Civil War week has officially arrived.

While the week may be a day shorter than normal this year, the rivalry itself is no less intense and no less meaningful for the fan bases that pledge their undying support for either the University of Oregon or Oregon State University. The annual renewal of this historic rivalry divides homes, is the source of daring bets between co-workers and friends, and ultimately offers year-long bragging rights for the game’s victors.

The series for the past decade has been dominated by the Ducks, who have won nine of the last 10 meetings between the two schools. However, Oregon State’s most recent victory over Oregon came in 2016, which officially marked the end of the Mark Helfrich era and Oregon’s place among the Pac-12’s upper echelon.

After earning a measure of payback in Willie Taggart’s first and only game as the Oregon coach in a Civil War game in 2017, first-year head coach Mario Cristobal looks to continue the decade-long theme of dominance that was re-established in the aftermath of last season’s 69-10 win for the Ducks.

With kickoff around the corner, WFOD offers up its Oregon State primer…

Oregon State Beavers

2018 record: 2-9 overall, 1-7 in conference
Last game: 42-23 loss at no. 18 Washington
Ranking: Unranked
All-time record vs. Oregon: 47-64-10
When and where to watch: Friday, Nov. 23 at 1:05 p.m. (Pacific), Fox Sports 1

Items of note:

• The Ducks haven’t won eight regular season games since 2015 and are looking to snap a three-game losing streak on the road
• Over the last 10 games in the series, Oregon is averaging 46.4 points with a scoring margin of +18.8 (464- 276). Over the last 10 meetings, the Ducks have scored points in 39 of 40 quarters, including a touchdown in 37 of those quarters.
• This will be the first season OSU has had three receivers with at least 50 receptions in the same year since the 2009 team achieved that statistical feat with James Rodgers (91), Jacquizz Rodgers (78) and Damola Adeniji (57)
• The Beavers are 24-of-34 this season on fourth down, and rank first in the Pac-12 and seventh nationally with a 70.6 percent success rate
• Friday’s game will mark the 122nd meeting between the two programs

Five Oregon State names you should know:

5. Jake Luton (QB)

When healthy this season, Oregon State quarterback Jake Luton has been one of the more prolific passers in the Pac-12. The problem, however, is that the senior from Marysville, Wash. has been plagued by injury throughout his career. After earning the starting job heading into last season, Luton appeared in four games before suffering a thoracic spine fracture that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. This season, an ankle injury shelved Luton for four games before he returned to action October 27 at Colorado, leading a miraculous 28-point comeback victory that marked Oregon State’s first road win since 2014. In his last five games, Luton has completed 64.4 percent of his passes for 1,290 yards, eight touchdowns, and only two interceptions. At 6-foot-7, 230 pounds, Luton has the size and skill set to make a defense pay for errors and miscues in coverage – the same kind of errors and miscues that the Oregon secondary has made with frequency on the road this season.

4. Timmy Hernandez (WR)

Though the numbers over the course of his career in Corvallis haven’t been overwhelmingly spectacular, senior wide receiver Timmy Hernandez is having a career year for the Beavers. After transferring to Oregon State from Pima Community College in Tucson, Ariz. prior to the 2016 season, Hernandez tallied 49 career catches for 598 yards and four touchdowns as a part-time starter in two seasons with the Beavers. This season, Hernandez has nearly eclipsed those numbers, leading the Beavers in receptions (52) and ranking as the team’s third most productive receiver in terms of yards (574). While he’s only found the end zone once this season, Hernandez has made himself a reliable target for this offense.

3. Trevon Bradford (WR)

Underrated and under-recruited coming out of Oregon City High School, Trevon Bradford is a key part of a potentially bright future for the Beavers at the wide receiver position. Standing 6-feet and 179 pounds, Bradford is far from the imposing physical specimen that is Arizona State’s N’Keal Harry, but he’s a player with great speed and a penchant for finding the end zone. Bradford’s first year in head coach Jonathan Smith’s offensive system has been fruitful, as the junior leads Oregon State in touchdown receptions (6) while ranking second in receiving yards (578) and tied for second in receptions (51). Look for the Beaver offense to utilize him in a number of ways this Saturday.

2. Isaiah Hodgins (WR)

Oregon State’s power trio at wide receiver has been a bright spot for the Beavers all season, and perhaps the biggest reason for optimism moving forward is sophomore Isaiah Hodgins who is enjoying a bonafide breakout season after showing flashes of tremendous potential as a freshman in 2017. Not only is Hodgins’ developing 6-foot-4, 208-pound frame intriguing, but the production he’s been coupling with those physical gifts has been an element of the Beaver offense that’s been missing since the days of Brandin Cooks. Hodgins leads Oregon State in receiving yards (743), is second in touchdown receptions (5), and is tied for second in receptions (51), while his 74.3 receiving yards per game currently ranks fourth in the Pac-12. Hodgins may not be a name that’s totally familiar now, but expect it to be one you hear often in 2019.

1. Jermar Jefferson (RB)

If there’s one player capable of expediting an Oregon State football resurgence, that player is true freshman running back Jermar Jefferson. If his first season in Corvallis is any indication of what’s to come in the future, the Pac-12 might want to look the hell out because Jefferson looks to be the best running back the Beavers have had since Jacquizz Rodgers. Though he already stands in at 5-foot-10 and 211 pounds, Jefferson is still rounding into form physically, which is a frightening thought considering he ranks tied for second in the conference in rushing yards (1,316) and is tied for first with Arizona State’s Eno Benjamin in rushing touchdowns (12). Oregon’s rush defense has faced some of the Pac-12’s best running backs each of the last four weeks and have proven to be been quite leaky in each of those four contests. Given the way Jefferson has performed this season, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Harbor City, Calif. native have a banner day to close out his outstanding debut season.