The gifted tree was a results of a wager between the governors of every state, in accordance with the College of Oregon’s Athletics Archivist Lauren Goss (h/t WCMH).
“The Oregon governor Robert Holmes wager a Douglas fir tree, and the Ohio governor William O’Neill wager a Buckeye tree,” Goss mentioned.
Since Ohio State gained, Holmes despatched the fir tree to Columbus, however O’Neill, impressed by the upheld promise, determined to return the favor by sending a Buckeye tree.
“The Oregon governor, he went to the College of Oregon, and so he determined to honor his faculty, honor the soccer crew for his or her efficiency, and despatched that Buckeye tree down right here to the college campus,” Goss mentioned.
If future governors had determined to proceed the wager, there could be much more Buckeye timber on campus in Eugene.
In 10 total meetings, Ohio State has overwhelmed Oregon 9 occasions — 4 of which had been a part of nationwide championship seasons for the Buckeyes (1957, 1961, 1968 and 2014).
Most notably, Ohio State upset Oregon within the 2015 Nationwide Championship Recreation 42-20, coincidentally the final time it gained within the rivalry.
In 2021, the latest assembly, the Geese left Columbus 35-28 upset victors. Saturday evening would be the eleventh all-time assembly and solely the second time Ohio State has traveled to Eugene.
The Buckeyes would be the 15th Big Ten team to journey a minimum of two time zones for a sport this season, with the guests solely winning two of the 12 accomplished video games. (Washington at Iowa and Penn State at USC are scheduled to play earlier than Ohio State.)
“Now we’re in the identical convention and it’s form of simply fascinating to see that legacy and that historical past of this competitors between these two colleges,” Goss mentioned.
