Oregon and Washington officially became the 17th and 18th members of the Big Ten Conference on Friday. As they prepare to become conference rivals with Ohio State in 2024, we take a look back at Ohio State’s history against the Ducks and Huskies, which includes an 18-4 combined all-time record against the Big Ten’s two newest members and one of Ohio State’s most legendary victories ever.
Oregon
A Brief History of the Ducks
Oregon's first game was in 1894. Originally nicknamed the Webfoots, the team known today as the Ducks has an all-time record of 692–508–46.
Oregon was one of the inaugural members of the Pac-12 when it launched as the Pacific Coast Conference in 1915. The Ducks have won 14 conference titles and have played in two college football national championship games, though they have never won a national title.
Marcus Mariota is the only Duck to win the Heisman Trophy. Nine members of the Oregon football program have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, including longtime USC coach John McCay, Ahmad Rashad and 14-year head coach Mike Bellotti. Six Ducks are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including legendary quarterbacks Norm Van Brocklin and Dan Fouts.
Buckeyes vs. Ducks
The Ducks and Bucks have faced each other 10 times on the gridiron. Ohio State won the first nine games, but Oregon knocked off the scarlet and gray when the teams last played on Sept. 11, 2021.
| DATE | MATCHUP | LOCATION | SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 11, 2021 | #3 Ohio State vs. #12 Oregon | Columbus, Ohio | 28–35 |
| Jan. 12, 2015 | #4 Ohio State vs. #2 Oregon | Arlington, Texas | 42–20 |
| Jan. 1, 2010 | #8 Ohio State vs. #7 Oregon | Pasadena, California | 26–17 |
| Sept. 19, 1987 | #5 Ohio State vs. Oregon | Columbus, Ohio | 24–14 |
| Sept. 10, 1983 | #7 Ohio State vs. Oregon | Columbus, Ohio | 31–6 |
| Oct. 5, 1968 | #6 Ohio State vs. Oregon | Columbus, Ohio | 21–6 |
| Oct. 7, 1967 | Ohio State at Oregon | Eugene, Oregon | 30–0 |
| Nov. 17, 1962 | Ohio State vs. Oregon | Columbus, Ohio | 26–7 |
| Nov. 18, 1961 | #3 Ohio State vs. Oregon | Columbus, Ohio | 22–12 |
| Jan. 1, 1958 | #2 Ohio State vs. Oregon | Pasadena, California | 10–7 |
| Overall Record Against Oregon: 9-1 | |||
Games to Remember
Jan. 12, 2015: Buckeyes win first-ever College Football Playoff
Following the stunning 42-35 Sugar Bowl win over No. 1 Alabama in the College Football Semifinal, Ohio State was one victory away from the program's eighth national title.
The Buckeyes rode the hot arm of third-string quarterback Cardale Jones and the explosive running of Ezekiel Elliott to put away No. 2 Oregon and Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota.
Elliott finished the game with 246 rushing yards – his third straight game of eclipsing 200 yards – and was named the championship game's offensive MVP. Jones kept the Ducks' defense offense honest by passing for 242 yards and running for a touchdown.
Although Ohio State had four turnovers, the Buckeyes' defense was able to stand strong and shut down Mariota and Oregon's offense in the red zone. With the 42-21 victory, Ohio State defeated teams ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in back-to-back games for the first time in program history to win the first-ever College Football Playoff.
Jan. 1, 2010: Buckeyes upset Ducks in Rose Bowl
For the first time since 1997, Ohio State was playing in Pasadena. Jim Tressel and his fifth-ranked Buckeyes found themselves as underdogs against Chip Kelly's high-tempo offense.
Ohio State's offense was expected to use the ground game to eat the clock and slow down No. 7 Oregon's potent offensive attack. Instead, Tressel turned to Terrelle Pryor's arm as the Buckeyes passed on eight out of 10 snaps during the game’s opening drive. Brandon Saine scored on a 13-yard reception to put the Buckeyes up 7-0.
The combination of Tressel opening up the playbook, a key third-and-long conversion from Pryor to Jake Ballard in the fourth quarter and Ohio State's defense limiting Oregon's vaunted offense led to a 26-17 victory in which the Buckeyes trailed only once. Pryor threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 72 yards to win the game's offensive MVP award while Ohio State’s defense held the Ducks’ offense to 260 yards.
Jan. 1, 1958: Buckeyes secure national title in Rose Bowl
After dropping the season-opening game against TCU, the second-ranked Buckeyes entered this game on an eight-game winning streak and were 19-point favorites over unranked Oregon.
The rout appeared to be on after Jim Houston capped Ohio State's 79-yard opening drive with an 18-yard touchdown reception. However, the Ducks didn't flinch and responded with an 80-yard touchdown drive of their own.
