving showed off the classic uniform combo, which featured a green interlocked UO logo on a retro yellow helmet. This new version has a yellow cage and a green and white stripe along the helmet’s centerline. The helmet is paired with a green jersey and the timeless variation of the Duck that resembles the beloved Disney character, Donald Duck, on the cap of the shoulder sleeves. To complete the look, Irving was styled with yellow and green gloves, solid yellow Nike pants and black cleats. The traditional iteration of the UO logo and Duck are flashy and fly despite being slightly dated. The “Mighty Oregon’’ uniforms were last worn in 2014 at Autzen against the Washington Huskies and they pay homage to the Ducks 1984 design. In lieu of the unveiling, many Duck fanatics suspected the Ducks would wear the clean, reenvisioned replicas against the rival Huskies during last Saturday’s Week 6 matchup. However, that was not the case. Oregon broke out the fan-favorite eggshell outfit instead, an equipment decision that seemed more fitting, as it’s more likely that fans can expect the Ducks to save the special swagger for their home turf. Duck fans were clearly thrilled to see these uniforms come out of the archives. As soon as Oregon unveiled the throwback uniforms, social media users immediately reacted in the comment section, voicing their excitement and impatient anticipation. For example, on Instagram, @ stephenwoodworth74 said, “these need to be in the rotation every year,” and @peter. brantley said, “best Oregon uniform, says the old guy.” It is clear that fans, both young and old, are looking forward to the uniform’s anticipated comeback. Unlike many other PA G E 1 4

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universities, Oregon likes to challenge tradition and change up their uniforms each game. So far this season, the Ducks have played their six games in six distinctly different styles. In Week 2, the Ducks debuted a new uniform that included green accents to an all-white wardrobe during their nail-biting win over Texas Tech. In Week 4, the Ducks defeated Colorado 42-6 while wearing green jerseys, black pants and black helmets. The team stayed cool, collected and unstoppable in their cutting-edge Nike Vapor Edge KF Dunks cleats that change color with temperature. These are just some of the combos from Oregon’s 2023-2024 campaign that have created commotion. However, no design has caught the attention of fans like the throwback threads so far this season. The Oregon team account often drops the athletes’ upcoming uniforms three days before the scheduled game, which means fans will know by Wednesday, Oct. 18, if the combo will be worn against Washington State University this Saturday. In what appears to be a perfect time and place — an at home game for UO’s parents’ weekend — it is still not confirmed. With the exact date for the debut and retail release unknown, fans are awaiting an updated announcement. The uniforms are an ode to the Oregon legacy and inspiration for future success on the field. Duck fans and football players, including Camden Lewis, will kick it old school in “Mighty Oregon” fashion sometime in the near future.

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(Photos courtesy of Oregon Athletics)

