The Ducks and Beavers are set to battle it out one last time before the 129 year-old rivalry comes to a pause.
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(On The Cover) Benny the Beaver and the Oregon Duck square up before the start of the big rivalry game. The Oregon Ducks traveled up to Corvallis to face their in-state rival the Oregon State Beavers on Nov 26th, 2022, for their last game of the regular season. (Jonathan Suni, Emerald)
(Right) Long time Oregon Duck, Dontae Manning (8), takes down a Beaver receiver with an open field tackle. The Oregon Ducks travel up to Corvallis to face their in-state rival the Oregon State Beavers on Sept. 14th, 2024.
PLAYER
WEEK 4 TEAM ROSTERS:
OREGON OREGON ST
OREGON OFFENSE
DANTE MOORE
AUSTIN NOVOSAD
MAKHI HUGHES
NOAH WHITTINGTON
MALIK BENSON
JUSTIUS LOWE
DAKORIEN MOORE
GARY BRYANT JR.
ISAIAH WORLD
EMMANUEL PREGNON
IAPANI LALOULU
CHARLIE PICKARD
DAVE IULI
MATTHEW BEDFORD
ALEX HARKEY
KENYON SADIQ
OREGON DEFENSE
A’MAURI WASHINGTON
BEAR ALEXANDER
TIONNE GRAY
MATAYO UIAGALELEI
TEITUM TUIOTI
BRYCE BOETTCHER
DEVON JACKSON
BLAKE PURCHASE
ELIJAH RUSHING
DILLON THIENEMAN
AARON FLOWERS
IFY OBIDEGWU
BRANDON FINNEY JR.
THERAN JOHNSON
PEYTON WOODYARD
DAYLEN AUSTIN
RS-SO/TR
OREGON ST OFFENSE
PLAYER
DAVID WELLS JR.
TAZ REDDICKS
TRENT WALKER
EDDIE FREAUFF
JACOB STRAND
JOSIAH TIMOTEO
RYAN BERGER
VAN WELLS
NATHAN ELU
TYLER MORANO
BRYCE CAUFIELD
GABE MILBOURN
MAALIK MURPHY
GABARRI JOHNSON
ANTHONY HANKERSON
SALAHADIN ALLAH
OREGON ST DEFENSE
KAI WALLIN
NIKKO TAYLOR
TAKARI HICKLE
DEXTER FOSTER
RAESJON DAVIS
EXODUS AYERS
JALIL TUCKER
TREY GLASPER
SKYLER THOMAS
TYRICE IVY JR.
JAMEIM PATTERSON
SAILASA VADRAWALE III
KOBE SINGLETON
OREGON SPECIAL TEAMS
PLAYER
ROSS
END OF AN ERA: BEAVERS AND DUCKS SET TO MISS ANNUAL MATCHUP IN 2026
It’s the first interruption of the historic rivalry since World War II.
BY HARRY LEADER Sports Writer
Since 1894, when the teams were called the Oregon Webfoots and the Oregon Agriculture College Aggies, the Ducks and Beavers have been battling on the gridiron once a year.
Both Oregon schools were founding members of the Pacific Coast Conference, later the Pac-12, in 1925 along Washington and UC Berkeley.
Oregon has won the majority of the games against Oregon State with a record of 69-49-10 heading into this year’s matchup. The Ducks and Beavers tie for the longest win streak at eight consecutive wins.
The biggest win in the rivalry's history belongs to the 2017 Ducks when they beat the Beavers 69-10 at Autzen Stadium. Ducks running backs Royce Freeman and Kani Benoit both ran for 122 yards apiece and combined for three touchdowns.
Following Oregon’s move to the Big Ten, the Ducks and Beavers announced that they would continue to play as non-conference opponents in 2024 and 2025. Recently it was announced that the Ducks and Beavers had reached a six game deal starting in 2027, but still no plans were made for 2026.
This marks the first interruption of annual games since a three-year hiatus from 1942 to 1945 due to World War II. The decision to put the rivalry on hold next season has some
Ducks fans upset about the absence of the rivalry game and what conference realignment has done to this rivalry.
