Oregon
Oregon Ducks’ ‘Sour Taste’ For Rivalry Game vs. Washington Huskies
EUGENE- The No. 1 Oregon Ducks are preparing to face the Washington Huskies in one of the nation’s most competitive rivalries, but for some of Oregon’s players, this will be the final time competing in this historic matchup. Senior linebacker Jeffrey Bassa spoke to the media after Tuesday’s practice, revealing what the rivalry means to him.
“It means a lot,” said Bassa. “It means a lot to the people that have come before me, like all the alumni. I know it means a lot to the state of Oregon, the Pacific Northwest. Facing these guys the past three times has not come out to the result that we wanted. As we all know, last year was a real close game. We know what’s ahead of us and we’re focused on this week tremendously, so we’ve got to take care of business this week.”
The Ducks have yet to beat the Huskies since Oregon head coach Dan Lanning took over the program two seasons ago. In 2022, Washington handed Oregon a 34-31 loss at Autzen Stadium. Last season, the Ducks lost to the Huskies on two separate occasions, losing 36-33 in Seattle and 34-31 in the Pac-12 Championship Game, a loss that ruined Oregon’s chances of making the College Football Playoff.
“You always feel that sour taste in the back of your mouth,” said Bassa of Oregon’s three consecutive losses to Washington.
Now, the Ducks will have their shot at redemption as they host the Washington Huskies at home in Autzen Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30.
When Dan Lanning took over Oregon’s football program in 2022, Bassa had already completed a full season with the Ducks. While coaching changes often lead many players to transfer and follow their former coaches to new destinations, Bassa chose to stay at Oregon and play under a new staff. He stuck with Lanning through the challenges of his first season as head coach and is now part of a team that is contending for a national championship.
“I think that shows great examples of growth. The first year was kind of up and down, and then the next year, we got better and better. This year, we’re putting it all together,” said Bassa. “I’ve developed as a man on and off the field.”
Although the Ducks have struggled against the Huskies in the past three matchups, Oregon is ready to come out on top and put an end to its 0-3 losing streak against Washington. However, the Ducks aren’t focused on previous losses; according to Bassa, the team is focused on the present.
“We’re focused on the moment, being where our feet are right now. It’s a new team, you know, but it’s the same program. So we’re still going to have the same mentality that we’ve had for the past couple of years. We’re just going to be dialed in, focused on the game at hand.”
The Washington game may also be Bassa’s final game at Autzen Stadium and will be his senior night. Throughout Bassa’s time at Oregon, he has emerged as one of the team’s leaders and a highly influential player. However, his time as a Duck is running out, as after the season, Bassa will be looking to achieve another goal: playing in the NFL. However, he hopes to leave a legacy at Oregon.
“I want to be known as one of the best linebackers to come through Oregon. One of the best communicators to come through Oregon, and just one of the best leaders to come to this program as well. I think that I’ve been doing a great job of that so far. My legacy here is not very far from over, but that’s what I want to be known for,” said Bassa.
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A career-high 25 points and 11 rebounds from sharpshooting, French wing Isaiah Sy propelled Oregon State men’s basketball to a 76-70 win over Loyola Marymount on Wednesday night at Gill Coliseum.
The Beavers (10-10, 3-4 WCC) also got 21 points from Josiah Lake II in a foul-fest that saw both teams shoot a combined 56 free throws at a 95% clip.
The Lions (11-9, 2-5 WCC) were led by Myron Amey Jr. with 18 points and Rodney Brown Jr. with 17. OSU scored 17 points off LMU’s 15 turnovers.
Despite a poor shooting first half, OSU kept it close with LMU through the first 20 minutes. Brown was hot in the early going, however, scoring 10 quick points to give the Lions an 18-13 lead.
The Beavers were able to stay in the game by getting to the free throw line, hitting 14 of its 14 attempts in the first half. LMU was also perfect from the stripe in the half, going 11-11.
The Lions committed eight turnovers to OSU’s four in the first half, and after taking a 24-17 at one point, the turnover issue allowed Wayne Tinkle’s team to come back.
OSU retook the lead, 30-29, on a three-pointer by Sy with three minutes left in the half. By the break, it was 37-36 LMU, with OSU shooting just 29% to LMU’s 44%.
Sy came out with back-to-back buckets to open the second half, hoping to energize his team as it took a 41-37 lead. A swished three-pointer by Lake made it 44-37, getting the Gill Coliseum crowd on its feet and forcing an LMU timeout.
OSU rode the momentum and kept forcing turnovers, leading to another three-pointer by Sy to make it 53-42 around the 14 minute mark. The positive energy extended to the OSU bench during a 7-0 run for the Beavers as they surpassed their season-high in steals with 10.
Sy surpassed his career-high with a fifth three-pointer just as LMU was making a run, extending OSU’s lead to 57-46 with just over 10 minutes remaining.
LMU stormed back over a three-minute period, though, going on a 13-3 run to cut the OSU lead to just one.
A full-court press stymied the rhythm of OSU’s offense, and LMU retook the lead, 59-58, with just over six minutes left.
The teams traded baskets with the score swinging back and forth, and Johan Munch fouled out for OSU on an illegal screen with 3:39 remaining. Two free throws by Sy gave OSU the lead back, 65-63, shortly after.
