The Oregon Ducks came into their season finale in Seattle with everything on the line. Ranked No. 6 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, the mission was simple: beat Washington, and punch their ticket to the postseason. And they did just that - in a game that wasn’t just about rankings or records, but about redemption, rivalry, and resilience.
For head coach Dan Lanning, this one was personal. After three straight losses to the Huskies - including a pair of gut-punch defeats in 2023 that derailed Oregon’s playoff hopes - finally getting over the hump meant more than just playoff positioning.
It was a statement win. A rivalry win.
And a long-awaited breakthrough.
"I'm excited, very excited," Lanning said after the game, when asked about turning the page to the CFP. But he wasn’t quite ready to look too far ahead just yet. And who could blame him?
"I'm going to enjoy the moment here for a little bit, probably through the rest of the night and then start worrying about what are our prep plans moving forward," he added. "Our team's banged up.
It'll be big for us to get healthy. I think everybody at this point in the season is dealing with that, but there's only 12 teams in the nation that get to keep playing.
I mean, some others can play, but in the real one, and we get an opportunity to go do that. So I'm excited about that."
That mix of joy and focus is telling. Lanning knows what’s ahead - a playoff run that could demand three wins to capture a national championship. But for now, he and the Ducks are soaking in a regular season that ends at 11-1, capped by a win over their biggest rival on the road.
And make no mistake: this wasn’t just another game for Oregon. This was a rivalry that had turned into a thorn in their side. After back-to-back losses to Washington last season, including one in the Pac-12 title game that effectively ended their playoff dreams, the Ducks needed this one - not just for the CFP, but for their own belief.
With the win, Oregon has now taken two straight from the Huskies, flipping the script under Lanning’s leadership. And the head coach made sure to share the moment with those who’ve been along for the ride.
After the final whistle, he made a point to high-five every Oregon fan behind the bench, walking the full length of the field to do it. That’s not just celebration - that’s connection.
The Ducks now turn their attention to the playoff, where the stakes will only get higher. But for a team that’s battled through adversity, that’s had to learn from heartbreak, and that’s finally put its biggest rival in the rearview mirror, the road ahead feels a little more promising.
Oregon’s national title hopes are alive and well. And after a win like this, they’ve got momentum - and motivation - on their side.