“I think it’s disappointing,” current Oregon senior Quincy Munyan said. “The Civil War is a game that us Duck fans look forward to every single year because of how much excitement and hype the game brings.”
“I miss the Pac-12 for sure,” Munyan said. “I’m glad the Ducks were able to find a new conference home where they are able to continue to compete at a high level.”
In 2023, the No. 6 Ducks faced off against the No. 16 Beavers in what would become their last game as conference opponents. The Ducks dominated early off the passing of quarterback Bo Nix, who threw for 367 yards and two touchdowns. The Ducks would go on to win 31-7 and earn a spot in the Pac-12 championship.
“I think rivalry games are an opportunity for schools to show out all of their pride, and that is certainly true for the University of Oregon and Oregon State,” Oregon senior Jason Chin said. “I think myself and many students hope the game will continue because it is such a storied tradition.”
“Oregon leaving the Pac-12 was hard for me to see because it was my favorite conference before it broke up,” Chin said. “I also saw it as an opportunity for Oregon to play some tougher competition and see fun matchups. At the same time, though, I realized that it would separate us from Oregon State. I wasn’t as devastated, though, thinking that we would still be scheduled to play them anyways.”
In the 2010 rivalry game, the Ducks and Beavers battled in the first half, but the Ducks ran away with the game
after halftime, winning 37-20. Headlining the game was the legendary Oregon backfield of Kenjon Barner and LaMichael James, who ran a combined 267 yards and scored four total touchdowns. This win punched the Ducks’ ticket to the BCS National Championship game.
It’s not just the fans who hope to see the rivalry continue, but also Ducks head coach Dan Lanning.
“I’d love to keep the rivalry alive,” Lanning said at a postgame press conference after last season’s edition. “I think it’s great for the state of Oregon and for both schools. That’s not something we want to see go away.”
The No. 6 Ducks play the 0-3 Beavers on Sept. 20 at Autzen Stadium, the 129th meeting between the two teams. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. PST.
(BELOW) Derrick Harmon, an invaluable piece of the Oregon defensive line since transferring from Michigan State, goes for a big sack against the Oregon State quarterback. The Oregon Ducks traveled up to Corvallis to face their in-state rival the Oregon State Beavers on Sept. 14th, 2024. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)
Oregon players that went to Sheldon High School
Chris Miller
Chris Miller was Oregon’s starting quarterback from 1983-1986. He appeared in 36 games and threw for 6,681 yards and 42 touchdowns on 560 completions, which at the time was a program record.
Taylor Alie
Taylor Alie was in the Oregon football program from 2013-2017 where he spent time as a quarterback and a holder. In his two seasons at quarterback, he appeared in 21 games and threw for 230 yards and a touchdown on 25 completions.
Ivan Faaulhaber
Ivan Faaulhaber was a linebacker for the Ducks from 2013-2017, but saw limited playing time. He appeared in just seven games and recorded four tackles, two for losses, but spent significant time on Oregon’s scout team.
Justin Herbert
Justin Herbert was the starting quarterback at Oregon from 20162019. He threw for 10,541 yards and 95 touchdowns on 827 completions in 44 starts.
Patrick Herbert
Patrick Herbert was a tight end for the Ducks from 2022-2024. He appeared in 41 games and had 31 receptions for 388 yards and four touchdowns.
TEITUM TUIOTI’S PATH TO AUTZEN
How a coach’s son grew into a defensive star.
BY MAX KOEBEL Sports Writer
“When it comes to defense,” junior linebacker Teitum Tuioti said at Oregon’s media day in July, “(it’s about) relentless effort, ball excellence and power of unit. Those three things, we talk about all the time. No matter what you do, if you continue to make plays, it don’t matter what happens, as long as you do it fast and physical, you’ll be alright.”
The Oregon defense is off to a strong start in 2025, allowing just 30 total points in the first three games.
