The final week of the college football regular season is here and it is bound to be a wild one. The Oregon Ducks travel to play the Washington Huskies as they try to finish strong and clinch a home game in the College Football Playoff.
This is an incredibly young Ducks team, but they have had an answer to every single question or concern they faced earlier in the year. This group can throw, run, or play defense with any team in the country, something they proved week in and week out.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Huskies aren’t a juggernaut, but any squad has the ability to upset a giant when they are trying to play spoilers. Oregon needs to be weary, because Washington will likely go to extreme lengths to distort the clear playoff picture that the Ducks have painted over the last few weeks.
Let’s take a look at what they need to do to ensure they escape Washington with a win.
Steady Dose of Noah Whittington
Oregon running back Noah Whittington finds the end zone for a touchdown as the Oregon Ducks host the USC Trojans on Nov. 22, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.The Ducks are in luck because their biggest offensive strength plays right into a potential weakness of the Huskies. They’ve been gashed in the run game in each of their three losses this season and give up more yards at home, so Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein needs to make sure Whittington is featured in the game plan.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOf course, Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. will be mixed in out of the backfield, but Whittington is an energetic, bruising lead back who has the ability to destroy a defense’s will. If he hits the middle of Washington’s defense consistently, then he could make the entire unit crumble.
No Fly Zone
Oct 11, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Brandon Finney Jr. (4) reacts after intercepting a pass thrown by Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) (ntot pictured) and returning it for a touchdown during the fourth quarter at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn ImagesIn the Huskies’ lone win against a ranked team this year, they accomplished it by relying on quarterback Demond Williams Jr., who exploded for 280 yards and four touchdowns. The Ducks have struggled to contain big plays in the passing games at time this year, but they may need to make their weakness a strength this week if they want to maximize their chances of winning.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThey won’t have to face an elite receiver like Makai Lemon again this week, but Washington has a multitude of options in the passing game that can cause a headache for any defense. Defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi will need to construct an elaborate coverage plan to stop the Huskies receivers from getting loose in space.
Kill the Clock
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning walks off after his win as the Oregon Ducks host the USC Trojans on Nov. 22, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.This key will be a hard one to execute because Washington is one of the better unranked teams in the nation, but the Ducks have to find a way to get this game over quickly. The chances of them walking out with a win are favorable, so it would be in their best interest to head into the playoffs with a full roster intact.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFreshman wide receiver Dakorien Moore is already injured, having missed two games in a row, so Oregon knows they can’t afford to lose any more playmakers. If they use Whittington like we talked about above, then they can score with ease like they have for much of this season, while also milking as much time off after each play as possible.
The Ducks should try anything available to them to double up the Huskies in the time of possession battle.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon’s 3 keys to victory against Washington football
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