The 2019 Oregon Ducks football team represented the
University of Oregon
The University of Oregon (UO, U of O or Oregon) is a public research university in Eugene, Oregon. Founded in 1876, the institution is well known for its strong ties to the sports apparel and marketing firm Nike, Inc, and its co-founder, billion ...
during the
2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season was the highest level of college football competition in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 2019. The regular season began on August 24, 2019, and end ...
. The team was led by second-year head coach
Mario Cristobal
Mario Manuel Cristobal (born September 24, 1970) is head football coach of the Miami Hurricanes football team at the University of Miami.
Cristobal previously was the head football coach at Florida International University (FIU) from 2007 to 20 ...
. Oregon played their home games at
Autzen Stadium
Autzen Stadium is an outdoor football stadium in the northwest United States, in Eugene, Oregon. Located north of the University of Oregon campus, it is the home field of the Oregon Ducks of the Pac-12 Conference. Opened in 1967, the stadium ha ...
in
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is located at the southern end of the Willamette Valley, near the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.
As of the 2020 United States Census ...
. The Ducks competed as members of the North Division of the
Pac-12 Conference
The Pac-12 Conference is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference, that operates in the Western United States, participating in 24 sports at the NCAA Division I level. Its College football, football teams compete in the NCAA D ...
.
Oregon started the year with a neutral-site game against
Auburn in
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, located in Tarrant County. It forms part of the Mid-Cities region of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan statistical area, and is a principal city of the metropolis and region. ...
, where they lost, 27–21. The Ducks won their next nine games before being upset on the road by
Arizona State
Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public research university in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, ASU is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the U ...
, effectively knocking them out of contention for the
College Football Playoff
The College Football Playoff (CFP) is an annual postseason knockout invitational tournament to determine a national champion for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the highest level ...
. With a regular season record of 10–2 (8–1 in Pac-12 play), Oregon represented the North Division in the
Pac-12 Championship Game
The Pac-12 Football Championship Game is an annual college football game held by the Pac-12 Conference to determine the season's conference champion. The game from the 2011–2021 seasons had the champion of the North Division against the champ ...
, where they defeated South Division champion and fifth-ranked
Utah
Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to its ...
, 37–15, to win their first conference title since
2014
File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...
. They received an invitation to the
Rose Bowl, where they defeated Big Ten Conference runner-up
Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
, 28–27. Oregon was ranked fifth in the season's final
AP Poll
The Associated Press poll (AP poll) provides weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling 62 sportswriters and broa ...
.
Oregon's offense was led by senior quarterback
Justin Herbert
Justin Patrick Herbert (born March 10, 1998) is an American football quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon, where he won the 2019 Pac-12 Championship and was named ...
, who passed for 3,471 yards and 34 touchdowns. Running back
C. J. Verdell
CJ Verdell (born August 16, 1999) is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football at Oregon.
Early years
Verdell attended Mater Dei High School in Chula Vista, California. As a senior, he rushed for 2,399 y ...
led the team in rushing with 1,220 yards and eight touchdowns. Offensive tackle
Penei Sewell was a
unanimous All-American
The College Football All-America Team is an honorific college football all-star team compiled after each NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) season to recognize that season's most outstanding performers at their respective positions. ...
and was the recipient of the
Outland Trophy
The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best college football interior lineman in the United States as adjudged by the Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John H. Outland. One of only a few players ever to be named an All- ...
as the nation's best lineman on either side of the ball. Defensively, the team's leading tackler was linebacker
Troy Dye
Troy Dye (born September 18, 1996) is an American football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon.
Early years
Dye attended Norco High School in Norco, California where he ...
, who was named second-team all-conference.
Preseason
Award watch lists
Listed in the order that they were released
Pac-12 media day
Pac-12 media poll
In the Pac-12 preseason media poll, Oregon was voted as the favorite to win North Division, finishing one vote ahead of defending conference champion
Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
. The Ducks received the second-most votes to win the Pac-12 Championship Game behind
Utah
Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to its ...
.
Schedule
Rankings
Personnel
Roster
Depth chart
Game summaries
vs. Auburn
In Oregon's opening game, the Ducks squared off with the SEC's Auburn Tigers at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The Ducks leaped out to a 21–6 lead but would give up the game's last 21 points, including a late TD strike from
Bo Nix
Bo Nix (born February 25, 2000) is an American football quarterback for the Oregon Ducks. Nix played with the Auburn Tigers from 2019 to 2021 before transferring to Oregon in 2022.
High school career
Nix was born on February 25, 2000, in ...
to
Seth Williams with nine seconds remaining in the game to fall 27–21.
Justin Herbert
Justin Patrick Herbert (born March 10, 1998) is an American football quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon, where he won the 2019 Pac-12 Championship and was named ...
's two touchdown passes and
C. J. Verdell
CJ Verdell (born August 16, 1999) is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football at Oregon.