The remainder of the game turned into a slugfest as neither team was able to cross the goal line. In the second half, both teams had one field goal attempt. Oregon's Jack Morris missed his try wide left while Ohio State's Don Sutherin’s attempt was true and the Buckeyes escaped with the 10-7 victory.
The win was Ohio State's third Rose Bowl title, and the 1957 team finished the season ranked No. 1 in the UPI rankings and No. 2 in the AP poll.
Washington
A Brief History of the Huskies
Since playing their first organized football game in 1892, the Huskies have an overall record of 752–463–50.
The Huskies were an original member of the Pacific Coast Conference (now the Pac-12) when it was founded in 1915. Washington has won 17 conference titles and claimed two national championships (1960 and 1991). The Huskies consider Washington State and Oregon as rivals.
Defensive tackle Steve Emtman is the Huskies’ most decorated star as he was honored with the Lombardi Award, Outland Trophy and Bill Willis Award in 1991. Fifteen Huskies have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, including Emtman, offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy and head coach Don James.
Washington has three alumni in the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Warren Moon, Arnie Weinmeister and Hugh McElhenny.
Buckeyes vs. Huskies
Ohio State has played Washington 12 times and the Buckeyes lead the series with a 9–3 record. The Buckeyes have won four straight games against Washington, including the last time they played in the 2019 Rose Bowl.
| YEAR | MATCHUP | LOCATION | SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 1, 2019 | #6 Ohio State vs. #9 Washington | Pasadena, California | 28–23 |
| Sept. 15, 2007 | #10 Ohio State at Washington | Seattle, Washington | 33–14 |
| Aug. 30, 2003 | #2 Ohio State vs. #17 Washington | Columbus, Ohio | 28–9 |
| Sept. 16, 1995 | #10 Ohio State vs. #18 Washington | Columbus, Ohio | 30–20 |
| Sept. 10, 1994 | #18 Ohio State at #25 Washington | Seattle, Washington | 16–25 |
| Sept. 11, 1993 | #16 Ohio State vs. #12 Washington | Columbus, Ohio | 21–12 |
| Sept. 13, 1986 | #10 Ohio State at #17 Washington | Seattle, Washington | 7–40 |
| Oct. 4 ,1969 | #1 Ohio State at Washington | Seattle, Washington | 41–14 |
| Oct. 1, 1966 | Ohio State vs. Washington | Columbus, Ohio | 22–38 |
| Oct. 2, 1965 | Ohio State at Washington | Seattle, Washington | 23–21 |
| Oct. 4, 1958 | #3 Ohio State vs. Washington | Columbus, Ohio | 12–7 |
| Oct. 5, 1957 | Ohio State at Washington | Seattle, Washington | 35–7 |
| Overall Record Against Washington: 9-3 | |||
Games to Remember
Jan. 1, 2019: Urban goes out with a Rose Bowl win
The Grandaddy Of Them All was the backdrop for Urban Meyer's last stand as Ohio State's head coach. Through three quarters, the Buckeyes held a commanding 28-3 lead over the Huskies, but Chris Petersen's team put up 20 points in the fourth quarter to make things interesting.
Dwayne Haskins threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns in what was also his final game as a Buckeye to earn offensive MVP honors. The 28-23 victory improved Ohio State's record in the Rose Bowl to 8–7 and was the third straight win for the program when playing in Pasadena.
Sept. 16, 1995: Eddie George runs for 212
In 1994, Napoleon Kaufman gashed Ohio State for 211 rushing yards as the Huskies defeated the Buckeyes, 25-16, in Seattle. One year later, it was Ohio State whose star running back would take over the game.
Coming off a 99-yard, two-touchdown performance against Boston College in the season opener, George ran for 212 yards and two touchdowns against Washington to put himself in early position to win the 1995 Heisman Trophy.
When asked about George's performance, Washington head coach Jim Lambright had this to say:
It was awesome. One hundred and fifty yards in the first half. He does a great job with vision. They got us caught between inside plays and outside plays. He then has the vision to take what the defense give him. And he always falls forward.
Bobby Hoying finished the day with 192 yards passing and two touchdowns and Terry Glenn led the team with 91 receiving yards and a score as the Buckeyes scored 30 of the game’s first 37 points and eventually won 30-20.
Oct. 4, 1969: Defending national champions trounce Huskies
The Buckeyes suffered their first-ever loss to the Huskies, 38-22, when the two teams played in 1966. When they met again three years later, Woody Hayes and his reigning national champion squad wanted to make sure Washington didn't make it two in a row.
Rex Kern and Jim Otis combined for 247 rushing yards as they powered Ohio State's offense to a 41-14 win in Husky Stadium. Kern led all players with 136 yards on the ground and 128 passing yards. Otis found the end zone three times to up his touchdown total to five after the first two games of the season.