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GAMEDAY

THE VALUE OF

SIX POINTS

How the right decision in the wrong time sunk Oregon against Washington

BY BRADY RUTH • DESIGNED BY LIZ BLODGETT

Camden Lewis’ kick is up and it’s… wide right. Oregon’s dreams of a perfect season and redemption against rival Washington were smothered by a sea of purple storming the field as the miss sealed the Huskies’ 36-33 win. A 42-yard field goal attempt felt automatic for Lewis. He had been so good all season. It would be all too easy to point the finger at Lewis and blame the loss on him. But, he never should have been in the position where he had to make a crucial kick to begin with. The truth is, No. 9 Oregon (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12) left six points off the board in a game it lost by three. An unlikely interception thrown by No. 5 Washington’s (60, 3-0 Pac-12) Michael Penix Jr. to Jahlil Florence gifted the Ducks a last-minute drive before the end of the first half. Oregon quickly drove the ball down deep into Washington territory, but the drive stalled with seconds left on the clock. Four straight plays from inside the Huskies’ 10-yard line failed to result in a score. It was all too reminiscent of last season’s goal line blunder against Oregon State. But, after three straight failed plays, Lewis should have gotten the call for a chip-shot field goal to bring the Ducks within a point at the end of the half. Instead, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning called up a pass play, and it fell incomplete. Oregon came away empty handed, and the drive was all for naught. “We felt that was an opportunity for us to get a touchdown,” Lanning said. “A touchdown changes the game and obviously we’re probably not talking about it if we get a touchdown. That being said, the one before half was one you could go back and say, ‘let’s take the field goal.’” Oregon trailed by four and would have gotten the ball to start the second half. Back-to-back scoring drives would have not only erased the Ducks’ deficit and given them the lead, but it also could have served as a huge momentum swing and a potential silencer to an explosive Husky Stadium. Just two drives later, Oregon found itself in a similar situation. The offense had marched down the field, but faced a 4th-and-short within Washington’s 10-yard line. This time, the Ducks trailed by 11. A field goal would have made the contest a one-score game. Instead, another incompletion gave the ball back to the Huskies with a chance to deliver the knockout blow. They didn’t, and Oregon was able to rally and even regain the lead. A drive late in the game to milk the clock sputtered around the 50-yard line and the Ducks, once again, faced a 4th-and-short situation. Instead of a punt to pin Washington deep in its own territory, the offense attempted another conversion, one that would have iced the game for Oregon. Again, Bo Nix’s pass fell incomplete. “We checked to see if we liked the look [of the Washington defense],” Lanning said. “We liked the look before we ran the The University of Oregon Ducks football team beat the Stanford University Cardinal on Sept. 30, 2023 in Stanford, Cali. (Jonathan play. We had a timeout if we didn’t like the look. We liked the Suni/Emerald) look, we just didn’t execute.” That might be even more concerning. If Oregon liked how it left and right all game long. With a mobile quarterback in Nix, and two rushers stacked up to the Huskies’ defense on each of the conversion attempts, then the that were able to advance at will, the wrong play call — even in arguably the Ducks aren’t reading the looks right. They were 0-3 on 4th down on Saturday. right moment — sunk Oregon on Saturday. Even if one was to fully trust the analytics and the looks and back the three Even still, great teams capitalize. Had the offense converted even one of conversion attempts, the play call is still questionable. those attempts, there would likely be more positive pieces being written Oregon running backs Bucky Irving and Jordan James averaged 5.8 and 5.7 about the rivalry game. yards per carry respectively in the loss. The Ducks needed far less than that in Instead, blame for one of the more crushing losses in recent Oregon history is each of these must-have situations. falling unfairly on the shoulders of Lewis. But he, the offense and the coaching A pass attempt, in hindsight, seemed far too risky. Washington’s ability to stop staff failed to capitalize on their opportunities in the top-10 ranked clash. the run had waived all game. Irving was making highlight-reel broken tackles T H U R S D AY, O C T O B E R 1 9 , 2 0 2 3

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OREGON AND WASHINGTON STATE CLASH AT AUTZEN STADIUM Both the Ducks and the Cougars look to bounce back from disappointing losses in their last games The No. 9 Oregon Ducks (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12) are taking on the Washington State Cougars (4-2, 1-2 Pac-12) at home with both teams coming off of a loss last week. The Cougars fell out of the AP Top-25 for the first time since their appearance in the poll before Week 3. The Ducks dropped just one spot after their loss against Washington. This game comes at a critical time for both teams so far this season. For Oregon, its College Football Playoff hopes are still alive, but only just. Another loss would drop the Ducks out of the race entirely. However, for the Cougars, a loss this week would be their third straight loss, after dropping games against Utah and Arizona. The Pac-12 has proven to be a gauntlet this year, with eight of the 12 teams appearing in the AP Top-25 at some point this year. This game, which would have been a Top-25 matchup last week, is no longer that. However, Washington State has proven that they are still a team to be feared. The big question for Oregon coming into this game will be Dan Lanning’s coaching decisions. What has been a strength for the Ducks this season turned into a massive weakness in their loss against Washington. The Ducks were 0-3 on fourth down conversions, including two that came inside the 10-yard-line instead of field goal attempts and the third which gave the Huskies great field position for their game winning touchdown drive. “I think this game is 100 percent on me,” Lanning said in his postgame comments about his decision to play aggressively, which cost Oregon the game. “You don’t have to look anywhere else besides me.” The play calling has proven effective for Oregon so far this year, but their luck finally ran out against Washington. However, Lanning does not seem like the type of coach to change his philosophy after a single loss. If the Ducks go into this game with the same type of play calling as they have all year, the focus will be on their abilities to convert on fourth downs. For Washington State, questions began appearing in their loss to Arizona that had not come up before. The Cougars were putting together an impressive Ducks cornerback Verone Mckinley III (23) runs down the field. Oregon Ducks football takes on Washington State at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Oct. 26, 2019. (Maddie Knight/Emerald)

