| First meeting | December 1, 1900 Oregon, 43–0 |
|---|---|
| Latest meeting | November 29, 2025 Oregon, 26–14 |
| Next meeting | November 28, 2026 |
| Stadiums | Autzen Stadium Husky Stadium |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 118 |
| All-time series | Washington leads, 63–50–5 (.555)[1] |
| Largest victory | Washington, 66–0 (1974) |
| Longest win streak | Oregon, 12 (2004–2015) |
| Current win streak | Oregon, 2 (2024–present) |
TheOregon–Washington football rivalry orWashington–Oregon football rivalry, also known informally as theCascade Clash[2] or theFight for the Forest, is an Americancollege footballrivalry between theWashington Huskies andOregon Ducks of theBig Ten Conference. Previously they both played in the legacyPac-12 Conference and were opponents in itsfinal Pac-12 Championship Game. Their respective campuses inSeattle andEugene are 285 miles (460 km) apart, viaInterstate 5. Washington leads the series 63–50–5 as of 2024.[3]
It is one of the 25most played rivalries in NCAA Division I FBS history, and has been played regularlysince 1900.[4] Since 1922, the two teams have met on the field in every year except 1943, 1944, 2001, and2020. In two years, 1945 and2023, this rivalry game occurred twice in the same year, with Washington winning both games in those seasons.
The programs of this rivalry have recently played in oneCollege Football Playoff National Championship game each, withOregon contesting the2015 NCAA Championship Game andWashington contesting the2024 NCAA Championship Game. In those games they lost to future Big Ten stablematesOhio State and Michigan, respectively, the latter of which Washington coincidentally defeatedfor its 1991 National Championship.[a]
The series opened in 1900, with Oregon dominating Washington 43–0 in Eugene.[6]
In1909 the teams met in Seattle onThanksgiving Day for the final game of the season, with both teams undefeated inNorthwest Conference league play.[5] The game decided the Northwest intercollegiate championship and ownership of theTiffany & Co. silverloving cup awarded byJohn Barrett.[5]Washington won the Northwest championship 20–6 due largely to their use of the still-newforward pass whileOregon played an older style of football.[5]
In 1911 Dobie successfully ran his "Bunk Play", ahidden ball trick in which Washington quarterback"Wee" Coyle removed hisleather headgear and held it to his chest to simulate the football.[7]
The rivalry became heated from Oregon's perspective in1948, when Oregon andCalifornia both went undefeated in thePacific Coast Conference.[8] California was undefeated overall, and Oregon's only loss was at undefeatedMichigan,[9][10] that year's national champions. The Ducks had seven victories in the PCC to Cal's six. The winner of the PCC, as was the case for most of the Pac-12's history, played in theRose Bowl. Oregon, led by quarterbackNorm Van Brocklin and halfbackJohn McKay,[11] opted for a playoff game, but California declined.[12] The tiebreaker format the PCC elected to use was that the championship team be elected by the schools. The PCC had ten member schools in1948, six in the Northwest (withIdaho andMontana) and four in California, so it was assumed that Oregon would be the team playing in theRose Bowl, as even a5–5 tie vote would be in their favor.[13] Instead California was voted champion of the PCC,[12][14] because Washington had persuaded Montana to vote for California, something that has not been forgotten by Oregon fans.[10][15]
The PCC allowed a second bowl teamthat season and Oregon went to the1949 Cotton Bowl Classic,[16] but lost 21–13 toSouthern Methodist. California lost toNorthwestern, 20–14, in theRose Bowl.[17]
All-Pacific Coast Conference fullbackHugh McElhenny and the Huskies ran up the score on Oregon, 63–6 in 1951[18] in what was at the time the most lopsided score of the series.[19]
In1962, Larry Hill of Oregon was tackled by Washington fans who had rushed onto the field atHusky Stadium while he was trying to catch the tie-breaking touchdown on the game's final play.[20]
In 1973, the Ducks exceeded the 57 point loss margin that the Huskies had inflicted on them back in 1951 with a 58–0 shutout in Eugene. The following season, the Huskies more than returned the favor, shutting out the Ducks 66–0 in Seattle.[18] This remains the largest margin of victory in this series to date.
From 1974 through 1986, the Huskies won 12 of 13 games against the Ducks.[19]
In1995, Washington head coachJim Lambright unsuccessfully lobbied for the Huskies to be selected to play in theCotton Bowl instead of the Ducks.[21]Seattle Post Intelligencer columnist Bud Withers wrote that Lambright's actions "invited at least another half-century worth of bile from Oregon fans."
