NEWSROOM Editor
in Chief Hannarose McGuinness
Yellow Team’s, Sean Dollars (5) makes a run outside the defensive line. The Oregon Football team competes in it’s annual spring game on April 23rd, 2022 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)
KRIS HUTSON
T.J. BASS
MARCUS HARPER II
ALEX FORSYTH
RYAN WALK
MALAESALA AUMAVAE-LAULU
TERRANCE FERGUSON BO NIX
BUCKY IRVING
ISAAH CROCKER
CALEB CHAPMAN
WR WR WR LT LG OC RG RT TE QB RB WR WR WR
SO SO SO SR/TR S RS SR RS SR RS SR/TR SO SR/TR SO/TR RS JR RS SR/TR RS SO OREGON
# POS
YEAR
JACKSON POWERS-JOHNSON
DAVE LULI
DAWSON JARAMILLO
CAM MCCORMICK
JAY BUTTERFIELD
NOAH WHITTINGTON
KYLER KASPER
MOLIKI MATAVAO
TY THOMPSON
SEAN DOLLARS
PATRICK HERBERT
LT LG OC RG RT TE QB RB WR TE QB
TE
RB
BRANDON DORLUS
JORDAN RILEY
CASEY ROGERS
DJ JOHNSON
NOAH SEWELL
JEFFREY BASSA
TRIKWEZE BRDIGES
JAMAL HILL
STEVE STEPHENS IV
CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ
BENNETT WILLIAMS
TREVEN MA’AE
TAKI TAIMANI
No. 3 No. 91 No. 98 No. 2 No. 1 No. 33 No. 11 No. 19 No. 7 No. 00 No. 48 No. 55 No. 95 No. 18
SR/TR
MASE FUNA
JACKSON LADUKE
JUSTIN FLOWE
DONTAE MANNING DAYMON DAVID BRYAN ADDISON
JAHLIL FLORENCE JJ GREENFIELD
JAKE SHIPLEY BRADYN SWINSON KEITH BROWN
DARREN BARKINS
KHAMARI TERRELL
CAMDEN LEWIS
ANDREW BOYLE
PT/PK/KO PK/KO KO/PK
LS JR/TR JR RS JR/TR SR PLAYER OREGON
EDGE
WLB CB
S S CB NB DE EDGE WLB CB NB JR RS FR RS FR SO SO RS JR FR RS FR SO SO SO RS FR FR
H/PT PR/KR PT KR SR/TR SO SO/TR RS SO
The Duck and Benny the Beaver play a game of connect four on the sidelines. The University of Oregon Ducks hosted and defeated the Oregon State Beavers 38-29, claiming the Pac-12 North champions title. (Emerald/ Ian Enger)
MARCO BREWER
JAKE LEVENGOOD
BRANDON KIPPER
TALIESE FUAGA
JAKE OVERMAN
LUKE MUSGRAVE
CHANCE NOLAN
DESHAUN FENWICK
JOHN DUNMORE
JESIAH IRISH
SILAS BOLDEN
TYLER MORANO
No. 00 No. 1 No. 2 No. 67 No. 60 No. 70 No. 68 No. 75 No. 81 No. 88 No. 10 No. 5 No. 14 No. 13 No. 7 No. 73
LT
LG
JR/TR
DYLAN LOPEZ
FLAVIO GONZALEZ
J.T. BYRNE
GABE MILBOURN
TRISTAN GEBBIA
TREY LOWE
MAKIYA TONGUE
JIMMY VALSIN III
TOMMY SPENCER
JACK VELLING
BEN GULBRANSON
DAMIEN MARTINEZ
JAM GRIFFIN
No. 58 No. 61 No. 57 No. 77 No. 87 No. 82 No. 3 No. 21 No. 9 No. 16 No. 71 No. 84 No. 17 No. 6 No. 8 No. 25
LG OC RG RT
RS
SO FR JR/TR
FR] RS FR RS SR/TR RS JR/TR RS SO/TR RS R SO FR RS FR FR RS SO/TR RS FR
ISAAC HODGINS
SIMON SANDBERG
JAMES RAWLS
RILEY SHARP
KYREI FISHER-MORRIS
OMAR SPEIGHTS
JOHN MCCARTAN
REJZOHN WRIGHT
JAYDON GRANT
KITAN OLADAPO
ALEX AUSTIN
RYAN COOPER JR.