Early years
Verdell attended Mater Dei High School in Chula Vista, California. As a senior, he rushed for 2,399 y ...
's TD run in the first half would not be enough for the Ducks as they fell to 0–1 to begin the season.
Nevada
Montana
at Stanford
The Ducks kicked off Pac-12 play by beating Stanford 21-6 in Palo Alto. Justin Herbert tossed three touchdown passes, two of them to Jacob Breeland, and the Ducks defense kept Stanford to just 120 yards passing to win their first conference game of the season
California
Despite a slow start at home, the Ducks scored 17 points in the second half to get the win over California. Freshman defensive lineman
Kayvon Thibodeaux
Kayvon Thibodeaux ( ; born December 15, 2000) is an American football outside linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). A native of Los Angeles, he was named ''USA Today'' High School Football Defensive Player of ...
had two sacks for Oregon's defense and the Ducks ran for almost 200 yards against the Golden Bears.
Colorado
On Friday night at Autzen Stadium, the Ducks clobbered Colorado 45–3 to maintain control of the Pac-12 North. Oregon's running game accounted for 271 yards of offense, including four of their six touchdowns. Cyrus Habibi-Likio had three of the four rushing touchdowns. The Ducks defense also forced four turnovers in the win.
at Washington
With the Pac-12 North lead at stake, the Ducks traveled to Seattle to square off with arch-rival Washington. The game started as a back and forth battle, with both teams trading touchdowns in the first half. Washington built a 28–14 lead in the 3rd quarter thanks to three touchdown passes by
Jacob Eason
Jacob Henry Eason (born November 17, 1997) is an American football quarterback who is a free agent. He played college football at Washington and Georgia and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Easo ...
. Down a few scores late in the 3rd, the Ducks got a touchdown from Cyrus Habibi-Likio to cut the deficit to seven. After a Washington field goal, the Ducks responded with a 4th-down TD pass from Herbert to Mycah Pittman to end the 3rd Quarter that would cut Washington's lead to three. Midway through the 4th Quarter, still down by a field goal, the Ducks went to the ground attack to get close enough for
Justin Herbert
Justin Patrick Herbert (born March 10, 1998) is an American football quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon, where he won the 2019 Pac-12 Championship and was named ...
's five-yard TD strike to Jaylon Redd to give the Ducks the lead. Washington wouldn't bow down as they sustained a good drive late in the 4th, but an incomplete pass on 4th and 3 with a minute to go gave Oregon the win. The Ducks would take a three game lead in the Pac-12 North with only five games to go.
Washington State
In another revenge game from last season, the Ducks defeated Washington State 37–35 at Autzen Stadium. It was an epic back-and-forth battle with both teams trading scores. But
C. J. Verdell
CJ Verdell (born August 16, 1999) is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football at Oregon.
Early years
Verdell attended Mater Dei High School in Chula Vista, California. As a senior, he rushed for 2,399 y ...
accounted for over 250 yards of offense and freshman kicker Camden Lewis nailed a last second field goal to give the Ducks the win at home, their first over the Cougars since 2014.
at USC
Many believed this matchup to be Oregon's final test before reaching the College Football Playoff as the Ducks visited the USC Trojans. While USC was 5-3, they hadn't lost a home game all season — including an upset win over #10 Utah in Week 4. In a high-scoring game,
Juwan Johnson
Juwan Johnson (born September 13, 1996) is an American football tight end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State and Oregon and signed with the Saints as an undrafted free a ...
scored three 3rd Quarter touchdowns and Oregon's defense frustrated the USC offense by getting sacks and turnovers en route to a 56–24 victory at the LA Coliseum. The Ducks fell in an early 10–0 hole, but held the Trojans to 14 points the rest of the game and scored touchdowns on defense and special teams to pick up the win.
Arizona
The Ducks dominated from start to finish and defeated Arizona 34–6 in another revenge game from last season. Herbert tossed four more touchdown passes in the victory. In addition to the win, the Ducks locked up the Pac-12 North division and clinched a spot in the Pac-12 Championship for the first time since 2014.
at Arizona State
On a Saturday night in the desert, the Ducks struggled to stop
Jayden Daniels
Jayden Daniels (born December 18, 2000) is an American football quarterback for the LSU Tigers. Daniels previously played for the Arizona State Sun Devils before transferring to LSU in 2022.
Early years
Daniels was born on December 18, 2000, in ...
and his group of wide receivers throughout the game. Oregon trailed Arizona State 24–7 in the 4th Quarter, but Herbert and
Johnny Johnson III
Johnny Johnson III (born May 14, 1999) is an American football wide receiver for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon from 2017 to 2021.
