IT RAINS IN AUTZEN?
Despite
GAMEDAY
GAMEDAY, the Daily Emerald’s football edition, is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit news company at the University of Oregon founded in 1900.
EMERALD MEDIA GROUP
1395 University St., rm. 302 Eugene, OR 97403 541.346.5511 | dailyemerald.com
NEWSROOM
Editor in Chief
Tarek Anthony
Print Managing Editor
Ryan Ehrhart
Sports Editors
Jack Lazarus
Owen Murray
Copy Chief
Olivia Ellerbruch
Sports Writers
Harry Leader
Henry Light
Joe Krasnowski
Max Koebel
Rachel McConaghie
Rowan Shea
Photo Editor
Saj Sundaram
Design Editor
Adaleah Carman
Designers
Abigail Raike
Eva Andrews
Maya Gooneratne
Nina Rose
BUSINESS
President & Publisher
Eric Henry x317
Vice President, Operations
Kathy Carbone x302
Creative Technical Director
Anna Smith x327
ADVERTISING
Director of Sales and Digital Marketing
Shelly Rondestvedt x303
Account Executives
Torin Chevalier
Camcole Pereira
Ava Stephanian
Elliot Byrne
(On The Cover) The Oregon Ducks and the Wisconsin-Madison Badgers continue to play in the torrential downpour. The University of Oregon Ducks defeated the University of Wisconsin Badgers 21-7 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Oct. 25, 2025. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)
(Right) Oregon Ducks defensive back Aaron Flowers (21) leaps in the air to try to catch the ball for an interception.
IS 2025 A RECORD SETTING YEAR FOR DUCK STARS?
Four Oregon players could listed among the top of all time at the end of 2025.
BY ROWAN SHEA Sports Writer
The Oregon Ducks are ticketed for another playoff berth. In a season in which they have only lost one game, players are performing to the top of their abilities, and the question is raised where certain players will end up in the record books.
The Ducks have been attacking well on offense and players are coming into their own, while others are having some of their best games of their college careers. The Ducks who are strongest contenders to hit the record books are Dante Moore, Kenyon Sadiq, Noah Whittington and Dakorien Moore.
To begin with the Heisman candidate, Dante Moore has taken over the quarterback position without many hiccups. Currently, Moore sits at 203 passing attempts with 145 completions, getting him a completion percentage of 71.4%. Of Oregon quarterbacks who have at least 200 passing attempts in a season, Moore currently sits at fourth all-time completion percentage in a single season –beating out Marcus Mariota’s 2012 and 2014 campaigns (.685 and .683 respectively). Moore is just .006 away from snagging the No. 3 spot away from Bo Nix who had a percentage of 71.9 in 2022.
Moore has the opportunity to hit the No. 9 spot of all time completions in a single season if he manages to perform even better in the second half of the season. Supposing that Moore can do this (he took a hit by not playing the remainder of the Wisconsin game after a quarterback keeper knocked him out), he needs to hit 232 on the season. Moore could realistically secure the No. 8 spot with 241 completions.
Sadiq has been playing even better than his 2024 campaign, crushing his stats from that season weeks before this one is over. Sadiq sits at 22 receptions for 311 receiving yards and five touchdowns. The tight end, with one more score, can join at least 11 other tight ends tied for third most touchdowns by a tight end in a single season, including former teammate Terrance Ferguson. He would need two more to take sole possession of third place, three more to tie at second and four more to tie at first with Justin Peelle who had nine in 2001.
Sadiq can also join the list of tight ends with the most receptions in a single season. To get on that list, he needs at least 35 to tie him at ninth with Ed Dickinson’s 2008 season and Tim Day’s 2004 season. If Sadiq gets 20 more, he can tie at second with Ferguson’s 2023 and Dickinson’s 2009 season where they had 42. Seeing Sadiq get 21 more, he can tie Ferguson and Dickinson again at first with 43. Regardless, Sadiq has a very strong possibility of getting on that list.
Finally, Sadiq needs 128 more receiving yards to take over the No. 10 spot on the single season receiving yard list from David Paulson who had 438 in 2011.
Whittington has the opportunity to place No. 9 on the list of top players in yards per rush with at least 300 career rushes. Whitington has 445 in his career across two schools, but 328 with Oregon. Whittington is on par to be at No. 9, knocking off Jordan James (finished in 2024) who has 5.74, a number that Whittington is currently beating at 5.78 yards per rush.