In the current age of college football and the transfer portal, it’s becoming less common for players to stick with the same program for four years. As the Ducks have welcomed several new faces to their team each year, Tuioti is one player who has become a tenured member of the squad. Now in his third season as a Duck, he felt ready to step into a role as a mentor for the younger players.
“I’m focusing on what I need to do to improve,” Tuioti said, “but I’m also thinking about my team, thinking about the players in my room and how I can help them improve as well.”
The son of a coach, football has been a part of Tuioti’s life from the beginning. His father, Tony Tuioti has coached eight different teams at the high school, college and NFL levels from the time Teitum was born. As a result, their family moved a lot.
The Ducks hired Tony as the defensive line coach at the end of 2021, during his son’s junior year of high school. Teitum finished up at Sheldon High School in Eugene, where he blossomed into a fourstar prospect by 247 Sports and ESPN going into college.
Teitium Tuioti
Teitium Tuioti has been with Oregon since 2023 at linebacker. He has appeared in 30 games and recorded 103 tackles, 14.5 of which were for losses.
Sheldon has been a popular alma mater for serious athletes from the Willamette Valley, including former Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert and his brother, tight end Patrick Herbert. Justin is now in his sixth season as the quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers and Patrick is in his first season at tight end with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Tuioti could very well be following in those footsteps.
Tuioti truly made himself known in Eugene with three sacks for the Fighting Irish in a win over West Linn, the eventual State Champions. Tuioti was
“ I’m focusing on what I need to do to improve, but I’m also thinking about my team, thinking about the players in my room and how I can help them improve as well.
Teitum Tuioti Oregon Linebacker “
recruited by 12 Division I football programs and ultimately chose to stick with his dad at Oregon. Head coach Dan Lanning has also made a strong impression on him.
“Coach Lanning was an (outside linebackers) coach in my head,” Tuioti said. “He loves coming in our room and talking ball with us. Him just being the guy he is, he just improves our room so much. We continue to just pick at his brain, he continues to give us his wisdom about OLB playing, and I think it just elevates our room every year. Every time he talks to us we learned something new.”
Tony Tuioti has developed a similar coaching mindset to Lanning since making the move to Oregon.
In addition to always looking to improve, Lanning loves giving in-game reps to as many guys as possible. While coach Tuioti may work the closest with the defensive linemen, he wants to see everyone on defense working together to make each other better. These philosophies have certainly played a role in Teitum’s development as a player.
“It takes all 11 guys to be able to stop the run,” Tony Tuioti said during preseason training. “And then we’ve got some really good edge guys that can get after the quarterback. When we put them in passing situations, we can allow the front to go eat and be able to apply pressure on the quarterback.”
Teitum picked up those same motivations very quickly. Just like his father, and the other coaches and players, he does not view success in one game as satisfactory.
“This is one of the best defenses I’ve been on,” Tuioti said after Oregon’s 69-3 win over Oklahoma State in Week 2. “A team that really is trying to get to the ball. It’s something that we preach about all the time on this defense like, ‘How can we get the ball?’ because obviously the ball means everything. So I think just continuing to seek development in our defense, and we continue like these past two games have been good games for us, but we continue to knit pick everything. We can always improve.”
Tuioti has appeared in every game since Week 2 of his freshman season in 2023. He combined for 88 total tackles in his first two seasons with 11.5 tackles for losses of 66 total yards. Early this season, Tuioti recorded five tackles against Montana State, four tackles including a sack for a 6-yard loss against Oklahoma State and six tackles including a 0.5 sack for a 4-yard loss against Northwestern. His goal is to continue growing every week.
“We expect to continue to grow each year that coach Lanning has been here and continue to improve.” Tuioti said at media day. “Not just competing at a high level, but we’re trying to win some championships, we’re trying to win some conference games, so this is what we’ve gotta do.”
Winning is hard, yet Oregon has been able to do it very consistently in the time that Tuioti has been on the roster. The defense has allowed just six total scoring drives in the first three games, but in their minds, that’s not good enough. As the Ducks move toward the tougher stretch in their schedule, Tuioti and the defense will come into each game a little bit better than the last.
