FULL-THROTTLE DUCKS
GAMEDAY
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(On The Cover) The Oregon defense celebrates after Peyton Woodyard (12) returns an interception for a touchdown. The University of Oregon Ducks played against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Autzen Stadium on Sept. 6, 2025. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)
(Right) Oregon Ducks defensive lineman Teitum Tuioti (44) celebrates after a tackle, resulting in a defensive stop.
THE DUCKS SOAR IN THE OPENING QUARTER
BY JACK LAZARUS Sports Editor
Scoring first and scoring fast is a textbook recipe for winning football.
That’s one of the many ways that the No. 4 Oregon Ducks (2-0) have stayed multiple steps ahead of their opponents in the first two games. In Week 1, the Montana State University Bobcats surrendered 17 points in the first quarter and in Week 2, the Oklahoma State University Cowboys gave up 20 points in the opening frame.
It was this past week’s game against Oklahoma State that exemplified the Ducks’ commitment to starting games out hot. Oregon opened the game with a Noah Whittington 59-yard tear up the field for an easy lead.
The Ducks’ defense held the Cowboys to a 44-second three-and-out shortly after. Then, as if it were the plan all along, quarterback Dante Moore found receiver Dakorien Moore wide open downfield for a 65-yard strike and a quick two touchdown lead.
“We put a lot of emphasis on our openers and our opening script,” head coach Dan Lanning said afterward. “What plays do we feel really confident about that are going to get us positive yards regardless?”
In their first two wins, the Ducks have used red-hot starts to fuel them to blowout victories.
Those plays ended up being those quick-hitting plays to Whittington and Moore which tacked on early scores and had Oklahoma State reeling as soon as the game began.
“I think our offensive staff has done an unbelievable job gameplanning those situations and our players know exactly what to expect,” Lanning said.
These hot starts extend to the defensive side of the ball as well.
In the opening 10 minutes, the Cowboys only ran 10 offensive plays, which was because of the Ducks’ aggressive defense to begin the game. During that stretch, Oklahoma State only completed one pass and had just one play that went for over five yards.
Because of stretches like those, the Ducks have managed to outscore each of their opponents’ team totals in each of the two first quarters they have played. Meaning that, in both the first two weeks, Oregon did enough damage in the first quarter to put both the Bobcats and Cowboys out completely.
“I always feel like, for players, if they know what coach is about to call, that’s when you have the most success,” Lanning said. “They’re anticipating what’s next. When we’re able to dictate the situation to our guys and let them know
‘This is how it’s going to play out,’ and then it plays out that way, that’s real positive.”
The ability to shut down the opposing side before the game really gets going is a great way to ensure victory. At the same time, it has allowed the Ducks to trot out players in the third or fourth units into decent amounts of game time because they have led by so much at times. According to Lanning, getting in-game experience is crucial for younger players’ long-term development and the team’s future success.
It just so happens that to make that happen, Oregon completely dominated its first two adversaries. As the Ducks walk into their first game away from home this season, expect Lanning and his staff to prepare fireworks to get their team going.
(BELOW) Oregon Ducks running back Noah Whittington (6) takes the Oklahoma State Cowboys defense as he runs the ball into the end zone.
The University of Oregon Ducks play against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Autzen Stadium on Sept. 6, 2025. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)
DUCKS SECONDARY SHINES EARLY
HARRY LEADER Sports Writer
It’s already been two weeks since the Ducks season began and they’ve already proved that they are one of the top defenses in the country by only allowing 16 points over two games. In Week 2, Oregon beat the Oklahoma State University Cowboys 69-3, which was the biggest loss in longtime head coach Mike Gundy’s career. The Ducks secondary allowed only 67 passing yards and picked off two passes. The two interceptions were returned for touchdowns by junior linebacker Jerry Mixon and sophomore safety Peyton Woodyard. Both pick-sixes happened within seconds of each other in the final two minutes of the third quarter.