JOE GOLDEN
CODY ANDERSON
TRAVIS SHIPPEN
No. 99 No. 96 No. 52 No. 56 No. 8 No. 1 No. 6 No. 2 No. 3 No. 28 No. 5 No. 23 No. 95 No. 98 No. 94 No. 82
JR
EVERETT HAYES
DYLAN BLACK
ANTHONY GOULD
SILAS BOLDEN
Information courtesy from www. ourlads.com
PT/H PK/KO LS
SR JR RS SO RS SO SO RS JR/TR PLAYER #
PR KR/PR PT/H
JESIAH IRISH
TREY LOWE
DAMIEN MARTINEZ
NT
PK/KO LS
KR KR RS
FR
The No. 10 Oregon Ducks (9-2, 7-1) play the No. 22 Oregon State Beavers (8-3, 5-3) next Saturday in their last regular season Pac-12 game.
Last weekend the Ducks beat Utah in a 20-17 thriller. Following a 37-34 loss to Washington the week prior, the Ducks were hungry to get a win and it showed.
The defense for the Ducks played an important role in the victory, holding Utah to only 17 points. After conceding 522 yards to Washington, the defense was able to demonstrate how they respond to adversity by upholding the standard that they want to perform at. They forced three Utah interceptions.
Dealing with an ankle injury, Oregon quarterback Bo Nix’s status was uncertain right until tipoff. Nix ended up throwing one touchdown on 287 yards and an interception. His one positive rush was one of the most important plays of the game, occurring on third down with less than two minutes remaining in the game.
The Beavers are coming off of a dominant 31-7 win against Arizona State. OSU held ASU to zero second half points and converted 28 first downs compared to the Sun Devils’ 13.
OSU’s Ben Gulbrandson started the last six games at quarterback for the Beavers following a neck injury to Chance Nolan. Gulbrandson threw a touchdown passs on 188 passing yards and had an eight-yard rushing touchdown against ASU.
Saturday’s game will be the first time since 2012 that both Oregon and OSU are ranked within the AP Top-25. Oregon won last season’s
matchup in Eugene 24-10.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning said that despite the big win against Utah, the team is just as motivated to get the job done in Corvallis. Lanning expressed his respect for the football OSU has been playing and said that all of their focus will be on the game ahead of them, which is when Oregon is at its best.
If the Ducks pull off the victory against OSU they will clinch a berth in the Pac-12 Championship game for the fourth straight
season. They still have a chance if they lose, but they would need Washington State to win against Washington. The Beavers are looking for their first nine-win season since 2012 and their first win against the Ducks since 2020.
Saturday’s rivalry game can be found on ABC at 12:30 p.m.
cheer on the ducks from the student section while holding signs. The University of Oregon Ducks hosted and defeated the Oregon State Beavers 38-29, claiming the Pac-12 North champions title. (Emerald/ Ian Enger)
From working at our counters to studying in the classroom; from directing our stores to cheering in the stands; the people we serve — the students — are the very people who are The Duck Store.
For over 120 games, Oregon and Oregon State football have been competing for the rivalry game title.
BY EMMA LOGANBragging rights are the only real prize the winners take away from the University of Oregon vs Oregon State rivalry game. But, for a series that dates back to 1894, that means a lot.
This highly anticipated matchup between the Ducks and Beavers occurs once a year, typically the last scheduled game of the regular season. While this game has had many names, such as the “Oregon Classic,” it was officially known as the “Civil War” from 1929 until 2020. This is the fifth-most played college football rivalry game.
The first-ever game was played in Corvallis on Nov. 3, 1894, where Oregon traveled north to play Oregon State, at the time known as Oregon Agricultural College. The OAC came away with the first win between the two teams and the rivalry was born.
The following year, the first-ever game was played in Eugene but looked much different than it does today. The coaches acted as officials and tickets to the game were 50 cents.