“We know each week,” Tuioti said, “If we affect the quarterback we know good things are gonna happen.”
ALL HANDS ON DECK
With Oregon’s early blow-out wins, almost everyone is seeing the field.
BY ROWAN SHEA Sports Writer
“The more guys you can play, the better you’re going to be,” head coach Dan Lanning said after Oregon’s 69-3 win over Oklahoma State.
Oregon has been getting in player after player when it has been leading in a game. Those players who get into the game aren’t just holding the score, rather, they continue to compete for the Ducks and are showing why they can go far in 2025.
The Northwestern game on Sept. 13 was another chance for Oregon to get their non-starting talent into the game. And while the Ducks didn’t have as big of a scoring margin as in Weeks 1 and 2, Oregon still got a lot of players into the game.
“For us, it’s continuing to figure out how many guys can play winning football for us,” Lanning said to GoDucks after Oregon’s 34-14 win over Northwestern. “You saw a lot of guys out there play, again, for us. That’s always going to be the goal.”
There have been many non-starters that have stuck out, showing that they have the ability to step up when they get put into the game.
Under center, Luke Moga was not expected to be seeing much of the field with Dante Moore starting and Austin Novosad playing his backup. But with the injury that Novosad received in Week 1, Moga’s spot in the depth chart moved up. With Moga moving up, the trickle-down effect means that behind Moga will now be Brock Thomas, a sophomore from Eugene.
So far, Moga has three completions on five attempts for 58 yards. Thomas has two completions in five attempts for 14 yards. Despite neither one throwing for a touchdown yet, Moga has had better success leading the Ducks down the field. Those drives have resulted in getting into field goal territory against both Oklahoma State and Northwestern and a rushing touchdown by Jordon Davison against Oklahoma State.
Lanning has voiced his confidence in the depth of the position and the overall quarterback play going forward. “Brock had a really good camp, done some good things,” Lanning said. “Luke’s done some really good things. I thought they both did some good stuff today as well.”
On the run game side, true freshman Dierre Hill Jr. has gotten his chance. Noah Whittington was listed as questionable for Week 3 against Northwestern, which gave Hill the chance to show what he could do. Hill’s history as a high school track star fueled his performance against Northwestern. Hill ended the day with five carries for 94 yards, including a 66-yard run dash for a touchdown, which demonstrated his elite speed.
Davison, another true freshman, has 13 carries for 40 yards and five touchdowns, effectively showing his ability
to be an impact player for the Ducks at the goal line.
Despite his Week 1 start against Montana State, Davison has been coming off the bench since. His most recent scoring drives have both been in the third quarter; one against Oklahoma State and the other against Northwestern.
These early weeks of this season have shown that Oregon’s first season in the Big Ten wasn’t a fluke. The Ducks have recruited incredible talent, effectively ensuring that if a starter were to have to leave the game, another highly skilled player can fill that role. It seems as though Oregon has an unlimited pool of talent at its disposal.
Being able to have a back-up squad nearly as strong as your starters is a dream for any football program. In conference play, the Ducks won’t have to be worried about resting the starters in the late third and fourth quarter if they’re ahead. The young talent has proven that it can still compete at a high level.
When the Ducks are marching into the playoffs with a well-rested starting squad and a strong bench, watch out. The notion that this team could go further than last season may just become reality.
(ABOVE) Oregon Ducks running back Dierre Hill Jr. (23) dodges defenders as his teammates block them. The University of Oregon Ducks played against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Autzen Stadium on Sept. 6, 2025. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)
beer
DUCK QUARTERBACKS MAKE A SPLASH IN WEEK 2
Former Ducks continued to soar professionally in Week 2 of the NFL season particularly at the offensive helm.
BY RACHEL MCCONAGHIE Sports Writer
Three former Oregon quarterbacks are already making headlines early in the NFL season. In Week 2, the Ducks' presence from rookie debuts to veteran consistency showed promising performances as the season is underway.