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BY JOE MOORE • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART

season so far with a big win over Oregon State and their only loss coming against a very good UCLA team. However, after being favored by more than a touchdown against Arizona, Washington State suffered a shocking 44-6 blowout loss. The Cougars, who were ranked as high as No. 13 just two weeks ago, now find themselves on the outside of the AP Poll looking in. Heisman candidate and Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward had an uncharacteristically poor performance. The Washington State offense managed just 234 total yards while turning the ball over four times. A matchup with Oregon is not a recipe for success for teams that are looking to score a bounceback win, but that is the unfortunate situation the Cougars find themselves in entering this Week 8 matchup. The Oregon defense will be tested for the second straight week after holding Washington to their second lowest point total of the season. Washington State’s offense is not at the level of the Huskies, but they have topped 30 points in four of their six games so far. However, their two games scoring less than 30 have come in the last two weeks. The Cougars’ offense will have to show up against a stingy Oregon defense that will be looking to prove itself after their loss in Week 7. Despite the loss, Oregon looked impressive in its game against Washington. Bo Nix passed for 312 yards and had two touchdown passes. Troy Franklin continued his stellar season with eight catches for 154 yards and a touchdown. The Ducks offense has been firing on all cylinders so far this season and Washington State will have a difficult task trying to slow it down. On the other side of the ball, there was no stopping Michael Penix Jr., but Oregon’s defense did as good as it could have. Penix Jr. had 302 passing yards, his lowest total of the season. He did have four touchdown passes, but the Ducks were able to force his third interception of the year. Washington State and Ward will have a tough time finding ways to score against an impressive Oregon defense.

Washington State quarterback Anthony Gordon (18) throws the ball immediately before he gets tackled by a Duck. Oregon Ducks football takes on Washington State at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Oct. 26, 2019. (Maddie Knight/Emerald)

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AROUND THE PAC-12: WEEK 7 With the Ducks suffering their first loss of 2023, how did the rest of the conference fare in Week 7? BY JOE KRASNOWSKI • DESIGNED BY LIZ BLODGETT

The Duck poses for a picture. The University of Oregon Ducks football team defeated the Stanford University Cardinal in an away match at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Cali., on Sept. 30, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)

The Pac-12’s schedule has always been known as a gauntlet. That has proven to be no different so far in its final season. With the Ducks’ (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12) hopes for an undefeated season drowned out by the Huskies (6-0, 3-0 Pac-12), let’s check in on how the rest of the Pac-12 fared in this unpredictable week.

STANFORD UPSETS COLORADO 46-43 IN DOUBLE OT THRILLER The Pac-12 after dark strikes yet again as Colorado (4-3, 1-3 Pac-12) seems far from the team that social media made them out to be earlier in the season. The Buffaloes’ defense was torched by an explosive Stanford (2-4, 1-3 Pac-12) offense for 532 total yards. The Cardinal were led by Elic Ayomanor, who totaled 294 yards receiving and three touchdowns. The return of Colorado’s two-way star Travis Hunter was not enough for Deion Sanders’ squad as the Buffaloes — who led 29-0 at the half — were defeated in double overtime by a 31-yard Joshua Karty field-goal. Stanford’s first conference win since Week 7 of last year was a big one. The Cardinal, under first year head coach Troy Taylor, will look to force another upset next week at home against No. 25 UCLA. The Buffaloes will go into their bye week searching for answers as they finish the season with four of their last five games coming against ranked opponents.

OREGON STATE WINS OFFENSIVE SHOWDOWN WITH UCLA 36-24 Coming off a shootout victory over Cal, the Beavers (6-1, 3-1 Pac-12) stayed hot exposing the PA G E 2 0

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Bruins (4-2, 1-2 Pac-12). Oregon State’s offense was led by quarterback DJ Uiagalelei who seems to have settled in as quarterback in Corvallis. Uiagalelei connected with Jack Velling twice in the end-zone and paired it with 266 passing yards. True freshman quarterback Dante Moore struggled yet again for the Bruins, throwing his third pick-six. UCLA’s rushing attack was strong but its 284 rushing yards were not enough to top the Beavers. Oregon State — now ranked No. 12 — will enter its bye week while the Bruins, now No. 25, travel to Palo Alto to take on Stanford.

