Oregon stifles Washington 26–14, clinches home game in College Football Playoff

 

SEATTLE — Rivalry weeks bring extra emotion from fans and players alike. Coaches may preach “faceless opponents,” but these are still college athletes who sit in classrooms surrounded by classmates who never let them forget what these games mean. For players like Bryce Boettcher, the stakes are personal, and the rivalry is real.

Oregon entered Saturday needing a win to avoid the chaos of end-of-year politicking and secure a second straight trip to the College Football Playoff. A victory would guarantee that the Ducks not only got in, but also hosted a playoff game at Autzen Stadium. And with six scholarship receivers unavailable, Oregon would need to lean on fortitude, depth, defense, and an offensive identity built around tight ends and a deep backfield.

Against a Washington team powered by quarterback Demond Williams’ legs but often blunted by elite defenses, the Ducks had the opportunity to make a statement on the road—and they delivered one.

A Defensive Opening Salvo

After winning the toss and deferring, Oregon’s defense wasted no time asserting itself. On Washington’s second snap, pressure collapsed the pocket and forced a sack on Williams, setting the tone for a suffocating first quarter. The Huskies, averaging fewer than one three-and-out per game entering Saturday, were forced into back-to-back three-and-outs to open the afternoon.

Oregon’s offense struck first with a 46-yard field goal from Atticus Sappington to go up 3–0, but the early narrative belonged to the defense. Nasir Wyatt blasted Williams on a blindside blitz, Teitum Tuioti disrupted inside, and Oregon’s corners blanketed passing lanes. Washington managed just three total yards on its first two drives.

Yet the Ducks couldn’t separate. Missed assignments, a major penalty, and Washington’s early run success from Adam Mohammed kept the Huskies afloat until a game-shifting moment late in the first quarter: Jadon Canady reading a throw at the goal line and intercepting Williams, erasing Washington’s best early scoring chance.

Oregon Leans In — and Pulls Ahead

Early in the second quarter, Oregon finally began to unlock its own offense. Malik Benson drew a defensive pass interference to ignite a drive that concluded with a bold decision on fourth-and-1. After a timeout to correct alignment, Will Stein dialed up an option look. Noah Whittington burst through for 17 yards, and two plays later Dante Moore plunged in for his first career rushing touchdown. Oregon led 10–0.

Sappington’s second field goal extended the lead to 13–0 with 3:18 left in the half, as Oregon controlled possession and tempo. But Washington responded with its best drive of the half—12 plays, 75 yards—capped by Williams threading a bullet to Denzel Boston with 27 seconds left. Despite being outplayed for most of the half, the Huskies trailed only 13–7 at the break.

Third Quarter Control, Without the Knockout

The Ducks opened the second half facing a critical possession, and Moore delivered. His third-down strike to Jamari Johnson for 31 yards jump-started a drive that ended with Sappington’s third field goal, pushing the lead to 16–7.

Oregon’s defense continued to bottle up Washington’s receivers, forcing difficult throws and denying explosives. But Mohammed kept the Huskies afloat, pounding his way to 105 rushing yards on the afternoon.

Pinned deep on their next possession, Oregon flipped the field with a 41-yard deep ball to Jeremiah McClellan. Sappington drilled a career-long 51-yard field goal moments later, extending the lead to 19–7 with 2:34 left in the third quarter.

Still, Oregon’s inability to turn long, sustained drives into touchdowns left the game closer than it felt.

Washington Pushes Back — and Oregon Answers with a Haymaker

Early in the fourth quarter, Williams finally found a rhythm, guiding Washington on a 13-play, 69-yard march. Boston again beat Oregon’s zone coverage for a 14-yard touchdown, trimming the lead to 19–14 with 8:54 remaining. Despite controlling the game in nearly every metric, Oregon suddenly needed a drive to survive.

Instead, the Ducks needed one play.

Facing third-and-long near midfield, Moore zipped a deep in-breaking route to Benson, who turned upfield, outran two angles, and raced 64 yards for a stunning touchdown. Autzen may host playoff games, but Husky Stadium heard the silence. Oregon led 26–14 with 7:55 left—and the defense took it from there.

On Washington’s next possession, Tuioti delivered a drive-wrecking sack before the Ducks stuffed a fourth-down pass to Boston by mere inches. Dillon Thieneman sealed the game two drives later, intercepting a desperate Williams throw with 1:20 remaining.

Oregon ran out the clock, closed out its ninth straight win, and silenced a rival house in a game defined by defensive grit, field-position mastery, and one perfectly timed knockout strike.

Playoff Implications

With the 26–14 win, Oregon clinched a home game in the College Football Playoff. The Ducks are in—now they simply await their opponent.

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Players of the Game

Malik Benson — WR

Benson delivered the defining moment of the rivalry showdown. His 64-yard catch-and-run with under eight minutes remaining turned a one-possession anxiety-fest into a two-score command. He finished with five receptions for 102 yards and the game-sealing touchdown, adding a punt return and showcasing elite top-end speed when Oregon needed it most.

Atticus Sappington — K

In a game where injuries limited Oregon’s offensive flexibility, Sappington carried the scoring load. He went 4-for-4 on field goals, including a career-long 51-yarder, accounting for 13 points. Without his consistency, Oregon’s dominance in time of possession and field position never would have materialized into scoreboard control. His performance was as essential—and as steady—as any on the field.