Typically, the rivalry game alternates fields between Reser Stadium in Corvallis and Autzen Stadium in Eugene. Since even-numbered years take place at Oregon State, this year’s matchup will be a home game for the Beavers.
The last time the Beavers had home field advantage, they defeated the Ducks 41-38 in 2020 during a shortened season. Jermar Jefferson contributed to that win by rushing for 226 yards, the most rushing yards in the rivalry series. This surprising loss ruined the Ducks playoff contention and made this the Beavers first win against a ranked opponent since 2014.
Oregon leads the series 67-48-10 and since 2000 the Ducks have won 15 of the matchups.
In 2000, both teams were ranked in the top 10 when Oregon was No. 5 and Oregon State ranked No. 8. This year
both teams are ranked in the top 25. Back in 2000, both teams were fighting for a spot in the Rose Bowl game and Oregon State came away with the rivalry win 23-13.
The 2017 matchup was a historical page in the books when Oregon set records for the series in margin of win and points scored with a final score of 69-10. This game was also monumental for individual players like Royce Freeman, who broke the 16 year record for Pac-12 rushing touchdowns.
The rivalry game was played seven times in Portland early on to try and gain attraction. The first Portland game was played in 1908 and a crowd of 10,000 gathered to watch. Last year’s game was played in front of 56,408 fans in Autzen Stadium.
Bringing two historic football programs together on one field tends to bring out strong emotions between the two fan bases.
In 1937, OSU shut out UO 14-0 and celebrated with a rally that resulted in approximately 2,000 OSU students traveling to Eugene the following day and continued their celebration. State police attempted to get involved and were only partially successful. Oregon students retaliated by throwing tomatoes and water balloons.
Duck fans stormed the field in the 1972 game in Corvallis when Oregon won 30-3, ending an eight-game win streak. Their excitement was shown by attempting to tear down the south goal post. Oregon State fans attempted to defend their goal posts but caused fights along the way.
The 2022 matchup comes with a lot on the line for the future of Oregon’s season and would wrap up a successful season for Oregon State. The anticipation of this historical matchup will likely make this an exciting game.
As he strutted, and celebrated his way off the field, Bennett Williams pointed right at his teammate J.J. Greenfield. Despite remaining on the sidelines for the entirety of Saturday night, Greenfield had made an invaluable contribution, and Williams knew so.
Throughout the practice week leading up to No. 12 Oregon’s game against No. 10 Utah, the two shared the film room, where Greenfield pointed out ways in which Williams could try and contain Utes’ tight-end Dalton Kincaid — who entered week 12 with 784 receiving yards, the most by any tightend in the Pac-12.
“We knew that they were gonna try to get the ball to him,” Williams said. “Especially, in that fourth quarter, when it’s on the line, fourth down, we know they’re going to 86.”
Even with preparation, Williams knew the cover wouldn’t be easy. His prognosis was accurate. Kincaid was targeted 17 times. He caught a total of 11 passes for 99 yards. Essentially, he was the Utes’ only form of consistent offense, on a night where they gained 326 total yards.
Williams finally caught on.
When it came time for him to defend target No. 17, he didn’t flinch. He thought back to those mid-week film sessions with Greenfield, and the conversation the two shared before Williams and the Ducks defense retook the field with six minutes remaining, trying to protect a 3-point lead, their Pac-12 title hopes hardly breathing.
“‘[Greenfield] had told me right before the drive, ‘they’re going to throw you one, just catch it,’” Williams said.
He almost didn’t. But after a slight bobble, a tuck-and-roll, he secured the interception. His intuition to thank. Greenfield’s advice, too.
Prior to the snap, Williams had guessed the Utes were checking Kincaid into a hot route: a quick slant. He had watched them do it in film, ad nauseam. He had been a step behind it all night. But on first-and-10 from the Utes 48 with just over four minutes remaining, he finally guessed right. He stepped in front of Kincaid and corralled his second pick of the night, and the third for a Ducks’ defense that made just enough plays to counterbalance the offense’s shortcomings, on their way to a 20-17 win over Utah.
