Oregon
Fiesta Bowl: Undefeated Liberty faces its stiffest test yet against No. 8 Oregon
GLENDALE, Ariz. — No. 23 Liberty rolled through its sixth season as a Division I program undefeated, earning a spot in Monday’s Fiesta Bowl.
Awaiting the Flames in the desert is something unlike anything they’ve faced, maybe ever: the big, bad Oregon Ducks.
“It doesn’t take a lot of time to watch the video to know how talented they are,” Liberty coach Jamey Chadwell said. “We shared with (the team), and I think I’ve said it before, they’re six points away from playing for a national championship. That’s how good they are. Going into championship weekend, they were the favorites to win the national championship. They’re tremendous.”
Oddsmakers certainly think so.
No. 8 Oregon is a 17 1/2-point favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, one of the most lopsided betting lines during bowl season.
The Ducks (11-2) steamrolled through their schedule, outside of two games against No. 2 Washington, one of four College Football Playoff teams. Oregon lost by three in both games, including the Pac-12 title game.
The Ducks are led by quarterback Bo Nix, a Heisman Trophy finalist who has put up gaudy numbers and has a chance to break the NCAA single-season record for completion percentage.
Oregon has one of the best offensive lines in the country, a group that allowed an FBS-low five sacks this season. The Ducks’ pass-blocking grade of 92.0 is the best in the country, according to Pro Football Focus.
Oregon’s defense has been just as good, finishing 12th against the run (97.5 yards per game) while giving up 10 points or fewer six times.
The Ducks aren’t about to take the Flames lightly either.
“Several of the players on their team started off at Power Five schools, and I don’t know if everybody realizes this, they’ve won every single game they’ve played,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said with a touch of sarcasm. “That’s a pretty good team and our players recognize that.”
Liberty (13-0) has played the best season in program history despite enduring a tragedy before it even started.
Early in camp, freshman offensive lineman Tajh Boyd died, ruled by the medical examiner as a suicide.
The Flames bonded around their fallen teammate throughout the season.
“When things like that happen, you can either fall apart or you can make it a point to be around each other and be together and try to stay together,” Liberty offensive lineman X’Zavea Gadlin said. “We really did that.”
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No one would have blamed Nix for skipping the Fiesta Bowl to prepare for the NFL draft.
The senior already proved himself during the regular season, throwing for 4,145 yards and 40 touchdowns with three interceptions. His completion percentage of 77.2% is right behind the record of 77.4% set by Alabama’s Mac Jones in 2020.
Nix wasn’t interested in riding off without his teammates.
“You go the whole season, you’re playing and you’re going week by week, and things get crazy,” Nix said. “When you get to the bowl game, it’s like your last hurrah for the whole team and your last time to be together to maximize that time with your teammates and coach.”
Oregon’s offensive line may have had the nation’s best grades, but Liberty’s group is also first class.
Liberty arrives in the desert with the nation’s best rushing attack at 302.9 yards per game — more than 20 ahead of Air Force, the next-closest team.
The Flames also are the only FBS team with two 1,000-yard rushers. Quinton Cooley is 13th nationally with 1,322 yards, and quarterback Kaidon Salter added 1,064. Salter also has thrown for 31 touchdowns and accounted for 43, both school records.
Oregon
Oregonians can go crabbing, fishing fee-free for 1 weekend in June
Video shows retirement party for Oregon Fish & Wildlife Conservation K-9
Oregon’s first Fish & Wildlife Conservation K-9, Buck, was deployed 184 times across the state before his retirement.
Oregonians can fish, clam and crab for free during Oregon’s annual Free Fishing Weekend in June.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said it will hold another free fishing weekend June 6-7, offering all Oregonians and nonresidents the chance to fish for free across the state for two days.
No fishing or shellfish licenses or tags, endorsements or validations are required on these days. Oregon State Parks will also offer free parking at state parks on June 6.
While fishing may be free, ODFW said that all other fishing regulations apply. That includes single rod limitations, bag limits, size restrictions and closures.
Fishing regulations are available online and MyODFW.com for any in-season regulation updates.
Here’s what to know about Oregon June 2026 free fishing weekend.
Will Oregon lakes be stocked for 2026 free fishing weekend?
ODFW will be stocking many of Oregon’s lakes and ponds with rainbow trout for free fishing weekend.
People are encouraged to visit the recreation report at ODFW’s website to find the best fishing spots, and to check out the trout stocking schedule for stocking locations.
ODFW said that drought conditions will make a difference this year and some smaller lakes and ponds might be warmer than usual. The agency suggested fishing earlier in the day or fishing for warm water fish like bass, bluegill and crappie.
How to go crabbing and clamming during Oregon’s June 2026 free fishing weekend
For Oregonians who have never tried crabbing or clamming, free fishing weekend can be a good opportunity to learn.
ODFW provides information on how to get started crabbing on its website. It includes tips and tricks on how to crab, where to crab, how to measure a crab and how to tell if it is male or female.
People can also visit the website for information on how to get started clamming, including how to dig for clams, where to dig for clams and what species to look for.
As of May 26, crabbing is open coastwide. Razor clamming is only allowed from the Washington border to Cape Blanco. It is currently prohibited from Cape Blanco to the California border.
The agency warns that closures can happen at any time, especially closures related to shellfish biotoxins, or toxins carried by shellfish that can cause serious illness.
For updated recreational shellfish biotoxin closures, visit the ODA website or call the shellfish biotoxin hotline at 1-800-448-2474.
To get updated harvesting statuses, people can visit the Oregon Department of Agriculture website.
