Canzano: Monday Mailbag deals with 2024 Civil War update, Jonathan Smith's future, and Heisman race
Your questions. My answers.
Officials at the University of Oregon continued discussions with Boise State on Monday about clearing the way for the Civil War rivalry to continue, sources tell me.
Oregon is scheduled to play a home football game vs. Boise State on Sept. 14 next season. The Ducks would travel to Boise State in 2025. Nothing is official, but the home-and-home series could be shifted to a future date or UO could pay to cancel it.
Clearing those two dates would open the door for Oregon to continue its rivalry series with Oregon State. The Ducks and Beavers have played each other since 1894. They’ll meet for the 127th time on Friday.
On Sunday, Washington and Washington State announced a five-year agreement to continue playing the Apple Cup. Next season’s UW-WSU match-up will be played Sept. 14 at Lumen Field in Seattle. The following four games alternate between the campuses: 2025 (Pullman), 2026 (Seattle), 2027 (Pullman) and 2028 (Seattle).
The Ducks and Beavers appear motivated to play as well.
The contract between Oregon and Boise State calls for the visiting team to receive $300,000 in 2024 and 2025. Officials at Boise State are willing to work with Oregon to reschedule those two games, I’m told by involved sources, but want a fee to help with securing alternate opponents.
The interest on Oregon State’s side is, in part, fueled by revenue. Not just tickets sold, but TV money. The home team (or conference) owns the television rights to games. The Beavers could potentially sell the Civil War home game at Reser Stadium à la carte to a television network and subsidize their mission to play a “Pac-2” schedule.
One involved source pointed to the possibility of a Civil War game on Sept. 14 next season: “That’s the only date the two schools seem willing to consider.”
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Onto the Monday Mailbag…