Dakorien Moore has been a standout true freshman for this Ducks team. While he has a long way to go in almost every category, he does have the chance to set the program record in yards per play in a single season. De’Anthony Thomas in 2011 set it at 10.82. Dakorien Moore has 15.37 yards per play (adding up his total carries and receptions and his yards on both carries and receptions, then dividing yards by chances).
These players have been key cogs in the Ducks machine this season. They are reliable, effective and consistently show up in the highlight reels. Having the chance to be listed among Oregon greats seems to be a growing possibility with each game and watching their chases for the remainder of the season will be a treat for Ducks fans.
(LEFT) Oregon Ducks wide receiver Dakorien
(1)
with teammates after a
The University of Oregon Ducks defeated the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Autzen Stadium on Sept. 6, 2025. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)
Moore
celebrates
touchdown.
Rennie’s
WHAT’S WORKING FOR WILL STEIN
BY MAX KOEBEL Sports Writer
He’s incredibly unsuspecting. He definitely doesn’t look like the average player.
He’s the kind of guy to walk through the media room and suggest that the reporters should all recreate one of the famous scenes from “Anchorman” – obviously, the one where the news reporters from different stations all engage in a brawl. It would be slightly surprising, given that information, that Will Stein is a large part of the Ducks’ incredible offenses over the past two seasons. The coordinator, working under a more defense-minded head coach in Dan Lanning, blossomed into one of the premier candidates for every head coaching vacancy in the nation.
The Ducks are 32-4 overall since Stein took over as offensive coordinator in 2023. During that time, both quarterbacks that have left the program have become starters in the NFL: Bo Nix for the Denver Broncos and Dillon Gabriel for the Cleveland Browns. After two full seasons under Stein, a total of 10 offensive players have been selected in the NFL Draft.
Prior to the start of his coaching career, Stein played as quarterback at the University of Louisville from 2008 to 2012. He began coaching immediately upon the conclusion of his college career. Stein remained at Louisville as a quarterbacks coach through 2014 before taking on the same role at The University of Texas at Austin until 2017. His final stop before Eugene was The University of Texas at San Antonio as a co-offensive coordinator through 2022.
In Stein’s first two seasons on Oregon’s staff, the Ducks have won 12 and 13 games. They appeared in a conference championship game and a New Year’s Six bowl game in both seasons.
Stein has worked with very different looking rosters each season, with Oregon players going to the NFL in bunches every year. But that has not stopped him from developing an elite offense that is in the position to win games every week. The Daily Emerald breaks down some of his best play calls from the first eight games this season.
WEEK 1 - MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY
On the second drive of the game, the Ducks looked at a second-and-7 just inside the red zone. They set up as if they were going to do a handoff with seven players lined up on the line of scrimmage, and just one wide out on each side. Quarterback Dante Moore quickly threw out wide to tight end Kenyon Sadiq, who made the catch as his defender reached him and he escaped a tackle with a stiff arm, running 18 yards for the score. Stein understood the chance to catch the defense off guard by making a quick throw away from most of the action and trusted his tight end to use his size and strength to his advantage.
Looking at some of the best play calls by Oregon’s third year offensive coordinator.
WEEK 2 - OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
Late in the first quarter, Oregon had a second-and-six at Oklahoma State’s 19-yard line. It had wide receiver Da korien Moore in the back field and running back Dierre Hill Jr. lined up as a wide receiver. Dante Moore faked the handoff to Dakorien Moore before pitching the ball to Hill, who looped around the back field and found a big opening on the other side for a touchdown.
WEEK 3 - NORTHWESTERN
With just under two minutes remaining in the first half, the Ducks were facing a third-and-8 from their own 45 yard line. Stein had three wide outs lined up on one side. After the snap, three of the receivers ran straight routes, but Malik Benson ran diagonally to the right where no one could catch him before he made the catch for 20 yards and the first down.
WEEK 4 - OREGON STATE
On the first drive of the game, the Ducks had a secondand-third from Oregon State’s 22 yard line. They lined up two wide outs on the right and just one on the left. After the snap, blockers up front positioned themselves to create a hole on the right, only to have Dante Moore throw to Dakorien Moore on the left, who only had one defender in his area. Moore was able to win the one-on-one matchup and power his way to the goal line.
WEEK 5 - PENN STATE
In Oregon’s biggest win of the season thus far, the offense wasn’t clicking early on. Many of its drives were kept alive by fourth down conversions. With six minutes remaining in the first half, the Ducks were facing a fourth-and-one at midfield, still without any points. Dante Moore was lined up under center and Dakorien Moore was the only receiver lined up out wide. It would have been easy for a defense to anticipate a run play, especially since the Ducks only needed a yard to extend the drive. Instead, they ran a play action pass to Dakorien Moore for a 20 yard gain. Oregon would tie the game with a field goal at the end of that drive.