The win that now means Oregon (9-2, 7-1) controls its own destiny on the path to a Pac-12 Championship appearance. And that it didn’t fall victim to the program that dismantled them not once, but twice at the end of last season. And for Williams, the performance redeemed the mistakes he and the defense had made against No. 15
Washington, which cost the Ducks a chance at a College Football Playoff berth.
Last week, the senior safety took responsibility for conceding the game-tying 62-yard touchdown to Taj Davis that helped Washington defeat the Ducks 37-34.
“I really thought I was going to make that play,” Williams said after the game against Washington.
“I got a good break on it. [Michael Penix Jr.] put it in a good spot right on the sideline. That’s on me. That’s one I got to have.”
It was one of many gaffes that defined the Ducks’ defensive showing against Washington as they conceded 522 total yards and passing touchdowns of 76 and 62 yards. Yes, Williams took accountability for the one that led to Washington’s victory, but Oregon’s defense and defensive playcalling was just as much at fault.
Williams felt taking onus was the first step in making up for it.
“I think that’s what enabled me this week to be able to go out there and not have that fear,” he said.
Along with his two interceptions, the senior safety led the Oregon defense with 14 total tackles.
As a team captain, Williams strives to set that standard for his fellow teammates, many of whom know all too well what can happen to a team after it loses out on a chance at competing for a national championship.
The sixth-year senior was injured and didn’t play against Utah last season. He sat at home and watched as the Ducks were blown out by the Utes 38-7, dropping from their No. 3 rank and out of CFP contention. After that loss, they bottled up, and lost to Utah two weeks later in the Pac-12 Championship, 38-10, and Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl, 47-32.
Following the loss to Washington, and the stakes that went away with it, the Ducks could have succumbed to the same fate. Instead, those who experienced the despair coupled with the loss to
Utah last season, used it as fuel.
“We held that loss for a year,” defensive end Brandon Dorlus said. “That was always in the back of our consciousness.”
When it came time to face the team that had stripped the Ducks of their shot at a national championship in 2021, the same one that had dominated them in the Pac-12 championship two weeks later, they channeled that resentment they had held onto.
It showed.
It showed in the performance of Dorlus and that defensive line — a unit that had rendered liable in Oregon’s previous two matchups against Colorado and Washington, where they failed to record a sack.
It showed when Utah — a team predicated on smashmouth football — met its match, with the interior of Oregon’s defensive line. And when two of those three interceptions came off tipped passes at the line of scrimmage.
Finally, it showed in Williams’ ability to read Kincaid’s hot route when it mattered most, not letting the pass-catcher’s success throughout the night diminish his spirit.
If he felt he owed the offense an apology after the loss to Washington, then certainly, the score is settled.
After playing a role in No. 12 Oregon’s heartbreaking loss to Washington last weekend, Oregon safety Bennett Williams did not sit around all week feeling sorry for himself.
Utah had the chance to take the lead with 4:15 remaining in the game and only being down by a field goal. On first-and-10, Utah quarterback Cameron Rising threw a pass intended for tight end Dalton Kincaid up the middle, but Williams had anticipated it and got the interception.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning had nothing but praise when talking about Williams postgame.
“Bennett Williams is a tough kid that has high expectations for himself and when his best was needed he showed up,” Lanning said.
Williams’ interception was not the only important defensive play in the game. After coming off a Washington game in which Oregon conceded 522 yards, its defense stepped up each time it seemed like Utah was going to pull ahead.
Led by Williams, who tied his career-high with 14 tackles, Oregon pulled off the 20-17 victory.
Following its first conference loss of the season
BY LILY CRANEto Washington and with quarterback Bo Nix picking up an ankle injury, many counted out Oregon against a strong Utah team. This win keeps the Ducks’ Pac-12 title hopes alive.
Williams had his first of two interceptions with 14:02 to go in the second quarter. After an Oregon fumble on third-and-17, defensive lineman Jordon Riley tipped a pass from Rising intended for Kincaid. Linebacker Justin Flowe took Kincaid out on the play following the deflection and Williams was able to grab his first interception of the season.