After winning four of six over Lambright in the 1990s, the rivalry was given another boost in Oregon eyes whenColorado head coachRick Neuheisel moved to Washington in1999. At the1996 Cotton Bowl between #12Oregon and #7Colorado, Neuheisel called for a fake punt while the Buffaloes led32–6 with less than five minutes left.[22] Oregon coachMike Bellotti was also accused of turning Neuheisel in for recruiting during the dead period. The Ducks were 1–2 against the Huskies under Neuheisel, and the rivalry grew even more when Neuheisel celebrated by taking photos and jumping up and down on the "O" in the middle of the field after a win atAutzen Stadiumin2002.[23][24] Two years earlier,[25] the Ducks' victory in2000 in Eugene spoiled an otherwise undefeated season for theHuskies, who won theRose Bowl and finished third inthe nation.[26] Due to Pac-10 scheduling, the teams did not meet in2001,[27] the first break in the rivalry since the hiatus in 1943 and 1944 due toWorld War II.[28]
Through2023, Washington leads 63–48–5 (.565). The Huskies went18–4 from1972 to1993 (mostly underDon James,15–3), but Oregon then went17–4 from1994 through2015. The Ducks won 12 straight from2004 to 2015, the longest run by either team in the series; the closest margin was six points(26–20) in 2015.It ended in2016 when the fifth-ranked Huskies won70–21 in Eugene, a game that set series scoring records for one team (70 points) andboth teams (91).[29] Washington followed it up with a38–3 home winin 2017. Oregon ended their 2-game losing streak in the series in 2018 with a 30–27 overtime win over Washington in Eugene, the first overtime game in the rivalry's history. In the 2019 rendition in Seattle, the Ducks came back from a 14-point deficit in the 2nd half to prevail 35–31 over the Huskies. It was the 2nd consecutive meeting in which both teams were ranked, and 7th all-time. The 2020 game was canceled due to increasingCOVID-19 cases in the Washington football program.[30]
Arguably the most iconic moment in the history of the rivalry for Ducks fans happened in 1994, when Oregon freshman cornerbackKenny Wheaton intercepted Washington quarterbackDamon Huard and returned the ball 97 yards for a touchdown with under a minute to play to seal a 31–20 upset win that snapped a five-game losing streak in the series for the Ducks and set them on course for what would become their first conference championship (and trip to the Rose Bowl) since 1957. This play, coined "The Pick",[31] is widely credited as the turning point for the Oregon football program on their way to becoming nationally relevant in the decades that followed. It also swung momentum in the rivalry that was until then mostly dominated by the Huskies, 54–28–5, with Oregon notching a 17–4 record against Washington from The Pick until the end of The Streak. Just before kickoff of every Ducks home game, a replay of "The Pick" is shown on theAutzen Stadium video board, always accompanied by a loud and gleeful reaction.
Oregon beat Washington in 12 straight games from 2004–2015, the largest winning streak in the rivalry.[32]
This streak correlated with Oregon's most successful era of football and Washington's least. The Ducks went 120–36 (.769) over these 12 seasons, with two national championship game appearances, four conference titles, two Rose Bowl victories, and a Heisman Trophy winner. Meanwhile, the Huskies went 62–88 (.413) including a winless 0–12 in 2008.
The Huskies finally snapped their losing streak in 2016 with a dominating 70–21 win over the Ducks in Eugene.[33] This was the first time an opponent had scored 70 points inAutzen Stadium's history, and the first time an Oregon team had allowed 70 points or more in a game since a 71–7 loss to theTexas Longhorns in 1941. The2016 Huskies would go on to finish the regular season 12–1, win the Pac-12 Championship, and faceAlabama in the CFP semifinalPeach Bowl. Their win vs. Oregon was seen as a major realignment in the power ranking of the Pac-12 North. In contrast to the Huskies, Oregon would go on to finish the season 4-8, resulting in head coachMark Helfrich being fired at the end of the season.[33]
On the game's first play from scrimmage, Ducks quarterbackJustin Herbert, making his first college start, was intercepted by Huskies cornerbackBudda Baker. Four plays later, QBJake Browning scored the first of the Huskies' ten touchdowns on a 1-yard run. As he crossed the goal line Browningpointed his left index finger at trailing linebacker Jimmie Swain, who was clad in athrowback blue and yellowOregon Webfoots jersey.[34] This gesture became known as "The Point" after sideline photographs of the playwent viral across social media during and after the game.[35]
The 2023 matchup between AP No. 7Washington and No. 8Oregon was the first ever where both teams were ranked within the top ten of the AP Poll.[36] In front of a sold outHusky Stadium,[37] Washington defeated Oregon 36–33 in what was immediately considered one of the greatest games in the history of the rivalry.[38] Despite having stopped two red zone fourth down conversion attempts by Oregon, Washington trailed by four with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. After Oregon failed to convert another fourth down to end the game, Washington's quarterbackMichael Penix Jr. connected with receiverRome Odunze for a game-winning touchdown after a drive spanning just two plays.[39] With four seconds on the clock and one timeout remaining, Oregon kicker Camden Lewis missed a 43 yard field goal attempt, giving the Huskies the three-point win.[40]
