As if the rivalry wasn’t already hot enough going into 2019, but now that the two main pre-season polls have been released, and the recruiting classes are taking shape, this is a Dawg vs Duck fight — and the two teams don’t actually meet on the field until October.
The Polls
The AP Poll has Oregon ranked 11th and Washington ranked 13th, with Texas A&M separated the two at 12th. The Coaches Poll, however, has Washington at #12 and Oregon at #13.
Both teams will be tested early; Oregon plays in the Kickoff Classic against #16 Auburn on the 31st, while Washington has EWU at home. But the following week Oregon stays at home to face the lesser Nevada, and Washington hosts Cal — a team they lost to last season. It’s likely that both teams will be 2-0 by the time week three rolls around, and beyond that it’s anyone’s guess how Washington do on the road against BYU or Oregon will play at Stanford in week four.
I do believe Oregon will beat Auburn because the Tigers don’t have a Jarrett Stidham this year and they’re starting a freshman quarterback, while Oregon is coming in with an experienced quarterback and offensive line.
Washington is in the fortunate position of having the Ducks at home this year, and that game could decide early who wins the North.
Recruiting
Just like the pre-season polls, the recruiting rankings are showing a tight race going on between both programs.
As Washington’s class begins to start filling up, the Huskies have pulled to within three points of the Ducks in the Pac-12 rankings, while the national rankings have the Ducks at 15th and the Huskies at 16th.
Oregon does have more commits right now, but the Huskies have one more 4-star commit than the Ducks, and their hopeful 5-star linebacker, Noah Sewell (according to reports) is injured and may not even play the remainder of the season. Whether he can maintain a 5-star ranking if he doesn’t play his senior season is left to be seen. This was a detriment to wide receiver, Kyle Ford last year.
Washington, on the other hand, is back in the saddle again with Sav’ell Smalls, and he’s a 5-star. Some sources have stated that the Smalls/Oregon love affair has cooled considerably.
Who will come out on top?
Both the regular football season and the 2020 recruiting season could see the Huskies sneak right past Oregon and come out the winner.
** The Huskies get the Ducks at home in Seattle
** The Huskies still have a few more guys to add to the Class of 2020 and two of the guys they are in good shape for are high 4-star guys, while one is a 5-star.
Last year Oregon managed to pull out a last second victory against the Huskies in overtime, this year — Washington is in good shape to “pick” the Duck’s pre-season momentum, and take it to the house for the victory.
