Surprisingly, the Oregon Ducks have never scored a single point against Ohio State at Autzen Stadium, despite having met the Buckeyes 10 times in their history.
While this might sound shocking, it’s important to note that Ohio State has only played in Autzen Stadium once. That single game took place in October 1967, marking the first-ever contest at the stadium. Woody Hayes’ Ohio State team shut out Jerry Frei’s Oregon squad, winning 30-0 in front of 25,000 fans.
Since that initial matchup, six games have been held in Columbus, where Ohio State holds a 5-1 record over Oregon. Two games were played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, and the most recent matchup occurred in Arlington, Texas, during the 2015 national championship, which Ohio State also won.
Now, with a much larger and more raucous crowd of over 54,000 expected at Autzen, Dan Lanning’s Ducks are hoping for a different outcome. This year’s Oregon team is vastly improved, especially on offense, and the home-field advantage could play a key role in the contest. With College GameDay on-site, the atmosphere will be electric, and quarterback Dillon Gabriel will lead a potent offense against Ohio State.
Even scoring a field goal would be a milestone for Oregon, marking the first time the Ducks have ever scored on the Buckeyes at Autzen Stadium. But the primary goal is to secure their first-ever home win against Ohio State.
Saturday night’s game is set to dominate headlines, as it will be the centerpiece of College GameDay, drawing attention to two of the nation’s top football programs. This will also be Oregon’s first matchup against a ranked Big Ten opponent as a member of the conference, adding even more significance to the game.
For Oregon, a win would provide a huge boost in the conference standings with just six games remaining, positioning them well as the first College Football Playoff rankings approach. A loss would leave the Ducks needing to win out to make the Big Ten title game, though playoff hopes would still be alive.
With home-field advantage on their side, Oregon will aim to make history.
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