GABRIEL SHOWS PROMISE AS BROWNS EVALUATE FUTURE
In his professional debut on Sunday, quarterback Dillon Gabriel took the field late in the fourth quarter for the Cleveland Browns in a 41-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Despite the score, Gabriel made the most of his opportunity, completing all three of his passes for 19 yards.
He entered the game in relief of 18-season veteran Joe Flacco, who struggled to execute throughout the game. With just under two minutes to play, Gabriel led the Browns' final possession, with a 8-yard touchdown pass to fellow rookie Dylan Sampson.
Though his debut was brief, Gabriel’s poise in the pocket and completion accuracy could boost his chances of a starting appearance for Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers, especially with the Browns still searching for their first win.
NIX FLASHES BIG PLAY POTENTIAL DESPITE LATE GAME STRUGGLES
In his second season with the Denver Broncos, quarterback Bo Nix delivered a promising performance in a narrow 29-28 loss on Sunday to the Indianapolis Colts. Nix completed 22 of 30 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception. He also added 20 rushing yards on three carries.
The Broncos stormed out of the gate, with Nix leading three touchdown drives in the first half. His scoring passes included a 23-yard reception to Marvin Mims, a short 3-yard touchdown to fellow Duck Troy Franklin, and a final 2-yard connection to tight end Adam Trautman.
Nix’s most electric play came early in the second quarter. A scramble and deep shot to Franklin for a 42yard gain which set up a scoring drive. However, his momentum slowed in the second half. A critical fourth-quarter interception by the Colts' defense pre-
vented what more than likely would have been some kind of scoring drive for the Broncos.
This opened the door for the Colts’ comeback win when a Broncos penalty moved a 60-yard field goal attempt to a 45-yard field goal, moving the Broncos to 1-1.
Despite the loss, Nix’s playmaking and chemistry with former Oregon teammate Franklin are promising heading into Week 3 as they look to go head-to-head with former Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert and the Chargers.
HERBERT
LEADS CHARGERS TO SECOND SEASON SUCCESS
In his sixth season with the Los Angeles Chargers, quarterback Justin Herbert led his team to a 20-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday, showcasing his ability to execute on his feet and in the air.
The game started with a strike as the Chargers' defense intercepted the Raiders on the very first play, setting the tone early. However, they were only able to convert the turnover into a field goal to which the Raiders responded with a field goal of their own.
Herbert was a weapon throughout the game, frequently scrambling out of the pocket, extending plays and picking up first downs. Despite multiple penalties stalling momentum, Herbert connected with veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen for a 10 yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.
The game highlight was a 60-yard touchdown reception – caught by Quentin Johnson – marking the longest reception scoring play for the Chargers this season. They then added a field goal to extend their lead and stamp the win.
With nine carries and 32 yards rushing, Herbert’s ability to make plays on his feet and while maintaining composure in the pocket proved instrumental. A total of 242 passing yards with two touchdowns, pushed the Chargers in the race for the AFC division title with a 2-0 start.
(RIGHT) Oregon star quarterback, Bo Nix (10), warms up in what will officially be his last collegiate game as an Oregon Duck. The Oregon Ducks crushed the Liberty Flames at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 1, 2024. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)
OREGON VS. OREGON STATE PREVIEW
The bitter foes meet for the 129th time, with the Ducks looking to stay undefeated and the Beavers looking for their first win.
BY JACK LAZARUS Sports Editor
Two football programs separated by only 42 miles in distance could not be more distant as it regards on-field success.
The Oregon State Beavers (0-3) make the short trip down to Eugene for what should be a hard-fought matchup in this season’s iteration of the historic rivalry. The Beavers have fared quite differently than the Ducks, who remain undefeated, and the first three games of their season have shown little success.
Coming off a 5-7 season where it failed to reach a bowl game for the first time since 2020, Oregon State endured a rough trio of games to begin the season.
This, though, wasn’t always supposed to be the case this season.
During the offseason, the Beavers secured the commitment of former University of Texas and Duke University quarterback Maalik Murphy, who was meant to lead a
resurgence of the program under second-year head coach Trent Bray.