WEEK 7 - INDIANA
Not a lot went right for Oregon’s offense in its lone loss of the season to Indiana. The Ducks got to the end zone twice in that game. One was a pick-six by the defense, and the other was a pass play where Benson outran Indiana’s entire defense. The best thing Stein had going in that game was his ability to create holes with the offensive line to create big gains on the ground. Early in the second quarter, the Ducks had firstand-10 at their own 42 yard line. The offensive line double teamed the two middle defensive linemen to create an opening for running back Jordon Davison to gain 26 yards.
WEEK 8 - RUTGERS
Oregon’s offense had a lot more to feel good about in its 56-point outing against Rutgers. Stein’s best play call came early in the second quarter with the Ducks looking at a first-and-10 at the Rutgers 21 yard line. Dante Moore handed the ball off to Davison upon catching the snap. Davison pitched the ball to Gary Bryant Jr., who pitched it back to Moore. Moore loaded up and fired the ball to a wide open Sadiq in the end zone.
WEEK 9 - WISCONSIN
Oregon’s offense took awhile to get going in this game and did not get on the scoreboard until the final two minutes of the first half. That said, there were still plenty of opportunities for the coaching staff to get creative, especially in the second half. Less than a minute into the fourth quarter, the Ducks were facing a second-and-goal from the one yard line. Quarterback Brock Thomas was under center with two guys in the back field and no one lined up out wide. Thomas dropped back and faked the handoff while offensive lineman Gernorris Wilson cut to the right for a wide open touchdown reception- the second of his college career.
This bye week will give Stein and the other coaches the chance to adjust and expand their playbook to be ready for the final four weeks of the regular season. In Oregon’s next challenge on the road at Iowa, Stein will need to have the offense ready a lot quicker than last week’s game to shift the momentum of the crowd.
(ABOVE) Ducks offensive coordinator Will Stein pumps up the large crowd of Oregon fans as the team heads back to the locker rooms for half time. Both sides of the ball for Oregon had a lot to be happy with the 42-0 lead at the half.
(Jonathan Suni/Emerald)
WHEN IT RAINS,
The University of Oregon Ducks beat the University of Wisconsin-Madison Badgers 21-7 at Autzen Stadium on Oct. 25, 2025.
Photos by Saj Sundaram
Photo Editor
The Oregon Duck sits behind
RAINS, IT
a “Grateful Ducks” varsity jacket.
‘I
WOULD CALL HIM MY BROTHER:’ DAVISON AND HILL JR. CLOSER THAN EVER
Oregon’s two freshman running backs shone early on in the Ducks’ season.
Before the week of Oct. 20, Oregon freshman running back duo Dierre Hill Jr. and Jordon Davison had to let their teammates and coaches (and their play) speak for themselves. Their coaches called them the future of the program. Running backs coach Ra’Shaad Samples said in fall camp that the two were “years beyond their time.”
Against Wisconsin, Davison (102 yards, two touchdowns) continued his rise through the rain. A nine-carry, 16-play drive that went from Oregon’s 1-yard line to the Wisconsin endzone cemented what has continued to happen: the Ducks’ freshmen aren’t just good – they’re devel-
Before the 2025 season, a true freshman had never spoken to the media under head coach Dan Lanning. That changed with five-star receiver Dakorien Moore on Oct. 8, then breakout corner Brandon Finney Jr. on Oct. 15. Finally, on back-to-back days in the media room inside the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex before No. 6 Oregon faced Wisconsin, Davison and Hill leaned toward the microphone and narrated their shared entry into a new
They spent most of the time, for what it’s worth, talking
Davison went first, on Oct. 21. The 6-foot, 236-pound back with 352 yards and 10 touchdowns through nine weeks garnered more touches by force of will; after three goal-to-go scores in Week 1 against Montana State, the Mater Dei product scored in four-straight games, punched in a fourth-quarter, fourth-and-one touchdown against Penn State in the White Out and led the team in carries against No. 2 Indiana and Wisconsin.
Against the Badgers, Davison got his first touch on his own goal line in the second quarter. He opened with a 2-yard carry and, 15 plays later, carried for three yards
“It’s just about the mentality,” Davison, who was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday, said afterward. “99 yards — you look at it as a positive, like, ‘We’ve got to go break their spirits and go 99 yards.’”
Oregon has begun to trust him outside of those short-yardage situations, now too; he ran for 11 or more yards four times against Wisconsin, including a 20yard score where he followed right tackle Alex Harkey through a pack of Badgers and broke multiple tackle attempts. He’s starting to become the open-field threat that he saw Hill as months ago.
