Dawgs & Ducks Set For Top-10 Clash Saturday In Seattle

Saturday, October 14

Seattle, WA

12:30 PM

University of Washington

Oregon

Buy Tickets

Photo by: Mike Fiechtner/UW Football

October 08, 2023 | Football

Full UW Game Notes

THE GAME: The Washington football team (5-0, 2-0 Pac-12) takes on Oregon (5-0, 2-0) in a battle of top-10, undefeated teams, Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. ESPN College Gameday will make its third-ever visit to the UW campus prior to the game (6:00-9:00 a.m. at Red Square). Both the Ducks and Dawgs had an off week on Oct. 7 and will be playing with both ranked in the top-10 in the AP poll for the first time in the history of the 123-year old rivalry. Following the Oregon game, UW remains at home to take on Arizona State, Oct. 21, in the annual Homecoming game.

QUICK HITTERS: UW leads the nation in passing offense and total offense; and is No. 3 in scoring offense ... UW's defense has 8 interceptions, surpassing 2022's season total (7) ... over just 18 games as a Husky, Michael Penix Jr. has notched five of the top-10 single-game passing yards marks in UW history, including his first three games this season (473 vs. Michigan State – 3rd; 450 vs. Boise State – 6th; 409 vs. Tulsa – 10th) ... Penix is up to sixth in UW history in career TD passes, with 47 ... he has thrown multiple TDs in 14 of his 18 games at UW ... his 6,640 career yards rank him 5th at UW ... through 5 games, Penix is No. 1 in FBS in total offense and passing yards per game; and No. 3 in pass efficiency and pass TDs ... four different UW receivers – Jalen McMillan, Rome Odunze, Ja'Lynn Polk and Germie Bernard (2) – have scored a rushing TD so far this season ... prior to this season, UW had had just eight games in its history in which two players had 100 receiving yards (including two last year) ... this season, that has happened in 4 of 5 games ... through 5 games, UW has had 43 scrimmage plays of 20 yards or more, most in FBS on a per-game average ... UW's defense has allowed just 16 ... Penix is currently No. 1 in the nation in pass plays of 10-plus (78 plays), 20-and 30-plus (19 plays) yards ... UW enters the week with the nation's second-longest active winning streak among FBS teams, with 12 victories in a row – tied for third-longest in UW history ... only Georgia, with a 23-game run, has a longer active streak ... Washington scored 40-plus points in the first 4 games, the first time that UW has scored 40-plus in four straight in the same season since 1944, when the Huskies did it with two lopsided wins each over Willamette and Whitman ... not counting the 4-game 2020 season, the Huskies have won 10 or more games in 4 of the last 6 seasons.

TELEVISION: The Washington-Oregon game will air on ABC, with Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe calling the action. Fans will with the proper subscription can also stream at ESPN.com/watch.

RADIO: All Washington football games will air on the Washington Sports Network from Learfield, with Tony Castricone (play by play), former Husky tight end Cameron Cleeland (analyst) and former UW basketball player Elise Woodward (sidelines) on the call. Radio coverage begins four hours before kickoff on the network's flagship station – Seattle's SportsRadio KJR 93.3 FM – with "Husky Gameday" live from The Zone for Husky home games. Statewide coverage on the 17-station Washington Sports Network begins two hours before kickoff. The entire broadcast is available worldwide on the Huskies Gameday mobile app and the Varsity app. The UW broadcast of this game will also air on Sirius/XM channel 132 or 197. Additionally, Learfield Radio will air a national, syndicated broadcast with Chris Hassel and Mike Golic Jr. on the call.

HUSKIES vs. DUCKS HISTORY: Washington leads the all-time series against the Ducks with 61 wins, 48 losses and five ties.

In games played in Seattle, the Huskies are 32-23-4 against their cross-border rivals, while in games played in Eugene, the Ducks enjoy an 18-14 edge all-time (Oregon's home games vs. the UW were played in Portland for many years). The Ducks have had the edge of late, winning 20 of the last 27 against the Dawgs.

