Dan Lanning: Oregon continuing rivalry series with Oregon State ‘would be great’

Echoing his stance since Oregon announced its move to the Big Ten, Dan Lanning reiterated he would like the Ducks to continue playing Oregon State after Friday’s game (5:30 p.m., Fox).

No. 6 Oregon hosts No. 15 Oregon State in the 127th meeting of the in-state rivalry, which dates back to 1894, in what will mark the final time the teams will meet as conference foes.

“I think games like this are really important,” Lanning said. “And it would be great if that’s something we could make happen and continue to make happen. I know everybody on our end would love to see that continue.”

Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith said it “would be a good thing” for the series to continue , but deferred to OSU athletic director Scott Barnes as to whether the school ultimately decides to do so.

UO, which leads the series 67-49-10, has maintained its position is to continue to play OSU in all sports and is actively working to create an opening on its future nonconference football schedules to resume the series.

Oregon athletics officials are working with Boise State to change the first two games in a three-game series set to begin next season, a source with knowledge of the matter confirmed to The Oregonian/OregonLive, which would accommodate UO resuming the series with OSU uninterrupted.

John Canzano first reported UO’s discussions with OSU about resuming the series in 2024.

However, it has not been determined whether the Sept. 14, 2024 and Sept. 13, 2025 games presently scheduled between Oregon and Boise State would be rescheduled, which might not be until the 2030s — UO’s next soonest opening in future nonconference schedules, or canceled. While OSU has an opening on Sept. 14, 2024, it is scheduled to play at Texas Tech on Sept. 13, 2025, so Oregon altering its future schedules is only part of the ongoing talks.

On Sunday, Washington and Washington State announced the Apple Cup would continue from 2024-2028. A source told The Oregonian/OregonLive those future games will be played in September, rather than the final game of the regular season. That makes it more likely the Oregon-Washington game will be the final game of the regular season even after 2024 in the Big Ten, which announced its 2024 conference schedule earlier this month.

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