Oregon Ducks Secure College Football Playoff Spot with Victory Over Washington

On November 25, 2025, the No. 6 Oregon Ducks defeated the Washington Huskies 26-14 at Husky Stadium, marking their 11th win of the season and securing a spot in the College Football Playoff. Oregon's head coach, Dan Lanning, praised his team's performance, highlighting their ability to handle the challenging environment and the importance of takeaways in the game.

Oregonian

Lanning noted the significance of Malik Benson's 64-yard touchdown catch, which was pivotal in the fourth quarter. He emphasized the composure displayed by Benson and the offensive line's execution throughout the match. Lanning also pointed out the need for improvement in managing aggressive penalties, which he found disappointing.

Oregonian

Dante Moore's running ability became crucial as the game progressed, particularly when Washington's defense effectively shut down Oregon's run game. Lanning remarked on the necessity of adapting strategies to maintain offensive effectiveness against a strong opponent.

Oregonian

Lanning commended the defensive efforts led by Tosh Lupoi, stating that the defense limited explosive plays, which were critical to the game's outcome. He acknowledged the physicality of the team and the importance of a complete team effort in achieving victory.

Oregonian

The Ducks' performance showcased a balance across all phases of the game, with Lanning asserting that this season has seen the offense, defense, and special teams working in harmony more than ever before.

Oregonian

With an 11-1 record, the Ducks are poised for the playoffs, and Lanning expressed excitement about the upcoming opportunities. He acknowledged the team's injuries but remained optimistic about their potential once fully healthy. Lanning emphasized the importance of controlling their destiny through consistent performance.

Oregonian

Despite the victory, Lanning recognized areas needing improvement, particularly in managing emotions during high-stakes moments. He noted that while the team has shown resilience, maintaining composure will be essential as they advance into the playoffs.

Oregonian

In his postgame remarks, Lanning stated, “It’s not supposed to be easy. It’s supposed to be hard,” reflecting on the challenges faced throughout the season. He also mentioned the importance of evaluating their performance moving forward and preparing for the playoff landscape.

Oregonian

• “Those locker rooms are fun. Competitive game. Credit to Washington, they didn’t make it easy. This environment is really good. I thought our players handled the chaos extremely well. I don’t think the noise affected us and even heard our fans chanting there at the end, which is awesome to be able to come into somebody else’s stadium and create that. We talked about how this game was going to come down to takeaways. I thought that was obviously a big piece of this game, being able to take the ball away twice and be able to own the ball on offense. Our kicker obviously played outstanding, four kicks in a tough place to kick. He’s been really solid for us down the stretch, but several players coming up making big plays. I know at the very end, you could ask, why not kick the field? It’s kind of a tough angle for the field goal kicker that tight. Ultimately, fourth and one, you want that opportunity to go get it. But I thought our guys handled the environment extremely well. They did a good job eliminating the run game, which is something that showed up, we got to be able to run it in tight situations. I thought Washington was outstanding there, so we’ll have to make sure we can shore that up. But defensively, we played well. Offensively, we made some big plays down the stretch. Obviously, that pass to Benson was huge. Altogether, the sideline was incredible. The focus that these guys had. It is just a really fun group, and the great part is we’re not done playing yet. I’m excited for that next opportunity.” — Dan Lanning, Head Coach

Oregonian

• “ On feeling of celebrating his first win at Washington" “I told the players before the game, I said, ;History’s great, but what’s more fun is writing history.” — Dan Lanning, Head Coach

Oregonian

• “We’ve had great offense at times, we’ve had great defense, we’ve had great special teams,” Lanning said, “but not always in sync at the same time.” — Dan Lanning, Head Coach

Oregonian

• “It’s gonna be scary once we get all of our guys back,” — Malik Benson, Wide Receiver

Oregonian

The Ducks will have time to rest and strategize before their playoff matchup, with anticipation building around their potential to make a deeper run than last year's playoff experience.

Oregonian