Last year's game in Eugene was a memorable one as UW emerged from a back-and-forth affair with a 37-34 win, thanks to a last-minute field goal from Peyton Henry, along with late, long TD catches from Ja'Lynn Polk and Taj Davis. In 2021 in Seattle, Oregon overcame an early, 9-3 deficit to win, 26-16, holding UW to just seven first downs and 166 yards of total offense. The teams did not play during the 2020 season (UW played only four games that year). In 2019 in Seattle, Oregon scored with 5:10 remaining in the game to win 35-31. Washington could only reach the Ducks' 35-yard line on the ensuing drive before failing to convert a fourth down. Salvon Ahmed rushed for 140 yards and Jacob Eason passed for 289 and three TDs for the Dawgs.

In 2018 in Eugene, the Ducks edged the Huskies, 30-27, in overtime. Washington got a field goal in the opening overtime period, but the Ducks scored a touchdown in their possession to win the game.

In 2017 in Seattle, UW's Dante Pettis broke the NCAA record with his ninth career punt return for a TD and the UW held Oregon to just 31 passing yards in a 38-3 UW win. In 2016, the Dawgs broke the Ducks' long win streak in the series with a 70-21 win in Eugene. Jake Browning was 22-for-28 for 304 yards and a school-record six TD passes (plus two rushing TDs) while Myles Gaskin rushed for 197 yards on just 16 carries.

In 2015 in Seattle, Oregon won, 26-20, as a third-quarter, 72-yard run from Myles Gaskin and a three-yard pass from Browning to Jaydon Mickens in the fourth brought the UW to within six points. The Ducks, however, intercepted a last-minute pass to preserve the win. In 2014 in Eugene, a 21-point output from Oregon in the second quarter was the major difference in a 45-20 Ducks win. In 2013 at Husky Stadium, the Ducks stretched a seven-point lead heading into the fourth quarter into a 45-24 victory. Marcus Mariota passed for 366 yards and three TDs rushed for 88 and one while the Huskies got 167 rushing yards from Bishop Sankey. In 2012 in Eugene, second-ranked Oregon beat No. 23 Washington, 52-21.

In 2011, in the final game at the old Husky Stadium, the Ducks beat the UW, 34-17. In 2010 in Eugene, UW QB Keith Price made his first college start in a 53-16 Husky loss. Oregon led 18-16 in the third quarter before pulling away. In 2009 at Husky Stadium, Oregon won, 43-19. In 2008 in Eugene in the season-opener for both teams, Jeremiah Masoli came off the bench and led the Ducks to a 44-10 win. In 2007 in Seattle, the Huskies and Ducks were tied at 31-31 after three quarters before Oregon pulled away in the final period for a 55-34 win.

The Huskies' last win over Oregon prior to 2016 was in 2003, when Shelton Sampson and Kenny James both rushed for over 100 yards in a 42-10 Husky victory. Washington and Oregon first met on the football field in 1900, a 43-0 Oregon win in Eugene. The Huskies got their first win in the series in the next meeting, a 6-5 victory in 1903. From 1974 to 1993, Washington won 17 of 20 meetings. The series also features one of the biggest year-to-year turnarounds in college football history as the Ducks beat the Huskies, 58-0, in 1973 and then lost at the UW, 66-0, the following year.

DAWGS AND THE NORTHWEST: Washington's most-played rivalries are against the other three other northwest Pac-12 schools. The Huskies have faced Washington State 114 times, Oregon in 114 games and Oregon State on 107 occasions. Washington owns the advantage in all three series. The Huskies lead the Ducks 61-48-5, Washington State 75-33-6 and Oregon State 68-35-4. Combined, Washington has a 204-116-15 (.631) record against its northwest rivals. Washington has played all three of the Northwest teams in a season on 93 prior occasions. Over those 932 seasons in which Oregon, OSU and WSU were all on the UW schedule, the Dawgs have swept all three 31 times. In the meantime, the Huskies have lost to all three in the same season on only eight occasions.