Woodyard credited the defensive line with pressuring the quarterback into putting the ball into his hands, which meant all he needed to do was see the catch through and walk into the wide open endzone.
Woodyard also picked up five total tackles against the Cowboys, tied for second most on the team. This season Woodyard has already tied his total tackles (nine) from last season where he appeared in 13 games for Ducks.
Fellow safety junior Dillon Thieneman discussed the competitiveness of the safeties in a post-practice press conference in August. “It’s been fun competing everyday,” Theineman said. “(We’re all) playing different spots on the defense; we’re all competing.”
Thieneman, who was a captain in the blowout win against Oklahoma State, has six total tackles this season with one pass breakup. Thieneman transferred to Oregon from Purdue this past offseason after leading the Big Ten with 104 tackles in 2024.
The Ducks defensive back group is deep this season with 21 players on the roster competing for playing time. Many players are still waiting for their time to shine on the field, and practicing day in and day out with the starters is the best way to develop their skills.
Redshirt freshman Ify Obidegwu spent last season learning from an experienced group of players to get to where he is now.
“Just sitting behind those guys, Nikko Reed, Jabbar Muhammad (and) Dontae Manning,” Obidegwu said. “Just learning from them was a big growing moment for me (and) just sitting behind them soaking up all their knowledge.”
Obidegwu made an instant impact with three tackles and one pass deflection against Montana State in Week 1. He was a top recruit for head coach Dan Lanning and the Ducks coming out of high school as the No. 12 ranked cornerback in the country by 247Sports in 2024.
Another redshirt freshman making an impact this season is safety Aaron Flowers. He appeared in only two games last season as a true freshman registering one tackle, but in the same amount of games this season he has five total tackles and one forced fumble.
Ahead of the matchup against Oklahoma State, Flowers spoke about the secondary’s mindset going into the game against the Cowboys.
“I feel like we’re ready to get tested,” Flowers said. “(We’re) a really young secondary; everyone’s just not sure about us and we’re sure to go out there and play our best.”
Even with a lot of notable young players, the Ducks secondary has experienced veterans leading the flock. Take redshirt junior Sione Laulea, for one.
Laulea started his collegiate career at San Mateo Col-
The Oregon secondary held Oklahoma State to three points in last week’s blowout win.
lege, a junior college in San Mateo, California where he played two seasons and became the No. 2 best junior college transfer in the nation by 247Sports. He utilized a redshirt last season but brings two seasons of starting experience to a young group of defensive backs.
Laulea made the most out of his four games last season getting three total tackles and two pass deflections. Additionally, he caught an interception against Illinois. Laulea could be a sleeper in the Ducks secondary with his ability to break up passes and take down receivers.
The Ducks take on the Northwestern Wildcats in Evanston, Illinois on Sept. 13. The Wildcats are ranked No. 78 in the country in passing offense and have already thrown the second most interceptions (four), something which the secondary will look to expose.
Northwestern’s starting quarterback Preston Stone threw four interceptions against Tulane University in their season opener. Stone, a recent transfer from Southern Methodist University, threw one interception last season in four starts.
(ABOVE) Oregon Ducks defensive back Sione Laulea (3) and Oregon Ducks defensive back Peyton Woodyard (12) tackle a Montana State player, putting a stop to their run. The University of Oregon Ducks opened their football season against the Montana State Bobcats at Autzen Stadium on August 30 in Eugene, Ore.
(Saj Sundaram/Emerald)
OREGON’S DEFENSE EMBRACES CHEMISTRY AND LEADERSHIP IN 2025 RELOAD
Another blowout win proves that the Ducks have a solid foundation to rebuild a successful front.
Oregon understands its offensive identity. Heading into Week 3, the Ducks (2-0) lead the FBS in average scoring margin, with a +66 advantage. The key to that explosive start doesn’t just lie with the offense, though — it sits with a new defensive powerhouse.