To check for additional closures during free fishing weekend, people can visit myodfw.com.
What are some events happening during fishing weekend?
ODFW and volunteers will be hosting free events around Oregon on June 6. These events will offer equipment and hands-on instruction for beginners learning how to fish.
Some of the scheduled events include:
- Twin Ponds in Ukiah from 9 a.m. to noon on June 6
- Olalla Reservoir in Toledo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 6
- Silverton Marine Park in Silverton from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 6
- Cleawox Lake in Florence from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 6
- Henry Hagg Lake in Gaston from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 6
- Alton Baker Park in Eugene will hold a youth-only event for anglers 17 and younger from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 6
- Small Fry Lake in Estacada from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 6.
Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval is a lifelong Oregonian who covers trending news, entertainment, food and outdoors. She can be reached at GSandoval@statesmanjournal.com or on X at @GinnieSandoval.
Oregon
Oregon Shuts Down Washington State 4-0 in Eugene Regional
Oregon State Baseball Stays Alive With 9-2 Win Over Yale
Through the first four innings, the game was a pitcher’s duel, with the only base runner being Washington State’s Cam Macleod, who was hit by a pitch in the third inning. Oregon starting pitcher Will Sanford was putting on a clinic, striking out ten Cougars in the first four innings.
In the top of the fifth, the Duck bats started working. Burke-Lee Mabeus hit a double to right center, and then Maddox Molony was walked. Oregon had two base runners, but two outs on the board, and the eighth player in their rotation, Jax Gimenez, was coming to the plate. Gimenez got the job done, hitting a short single to right to score Mabeus and put Oregon up 1-0.
The Good, The Bad, and What’s Next After Oregon State’s NCAA Tournament Win Over Yale
Washington State came close to evening things in the bottom of the fifth. After striking out Dustin Robinson and forcing a ground out from Ryan Skjonsby, Sanford walked Ollie Obenour. Cam Macleod then hit a single, WSU’s first hit of the game, to put a runner in scoring position. Sanford remained clutch on the mound however, striking out Kyler Northrup, his twelfth K of the game, to end the inning.
Sanford picked up his 13th strikeout in the bottom of the sixth, and his 14th in the bottom of the seventh, but ended his day shortly after, having walked Dustin Robinson. Tanner Bradley came in for Oregon and finished off the inning, keeping the Ducks one run lead in place.
Oregon State Comeback Bid Falls Short in Eugene Regional Opener, 3-2
Washington State starter had his day end in the top of the eight, after picking up his seventh strikeout. His game will be overshadowed by Sanford, but Myers also had an impressive day, allowing five hits, two walks and one run in his 7.1 innings pitched. Scott Rienguette came in to close out the inning, giving Washington State six outs to get a run.
The Cougs didn’t get one in the bottom of the eighth, going three up three down, and got into trouble in the top of the ninth. Angel Laya led off with a single, and was replaced by pinch runner Elijah Cook. Cook moved to second on a bunt, and then Brayden Jaksa was walked. A fielder’s chocie from Burke-Lee Mabeus got Washington State a second out, but runners at the corners.
Eugene Regional Preview: Meet The Washington State Cougars
Naulivou Lauaki then came to the plate, and blasted the ball over the center field wall, giving Oregon a 4-0 lead headed into the final frame. Gavin Roy grounded out for the first out, but Max Hartman then singled to give the Cougars some hope. A wild pitch Matt Priest advanced Hartmna, but Priest struck out swinging. Dustin Robinson then struck out, sending Washington State to the loser’s bracket.
Washington State and Oregon State will play one last time tomorrow, with the winner having the tough task of taking down the Ducks twice on their home field to keep their Omaha hopes alive.
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Oregon
Cruise ship rescues stranded mariner off Oregon coast
Watch video of high seas rescue off Oregon coast
A cruise ship, the Silver Whisper, rescued a Canadian man whose vessel broke down nearly 500 miles off the Oregon coast May 26.
A cruise ship rescued a Canadian man stranded on his boat nearly 500 miles of the Oregon coast on May 26, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
The 74-year-old man, who the agency did not name, was sailing from Hawaii to British Columbia when his vessel ran into gale-force winds and 30-foot high waves. The 29-foot boat’s engine failed and the mast broke, injuring the man’s shoulder.
He’s made the same trip four times before, Coast Guard officials said, and had food, water, a life raft and a life jacket on board. The mariner used his handheld satellite communicator to contact the U.S. Coast Guard’s Northwest District, which the agency used to track him.
He was rescued 489 miles off the coast of Tillamook.
“This mariner’s experience and preparedness allowed the Coast Guard and other agencies to communicate with him and effect a rescue,” Coast Guard Northwest District Search and Rescue Program Manager Scott Giard said. “His foresight to bring a satellite communicator averted a tragedy.
Coast Guard officials deployed a C-27J cargo plane from Sacramento, California, to function as their “eye in the sky” as they coordinated the rescue because he was so far from the shore.
The plane assessed the state of the sea and the damage to the vessel. It was also equipped with life rafts, communication gear and rations that could sustain a survivor while responders coordinate the rescue, officials said.
Coast Guard officials contacted a cruise ship, the Silver Whisper, that went 120 off its charted course to rescue the stranded Canadian man. The Coast Guard found the Silver Whisper by tapping into its Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue system, a global network that tracks the positions of commercial ships that participate in the program.
Eder Campuzano is the local news editor for the Statesman Journal. He can can be reached at ecampuzano@statesmanjournal.com. Find him on Bluesky at @ederc.bsky.social or Threads @ederc.
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