EXPERIENCE AND YOUTH: Washington's current roster includes a total of 34 players – 17 each on offense and defense – who have started at least one game for the Huskies prior to 2023. Entering the year, the 17 offensive players had totaled 145 starts in the Purple & Gold, while the 17 defensive players (which includes former offensive line starter Ulumoo Ale) had 156 starts between them. Tight end Devin Culp entered the 2023 season with the highest total of starts under is belt among offensive players, with 18, while safety Asa Turner, with 23 career starts entering 2023, led the defensive side. The list of Dawgs with starting experience doesn't take into account the 10 current Huskies who transferred to UW after having started at another four-year college, nor does it account for starting "specialists." Washington 119-man roster entering the year included just 15 players in their final year of eligibility, along with 29 true freshmen, 15 redshirt freshmen, 35 sophomores and 25 juniors. Potentially, 104 current Huskies could return for 2024, while 79 enter the 2023 season with three or more years of eligibility remaining.

GRADUATED DAWGS: The 2023 Washington football roster includes 23 players who have earned their bachelor's degree. Here are those 23, alphabetically: Ulomoo Ale, Jacob Bandes, Julius Buelow, Devin Culp, Troy Fautanu, Drew Fowler, Ralen Goforth, Dominique Hampton, Antonio Hill, Giles Jackson, Tuli Letuligasenoa, Matteo Mele, Quentin Moore, Dylan Morris, Jabbar Muhammad, Richard Newton, Michael Penix Jr., Faatui Tuitele, Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Alphonzo Tuputala, Asa Turner, Edefuan Ulofoshio, and Jack Westover.

LONG PLAYS: Washington has notched 43 scrimmage plays of 20 or more yards over its first five games, the highest per-game average in the nation. UW also leads the nation (on per-game average) with 23 plays of 30 yards or more. Those totals include 35 passes of 20 or more yards, and 19 of 30 or more, from quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Both of those averages are also tops in the nation. Penix also leads FBS with 78 completions of 10 yards or more, despite having played just five games. Additionally, Rome Odunze is third in the nation with 26 receptions of 10-plus and 13 of 20-plus yards, while Ja'Lynn Polk has nine 20-plus yard receptions. Meanwhile, UW's defense has allowed just 16 plays of 20 or more yards this season, 27 fewer than the Husky offense has had.

Last year, Washington finished the season with 62 passing plays for 20 or more yards, tied for eighth-most in the nation (five teams that ranked higher played more games than UW's 13). Washington led the nation last year with 193 pass plays for 10 or more yards.

TWO 100-YARD RECEIVERS IN A GAME: Prior to the start of this season, Washington had had just eight games in its history with two players finishing with 100 or more receiving yards (including two such games last year). So far this season, Washington has had two players with 100 receiving yards in four games:
            vs. Boise State: Rome Oduzne (132) & Ja'Lynn Polk (101)
            vs. Tulsa: Jalen McMillan (120) & Odunze (107)
            at Michigan State: Odunze (180) & Polk (118)
            vs. California: Polk (127) & Odunze (125)

Additionally, last year, Odunze was the first Husky ever to record four straight 100-yard games. In the first four games of 2023, he's matched that streak.

CONFERENCE MOVES: Along with USC, UCLA and Oregon, the Huskies will move to the Big Ten Conference after this coming academic year (2023-24) and will play a Big Ten schedule in 2024. Four other current Pac-12 programs – Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah – will join the Big 12 Conference in 2024-25; while Stanford and California will join the ACC. Washington has been a member of what is now the Pac-12 since the inception of the league, in 1915. Only the UW and California have/had been members in every year since. The UW football team has won a league title in every decade since the 1910s, other than the 2020s – the Dawgs will have one last chance to extend that streak this year.

ALASKA AIRLINES FIELD AT HUSKY STADIUM: The Oregon game on Nov. 5, 2011, marked the final game in Husky Stadium prior to major renovations that were completed in summer, 2013. The Huskies re-opened their home field with a 38-6 win over then-No. 19 Boise State on Aug. 31, 2013. The 2023 season marks the 103rd season of play in Husky Stadium. Original construction on the facility was completed in 1920 when Washington played one game in the new campus facility. UW's all-time record in Husky Stadium stands at 409-185-21 (.682). Washington is 53-16 in home games since the stadium re-opened in 2013.