“Those big moments, I feel like I’m made for that in terms of I gotta step up,” Williams said.
Later in the quarter, the defense was able to force an incomplete for a Utah turnover on downs at the Oregon 11. While the defense thrived, the second half was rough for the offense. After outscoring the Utes 17-3 in the first half, the game ended up being separated by just a Camden Lewis 41-yard field goal with 11:17 to go in the fourth quarter.
Despite allowing a Utah touchdown in the half, the defense won the game down the stretch. Following Williams’ second interception, the
defense forced three incomplete passes in a row at midfield. Utah committed the turnover on downs with 1:57 left in the game, giving the Ducks the final possession in the victory.
“I’m so proud of the guys for stepping up,” Williams said on the defensive performance. “Especially after last week and a showing like last week to be able to step up, that was really impressive.”
Nix sealed the win with 1:43 left with a 2-yard rush on third-and-1 for an Oregon first down. It allowed Oregon to retain possession for the remainder of the game.
With the offense putting the team on its back for most of the season, the defense was able to return the favor in a game where the offense did not look quite as strong as usual. They will look to have another strong outing in next week’s rivalry game against Oregon State to seal a spot in the Pac-12 Championship game.
“Now everything is right in front of us,” Williams said. “This was a big hump that we had to get over, but this next team is also really good.”
After being a game time decision against No. 10 Utah, time will tell if he suits up for the Ducks’ regular season finale
BY KEIJI PATTERSON • TWITTER @PATTERSON_KEIJIWith 4:26 remaining in the contest, up by a margin of a mere four points, hoping to extend their home and season winning streaks, the Oregon Ducks saw their playoff hopes dwindle as senior quarterback Bo Nix was shaken up on a two yard designed quarterback run play. Nix was met in the hole by Washington Huskies safety Alex Cook who perfectly filled the running lane, which stopped Nix in his tracks. This unfortunate event could not have come at a more pivotal time. The Ducks had an opportunity to go up 11 and essentially put a seal on the game, but due to the injury and the run which fell short of the first down marker, their 20 play, 91 yard drive was stalled and they were forced to settle for three. That play could go down as one of the biggest ‘what ifs’ for this season and perhaps Ducks history, had Nix been able to stay in the game on fourth down.
Washington went on to tie the game with a 62 yard game breaking touchdown pass from their quarterback Michael Penix to wide receiver Taj Davis, which gave Oregon the football back with three minutes left in the contest.
With Nix being evaluated by the training staff, Oregon was forced to put in backup quarterback Ty Thompson, who is yet to start a game in his young Duck career.
Oregon refused to throw the ball on this crucial drive and turned it over on downs when running back Noah Whittington slipped on the Oregon 33 yard line, which set up the Huskies with great field position to go ahead.
With just under a minute to play, the Huskies’ kicker Peyton Henry drilled a 43 yard field goal to regain the lead for his team.
As Oregon’s undefeated conference play was in peril, it trotted the battered Nix out for its final drive. Nix threw two first down passes to give the Ducks hope, including a critical fourth down conversion to wide receiver Troy Franklin.
After an illegal touching penalty on Franklin, Nix was forced to throw a final end zone heave in hopes of winning the contest and saving the Ducks’ College Football Playoff aspirations.
Nix’s pass fell short of the end zone and the Ducks lost to their rivals in heartbreaking fashion.
Moreover, Nix’s status was left in question for their matchup with the No. 10 Utah Utes. So much so that sophomore wide receiver Kris Hutson left the media in uncertainty that Thompson would make his first career start against the Utes.
“Obviously Bo is down, so it’s next man up,” Hutson said at a post practice press conference. “He’s learned a lot from Bo, so he kind of took his game to the next level also. Ty’s a good player, great quarterback, very
smart, and you know, can’t wait to see him out there ready to go.”
While it was a game time decision, Nix did in fact suit for the Ducks on Senior Night, and he played through the pain of his injury — though not at full strength.
Nix threw for 287 yards, one touchdown and an interception as he and his teammates put their team back in prime position to advance to the Pac-12 championship game, and avenge last season’s blowout losses to the Utes.
