Whenever Oregon coach Dan Lanning hits the road with donors and support groups, he most frequently is asked about the Ducks鈥� yearly matchup against Washington.
Saturday鈥檚 meeting with the Huskies in Seattle will not only be an opportunity for Washington (8-3) to earn its fourth win in five tries in the 117-game series, but it also will be a pivotal game for No. 5 Oregon (11-1, No. 6 CFP) and its playoff chances, which could take a serious hit with a loss. Washington coach Jedd Fisch is amply aware of such.
鈥淏eating Oregon does a lot for me,鈥� Fisch said Monday. 鈥淜nocking them out is just another part of it. But, we want to do everything we possibly can to get a win on Saturday.鈥�
It won鈥檛 be easy for the Huskies, though they are hosting Oregon and Lanning has a 1-3 record in the rivalry series that dates back to 1900. After a couple of trying offensive games against Iowa and Wisconsin, the Ducks have scored 42 points in each of their last two games, last weekend.
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, , has returned to form the last two weeks, completing 49 of 60 (82%) passes for 563 yards and four touchdowns with one interception. Moore has the fourth-highest completion percentage in the nation, which Lanning attributes to his preparation.
鈥淗e works really hard,鈥� Lanning said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 being on the same page. Several of those plays he鈥檚 made are checks based on coverages as well. To piece all those pieces together, it鈥檚 a lot of hard work on his part and work by the wideouts knowing they鈥檙e going to be where he trusts them to be.鈥�
Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. has had a similarly stellar season, ranking sixth in the country in completion percentage. He will need to be at his best for the Huskies to knock off Oregon in what both coaches figure will be an emotional regular-season finale for each squad.
鈥淚鈥檓 sure that our crowd will be fired up,鈥� Fisch said. 鈥淭he energy will be elite. The passion our players will play with should be great.
Said Lanning: 鈥淚 know that for our guys, there will be a high level of emotion in this game. They鈥檙e going to have that. It鈥檚 definitely an important rivalry for us. This game means a lot.鈥�
Huskies鈥� reinforcements
Washington鈥檚 leading receiver and running back 鈥� Denzel Boston (ankle) and Jonah Coleman (knee) 鈥� have each been dealing with injuries that have limited their action the last few weeks. On Monday, Fisch said he expects both Boston and Coleman to be back in much more significant manners than during last weekend’s .
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how many reps that is,鈥� Fisch said. 鈥淏ut a substantial amount.鈥�
Wide receiver Raiden Vines-Bright, who left the Huskies鈥� 49-13 victory over Purdue on Nov. 15 in an ambulance after taking a big hit, also has been cleared to play.
Fightin鈥� Finney
Defensive back Brandon Finney Jr., who leads Oregon in passes defended this season with six, was called for a pass interference penalty last Saturday that resulted in a first down for USC. Lanning came to Finney鈥檚 defense on Monday, noting how his 鈥渘ext play鈥� mentality has served him well during his freshman season with the Ducks.
鈥淲hen you go against good players, that鈥檚 part of understanding that moments like that can happen,鈥� Lanning said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 not a surprise, you have an expectation that moments like that will happen at some point this year. It鈥檚 about how you respond, and he鈥檚 already responded. I have a lot of confidence in him.鈥�
OU, QBU?
When the Ducks scored seven touchdowns against Washington last year in a 49-21 win, quarterback Dillon Gabriel was at the helm as he wrapped up his sixth college season before jumping to the NFL. Fisch is highly complimentary of both Gabriel and Moore.
鈥淚 mean, the quarterback鈥檚 different, but the quality of the quarterback鈥檚 the same,鈥� Fisch said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e both NFL quarterbacks that are exceptional.鈥�
Road rules
Oregon has won 11 straight true home games under Lanning. The Ducks last lost away from Autzen Stadium on Oct. 14, 2023, falling 36-33 to Washington at Husky Stadium.
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