CORVALLIS, Ore. — The last thing Oregon wants to do now is trip on the path to the playoffs.
So the No. 3 Ducks (10-1, 7-1 Pac-12) were diligent this week in their preparation for the annual Civil War rivalry game against Oregon State (5-6, 2-6) on Saturday.
With a six-game winning streak in the series, no one currently on the Oregon team has lost to the rival Beavers. None of the Ducks want to be the first.
But more than that, Oregon has been thwarted in seasons past by late-season missteps. Last year the Ducks lost at Stanford and Arizona to drop out of the picture for both the league and national championship. The year before it was a loss to the Cardinal at home — which sent Stanford to the Pac-12 title game.
“I just feel like we’re so close to getting back on top of the mountain in terms of our conference. That’s my main goal and the Beavers just happen to be the next team in the way stopping us from getting there,” senior linebacker Tony Washington said. “I’m going to do everything in my power and the defense is going to be ready and we’re going to come out and compete.”
Oregon is ranked at No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings, which puts the Ducks in position for a shot at the national title — if they can get past the Beavers and win the conference.
Some other things to consider when the Ducks visit the Beavers on Saturday:
ROLE REVERSAL: Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota was asked what would be Oregon’s goal if the situations were reversed. “It would be an opportunity to kind of spoil a season but at the same make your season and be a part of a bowl game,” he said. “We understand that Oregon State’s going to come out and play with a lot of fire, with a lot of juice, a lot of intensity and we have to be prepared for that.”
KEY FOR THE BEAVERS: With quarterback Sean Mannion playing in what could be his final college game, Oregon State would be wise to pass the ball often. Mannion, who has never defeated the Ducks, has the Beavers ranked No. 25 among FBS schools for passing offense. Meanwhile, Oregon is ranked 117th for passing defense. Mannion is the career passing leader in the Pac-12 with 13,438 yards.
