SEATTLE — The numbers would be sobering if they weren’t so easily recalled.
It has been nine seasons since the University of Washington’s football team last beat the University of Oregon. In a rivalry as heated as this one — a series UW still leads 58-42-5 — the Huskies’ victory drought against the Ducks is an especially lengthy one.
Even harder for Husky fans to swallow than Oregon’s streak, is the way the Ducks have done it. Not only have they won nine consecutive times, they’ve won each by a lot.
The final, cumulative tally of those nine games is lopsided 391-158. It works out to an average score of 43.4 to 17.6 per game, and that’s exactly how close each of those contests has felt.
Oregon has scored 43 or more points in six of the games, and 50 or more in three. It has outgained the Huskies by an average of 476.6 yards to 287.1. It defeated UW in each of Tyrone Willingham’s four seasons as coach. It has defeated UW in each of Steve Sarkisian’s four seasons as coach, and the numbers haven’t changed much in that time.
So here comes the Ducks machine again on Saturday, looking to make it an even 10 straight in a nationally televised game at Husky Stadium with ESPN’s College GameDay in attendance.
But this is a different Huskies team, one that started the season 4-1 and might still be undefeated if not for a handful of special-teams lapses and costly penalties in last week’s 31-28 loss to fifth-ranked Stanford.
UW plays defense now like it hasn’t in the past decade, ranking 10th nationally in total defense and 11th in scoring defense, allowing just a shade more than two touchdowns per game (14.8 ppg).
The Huskies are stronger up front, faster at linebacker and seasoned in the secondary. At season’s end, this could be deemed their best defense since the 1990s.
But are they better equipped to stop the Ducks?
“I think our players have improved,” second-year defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox said. “I think we have a better understanding of our scheme. I think the guys are preparing extremely well.
“Again, it’s every week you do this. Whether it’s the first game of the season and we’re playing Boise State or we’re going to Illinois or we’re at home for Idaho state, it doesn’t change. I know that’s not the sexy answer that you want, but that’s the truth. You prepare the best, scheme-wise and personnel-wise, to play the team you’re playing. This week, that’s Oregon.”
This is a fact the Huskies’ players don’t seem to feel one way or the other about, mimicking the Ducks’ long-held belief that each opponent should remain faceless, that each week’s preparation should remain the same.
Still, the Huskies know they’ll be in for a fast-paced, tempo-centric game that will require both mental and physical speed on both sides of the football.
“That’s their entire game,” said fourth-year junior defensive end Hau’oli Kikaha. “That’s what we face everyday in our offense, so hopefully, we expect it to be comparable to Oregon. So playing against each other here in practice should help us very much in our game.”
Sarkisian thinks their improved conditioning should help them avoid the second-half Oregon runaways that have defined this losing streak.
I think we’re a better conditioned football team than we’ve ever been in the past. I think we perform well in the second half,” Sarkisian said. “Thirdly, I think we’ll be a lot more comfortable in that environment and the speed they operate at, because of the speed that we operate at (on) our offensive end.
“All of that being said, it’s still a very tall task. They’re a very good football team.”
Of note
The Pacific-12 Conference announced Wednesday that Washington’s Oct. 19 game at Arizona State will kickoff at 3 p.m. and air on the Pac-12 Networks. ? Sarkisian said after Wednesday’s practice that freshman Darrell Daniels has shifted from receiver to tight end, where he will work through at least spring practices.
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