| Final Pac-12 Football Championship Game | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | December 1, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Season | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stadium | Allegiant Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Paradise, Nevada | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The2023 Pac-12 Football Championship Game, the last before the collapse of the traditionalPac-12 Conference as a result of the2021–2024 NCAA conference realignment, was a seasonal rematch between No. 3 Washington (12–0) and No. 5 Oregon (11–1). Oregon's sole loss had been the earlier road defeat to Washington, and they had looked dominant in the second half of the season. Washington, while remaining undefeated, had won all its games by ten points or fewer throughout October and November. The Ducks thus entered this December 1st game as the betting favorite. Adding even more suspense to this final Pac-12 Championship played between two rivals, it was widely predicted before the game that the winner would go to the four-teamCollege Football Playoff.[41] Washington's offense caught the Ducks by surprise early in the game, jumping out to a 20–3 lead, before the Ducks, led by quarterbackBo Nix, responded with 21 straight points. After a series of turnovers, the momentum swung back in the Huskies' favor. Washington came back to score two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to win the game 34–31 after a key first down by running backDillon Johnson allowed them to run out the clock.Michael Penix Jr. received the Pac-12 Championship MVP.[42]
This was the first and lastPac-12 Football Championship Game to be played between the rivals.[b]
| Oregon victories | Washington victories | Tie games |
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As of November 29, 2025
| State | City | Games | Washington victories | Oregon victories | Ties | Years played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | Seattle | 57 | 33 | 22 | 2 | 1903–present |
| Oregon | Eugene | 38 | 13 | 23 | 2 | 1900–24, 1967–present |
| Portland | 22 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 1911–13, 1926–65 | |
| Nevada | Paradise | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2023 |
| Head coach | Games | Seasons | Wins | Losses | Ties | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tex Oliver | 3 | 1945–1946 | 0 | 3 | 0 | .000 |
| Jim Aiken | 4 | 1947–1950 | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 |
| Len Casanova | 16 | 1951–1966 | 3 | 12 | 1 | .219 |
| Jerry Frei | 5 | 1967–1971 | 3 | 2 | 0 | .600 |
| Dick Enright | 2 | 1972–1973 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 |
| Don Read | 3 | 1974–1976 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .333 |
| Rich Brooks | 18 | 1977–1994 | 4 | 14 | 0 | .222 |
| Mike Bellotti | 13 | 1995–2008 | 9 | 4 | 0 | .692 |
| Chip Kelly | 4 | 2009–2012 | 4 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| Mark Helfrich | 4 | 2013–2016 | 3 | 1 | .750 | |
| Willie Taggart | 1 | 2017 | 0 | 1 | .000 | |
| Mario Cristobal | 3 | 2018–2021 | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| Dan Lanning | 5 | 2022–2025 | 2 | 3 | .400 |
| Head coach | Games | Seasons | Wins | Losses | Ties | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ralph Welch | 4 | 1945–1947 | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 |
| Howard Odell | 5 | 1948–1952 | 4 | 1 | 0 | .800 |
| John Cherberg | 3 | 1953–1955 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .667 |
| Darrell Royal | 1 | 1956 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Jim Owens | 18 | 1957–1974 | 11 | 6 | 1 | .639 |
| Don James | 18 | 1975–1992 | 15 | 3 | 0 | .833 |
| Jim Lambright | 6 | 1993–1998 | 2 | 4 | 0 | .333 |
| Rick Neuheisel | 3 | 1999–2002 | 2 | 1 | .667 | |
| Keith Gilbertson | 2 | 2003–2004 | 1 | 1 | .500 | |
| Tyrone Willingham | 4 | 2005–2008 | 0 | 4 | .000 | |
| Steve Sarkisian | 5 | 2009–2013 | 0 | 5 | .000 | |
| Chris Petersen | 6 | 2014–2019 | 2 | 4 | .333 | |
| Jimmy Lake | 1 | 2020–2021 | 0 | 1 | .000 | |
| Kalen DeBoer | 3 | 2022–2023 | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| Jedd Fisch | 2 | 2024–2025 | 0 | 2 | .000 |
The University of Washington football team won the northwestern intercollegiate championship and the Barrett silver cup here yesterday by defeating the University of Oregon 20–6.
Oregon Outwitted by Trick — The freaky maneuver was a fake end run on the left extremity, Center Presley concealing the ball under his body until every Oregon semblance of defense had been hastily shifted to meet Coyle's terrific rush to the grandstand.
After UW's win last season [in 2002], the Huskies lingered on the field for 20 to 30 minutes, stomping on the Oregon "O" at midfield, posing for pictures in the end zone and generally celebrating in a manner usually reserved for something other than a regular-season win.
For 12 years running, the Oregon Ducks have beaten the stuffing out of the Washington Huskies [...] The Ducks have averaged 42.3 points and hung these totals on Washington: 31, 45, 34, 55, 44, 43, 53, 34, 52, 45, 45 and 26.
The Huskies' 70-21 victory over Oregon on Oct. 8, 2016 was UW's first in Eugene in 14 years, and it signaled a stunningly swift changing of the guard in Northwest supremacy. [...] The Ducks love to celebrate "The Pick" off UW's Damon Huard from 1994. Twenty-two years later, "The Point" became a seminal moment in the rivalry for UW.
The tops are navy blue with yellow lettering with "Webfoots" across the chest. The bottoms are black.
The gesture lasted less than half a second, but birthed an image that will live for as long as Washington and Oregon play football.
