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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The good times keep on rolling for the Oregon Ducks in the recruiting world. Dan Lanning and the Ducks scored a massive commitment from five-star quarterback Will Mencl out of Chandler, Arizona.
Oregon had been rumored to be leading the race for Mencl’s services for months, but the No. 1 quarterback in the country, per Rivals, cleared the air and committed to the Ducks on Wednesday evening. Mencl chose the Ducks over Auburn and Penn State, both of which battled hard for him down the stretch.
However, Mencl has been connected to Oregon for a long time. While he was offered last fall before breaking out in his junior season, Mencl has been a fan of the program long before he popped up on the Ducks’ recruiting radar. In a post shared by Rivals recruiting expert Steve Wiltfong, Mencl was announced as a quarterback for the Ducks when he was a kid at the 2019 NFL Draft fan experience in 2019.
Now, Mencl is ready to don the green and yellow for real and make his childhood dreams come true. The Ducks have made a point to get Mencl on campus as often as possible and as recently as last week. The continued connection between both sides is ultimately what made the decision easy for the nation’s top passer. Mencl said he told Lanning and the Oregon staff about his decision on Sunday.
“The biggest thing was the relationship with the staff,” Mencl said after committing. “I feel like that continued to grow over time, especially when I first got there last spring. Being able to sit down with Coach Koa, really being an underlooked guy at that time, and kind of blowing up my junior season. And then, the path to the NFL. You can’t deny what they do with quarterbacks and the type of scheme they run. I felt like that was the best fit for me and my family to get to the next level.”
Koa Ka’ai, Oregon’s new quarterback coach, made waves earlier in the offseason after his recruiting test about ice cream flavors went viral, but that doesn’t appear to have scared Mencl off. In fact, the two have a close connection that Oregon hopes will translate to success on the field in the near future.
“My relationship with Coach Koa, I feel like that is super, super strong,” Mencl told Rivals. “I’ve had a lot of discussions with Coach Lanning about the culture there and how they’re going to continue to sustain greatness throughout the program.”
Mencl exploded onto the national recruiting scene with a massive junior season for Chandler. He completed more than 70% of his passes for 3,815 yards and 33 touchdowns against five interceptions in his junior season, leading Chandler to a state title berth. He also rushed for 741 yards and an additional 17 touchdowns.
The Ducks expect to have some competition for Mencl to compete with when he joins the team for the 2027 season, with Dylan Raiola and Akili Smith Jr. already on the roster and competing for a role as the backup. Oregon has gone to the transfer portal as well in recent seasons, finding success with Bo Nix, Dillon Gabriel, and now Dante Moore.
Oregon has recruited well at quarterback in the past, establishing an NFL pedigree that attracted Mencl. Maybe he will be the one to buck the trend and give the Ducks a true, homegrown product under center.
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‘Pour in the largest glass you can find while slow dancing in your socks,’ a Wine Enthusiast contributor said of an Oregon wine
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Wine Enthusiast released a list of the top 40 sparkling wines around the world in 2026 – highlighting two bottles of bubbly from Oregon.
“While it can seem like you need a fortune to enjoy high quality sparkling wine, you honestly don’t. Excellent affordable bubbles are being produced around the world, often in places you might not expect. Each of the selections on our inaugural Top 40 Sparkling Wines list delivers personality, freshness, and celebration for under $75,” Wine Enthusiast wrote.
Wine Enthusiast divided its list into separate sparkling categories including, Champagne, Italian Bollicine, American sparkling and bottles $25 and under.
Snagging a spot on the American sparkling list: Corollary Wines in McMinnville.
Corollarly’s 2021 Momtazi Carbonic Rosé Pinot Noir scored 96 points from Wine Enthusiast.
“This is a Peter Max print of a wine, with vivid aromas and flavors to match the wine’s electric Kool-Aid color. It is filled to the brim with aromas and flavors of macerated strawberries, candied rose petals, apricots, and a bitter note similar to watermelon rind. Pour in the largest glass you can find while slow dancing in your socks,” wrote Wine Enthusiast contributor Michael Alberty.
The second Oregon winery to earn a spot on the list: Lytle-Barnett in Dundee.
Wine Enthusiast also gave Lytle-Barnett’s 2018 Brut Rosé Pinot Noir Chardonnay 96 points.
“Bubbles as persistent as an eight-year-old with a question deliver aromas of dried rose petals, macerated strawberries, and a touch of fresh hay and talc. This 70/30 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blend is packed with flavors of lemon zest, Honeycrisp apple slices drizzled in caramel, and a dollop of raspberry,” Alberty wrote.
The nods to Corollary and Lytle-Barnett come as the wineries recently helped launch Method Oregon, a nonprofit made up of 50 Oregon wineries aiming to turn Oregon into a global sparkling wine destination.
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