A History Of College GameDay and the Oregon Ducks

Welcome home, College Gameday:

We are heading to Eugene! #GetUp4Gameday pic.twitter.com/qKIoVdhp7d

— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 20, 2013

Of course, that GameDay is coming to Eugene comes as little surprise--this is the fifth season in a row that the show has come here. In fact, it marks the show's 9th appearance in Eugene, and Oregon's 17th appearance overall on the show. Here is a brief history of College GameDay and the Oregon Ducks:

October 17, 1998 -- Oregon at #7 UCLA

College GameDay's first trip to a Pac-10 school brought them to Pasadena. UCLA's Rose Bowl season was almost ended, as Oregon RB Reuben Droughns rushed for 172 yards on a broken leg, but the Bruins ultimately prevailed, 41-38, in overtime. FWIW, Lee Corso picked UCLA in the matchup.

September 23, 2000 -- #6 UCLA at Oregon

GameDay made it's second trip out west, for a replay of the same matchup they'd seen two years before. However, this time the game was at Autzen Stadium. UCLA had the accolades going in, but Corso donned the Duck head for the first time, and the game played out accordingly. Oregon held UCLA to -9 rushing yards, and Maurice Morris rushed for 139 yards and two scores as the Ducks rocked the Bruins 29-10.

It would be five years before GameDay would return to a Pac-10 campus, and seven years before they would return to Eugene...

September 29, 2007 -- #6 California at #7 Oregon

This was the game that established Eugene as a GameDay favorite, and put the west in regular rotation for the show. There were nerves in Bristol about who would show up for a 7:00 a.m. start--nerves that were calmed as the Oregon faithful stayed all night on the GameDay set across the Autzen footbridge for the show. A large and raucous crowd was among the best GameDay had seen. The game itself  was a disappointment--Cameron Colvin fumbled the potential go ahead score into the end zone for a touchback with seconds to go--but this started the near annual tradition of GameDay in Eugene.

November 3, 2007 -- #6 Arizona State at #4 Oregon

GameDay enjoyed that first visit so much that they came again. Like in the last matchup, Corso donned the Duck head. This game nearly wasn't televised nationally, as the national TV matchups were picked weeks in advance, and former Pac-10 commish Tom Hansen was weary of making any last minute changes. But the game ended up on ESPN, and Oregon came through with a 35-23 win. It looked like perhaps Oregon's last significant hurdle to the national title game, but we didn't know at the time that Dennis Dixon blew his ACL.

October 31, 2009 -- #4 USC at #10 Oregon

Washington had wounded the USC dynasty earlier in the season, but this game put a stake in the heart of it. The 47-20 Fright Night thrashing established a new Oregon dynasty in the Pac-10.

November 21, 2009 -- #11 Oregon at Arizona

This overtime thriller was marked by Arizona's crowd coming on the field too early, a last minute game-tying drive that nearly came unglued on a bad snap on the extra point, and Arizona fans concussing cheerleaders with glass bottles. It also catapulted Oregon into the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1994.

January 1, 2010 -- #8 Ohio State vs. #7 Oregon -- Rose Bowl

I was convinced we were going to win this game. Unfortunately, LeGarrette Blount kicked it through the end zone.

October 2, 2010 -- #9 Stanford at #4 Oregon

Stanford rushed out to a 21-3 lead, but Oregon came storming back, fueled by a ballsy onside kick. Oregon would come back from the 18 point deficit to blow out the Cardinal, 52-31.

October 30, 2010 -- #1 Oregon at #24 USC

LaMichael James rushed for 239 yards and three scores, and Jeff Maehl caught three touchdown passes, and Oregon won again, 53-32.

December 4, 2010 -- #1 Oregon at Oregon State

GameDay made their first and only appearance in Corvallis. However, it wasn't to watch Oregon State's losing team, it was to watch Oregon's coronation. As may Oregon fans made the trek to Corvallis, GameDay split the crowd 50/50 behind the set. As for the game, Oregon obliged, 37-20, to make the National Championship Game.

January 10, 2011 -- #2 Oregon at #1 Auburn -- National Championship Game

DYER WAS DOWN. DYER WAS DOWN.

September 3, 2011 -- #4 LSU vs. #3 Oregon -- Cowboys Stadium

After the narrow loss to Auburn, Oregon fans were clamoring for some SEC blood. Unfortunately, the Ducks became tiger bait in a 40-27 LSU trashing.

October 15, 2011 -- #18 Arizona State at #9 Oregon

This marked GameDay's first appearance to not be at the Autzen complex, as GameDay set up on the Memorial Quad, across 13th from the Lillis Business Complex. Bryan Bennett came in for an injured Darron Thomas, leading the Ducks to a 41-27 win.

November 12, 2011 -- #6 Oregon at #3 Stanford

A 53-30 crushing restored Oregon as the Pac-12 favorite. LaMichael James scored three touchdowns, and the Oregon defense picked off Andrew Luck twice to end Stanford's 17-game winning streak.

January 2, 2012 -- #9 Wisconsin vs. #6 Oregon -- Rose Bowl

Oregon's first Rose Bowl championship in 95 years. Wonderful.

November 17, 2012 -- #14 Stanford at #1 Oregon

Oregon completely forgot how to play in this game, but still wins if one of three things happens: De'Anthony Thomas makes the block on Marcus Mariota's long run; Kevin Hogan doesn't lead a last-minute game tying drive with a questionable touchdown at the end; or Oregon can make a field goal. I hate field goals.

October 12, 2013 -- #2 Oregon at #16 Washington

Much like with Oregon State, GameDay's first trip to Seattle comes courtesy of Oregon, and the Ducks mark the occasion with victory. To complete the northwest trifecta, GameDay's first visit to Pullman will be when they face the Ducks next year. Book it.

October 26, 2013 -- UCLA at Oregon

The next chapter...

Oregon is 11-6 in GameDay appearances, but only 5-3 in Eugene appearances.