SEATTLE — Oregon's first Pac-12 loss came in dramatic fashion to rival Washington for the second year in a row, as the Huskies scored the go-ahead touchdown with 98 seconds left to beat the Ducks on Saturday at Husky Stadium, 36-33.
Down 29-18 early in the third quarter, the Ducks rallied into the lead with two touchdowns and some stout defense, including a goal-line stand while up 33-29 with 6:18 to play. But Oregon was stopped on fourth down for the third time in the game at midfield with 2:11 left, Washington quickly drove to the winning score and the Ducks missed a potential game-tying field goal as time expired.
The No. 8 Ducks (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12) will look to regroup at home this upcoming Saturday against Washington State. The No. 7 Huskies joined USC as the two remaining unbeaten teams in Pac-12 play.
"At the end of the day they made a couple of more plays than we did," UO coach Dan Lanning said. "We made some decisions we probably could have made differently throughout that game, but our guys battled to the end I thought they showed some resiliency."
The game was back-and-forth up to halftime, when UW led 22-18 after Oregon was stopped on fourth down at the 3-yard line to end the half. Of the three fourth-down stops by Washington in the game, Lanning said that was the decision he'd most closely reassess in film review.
"This game's 100 percent on me," he told reporters Saturday evening. "I don't think you guys have to look anywhere else but me."
The Ducks turned it over on downs again inside the 10-yard line after Washington took a 29-18 lead in the third, but Oregon's defense then made consecutive three-and-outs. Touchdowns by Troy Franklin and Jordan James then pushed the Ducks into the lead with less than a quarter left.
Three straight run stops inside the 3-yard by Oregon protected a 33-29 lead in the fourth. Oregon took over at the 2-yard line with 6:33 to play and drove to midfield, but an incomplete pass with 2:11 to go gave the ball back to Washington, and the Huskies scored two plays later.
"We thought we had the game in our hands," UO receiver Troy Franklin said. "We just didn't finish."
Oregon drove into position for a 43-yard field goal on the final play of regulation, but the kick was no good. The loss Saturday came just less than a year after Washington made a go-ahead field goal with less than a minute to play to win 37-34 in Autzen Stadium.
"I'll certainly go back and evaluate myself," Lanning said. "It's about adapting — the game's about adapting and getting better."
Bo Nix finished 33-of-44 passing for 337 yards and two touchdowns, and Franklin had eight receptions for 154 yards and a score. Bucky Irving rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, and James added 63 yards with a rushing touchdown.
Defensively, Steve Stephens IV led the Ducks with seven tackles, Brandon Dorlus had five tackles with a sack and Jahlil Florence had an interception. Oregon held Washington to season lows of 415 total yards and 316 yards through the air.
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