In the postgame interview, Nix described his week of preparation with his status in question.
“There was so many guys that had ticky tack injuries, that were just bothersome.
Ryan [Walk] battled all week, we were in the training room together, just feeling it out,” Nix said. “We’re like, ‘Hey what are you thinking, how are you thinking your feeling, we gonna give it a go?’ We just both decided, you know what, we’re both seniors, a competitive game like Utah, we want to be out there.”
Nix added that the week was filled with a roller coaster of emotions.
“Well it was up and down. There were times I was like ‘You know what I can go out there and manage,’ and then there were times when I was like ‘I can’t even walk, I don’t know how I’m gonna be able to do that,’” Nix said.
Several players — Nix included — admitted that they weren’t sure if he’d be able to compete against Utah.
“I’ve never been a part of a game time decision, but this was legitimately a game time decision,” Nix said. “You don’t know with these kinds of injuries how adrenaline’s gonna work and how you feel during pregame warmups..yesterday I was able to get out there and do some stuff, and it gave me some more confidence that it was possible.”
In head coach Dan Lanning’s opening remarks of the Utah postgame presser, he applauded Nix for his toughness and efforts in the game and the week preceding.
“I can’t say enough about our quarterback to play in this game after being banged up,” Lanning said. “Really having limited practice reps and that was certainly newsworthy to everybody else, but for him to go out there and have a gutsy performance was really important and special for this team, and excited for our win.”
When asked about Nix’s status for the upcoming contest against in-state rival Oregon State University, Lanning gave a witty response.
“I’ll let Kris Hutson answer that one. We’re just going to get back to work man and keep attacking it,” Lanning said.
Four of the six conference games on Saturday featured a ranked team. How did they do?
Perhaps the most important week of the season for the Pac-12 played out on Saturday, and one of college football’s top conferences was once again full of action and stories. No. 12 Oregon was victorious over No. 10 Utah and kept its Pac12 championship hopes alive, while No. 7 USC clinched a trip to Las Vegas with a win of its own.
NO. 7 USC (10-1, 8-1 PAC-12) FENDS OFF INSTATE RIVAL NO. 16 UCLA (8-3, 5-3 PAC-12) 48-45
The Trojans knew the importance of Saturday’s game, and quarterback Caleb Williams led the march into the Rose Bowl and out again with a staple 48-45 win. The rivalry game being as high scoring as it was didn’t surprise many, but Williams having one of his best games against one of USC’s toughest opponents this season did. He had 470 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and a rushing score on the night. The Trojans held off a late rally from the Bruins to punch their ticket to the Pac-12 Championship Game in early December. USC hosts No. 13 Notre Dame (8-3) while hopes of a CFP berth live on.
Neither the UCLA or USC defense got off the bus for Saturday’s game. The two offenses combined for 93 points and 1,162 yards as the Victory Bell was returned to the Trojans. UCLA’s Pac-12 championship dreams died at home against its most bitter rival. Three Dorian ThompsonRobinson interceptions sealed any hope of a Bruin comeback as UCLA dropped its 11th game to the Trojans over its last 16 tries. The Bruins play the Bears of Cal (4-7, 2-6 Pac-12) Friday for their regular season finale. A win would still put UCLA in a pretty big bowl game at the end of the year.
NO. 17 WASHINGTON (9-2, 6-2 PAC-12) THUMPS COLORADO (1-10, 1-7 PAC-12) 54-7 ON SENIOR NIGHT
As the Huskies played their final home game of the season, they proved yet again to be a top contender in the Pac-12. Washington dominated Colorado on offense, defense, third downs, turnovers, time of possession and any other
category one could imagine. The biggest surprise from the night was the Huskies’ reliance on their running game. Washington rushers had 43 attempts against Colorado and nearly had more yards than Husky quarterbacks. Washington currently sits third in the Pac-12 and can make it to the championship game with a win over Washington State (7-4, 4-4 Pac-12) and a No.10 Oregon loss in week 13.