“It’s kind of crazy,” Davison said earlier in the week. “Because coming in, they were like, want to play with?’ and I actually chose Dierre. His film stuck out to me, we were connecting before we got here, and then as soon as we got here it just clicked — that’s my right-hand man.”
Hill (357 yards, 3 touchdowns, 9.9 yards per carry in 2025) spoke on Wednesday before the Wisconsin game — Oct. 22 — in between Lanning and junior linebacker Teitum Tuioti. He was talking about Davison, too. “It’s really a brother-brother situation,” he said. “I would call him my brother as if my mother had him.”
Earlier this season, on a 66-yard third-quarter touchdown against Northwestern, Hill clocked one of the fastest sprint speeds in the nation — 21.5 mph. Next, he wanted to lower the shoulder.
“ “
It’s just about the mentality, 99 yards — you look at it as a positive, like, ‘We’ve got to go break their spirits and go 99 yards.’
Jordon Davison Freshman Running Back
“I’m not afraid of contact, but I feel like inside, I could be more physical,” he said midweek. “I definitely know my speed, but just being a downhill (runner) around there, being able to hit the A-gap (between the center and guard) out and just being able to push it and be a physical runner both ways.”
In the third quarter against the Badgers on Saturday, Hill motioned into a 21-personnel set, behind Davison. This time, he got the ball. He followed his brother through the gap, and detonated his shoulder into Wisconsin safety Austin Brown. The Badger was still picking himself up by the time Hill was 27 yards downfield.
He, too, is taking steps toward multiplicity faster than most true freshmen do. Oregon’s running back room is “insane” (Backup quarterback Brock Thomas’ words postgame) because its inhabitants have become more than one-trick ponies. They’re driving the Oregon offense toward the business end of the season.
(LEFT) Oregon Ducks running back Jordon Davison (0) celebrates after scoring a touchdown. The University of Oregon Ducks defeated the University of Wisconsin-Madison Badgers 21-7 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Oct. 25, 2025.
(Saj Sundaram/Emerald)
WHO’S UP NEXT?
A look at the next wave of Ducks.
BY JOE KRASNOWSKI Senior Sports Writer
Brock Thomas has gone from a seldom-known backup, best remembered by some as a popular answer to Oregon’s 2024 media day’s question, “Which player would be the best at flag football?,” to a necessary player called upon when Dante Moore left the game due to an injury.
Things change fast in college football and although Thomas is an extreme example, teams’ depth is always being called upon, especially when the season ramps up in November.
“Just shows up in practice every day, and we got a lot of quarterbacks that are playing [at] a really high level, but he’s been very consistent,” head coach Dan Lanning said of what made Thomas successful. “He understands the offense. He’s been a part of it for a long time. He was a guy who was down there chopping us up on the scout team and earning his stripes, and he’s worked really hard, and nobody’s earned that more than Brock.”
Always remaining ready and waiting your turn is a massive part of college football. Thomas, among others listed below, is an example of players who are “up next” in the Oregon football stratosphere over the coming years.
Na’Eem Offord — Defensive Back
A six-foot-one defensive back, Offord has all the talent in the world and has flashed serious upside during rotational outings at defensive Back. Recruiting systems don’t just hand out five-star ratings to anyone, after all. Offord flipped on national signing day to the Ducks and is a prime example of a player needing just a little more time before a true breakout.
Tobi Haastrup
— Linebacker
Being raised outside of London until he was nine years old, Haastrup is currently in the midst of his second year of playing football. Still, teammates have raved about the linebacker’s physicality and style of play.
“Tobi, athletically, is exactly what we thought,” defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi said in the preseason. “We take a lot of pride in our evaluations. We felt strong about who we were getting there from an athletic standpoint.”
Haastrup will likely need another year after this to continue developing, but his enormous upside is clear.
“Freak of nature. Like really swoll,” linebacker Devon Jackson said of Haastrup. “I thought he was a transfer at first, to be honest with you. I’m like, ‘Why are you bigger than me, and you’re like 12 years old?’ Like that’s crazy.”
Blake Purchase — Defensive line
An underrated rotational piece of the Ducks’ D-Line, Purchase has flashed his potential in games thus far in 2025. Through eight games, he has three tackles for loss, an interception and a sack while racking up 18 total tackles.
Aydin Breland — Defensive line
A highly-touted recruit in 2024, Breland is continuing to develop within Oregon’s already-stacked defensive line group. Al though blocked by sure-fire NFL linemen Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti, Bre land will likely take on a bigger role in 2026.
