They are the games two fan bases circle on the calendar each year, and they miss just a little more than the other games on the schedule.
They are, of course, the rivalry games, and in the case of Oregon football, there are two contests on that annual schedule that every Duck fan looks forward to.
The Athletic published their list of the Top 100 best rivalries in college football today, and one of those listed is the Civil War between the Oregon State Beavers and the Ducks. They have the game No. 27 on the list, which seems a little low. Considering how long the contest has been played and its significance on the national stage in recent years, one would think the Civil War would be in the Top 20 at least.
Oregon leads the series 69-49-10 and the Ducks will be heavily favored to capture their 70th win over the Beavers when the two teams clash Sept. 20 inside Autzen Stadium.
The series has changed over the past couple of seasons with the two teams not playing in the same conference anymore. It’s a non-conference affair now that is played in September instead of being the last game of the regular season in November.
It’s taken a little luster off the rivalry, unfortunately. Oregon State will be hard-pressed to keep up with the Ducks in the future, as Oregon is in the Big Ten and OSU will play in a new Pac-12 beginning in 2026. It’s just not the same now.
State pride will always be on the line in this game, but Rose Bowls and possible playoff berths no longer hang in the balance. The weather always seemed to play a part, and even that shouldn’t be the case as September usually has sunshine. Last year’s tilt in Corvallis was 75 degrees and sunny. There won’t be a fog bowl or a howling rain storm to affect the game play and the ultimate winner.
But times change, and the Civil War has to change with it. It is a chance to build new traditions, and hopefully, the Ducks dominating this series doesn’t change, however. It’s just not as fun knowing it will take a Herculean effort on Oregon State’s part to win, at least in the foreseeable future.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks vs. Oregon State among best college football rivalries