USC SUFFERS FIRST LOSS IN 48-20 BLOWOUT BY NOTRE DAME Caleb Williams looked human, and that’s all Notre Dame needed to defeat the Trojans (6-1, 4-0 Pac-12). USC’s defense was not the issue for the first time all year, as the Trojans allowed just 251 yards of total offense. However, Lincoln Riley’s Trojans could not get out of their own way with five turnovers. USC, who trailed 23-6 at the half, was unable to claw out of its self-imposed hole. Williams threw three interceptions and was inconsistent for most of the night. The Fighting Irish took advantage of USC’s mistakes as quarterback Sam Hartman threw for two touchdowns. The dagger for the Trojans came in the form of a 99-yard Jadarian Price kickoff return which put Notre Dame up 17 with just under nine minutes remaining. The now No. 18 Trojans will look to improve against a tough Utah squad.

ARIZONA UPSETS WASHINGTON STATE IN PULLMAN

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Arizona (4-3, 2-2 Pac-12) might just be the trap game every Pac-12 team looks to avoid. That much held true Saturday evening as the Wildcats dismantled the then No. 19 Cougars (4-2, 1-2 Pac-12) 44-6. For the second week in a row, Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward looked horrific. Ward threw for only 192 passing yards and an interception. The Cougars’ defense didn’t do much to stop the Wildcats’ running game which, led by Jonah Coleman, totaled five touchdowns. The Wildcats have been a nice surprise in 2023 and will look to continue their strong play next week in Corvallis. The Cougars’ schedule won’t be getting any easier as they await a trip to Autzen in Week 8.

UTAH TOPPLES CAL 34-14 Utah’s (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12) rushing attack ran all over the Golden Bears (3-4, 1-3 Pac-12) as the Utes controlled the game from start to finish. The Golden Bears’ offense, which ranked highly going into Saturday’s matchup, was slowed down mightily by the Utes, totaling just 254 yards of total offense and two turnovers. Relying once again on its rushing attack, Utah, led by running backs Sione Vaki and Ja’Quinden Jackson, combined for 252 yards rushing and three touchdowns. The No. 14 Utes, who await the return of quarterback Cam Rising, travel to Los Angeles this week to take on USC, while the Golden Bears head into their bye week.

CROSSWORD

WORD JUMBLE

Across

1 Improvise 6 Woodstock supergroup, briefly 10 Where to find bands on bands 15 Whooping __ 16 Next in line 17 Like most Ken dolls 18 Works as a decoy vendor? 20 Fielder’s need 21 Aliens, for short 22 Layered dessert 23 Mineral deposits 24 Works as a political consultant? 28 Meat and potatoes, often 31 __ canto 32 Sch. group 33 Snoozer 34 “I feel you” 38 Works as a weatherperson? 43 Set of promotional materials 44 Dory pal 45 Fender accessory 47 World’s second-tallest bird 48 Souped-up ride 50 Works as a fast-food cook? 55 Capital once called Christiania 56 Gas up? 57 Sport with takedowns, for short 60 Horned herbivore 62 Guard aggressively, and an apt description of 18-, 24-, 38-, and 50-Across 64 Toy truck brand 65 Ski town outside Salt Lake City 66 Step in the shower? 67 Promise 68 Cond. once called shell shock 69 Car rental choice

Unscramble these Jumbles, one letter to each square, to form four ordinary words.

NATGE LORED LAHHET TREEHT Now arrange the circled letters to form the answer as suggested by the cartoon.

Down

19 Big name in bananas 24 Musical equivalent of two whole notes 25 Film critic Roger 26 Classic grape soda 27 Oscar winner Guinness 28 Abate 29 55-Across’s country: Abbr. 30 Helpful item when it’s time to bounce? 34 Sheep in the “Wallace and Gromit” franchise 35 Puffin kin

36 X-ray kin 37 Goes on and on 39 Paradise 40 Virtual people in a video game 41 Dashboard Confessional genre 42 Square in a yard 45 Cancels, as a launch 46 1990s series starring David Cross and Bob Odenkirk 48 Make good as new 49 River rompers 51 Wilder role 52 Curved fastener

53 Surpluses 54 Develop mold, say 57 Darn 58 Tamale dough 59 “You said it!” 61 Dory mover 62 Kwik Seal maker 63 Get even with?