“Every week we go against the best offense — I think in the nation,” linebacker Bryce Boettcher said after the Ducks’ 66-point Week 2 win over the Oklahoma State University Cowboys. “It’s like just that preparation aspect, it gives us a good look on defense and it makes our job easy when the offense is scoring (and gives us) a lot less
As a senior on Oregon’s defense, Boettcher has quickly stepped up into a leadership role. After transitioning from safety, the Eugene native had a breakout in the 2024 season that ended with the Burlsworth Trophy, awarded annually to the best player who began his career as a walk-on.
“He came here for a backpack and a T-shirt,” head coach Dan Lanning said of Boettcher. “I’m really proud of those guys on our team that developed into great players. The guys that watched other people play last year (are) now playing for us, (and) that’s what makes this
An All-Big Ten second-team selection that same season, Boettcher recorded 94 tackles — which tied for No. 13 in the conference but led the Ducks — while adding two sacks, eight tackles for loss and an interception at UCLA. He led or tied for the team lead in tackles in half of Ore-
In the Ducks’ Week 2 69-3 blowout over Oklahoma State, Boettcher once again set the tone for his control of the game, racking up nine tackles to lead the team.
“It feels great,” Boettcher said. “I’m just doing my job for the team. I try to do my assignment — whether that comes
Oregon lost key defensive line leaders to the NFL following the 2024 season in Jordan Burch, Jamaree Caldwell and Derrick Harmon, but the group has embraced the
In April 2024, defensive line coach Tony Tuioti emphasized that growth is an ongoing process: “Keep reminding our guys that we’re constantly under construction like we all are. We’re not at all where we want to be at. We’re constantly building and just having that mindset of good, better (and) best.”
With a Big Ten Championship 2024 season, finishing in the top 25 nationally for total defense (No. 15, 315.9 yards per game), scoring defense (No. 16, 19.4 points per game) and passing defense (25th, 185.9 YPG), it was crucial for Oregon to restock and reload the defense in the offseason.
Those key playmakers on the defensive line this season include transfer junior Bear Alexander, ranked nationally among interior linemen, bringing a level of experience that can not be taught to this roster.
“Seeing what Tony Tuioti has been able to do with the guys previously — man I’m excited — I’m getting
developed by the best of the best, and I’m ready to go (on) this natty run,” Alexander said at Oregon’s media day. With clear goals in mind, construction is already underway for this Oregon program. Junior Jerry Mixon and sophomore Peyton Woodyard recorded back-to-back interceptions within 45 seconds, each leading to a touchdown.
“I was just following my rules on the play,” Woodyard said. “Our D-line coach talks about rushing coverage, and our D-line was just all up in there — all up in the quarterback’s face — and he just threw it and it just ended up in my hands.”
Junior outside linebacker and son of Tuioti, Teitum Tuioti, credited the Ducks’ aggressiveness in collapsing the pocket for Cowboys under pressure. “I think me and the whole D-line did a good job just trying to affect this quarterback because we know each week if we affect the quarterback, good things are going to happen,” Tuioti said. Even as the Ducks continue to rotate new pieces, the bond among the defense is becoming this unit’s strength. Oregon has reiterated this season the priority of building a strong foundation that extends beyond the field.
“I love the defensive backs in our room,” Woodyard said. “We all spend time with each other, we go bowling … play video games, so our relationships are great.”
The connections made off the field help transfer success on the field.
“I think this is one of the best defenses I’ve been on,” Tuioti said. “A team that is really trying to get to the ball — that’s something that we preach about all the time on this defense — how can we get the ball, cause obviously the ball means everything.”
That willingness to develop, even after blowout performances that may seem mismatched, has created opportunities for newcomers to step up.
“We may be young and with new guys, but that’s what I love to see — is (that) guys are trying to prove themselves,” Boettcher said.
The Ducks have also made it a point that growth is just getting started.
