Oregon WR Malik Benson puts ‘stamp’ on Washington rivalry with electrifying touchdown

SEATTLE – Malik Benson, a senior wide receiver who transferred to Oregon last offseason, received a crash course on the bitter rivalry between the Ducks and Washington Huskies last week from center Iapani Laloulu.

“I just got well educated,” Benson said. “Just with what this game means to Oregon fans.”

Armed with that knowledge, Benson set out Saturday at Husky Stadium to do whatever he could to help the No. 6 Ducks win and advance to the College Football Playoffs.

When the 26-14 UO victory had ended, Benson had produced five catches for 102 yards and the game’s most dazzling play on a 64-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that helped secure the win.

“I’m just glad I could put my stamp on it and my team could put our stamp on it,” he said.

The pivotal play came when Oregon needed it the most.

The Huskies had scored a touchdown to trim UO’s lead to 19-14 about midway through the fourth quarter.

Benson said UO’s offense took the field sensing that Washington had seized the momentum and it was up to them to take it back with a score.

Oregon’s ensuing drive faced a critical third-and-nine at its 36 when the pivotal play-call came in.

The formation called for Benson to line up wide right as the single receiver. On the left were three receivers. At the snap, Benson said he saw UW left cornerback Tacario Davis back up, giving the receiver room to run a dig route inside against Washington’s three-deep zone.

Benson said he trusted that Moore would make the same read and deliver the ball to the right spot. As it turned out, Moore was on the same page.

Moore, who credited Washington for doing a good job disguising coverages all game, determined during his pre-snap read that the backside dig from Benson could pop open.

“I knew I had numbers backside and Malik, knowing he would get his depth, knowing he could be a playmaker with the ball in his hands, I just had to find a way to give it to him,” Moore said.

Moore, while dropping back, glanced left to the three-receiver route combination before coming back to Benson, who cut inside to a wide-open area at midfield.

Moore delivered his pass on time, but a tad high, forcing Benson to go airborne to make the grab at the Washington 48.

“Once I caught it and landed on my feet, I was like, yeah, it’s my time to turn up,” Benson said.

Five Washington defenders were in position to make a play on Benson with Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq as the lone blocker downfield. He secured the block on free safety Alex McLaughlin while Benson’s speed left the other four defenders grasping at air.

Benson sailed into the end zone for a memorable 64-yard touchdown that gave the Ducks a 26-14 lead with 7:55 on the clock.

“At the end of the day, I threw him the pass, but he did the most work,” Moore said.

In the end zone, Benson dropped the football, stared up at Washington fans and then made a ‘W’ with his hands. He then simulated breaking the ‘W’ by bringing his hands down over his knee.

“It just came in the moment,” Benson said. “I just seen the big ‘Ws’ all over everywhere and I just knew that I had to get into that end zone so I could get that celebration.”

Benson, who caught five passes for a career-high 102 yards against the Huskies, has made several plays that impacted wins this season.

Among the most notable: His 85-yard punt return for a touchdown against USC gave the Ducks a 21-14 lead in the second quarter. Oregon won 42-27.

Two weeks earlier at Iowa, Benson caught a 24-yard sideline pass to the Hawkeyes’ 27-yard line to help set up the game-winning field goal in an 18-16 victory.

But Saturday’s catch and run could be the play Oregon fans most remember Benson by, given the opponent, the timing of the play, the wow factor and that it came in a victory that thrust the Ducks into the College Football Playoff.

Benson said not letting down his teammates motivates him.

“Just knowing that I’m an older guy and that guys look at me, so just making plays with my numbers called,” he said.

Benson came to Oregon hoping to return to the national playoffs. He got there in 2023 with Alabama as a backup. His one year at Florida State in 2024 crumbled into a 2-10 season.

Now he’s returning with the Ducks.

“Just blessed for the opportunity,” Benson said.