OSU heads west to new conference foe Oregon
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The Buckeyes are flying across the country to face Oregon, and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith flew through the air to catch this touchdown pass against Iowa last week. Photo: Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Ohio State heads west this weekend for its first showdown against a new conference rival, the Oregon Ducks.
Why it matters: This pivotal contest between the Bucks (ranked No. 2) and Ducks (No. 3) could have major playoff implications down the road.
State of play: Both teams enter with identical 5-0 records (2-0 in conference play).
- Here's a primer on the new-look Big Ten and this weekend's opponent.
Catch up quick: Despite its name, the conference hasn't had 10 teams in decades.
- It's mainly been Midwestern, but that changed with the recent addition of four West Coast schools: Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington.
- Teams are no longer separated by divisions, with the top two records making it to the Big Ten title game.
Between the yard lines: To paraphrase former OSU president E. Gordon Gee, three of the new teams aren't exactly the Little Sisters of the Poor:
🦆 Oregon reached the national championship game in 2014 (falling to OSU) and has remained a powerhouse program.
🐕 The Washington Huskies has twice made the College Football Playoffs, losing the championship game to TTUN this January.
☀️ The USC Trojans, once a dominant program in the early 2000s, are still a tough foe and produced the NFL's No. 1 pick in April.
Zoom in: The Ducks are located in Eugene, about 50 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean.
- Football is huge there, but the city is also famous for its running scene as the home to Nike and long-distance legend Steve Prefontaine.
Fun fact: Oregon's mascot is based on Donald Duck via a one-of-a-kind license agreement with Disney.
1 tradition to know: Fans love "throwing the O" — the most perfect letter, as our Axios Portland friends tell us.
- That's cute and all, but the Buckeyes are capable of spelling out the whole word "OHIO." Maybe we're just smarter.
🥐 What to do in Eugene: For those making the trip, our Portland colleagues recommend the Noisette Pastry Kitchen, a downtown French bakery.
- There's also the Bier Stein for beer snobs and the Jackalope for those seeking a proper dive bar.
How to watch: Kickoff is 7:30pm Saturday on NBC/Peacock and on radio at 97.1 The Fan.