PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Spirit of ’77 in Northeast Portland is getting ready for a big crowd for the rivalry football game between Oregon and Oregon State. But when the two kick off Saturday, it could be the last time the historic rivals play.
As it stands now, there’s not a game scheduled between the Ducks and the Beavers in 2026. That will mark the first time since a two-year pause during World War II that the rivals will not play. The schools are currently in negotiations on a deal to put the game on the schedule in 2027, and for a few years after. But sports columnist and radio host John Canzano said if those talks break down, Saturday’s game could be the last.
“There
are financial reasons for them to continue the series,” he said. “There are a lot of interested parties who would love to see Oregon State and Oregon continue to play this game, and I think I can come up with a bunch of reasons that they should. But we all know nothing is done until you have a contract.”
The Ducks are pushing to have that first game back in Autzen Stadium in Eugene, according to Canzano. That is also the site for Saturday’s matchup, so Canzano said the Beavers are taking issue with that.
“If you come back in ’27 after playing the ’25 game in Eugene, there are a lot of bad feelings still in Corvallis about what happened in the Pac-12 conference,” he said. “And now you’re going to skip the game in Corvallis in 26. So I think that’s part of the negotiation as well.”
Canzano said he has also heard from fans who do not like seeing the rivals play in September, compared to their usual Thanksgiving weekend matchup. Typically, teams play non-conference opponents at the beginning of the year, which is the case for UO and OSU now. Canzano said a possible solution is opening a window in the schedule at the end of the year.
“Some other conferences have done this to recognize and address some legacy rivalries, and this certainly is one that some other conferences have open windows and said, ‘Look, we’re going to leave that open. You can schedule your rivalry game in there,” he said. “If I’m Oregon State, I’m pushing for that as well as a negotiating point, because this game doesn’t feel right in September.”
Tyler Schang, a bartender at Spirit of 77, said he did not know Saturday’s game is the last one on the books for now. But he said he is hopeful the games will continue.
Canzano said he is confident the two schools will get a deal done. But if the Ducks are to get their way for 2027, he expects them to pay Oregon State to have the game in Eugene.