The most-played college football rivalry in the West has a history of wild antics
In short: For over 130 years, the University of Oregon and Oregon State University have clashed in a rivalry known for intense competition and off-field chaos. From kidnapping homecoming queens to burning artificial turf, the animosity between these Willamette Valley neighbors has frequently spilled far beyond the boundaries of the football field.
First played in 1894, the Oregon–Oregon State rivalry is the fifth-most played in the Football Bowl Subdivision and the most-played in the Western United States. The campuses, located less than fifty miles apart, have met 129 times through 2025. While the series was officially branded the Civil War for decades, that name was discontinued in 2020 following a wave of protests, though it remains in common parlance among fans.
The rivalry's history is marked by bizarre pranks and occasional violence. In 1954, Oregon students infiltrated Corvallis to ignite a bonfire early, leading to the capture and forced labor of 25 students. In 1960, Oregon students abducted the Oregon State homecoming queen, returning her only after a failed attempt to ransom her for a game invitation. Even the game itself has seen strange moments, such as the 1983 'Toilet Bowl,' the last Division I game to end in a scoreless tie, which featured eleven fumbles and five interceptions.
The competitive landscape has shifted significantly, particularly with Oregon's 2024 move to the Big Ten Conference. This transition initially threatened the series, but the schools have committed to continuing the rivalry through at least 2032. Oregon currently leads the series with a 70–49–10 record. Despite the move to different conferences, the proximity of the two schools ensures that the annual clash remains a defining fixture of Oregon sports culture, balancing high-stakes football with a long-standing, often volatile, tradition of mutual disdain.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Oregon–Oregon State football rivalry
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