“Just continuing to see development in our defense — these past two games, it’s been a good game for us, but we continue to nitpick everything — we can always improve and that’s something that our defense does a great job, going to the doctor and continuing to work on things,” Tuioti said.
For Boettcher, however, the standard is simple: “Defense wins championships.”
(ABOVE) Oregon Ducks linebacker Bryce Boettcher (28) prepares to block the Cowboys offensive line. The University of Oregon Ducks play against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Autzen Stadium on Sept. 6, 2025.
(Saj Sundaram/Emerald)
(LEFT) Oregon defensive back Peyton Woodyard (12) picked off the ball from Cowboys quarterback Zane Flores, returning for 30 yards and scoring a touchdown.
DUCKS MAKE IMPACT PLAYS IN NFL WEEK 1
A growing crop of Oregon alumni spread across the nation decided multiple games as the professional season kicked off.
BY OWEN MURRAY Sports Writer
Forty-five Oregon alumni are now contracted NFL athletes. It’s one of the hallmarks of head coach Dan Lanning’s three-year tenure in Eugene, which has already seen 24 former Ducks drafted to the league. Two of the league’s premier AFC contenders have Ducks at quarterback, while other teams anchored their offense or saw their defense cemented by talent bred at Autzen Stadium.
HERBERT, HOST OF DUCKS DEFEAT AFC CHAMPS IN BRAZIL
Justin Herbert became just the third Chargers quarterback ever (Oregon alum Dan Fouts, Philip Rivers) to throw for 300 yards and three touchdowns in Week 1 as he led a 27-21 victory over defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs in São Paulo, Brazil on Sept. 5. Herbert, who sealed the win with a 19-yard scramble-and-slide, returns for his sixth year at the helm with a case to be the best active pro Duck. Also featured were the Chargers’ Troy Dye (five tackles), Jamaree Caldwell and Nikko Reed (unrostered) alongside Chiefs linebacker Jeffrey Bassa. Reed, who made the 53-man roster after not receiving an NFL Combine invite in 2025 and signing as an undrafted free agent, was inactive for the game.
NIX, FRANKLIN CONNECT IN BRONCOS’ WIN OVER TITANS
Facing 2025 first-overall pick Cam Ward, Bo Nix and Troy Franklin connected for 44 yards on four receptions as the Denver Broncos found their way to a win over the Tennessee Titans. Nix threw two interceptions — the second of which was intended for Franklin — but managed to rack up 176 yards on 25 attempts behind an offensive line room that includes former Ducks Calvin Throckmorton and Alex Forsyth and ride his defense to a 20-12 victory.
IRVING, JOHNSON FEATURE IN BUCS’ WIN OVER FALCONS
There’s a duo of Ducks in Tampa now, and they’re shining. After Bucky Irving (14 carries, 37 yds, receiving TD in 23-20 win over Atlanta) stepped up in his first season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they drafted Oregon single-season receptions record holder Tez Johnson in 2025. The Bucs feature an already deep receiving core, which resulted in Johnson seeing just one target in Week 1, but he made headlines in preseason and looks to take a similar step to Irving’s down the stretch.
WILLIAMS PICKS OFF LIONS IN PACKERS’ KEY WIN OVER DETROIT
Evan Williams wasn’t the star player to come out of Oregon in the 2024 draft class that also included Bo Nix and Jackson Powers-Johnson, but the Green Bay Packers fell in love with the safety. He’s paid them back already. After posting 49 tackles, three passes defensed and an intercep-
tion in his rookie season, Williams intercepted Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff on third-and-7 in the red zone on Saturday to hand Green Bay the ball and a 14-point lead before the half. As the Packers chase a Super Bowl in his second year, Williams looks set to start alongside Xavier McKinney for coordinator Jeff Hafley’s defense.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Tight end Juwan Johnson, despite a Saints loss to the Cardinals, led New Orleans with a game-high 76 yards and eight receptions.
