Led by seventh-year head coach Mike Bellotti, the Ducks compiled an overall record of 11–1 with a mark of 7–1 in conference play, winning the Pac-10 title.

The team played home games at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.

The stadium was undergoing its fourth and current renovation and expansion from 41,698 in capacity to 54,000, with standing room for 60,000.

Feeley, RB Marshaun Tucker, WR Sonny Cook, TE Lacorey Collins, Ks Dan Katz and Josh Frankel, LB Matt Smith, DBs Steve Smith, Ryan Mitchell, Gary Barker, Jermaine Hanspard, and P Kurtis Doerr QB Joey Harrington, who went 195–375 (comp-att) on 2,694 yards and 20 touchdowns the season before, RB Maurice Morris, who had 1,188 yards on 286 carries, earning 4.3 for average yards/carry, WR Keenan Howry who had 47 receptions for 721 yards, hauling around 15.3 yards/catch, TE Justin Peelle, who, last season, had 20 receptions for 340 yards and 17 yards per catch.

Prior to Wisconsin coming to Autzen, they were 1–0 to start the season at number 22 (AP).

Wisconsin answered with 7 points of their own in the second quarter to give Oregon a 10–7 halftime lead.

Entering the third quarter, both the Ducks and the Badgers would score 14 points to make it a 24–21 ball game before the fourth.

Utah struck back quickly and tied the game at 10–10 with 11 minutes and 15 seconds left in the half.

The 2nd quarter saw USC cut Oregon's lead to one point, making it a 7–6 game before USC QB Carson Palmer was intercepted by linebacker Steve Smith for a 37-yard interception return, making it a 14–6 Oregon lead going into the half.

Kicker Jason Seigel nailed a 32-yard field goal to stab the dagger into USC for a 24–22 final score and to move to 3–0 on the year.

[21] [22] [23] Arizona played host to #6 Oregon for week 5 of college football action.

Arizona was 3–1 (0–1 in the Pac-10 conference) coming off of a brutal 30–7 loss to Pac-10 foe Washington State.

California was 0–4 (0–2 Pac-10), having dropped the last four games in embarrassing fashion, and facing Oregon looked like a daunting challenge.

[43] [44] [45] [46] [47] [48] Oregon (8–1, 5–1 Pac-10) improved to #7 moving into week 10, and played guest to the #17 UCLA Bruins (6–2, 3–2 Pac-10).

Oregon State scored first, nailing a long 43 yard field goal to give OSU a 3–0 lead.

Going scoreless in the 3rd, Oregon State went 3-and-out to start the 4th quarter, and punter Carl Tobey punted it to Keenan Howry, where he returned it 68 yards for the 10–6 lead.

Oregon State returned the favor by scoring and landing a 2-point play, but it was not enough to defeat the #4 Ducks, 17–14 the final from Eugene.

However, these events transpired since Nebraska's first loss that year to Colorado: #2 Florida lost to Tennessee, the Colorado Buffaloes went on to win the Big 12 Championship Game over #3 Texas, and in the SEC Championship Game, #2 Tennessee was stunned by LSU.

Oregon would score on their next 5 possessions, including a 49-yard touchdown run by Maurice Morris, in which Morris sat down on a defender after a failed attempt at a tackle and continued to run, and an 80-yard Joey Harrington pass to WR Samie Parker.

Colorado would score twice in the 4th quarter, nailing a field goal and a touchdown with a failed PAT, but Oregon would prevail 38–16, earning their first Fiesta Bowl win under HC Mike Bellotti.

[62] [63] [64] [65] [66] [67] [68] [69] Tackles for loss – single season Passes broken up – single season Conference Team The following members of the 2001 team excelled in the classroom as well as the gridiron and were honored as NCAA Academic All-Americans.

The 2001 team set school records for wins in a season and featured Heisman Trophy finalist Joey Harrington, who led the Ducks to a 38–16 win in the Fiesta Bowl over Big 12 champions (and future Pac-12 member) Colorado.

Three players made the all-Pac-10 first team, two were named All-Americans and 14 were eventually selected in the NFL Draft.