Colorado now has a point differential of 471-164 in 2022. The Buffs were held to under 14 points for the sixth time this season. The good news for Colorado fans is they only have to endure one more game day. The Buffaloes play No. 14 Utah (83, 6-2 Pac-12) Saturday.
NO. 23 OREGON STATE (8-3, 5-3 PAC-12) STOMPS ARIZONA STATE (3-8, 2-6 PAC-12) 31-7
The Beavers continued their impressive 2022 season in Tempe, Arizona on Saturday. It wasn’t the first time Oregon State has been ranked this season, but it was the first game it won as a ranked team. The Beavers were firing on all cylinders on Saturday. The offense scored in every quarter and never turned the ball over. The defense allowed just one touchdown and 276 total yards from the Arizona State offense. Oregon State is playing some of its best football in recent memory and is rolling hot into next week’s matchup with No. 10 Oregon (9-2, 7-1 Pac-12).
Who at the beginning of the season would have thought that the Sun Devils would be an underdog against instate foe Arizona in the final week of the season? This is the reality after yet another disappointing home loss. In 2022, Arizona State has bailed on its head coach and quarterback. Now, it looks to close out a year to forget with an upset win over Arizona (4-7, 2-6 Pac-12)
WASHINGTON STATE (7-4, 4-4 PAC-12) COLLECTS 31-20 ROAD WIN OVER ARIZONA (4-7, 2-6 PAC-12)
The Washington State defense had itself a day. Arizona’s offense had been one of the better ones
in the Pac-12 this season, but it sure didn’t look like it on Saturday. The Cougars forced four second half interceptions from Arizona’s Jayden de Laura. The four turnovers, 20 points allowed and solid day from the offense came together to extend Wazzu’s winning streak over the Wildcats to three games. The Cougars host the No. 17 Huskies (9-2, 6-2 Pac-12) looking to defend their hold on the Apple Cup.
It’s official: Arizona will not be bowl eligible in 2022. Coming into the season, this would have surprised few. But the Wildcats shocked some teams this season, and made a firm case that they’re on the rise. Saturday’s chance to keep bowl hopes alive and upset the Cougars, however, fell short when de Laura completed four passes to Washington State defenders. Arizona hosts Arizona State (3-8, 2-6 Pac-12) for the final game of its overachieving season.
CAL (4-7, 2-6 PAC-12)
(3-8, 1-8 PAC-12) 27-20
It was the 116th all time meeting between Northern California foes, and for just the 46th time, Cal was victorious over the Cardinal. It was an incredibly even – though ugly – matchup. Stanford and Cal both had two turnovers, between 270-280 passing yards, between 400-393 total yards and were under 30% on third downs. The difference was a late fourth quarter comeback for the Bears. Three touchdowns in the final frame propelled Cal to a comeback win and its second conference victory of the season. Two bad teams played, but one of them had to win. Cal plays No. 16 UCLA (8-3, 5-3 Pac-12).
Stanford dropped yet another conference game, and has now won two Pac-12 games across its past two seasons. At best, the Cardinal will finish tied for last in conference wins. Both of Stanford’s turnovers led to Cal touchdowns. One final game awaits the Cardinal’s brutal 2022 season: BYU (6-5) at home next weekend.
COLLEGE GAMES:
Mississippi State (7-4) @ Ole Miss (8-3)
Tulane (9-2) @ Cincinnati (9-2)
7 USC (9-1) @ No. 16 UCLA (8-2)
4 TCU (10-0) @ Baylor (6-4)
North Carolina State (7-4) @ North Carolina (9-2)
Michigan (11-0) @ Ohio State (11-0)Arkansas (4-4)
Notre Dame (8-3) @ USC (10-1)Southern Methodist (6-4)
NFL GAMES:
New England (6-4) @ Minnesota (8-2)
Los Angeles Chargers (5-5) @ Arizona (4-6)
Cincinnati (6-4) @ Tennessee (7-3)
Atlanta (5-6) @ Washington (6-5)
Pittsburgh (3-7) @ Indianapolis (4-6-1)
TIE-BREAKER:
Oregon (9-2) @ Oregon State (8-3)