Defensive lineman Deforest Buckner had three tackles in the Indianapolis Colts’ blowout of the Miami Dolphins Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir had two tackles, both unassisted, in the San Francisco 49ers win over the Seattle Seahawks
Offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr., one of two Ducks to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in 2025, started at right tackle for the Washington Commanders. The other, defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, was named a starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers but was ruled out of Week 1 with an injury.
(ABOVE) Aug 23, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) throws against New Orleans Saints safety Ugo Amadi (0) during the first half at Caesars Superdome. (Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images)
THE DUCKS AND THEIR PENALTIES
The importance and evolution of Duck’s penalties.
BY ROWAN SHEA Sports Writer
Crowd noise –– it’s such a key part of the game EA, had to add it into its “College Football” videogame in the form of a Stadium Pulse chart showing how hard it is to play in certain stadiums.
Autzen Stadium is one of the loudest and toughest stadiums any team can play in. The noise the crowd generates is so loud that opposing team fans are often caught plugging their ears, wearing headphones or earplugs: anything to drown out the deafening “OOOOOO” from the Oregon faithful. One thing can make a stadium crowd really “pop” is a penalty.
In Autzen, if there is a penalty at any point during the opponents drive the Oregon crowd is deafening; however, Autzen isn’t the only stadium where the crowd can be as beneficial to the home team as the players.
A stadium and crowd that will rival Eugene this year has to be the white-out game at Penn State’s Beaver Stadium. Even for the Ducks, who are a hard-nosed, well-oiled machine, penalties are never entirely avoidable. The team plays aggressively, covers the field well and every player does their job. Although they aren’t avoidable, when it comes to penalties, it can be shocking that the Ducks do not have as many as one thinks they should given how they play.
Looking at the past three years since head coach Dan Lanning left his defensive coordinator position at University of Georgia at the end of 2021 and took over at Oregon the following season, Oregon has allowed 225 penalties for 2172 yards.
2022: 88-744
2023: 93-848
2024: 74-580
Oregon football had 74 penalties for 580 yards last season, which was the eighth most in the Big Ten (UCLA had the most at 98 penalties for 827 yards). Among Big Ten teams that made the postseason last year (Oregon, Penn State and Ohio State), the Ducks gave up the least number of penalty yards and was second in penalties with two more than the Buckeyes at 74.
Lanning’s best penalty season with the Ducks was 2024. Oregon averaged about the same number of flags on offense as on defense per game — offense at 5.3 penalties and defense at 5.5 penalties. While defensive errors have fluctuated with Lanning at the helm, the average number of offensive penalties per game have only gone down over his career at Oregon.
In 2025, the Ducks, who have so far outscored their opponents 128-16, have only allowed nine penalties for 64 yards. In Weeks 1 and 2, Oregon continuously pressured the quarterback, had great coverage against the pass game and only gave up 244 total yards against Montana State University and 211 against Oklahoma State University.
Penalties are an area that coach Lanning wants to clean up. “We had five penalties in the first half,” Lanning said after the Oklahoma State game. “The second half we had one…that’s our standard of play.”
There were only five penalties committed by the Ducks in the first half.
Of the six total penalties that Oregon had, five of them were pre-snap penalties. On all of those penalties it was because of the way that Oregon likes to play: quick and aggressive. With that mentality, there are bound to be pre-snap penalties, but it’s still an area that has to be cleaned up.
Not all penalties are bad penalties. Sometimes, a team can know the rule book so well that they will have their team cause a penalty intentionally for competitive advantage. That competitive advantage can work so well that the team who implemented the penalty can win the game off of stalling the momentum of the opponent.
A notorious example of an intentional penalty is what
Lanning did against Ohio State.
Late in the game against then- No. 2 Ohio State on Oct. 12, 2024, trailing and on defense, Lanning intentionally sent out an extra man to the field. This led to time running off the clock, Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard rushing to make a play, making a mental mistake and therefore handing Oregon the win. It was only a couple days later that the NCAA changed how the 12-man penalty would be handled and take away the loophole Lanning and Oregon exploited.
