The University of Oregon hosts a familiar nemesis in the climax of the Big Ten regular season

The University of Oregon football team will play its final regular season game at Autzen Stadium this weekend. On Saturday afternoon they play against their long-time rival, the University of Washington Huskies.

The Ducks have posted an unprecedented 11-0 record in their first season as a member of the Big Ten Conference, with wins over teams with national pedigrees such as the Ohio State University Buckeyes and the University of Michigan Wolverines.

It is also the University of Washington’s first season playing in the Big Ten, where the Huskies have posted a 4-4 record in the new conference and a 6-5 record overall.

The rivalry between the Ducks and Huskies has existed for more than a century and continues as both teams are represented in the Big Ten.

No one knows the rivalry better than Ducks defensive back Jabbar Muhammad, who played for Washington in 2023 before transferring to Oregon.

“It’s a really fierce rivalry,” Muhammad told reporters after practice on Tuesday. “The fans don’t like each other. I remember being cheered on on the bus,” he added, referring to his season with Washington.

But Muhammad won’t be thrilled this year as he is one of the home team’s key players. For years, Autzen Stadium has been considered one of the loudest stadiums in the country the hype got even bigger after the matchup with Ohio State in October.

“The stadium is like a 12th player on the field,” offensive lineman Ajani Cornelius said. This game will be Cornelius’ final game at Autzen as his senior season comes to an end. But of his final home game, he said, “There is no other place I would rather play than Autzen Stadium.”

This weekend marks a highly anticipated rematch following last season’s Pac-12 Championship Game, a 34-31 victory for the Huskies after a stunning fourth quarter. The final Pac-12 Championship game was the Ducks’ third straight loss to the Huskies.

Muhammad said he is trying to treat this game like any other, even though he is competing with his former teammates. In practice, the team tried to keep it light.

“We had the music playing out there, everyone dancing in 20 degrees,” he said. “I think it’s pretty cool to go out there and just have fun while training. I don’t think many teams do that.”

But not everyone can treat this game like the others. For Ducks inside linebacker Jeffrey Bassa, the last three losses to the Huskies have been a real pain – especially for players like him, who has played for the Ducks the last three years. Bassa’s last memory of beating Washington was his freshman year.

“You always feel that sour taste in your mouth,” he said. “We have to take care of business.”

The Ducks have taken care of business all over the country this season, but now the pressure is on. It’s not just about beating the Huskies – it’s about confirming their status as the best team in the nation before they play in their first Big Ten championship game. Oregon has its eye on a potentially even bigger prize as the NCAA assembles its first-ever 12-team national playoffs.