Cal Has Won Just Once at Oregon’s Autzen Stadium the Past 35 Years

Jaydn Ott is expected to play in Saturday’s game in Eugene, Oregon, where rain is expected and winning is difficult

Cal has won only once in the past 35 years in games at Oregon’s Autzen Stadium, and the Bears were fortunate to get that lone victory.

Of course, every Oregon opponent has difficulty winning at Autzen Stadium, where the Ducks have won 28 of their last 29 home games dating back to 2018. But Cal has had a particularly hard time there, and the Golden Bears are 24.5-point underdogs for Saturday’s game at Oregon, so it would be a major upset if the Bears were able to end that trend this year. 

At least Cal running back Jaydn Ott is expected to play Saturday after missing the closing minutes of Saturday’s USC game with an injury, but beating Oregon in rainy Eugene will still be a tall task for Cal.

The only time since 1987 that Cal beat Oregon in Eugene was in 2007, when Cal, which ranked No. 6 at the time, defeated 11th-ranked Oregon 31-24. And the Bears  needed help to do it.

The Ducks had a first down at the Cal 5-yard line with 22 seconds left of that game. Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon then completed a pass to Cameron Colvin, who tried to reach the ball across the goal-line. But he fumbled the ball through the end zone for a touchback, ending Oregon’s chance to tie or win the game.

Here is that play:

Before that victory, Cal had not won at Autzen Stadium since 1987, when the Bears pulled out a 20-6 victory over the Ducks.

The rain forecast for Saturday in Eugene may make the Bears’ task tougher (or potentially easier, depending how you look at it), but the biggest factors are Oregon’s talent – they are ranked No. 6 – and Autzen Stadium.

“It’s loud, really loud,” said Cal head coach Justin Wilcox, who played his college ball at Oregon and Autzen Stadium. “The noise is significant; you have to have a plan for that.”

Cal defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon also played at Oregon, and he notes the that the support of local fans and the stadium's configuration aids the Ducks at Autzen.

“They do a nice job of getting the community involved,” Sirmon said. “There’s not a lot of empty seats, if ever at all. The way it’s kind of designed is kind of a sunken-down bowl.”

That design tends to trap the noise made by the 54,000 people who typically fill Autzen Stadium.

And as is often the case, rain is expected in Eugene on Saturday. Forecasts call for an 88% chance of rain Saturday afternoon (kickoff is 2:30 p.m.) with what one weather service calls a “potential for heavy rainfall.”

Poor conditions typically are considered an equalizer; that is, a more talented team cannot exploit its superiority as readily when the conditions are less than perfect. In essence, lousy conditions lessen the talent gap between teams.

That suggests that heavy rain could help Cal, although Oregon’s experience playing in the rainy weather that is common in Eugene may cancel that advantage. 

Duck fans are prepared for rainy weather. Photo by Troy Wayrynen, USA TODAY Sports

At any rate, Cal is preparing for the possibility of a wet football game this week in practice.

“We’ve got water buckets everywhere,” Wilcox said. “Water bottles and buckets and spraying them down.”

Cal offensive coordinator Jake Spavital says there’s only so much you can do to get ready for rain.

“I don’t think there any true way to prepare for it, except dousing the football with water,” he said.

Injury Update

Wilcox said Ott is projected to play Saturday despite missing the closing minutes of Saturday’s 50-49 loss to USC. Ott leads the Pac-12 in rushing at 107.4 yards per game, even though he has missed one game and failed to finish two others because of injuries. So the backup running back is an important role. 

Isaiah Ifanse has been Ott’s backup, but he failed to finish Saturday’s game with an injury and he is questionable for the game against Oregon. If Ifanse can’t play, freshman Jaivian Thomas is expected to see significant playing time at running back against the Ducks.

Also, quarterback Sam Jackson V is unlikely to play for the second week in a row, which means Ben Finley will probably be Fernando Mendoza’s backup at quarterback.

Defensive lineman Ethan Saunders will probably return Saturday, which will help, but linebacker Muelu Iosefa is questionable and defensive lineman Derek Wilkins and safety Raymond Woodie III are doubtful.

Cover photo by Autzen 4 Craig Strobeck, USA TODAY Sports

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