Jeremiah McClellan — Wide Receiver
Another late signing day flip to Oregon, McClellan is currently blocked by some of the more veteran talent on the team. Still, the sophomore pass catcher has the fifth most receiving yards (216) on the team with one touchdown.
Trey McNutt — Defensive Back
A big blow to Oregon’s second ary came before the year, with the Ducks losing McNutt due to a leg injury in fall camp. Despite that, the four-star defensive back was a top-five recruit in the Ducks’ most recent class and will likely contrib ute either late this season or next.
(RIGHT) Oregon Ducks defensive lineman Aydin Breland (42) dances during “Shout,” the University of Oregon’s thirdquarter tradition. The University of Oregon Ducks defeated the University of Wisconsin-Madison Badgers 21-7 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Oct. 25, 2025.
(Saj Sundaram/Emerald)
(BELOW) Oregon Ducks defensive back Na’Eem Offord (14) warms up before the start of the game. The University of Oregon Ducks defeated the Oregon State University Beavers 41-7 in their 129th annual match up on Saturday, Sept. 20th, 2025.
(Saj Sundaram/Emerald)
RECEIVER RECAP
A breakdown of the Oregon receiver room so far this season.
BY HARRY LEADER Sports Writer
Before the opening game of this season, the Oregon Ducks’ receiver room was in disarray with star receiver Evan Stewart out with a torn patellar tendon and Jurrion Dickey leaving the program for disciplinary issues. Since then, players like true freshman Dakorien Moore and redshirt senior Gary Bryant Jr. have stepped up in a major way.
There are not many true freshmen performing at the same level as Dakorien Moore, if any. He currently has 21 receptions for 331 yards and two touchdowns as well as four rushes for 49 yards and a touchdown. Moore is No. 7 in the country in all-purpose yards among freshmen receivers.
Expectations were high for Moore coming out of high school as a five star recruit and No. 1 receiver in the 2025 class for both 247Sports and ESPN. In a post-practice press conference in early October, he commented on how he approaches these high expectations.
“I would say I put more pressure on myself than anything. I don’t really try to think about what everybody’s expectations for me is, especially outside of this building,” Moore said. “I hold high standards of myself and I just try to make sure I do good on on a practice field every day ‘cause whatever you do on the practice field that’s what
you’re gonna put in the game so I hold myself to that.”
Gary Bryant Jr has had a solid bounceback season after missing most of last season with an injury. So far, Bryant Jr. has 24 receptions for 277 yards and four touchdowns and has been the Ducks go-to kick and punt returner. His production has slowed down in October, with only eight catches for 80 yards over the last three games.
Junior Kenyon Sadiq has been solid this season as a part of the Oregon offense, reeling in 22 receptions for 311 yards and five touchdowns. He is currently tied for first in the nation in touchdowns among tight ends and No. 16 in receiving yards.
In a press conference last week, Sadiq was asked what it means to be great and how he defines success.
“Being great and they can go so many different directions,” Sadiq said. “Personally, I just want to have the best effect on my team and help us get to where we need to be whether that’s blocking, catching about whatever it is. Of course I want to be great and go chase all those stats, whatever, but at the end of the day, it’s just kind of just like being great for my team.”
An unlikely receiver on the team is redshirt sophomore and offensive lineman Gernorris Wilson, who has scored two receiving touchdowns during his two seasons with the Ducks. Wilson is not built like most pass catchers, standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 318 pounds.
His most recent touchdown came in the Ducks’ 21-7 win over Wisconsin, which was also backup quarterback Brock Thomas’s first career touchdown. Wilson was
asked which touchdown he enjoyed the most during a post-game press conference after the win. “I’ll say this right here just because it was raining and it was over the shoulder,” Wilson said.
The Ducks head into a bye week this week and prepare to face Iowa in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes are the No. 8 ranked defense in the country and are coming off a 41-3 blowout against Minnesota, where they picked off three passes and held the Golden Gophers to 109 passing yards.
Iowa is ranked No. 7 in the nation in passing defense efficiency, one rank higher than the Indiana Hoosiers, who handed Oregon its only loss of the season. The Ducks will want to avoid making the same mistakes they made against Indiana against a formidable Hawkeyes passing defense.
(BELOW) Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq (18) jukes two Badgers defenders, sprinting towards the end zone, stopping just short of a touchdown. The University of Oregon Ducks defeated the University of Wisconsin-Madison Badgers 21-7 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Oct. 25, 2025.
(Saj Sundaram/Emerald)