SUDOKU

ANSWERS

Jumbles - AGENT, OLDER, HEALTH, TETHER CARTOON CAPTION - HEEL TO HEAL

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME By David L. Hoyt & Jeff Knurek

1 Icy Hot target 2 “Darn!” 3 Statutes 4 Tats 5 Principal pal 6 Boor 7 Religious divisions 8 Kicks with swooshes 9 Mos. and mos. 10 “Notorious” SCOTUS justice 11 Participate in a meting? 12 Garage convenience 13 Flip 14 “Friday Night Lights” city

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GAMEDAY

RUTH: A HOSTILE ROAD GAME EXPERIENCE TO BE REMEMBERED I was given the opportunity to travel for ESPN’s College GameDay and the Ducks-Huskies game; it was incredible to cover BY BRADY RUTH • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART As a student journalist, opportunities to cover games are always exciting, but I’ve never had an experience quite like this. This was no Stanford blowout. It wasn’t a meaningless nonconference game early in the season. It was No. 8 Oregon (5-0, 2-0 Pac-12) heading up to Seattle to play No. 7 Washington (5-0, 2-0 Pac-12). It was the biggest game in the history of a storied rivalry. It was a collision of two of the best offenses in the game in front of ESPN’s College GameDay and the eyes of the nation. And I got to cover it for the Daily Emerald. Surreal. After receiving press credentials for both GameDay and the game, and traveling to Seattle the night before, the most important day of my professional life started early. At 3:45 a.m. to be exact. My trip to UW’s campus was dark and quiet. But as I got closer to the set of College GameDay, the noise and energy grew exponentially. The entire campus was lit up purple in support for the team. From the stadium, to the fountain, to the library, it was clear that school spirit runs deep in Seattle. I picked up my credential and got settled on the media platform facing the famous College GameDay table. I settled in for three hours of listening to the GameDay crew break down the upcoming Saturday of college football. Being able to stand mere feet from Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and, of course,

Pat McAfee was incredible. Having exclusive access to the set was a pleasure and a dream come true. Washington’s students showed out at GameDay. Signs and chants — though not all friendly — filled the morning and as the sun rose, they only got louder. A virtual interview with Oregon head coach Dan Lanning was one of the segments of the show. I couldn’t hear a word he

When Corso did the unexpected and picked against his beloved Duck friend, I thought the campus might come crashing down around me. It was so loud. The fans were so excited. The show ended abruptly at 9:00 a.m. and the crowd almost

The University of Oregon football team lost to the University of Washington Huskies on Oct. 14, 2023 in Seattle, Wash. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald) The University of Oregon football team lost to the University of Washington Huskies on Oct. 14, 2023 in Seattle, Wash. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)

said. The boos and jeers were overpowering. The Huskies have one of the most passionate fan bases I’ve been around. Waiting between segments, I was able to talk to other media members and journalists. We shared stories and experiences as well as our takes and predictions for the upcoming game.

immediately dispersed. Some went to tailgate while others snagged a breakfast. I’m sure some even went back to sleep. I, on the other hand, headed straight for Husky Stadium. I went up to the press box and fixed my setup for the huge game. The press box felt miles away from the action, but the view of Husky Stadium and the surrounding area was unreal. Rolling hills served as the backdrop and I could spot

fans “sailgating” on their boats in the nearby lake. The Huskies know how to do a game day right. With hours until kickoff still remaining, I went down to the field. I stood feet away from Bo Nix and other athletes as they prepared to play in what was currently a dead-silent stadium, but one that was soon to erupt. Man, it was loud. All game long, it was hard to talk to the reporters next to me or even sort my own thoughts out. For the game, I sat in my labeled seat — I quite literally had a place with my name on it — and I won’t dive too deep into the game because, frankly, if you don’t already know what happened, you haven’t been paying attention. I wrote, observed, updated and tweeted my way through the nailbiter. I wasn’t in the stands, but the energy and constant anticipation still flooded the press box. With five minutes remaining in the game, I went back down to the field. I only narrowly avoided getting trampled by the Washington fans as they rushed the field to celebrate the Huskies’ 36-33 victory. Maybe I’m the curse. The Ducks have never lost a game that I’ve covered. Save for two. Both against Washington. The theme of the day was emotion. The thrill that I had. The excitement and passion of the fans. The heartbreak on the Oregon players’ faces after the loss. The dejectedness that sat in Lanning’s post-game press conference. It all combined for a day highlighted by a whirlwind of emotions, and an opportunity I’ll be forever grateful for.

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A debit card for Duck fans

Or visit MyOCCU.org/GameDayDuck

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