Oregon is a team full of strong young players and key transfers and the impact of having the aggressiveness of this Ducks team is penalties. Cutting down on the penalties is a must if they want to be better than they were last year. As the year goes on, it will be interesting to see how the young players work with the veterans and coaching staff to learn to limit those penalties.
(BELOW) Students at the University of Oregon Ducks football game dance and cheer during “Shout”, the Oregon Ducks third quarter tradition. The University of Oregon Ducks play against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Autzen Stadium on Sept. 6, 2025. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)
DANTE MOORE’S DECISION MAKING IS KEYING ANOTHER HEISMAN TROPHY CAMPAIGN
The Ducks’ signal-caller is excelling in the early portion of the 2025 season.
BY JOE KRASNOWSKI Sports Writer
Being a starting quarterback as a freshman isn't only about playing football better than everyone else, it's accelerated adulthood. It's an 18-year-old managing disappointment, navigating program politics, forging relationships and figuring out how to live in college with an entire fanbase's hope for the future on their back.
What would Oregon quarterback Dante Moore say to 18-year-old him two years ago at UCLA?
“Smile and don’t care about other people’s opinions, be you,” Moore said.
That’s a lot easier for Moore to do now. He sat behind Dillon Gabriel for a year, learning offensive coordinator Will Stein’s scheme, and now, as the Ducks’ starter, is seeing his career take flight. Moore’s 479 yards and six touchdowns in just over six quarters of action has come as little surprise to those in the Oregon stratosphere.
“It’s been two years, man,” Moore said after the Week 1 win over Montana State University. “It’s a blessing to be able to play here at the University of Oregon in front of a great crowd and great fans. I think the best thing was the way we moved the ball as a whole unit.”
Still, head coach Dan Lanning came away more impressed with one of the throws that Moore didn’t make. With the Ducks facing third and goal from the 10-yard line in their Week 1 win, Moore opted to run the ball for five yards and set up a field-goal, instead of forcing a pass.
“To me, that’s a great decision that will get no hoopla,” Lanning said. “He didn’t make the extraordinary pass. What did he do? He protected the ball and we walked away with points.”
Moore certainly saw (and made) plenty of those plays last year as backup to Heisman Trophy finalist Dillon Gabriel. One of Gabriel’s few flaws — especially early on — was forcing the ball into windows that weren’t there. Four of his six interceptions were in the red zone.
“It reflects back on how my freshman year was,” Moore said. “I was forcing throws, and I'm not making the right decisions, and things can turn out bad that way. Then also, he showed me the clips of Dillon when he was here, like the Michigan State game, the red area (and) forcing throws. As a quarterback, you always learn from the situations.”
The kind of plays Moore made as a freshman and was criticized for is not the type of plays he’s making now.
“You always learn from situations; at practice I’ve done it a couple of times, (and) it hasn’t turned out the way I want it to turn out, so (Lanning)’s cussed me out 1,000 times,” Moore said. “I kind of hear him in the back of my head every time I’m scrambling like, ‘Don’t throw it.’ I made a lot of great decisions taking what the defense gives me.”
Of course, it helps that at Oregon there are playmakers everywhere and the quarterback generally just has to steer the ship. But that’s exactly where Lanning and Stein think Moore’s rocket arm and five-star characteristics can take over, helping elevate an already stacked Ducks’ squad.
“Not every play needs to go deep,” wide receiver Malik Benson said. “If he does do that as receivers we got to make him look right and he makes us look good too. Just because we don’t get 50 (yards) on this play, he can check it down and we get 50 on the check down.”
Moore’s physical tools have always jumped out at coaches, but now as a Duck, he looks like more of a finished product than ever.
(LEFT) Aug 30, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante
Moore (5) celebrates with wide receiver Dakorien Moore (1) after a touchdown scored by wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. (2) during the second half against the Montana State Bobcats at Autzen Stadium. (Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images)