College career
As a junior, Johnson caught 57 pas ...
hooked up twice for touchdowns to pull Oregon within three. But on the next possession for the Sun Devils, Daniels hit
Brandon Aiyuk
Brandon Aiyuk (; born March 17, 1998) is an American football wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Sierra College and Arizona State and was drafted by the 49ers in the f ...
on 3rd and 16 for an 84-yard touchdown to seal the deal late in the 4th quarter. The Ducks would get one more touchdown from Johnson but it would not be enough as they suffered a 31–28 loss in Tempe. It would eventually knock out any chance Oregon would have to make it to the College Football Playoff.
Oregon State
In the latest edition of the Civil War rivalry, the Ducks' special teams came to life with a Mykael Wright 94-yard kick return TD in the 1st half. The Ducks defense kept a hot Oregon State out of the end zone en route to a 24–10 win. The Ducks ended the regular season 10–2 and earned a spot in the Pac-12 title game.
vs. Utah (Pac-12 Championship Game)
Oregon squared off with the Utah Utes, the Pac-12 South champions, in the Pac-12 Championship. Oregon would head to the Rose Bowl with a win, while Utah, ranked number 5 at the time, was playing for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Oregon started off fast, stopping Utah on two 4th and 1's, forcing an interception, and scoring 20 points in the 1st half.
C. J. Verdell
CJ Verdell (born August 16, 1999) is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football at Oregon.
Early years
Verdell attended Mater Dei High School in Chula Vista, California. As a senior, he rushed for 2,399 y ...
scored on Oregon's first drive while Herbert hit
Johnny Johnson III
Johnny Johnson III (born May 14, 1999) is an American football wide receiver for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon from 2017 to 2021.
College career
As a junior, Johnson caught 57 pas ...
for a 49 yard TD strike in the 2nd quarter. Utah would respond in the 2nd half. After Oregon failed to score on their first drive of the half, the Utes would get on the board with a rushing TD from
Zack Moss. Following a field goal by Camden Lewis, the Utes would get a touchdown and two-point conversion from Samson Nacua to make it 23–15 Oregon. The Ducks would put the game away midway through the 4th quarter when Verdell rushed for a 70-yard touchdown to give Oregon a 15-point lead late in the game. Utah attempted a comeback, but
Tyler Huntley was picked off by
Troy Dye
Troy Dye (born September 18, 1996) is an American football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon.
Early years
Dye attended Norco High School in Norco, California where he ...
with three minutes to play in the game. The Ducks would capitalize two plays later with another touchdown run by Verdell from 31 yards out, making it 37–15 Oregon and sealing the victory. The Ducks headed into the postseason at 11–2 and secured a spot in the Rose Bowl. The loss ended Utah's bid for a College Football Playoff spot.
vs. Wisconsin (2020 Rose Bowl Game)
The Ducks would meet the Big Ten runner-up, the 10–3 Wisconsin Badgers, in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for a rematch of the 2012 Rose Bowl. The game started out well for Oregon as they scored a touchdown on their opening possession from
Justin Herbert
Justin Patrick Herbert (born March 10, 1998) is an American football quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon, where he won the 2019 Pac-12 Championship and was named ...
on a QB run. The Badgers would return the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown to tie it up. After Wisconsin kicked a field goal to make it 10–7, Herbert ran for his second score of the game to give Oregon the lead, 14–10. Wisconsin would respond as
Jack Coan
Jack Coan (born December 8, 1998) is an American football quarterback for the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL. He played college football for Wisconsin and Notre Dame.
High school and college career
Born in Sayville, New York, Coan went to Sa ...
found
Quintez Cephus
Quintez Cephus (born April 1, 1998) is an American football wide receiver for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wisconsin.
High school career
While playing high school football at Stratfor ...
for a short touchdown to give Wisconsin a 17–14 lead at halftime. Wisconsin did not get much going on their first drive of the 3rd quarter, leading to a punt. But Oregon's special teams managed to block the punt and
Brady Breeze
Brady James Breeze (born October 9, 1997) is an American football safety for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon.
Professional career
Tennessee Titans
Breeze was drafted by the Tenness ...
took the blocked punt to the end zone to put Oregon up 21–17. Wisconsin's defense held off the Ducks offense and put up the next 10 points to go up 27–21 in the 4th quarter. But during a possession late in the game, Wisconsin RB
Jonathan Taylor fumbled the football, which was recovered by Oregon. On the next play, Herbert would keep it himself for a 30-yard touchdown run, his third of the game, to put the Ducks up 28–27. The Ducks defense would stop the Badgers on their final two possessions and Oregon ran out the clock to secure the win. The Ducks won their first Rose Bowl since 2014 and finished the season 12–2 and Rose Bowl Champions.
Players drafted into the NFL
References
{{Pac-12 Conference football champions
Oregon
Oregon () is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idah ...
Oregon Ducks football seasons
Pac-12 Conference football champion seasons
Rose Bowl champion seasons
Oregon Ducks football
The Oregon Ducks football program is a college football team for the University of Oregon, located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the FBS and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference (Pac-12). Although ...