Trailing by four, Amey missed a three for LMU with just over 90 seconds remaining, and OSU milked the clock as much as it could.
LMU’s five-minute scoreless streak snapped with a corner three-pointer by Brown, cutting it to 68-66 with 50 seconds left.
But Jorge Diaz Graham and Sy hit their free throws down the stretch, and OSU was able to hang on for the win.
Next game: Oregon State (10-10, 3-4 WCC) vs. Pacific (12-8, 3-4 WCC)
- When: Saturday, Jan. 17
- Time: 3:00 pm PT
- Where: Gill Coliseum, Corvallis
- Stream: ESPN+
EUGENE – The Oregon Ducks advanced further into the postseason than they did a year ago, but the end of the 2025 season still left much to be desired. Several starters were quick to announce their intention to forgo the 2026 NFL Draft and return to Eugene.
Among the players with major decisions to make about their future was Oregon receiver Evan Stewart. Stewart missed the 2025 season with an injury after being considered an early-round prospect by NFL scouts. Stewart is expected to return to Oregon for another year, per Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports.
Wide Receiver Evan Stewart Makes NFL Decision
Stewart faced a tricky decision back in 2025 when it came to declaring for the NFL Draft or staying in Eugene. It was a decision that he had to figure out once again, with eligibility remaining due to injury.
The wide receiver spent the 2025 season sidelined due to a torn patellar injury. He inched closer to his return during the College Football Playoffs, but never saw the field.
Stewart showed his pro potential during the 2024 season in his first year with the Ducks after transferring. He recorded 613 yards and five touchdowns on 48 receptions in 2024.
He spoke about his draft decision during the Ducks’ semifinal matchup against the Indiana Hoosiers. The opportunity to finally play with Oregon quarterback Dante Moore seemed to play a factor in whether or not he’d return.
“Me and Dante were going to be something,” Stewart told 247Sports’ Erik Skopil. “I still want to play with him. If he comes back, it’s going to be lit, I know that.”
Moore was projected to be a top-two pick in the draft, with many believing the New York Jets would select him No. 2 overall. He announced on SportsCenter that he would return to Eugene for another season. Ducks fans should have the opportunity to finally see Moore and Stewart in action together in 2026.
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Oregon Ducks’ 2026 Wide Receiver Room
The Ducks are set to have a loaded wide receiver room in 2026 with Stewart expected to return. Oregon does lose veteran wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. and its leading receiver in 2025, Malik Benson, due to both players running out of eligibility. Former Oregon wide receivers Justius Lowe, Kyler Kasper and Cooper Perry all entered the transfer portal.
But the program does return former five-star Dakorien Moore, who will enter his sophomore season. Moore missed some time in 2025 due to injury, but still recorded 497 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns, as well as a rushing touchdown.
Moore should continue to thrive as a focal point of the Oregon offense. Meanwhile, Ducks wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan comes off a breakout redshirt freshman season. He tallied three touchdowns and 557 receiving yards.
The Ducks will have a handful a pair of standout freshmen next season. Jalen Lott joins the team after being a consensus top-five wide receiver in the 2026 recruiting class. Former five-star recruit Gatlin Bair will also be part of the wide receiver room after serving on a two-year mission. The program is also set to bring in freshman wide receivers Messiah Hampton and Hudson Lewis.
Coach Dan Lanning added a former UAB wide receiver from the transfer portal. Iverson Hooks joins the team with two years of eligibility remaining and is expected to work in the slot with Bryant gone. He finished the 2025 season with seven touchdowns and 927 yards on 72 receptions.
The Supreme Court case on transgender athletes
The Supreme Court will hear a case on transgender athletes participating in female sports.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Jan. 13 over grant funding conditions the state says require it to agree to discriminate against transgender people.
The lawsuit is Oregon’s first against the Trump administration in 2026. The state sued the administration 52 times in 2025.
“Oregon has worked hard to expand access to medical choice and make sure everyone can get the care they need,” Rayfield said in a statement. “This policy uses federal money to interfere with deeply personal medical decisions that belong to patients, families, and their doctors. Agencies shouldn’t be forced to take care away from people just to keep their funding.”
Eleven other states are parties to the suit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island. They include New York, California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
The lawsuit targets what the states allege is “a novel and ambiguous funding condition” from HHS making receiving some grants dependent on the states following Title IX requirements, including the addition of a Trump executive order.
The order, “Defending women from gender ideology extremism and restoring biological truth to the federal government,” calls for the recognition of two sexes and says federal funding cannot “be used to promote gender ideology.”
The funding goes to federal grants for health, education and research, amounting to more than $300 million for the party states.
The suit argues requiring agreement to comply with the order as a term to receive funding goes against Oregon and other states’ laws that protect against discrimination because of gender identity.
The states’ complaint says HHS has violated the Administrative Procedure Act and the separation of powers and the Spending Clause with the funding requirements.
The suit asks for the gender conditions to be found unlawful and stopped from being enforced.
Oregon filed four suits in 2025 over gender affirming care or threats to funding over gender affirming language.
Anastasia Mason covers state government for the Statesman Journal. Reach her at acmason@statesmanjournal.com or 971-208-5615.
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