Eric Boggs 
Oregon wins the Civil War for the first time as a Big Ten team.
One of the biggest and longest-standing rivalries in the Pacific Northwest continued Saturday as the Oregon Ducks met the Oregon State Beavers in a battle for state supremacy. Known as the fifth-longest played rivalry in college football, the matchup has been held continuously since 1945, with Oregon holding a 67-48-10 edge in the series. While once called the “Civil War,” this rivalry has evolved, dropping the name due to its associations with the American Civil War and its connection to slavery. This change occurred in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, reflecting a broader cultural shift. Now, the rivalry remains fierce, though the teams no longer use that title. Typically, the game alternates between Eugene in odd-numbered years and Corvallis in even-numbered ones.
Coming into this year’s game, both teams had lingering questions. Oregon, despite being undefeated, had been inconsistent and was looking to clean up mistakes in preparation for their upcoming Big Ten schedule. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who ranked among the top three nationally with an 84.3% completion rate, was eager to get his team back on track after narrow victories over unranked opponents. “You’re insane if you keep doing the same sh*t and there is no change in result,” Gabriel commented earlier in the week. “We did clean up some things, but there’s a lot more to fix.”
The game kicked off with Oregon State receiving the ball, but their first drive was thwarted when Oregon’s special teams blocked a field goal attempt. Oregon’s offense responded with a flawless opening drive. The offensive line, which had been under scrutiny all season, created massive holes for running back Jordan James, and Gabriel was given plenty of time in the pocket. James capped off the drive with a five-yard touchdown run, giving Oregon a 7-0 lead.
Oregon State quickly tied the game with a methodical drive of their own, highlighted by quarterback Giovanni McCoy’s scrambling ability and a five-yard touchdown run by Anthony Hankerson. But Oregon wasted no time in regaining the lead. Gabriel dazzled with a speedy option play and a perfectly executed 20-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Traeshon Holden, putting the Ducks up 15-7 after a swinging gate formation tricked the Beavers on a two-point conversion.
The first half saw Oregon’s offense play with the rhythm and efficiency Ducks fans had been waiting for all season. However, Oregon State’s ball control offense, built around a strong running game, kept the ball away from Gabriel and company. The Beavers managed to cut the lead to 21-14 heading into halftime, thanks to another rushing touchdown by Hankerson.
The second half belonged to the Ducks. Oregon extended their lead early with a field goal, and their defense, which had struggled against the run in the first half, tightened up considerably. The Beavers were forced into two quick three-and-outs, while Oregon’s offense capitalized. A seam pass to Tez Johnson set up another Jordan James touchdown run, giving the Ducks a comfortable 28-14 lead late in the third quarter.
As the game moved into the fourth quarter, Oregon delivered the knockout blow with a 65-yard screen pass to Jayden Limar for a touchdown, extending the lead to 35-14. The Beavers, a team not built to play from behind, were unable to mount a comeback. Oregon’s defense kept them in check, and Noah Whittington’s explosive run early in the final quarter sealed the victory. Oregon capped off the day with a field goal, pushing the final score to 42-14.
This win not only continued Oregon’s dominance in the rivalry but also marked a turning point for the Ducks as they head into their Big Ten schedule. Gabriel, who passed for over 11 yards per attempt, and the offense finally showed the championship potential expected of them. Oregon averaged a stunning 9.75 yards per play, while their defense held the Beavers to just 4.75 yards per play, demonstrating a balanced and dominant performance.
Former Washington Huskies quarterback and current FOX analyst Brock Huard summed up Oregon’s performance after Whittington’s touchdown, saying, “This just looks like a different team… It’s dominance at the line of scrimmage, and they shut up the critics today.”
With the Civil War rivalry behind them and a dominant performance under their belt, Oregon heads into Big Ten play with renewed confidence, knowing they are capable of playing at a championship level.
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