Oregon Football Has Flown High Since 1894
The Oregon Ducks football team has a rich history that dates back to its inaugural season in 1894. Over the years, the Ducks have become a dominant force in college football, amassing numerous accolades and thrilling their fans with unforgettable moments. This article explores the highlights of their football success and provides a comprehensive list of the University of Oregon Ducks conference championships, BCS Championship and College Football Playoff appearances.
A Historical Overview
The Oregon Ducks have been a staple in college football for nearly 130 years. The Ducks played their first season in 1894 and quickly established themselves as a competitive team. Their first taste of championship glory came in 1895 when they captured the Oregon Intercollegiate Football Association title.
The University of Oregon football team has participated in various conferences over the years, most notably the Pacific Coast Conference, the Pacific-10 Conference, and the Pac-12 Conference. Oregon was one of four teams in the inaugural College Football Playoffs and In 2024, the Ducks joined the Big 10 Conference, marking a new chapter in their storied history.
Oregon Conference Championship Seasons
The Ducks have claimed a total of 14 conference championships during their illustrious history. Here is a breakdown of their championship seasons across different conferences:
Oregon Intercollegiate Football Association
- 1895 – In the University’s second year of football, Oregon captured its first conference crown.
Pacific Coast Conference
- 1919 – Oregon posted a 5-1 record before losing to Havard by a 7-6 score.
- 1933 – Finished with a 9-1 record with only loss, a 26-0 shutout at USC.
- 1948 – Featured future Pro Football Hall of Famer, QB Norm Van Brocklin.
- 1957 – Lost to No. 2 ranked Ohio State 10-7 in the Rose Bowl
Pacific-10 Conference
- 1994 – Oregon won the outright conference championship with a 7-1 league mark. The Ducks fell to Penn State 38-20 in the Rose Bowl.
- 2000 – With QB Joey Harrington leading the squad, the Ducks finished in a 3-way conference tie with Washington and Oregon State. A 35-30 Holiday Bowl win over Texas capped the season.
- 2001 – QB Joey Harrington returned and the Ducks finished the season with an AP No. 2 national ranking after defeating Colorado 38-16 in the Fiesta Bowl
- 2009 – Lost to Ohio State 26-17 in the Rose Bowl
- 2010 – Under the direction of Head Coach Chip Kelly, Oregon flew through the regular season undefeated and held college football’s No. 1 ranking. The Ducks quest for a national title fell short when they lost to Auburn 22-19 in the BCS National Championship Game.
Pac-12 Conference
- 2011 – Defeated Wisconsin 45-38 in the Rose Bowl
- 2014 – Advanced to the College Football Playoff Championship Game against Ohio State
- 2019 – Lost to Iowa State 34-17 in the Fiesta Bowl.
- 2020 – The Ducks defeated USC in the Pac-12 Championship Game before losing to Iowa State in the Fiesta Bowl by a 34-17 score.
Oregon Football by the Numbers
- 13: Longest winning streak – Began 11/26/2011 and ended 11/10/2012
- 116 – Most wins by an Oregon head coach. Mike Bellotti (1995-08)
- 1967 – Autzen Stadium opened on September 23.
- 1884: University’s first football season
- 1917: Oregon plays in its first Rose Bowl, a 14-0 win over Pennsylvania.
- 1953: Played in the earliest nationally televised college football game, defeating Nebraska 20-12.
- 1955: First player selected first in the NFL Draft. The Baltimore Colts picked QB George Shaw
- 2014: The Ducks made their first College Football Playoff appearance, defeating Florida State 59-20 before losing to Ohio State 42-20 in the national championship game. The 2014 season was the inaugural CFP season.
Oregon’s Heisman Trophy Highlights
2014 Heisman Trophy Winner: Marcus Mariota
In 2014, Marcus Mariota made history by becoming Oregon’s first Heisman winner along with being the first Polynesian and the first player from Hawaii to win the Heisman Trophy. His exceptional performance for the Oregon Ducks led them to a 12-1 regular-season record. Mariota’s achievements included throwing for 3,783 yards and 38 touchdowns with just two interceptions, rushing for 669 yards and 14 scores, and even catching a touchdown pass.
Mariota’s dominance was evident in several key statistics. He led the nation in total touchdowns with 53, tying Sam Bradford for the most in Heisman history. Additionally, he topped the charts in passing efficiency with a rating of 186.33 and total offense, accumulating 4,452 yards. His Heisman win was decisive, earning the third-highest vote total in the award’s history and appearing on a record 95.16% of ballots.
Following his stellar season, Mariota entered the 2015 NFL Draft, where he was selected second overall by the Tennessee Titans.
Through the years, Oregon Football has produced the following top 5 finishers in the Heisman Trophy voting.
- Joey Harrington (QB) – 4th place in 2001
- Dennis Dixon (QB) – 5th place in 2007
- LaMichael James (RB) – 3rd place in 2010
- Bo Nix (QB) – 3rd place in 2023