Unfortunately for the team up in Corvallis, it just hasn’t played out that way. Oregon State played two Power Four opponents in the first three weeks and lost those games by a combined margin of 50 points – 34-15 against Cal and 45-14 at Texas Tech University.
In the second game, against the Fresno State University Bulldogs, OSU led 21-20 heading into the fourth quarter. The Beavers tallied 528 total yards compared to the Bulldogs’ 318 and doubled the amount of Fresno State first downs but by game’s end, they emerged as a nine-point loser. Oregon State’s most prevalent recurring issue has become turnovers, and it’s what tipped the scales towards Fresno State in Week 2. Murphy is tied for fifth in FBS in interceptions thrown with five in the first three games.
His most costly giveaway came at the end of the Fresno State game, as the Beavers were attempting to mount a drive to win the game. Murphy and his receiver were not on the same page and after a quick drop back, the junior
quarterback fired one right to a waiting defender, who took it back to OSU’s end zone and effectively ended the game.
In that game, the Beavers’ special teams also took center stage when, on a routine punt in the second quarter, they botched the snap. The Bulldogs took advantage of that and scooped the ball for an easy score. Bray, during an on-air interview at halftime of the game, explained that their special teams needed a lot of work, in his own expletive way.
The Beavers’ defense also hasn’t had much to show, especially after surrendering 38 points in the first three quarters in Week 3 against Texas Tech. While the offense also stalled and failed to score a single point, Oregon State allowed 599 total yards by the time the game concluded.
All that taken into account, along with the Ducks’ flawless first three games, the outlook looks fairly bleak for the Beavers as they prepare to head into Autzen Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore has shown his ability to tear into opposing defenses that are prone to letting up a lot of yards through the air, and has averaged 219 pass yards in the first three weeks. That, mixed with the Ducks’ ability to punch in touchdowns on the ground, will prove an Achilles’ heel for Oregon State.
Betting-wise, Oregon opened as 34.5 point favorites, which is the largest margin that the bookmakers have predicted for the Ducks so far this season. That all being said, this game is expected to be a blowout for Oregon when taking into account the odds and the two team’s resumes stacked against each other.
Although, stranger things have happened in rivalry games.
(ABOVE) The coveted Oregon defensive unit filled with newly transferred and home grown talent looks to stuff the Beavers at the goal line. The Oregon Ducks traveled up to Corvallis to face their in-state rival the Oregon State Beavers on Sept. 14th, 2024. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)
WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM OREGON’S FIRST ROAD GAME OF 2025?
The Ducks kicked off a difficult away schedule in Week 3 against Northwestern.
BY HENRY LIGHT Sports Writer
Oregon football players are no strangers to setting early alarms, but a 9:00 a.m. PST kickoff in Evanston, Illinois made for a more intense environment throughout Week 3.
At a press conference three days before the game, defensive back Ify Obidegwu explained that his position group had been waking up at 4:00 a.m. and arriving at the facility by 5:00 a.m. to prepare for the time zone difference.
“That’s about the time we’re gonna be waking up anyway when that day comes, so we’re just mentally preparing ourselves throughout the week,” Obidegwu said.
Oregon’s preparation secured a 34-14 win, but the lopsided final score and several errors by Northwestern players masked a relatively slow start for the Ducks.
Although Oregon led 17-0 by halftime, Northwestern forced a punt on its first drive and had two promising offensive drives that ended in poor turnovers; first when quarterback Preston Stone made a throw into triple coverage that was intercepted by Bryce Boettcher and later when he fumbled-and-recovered the ball for a loss of 18 yards.
While the Ducks quickly returned to the dominant level they have shown early in the season, their start left room for improvement. According to offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon, that was an emphasis throughout the week.
“The emphasis coach has been leaving with us this week is being a firestarter, and what that means to me is starting early and starting fast,” Pregnon said. “That’s how I’m thinking about preparing for such an early game like that, so when I come out on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. I’m punching somebody in the mouth right from the jump.”
The early kickoff posed a unique challenge, but it put Oregon’s preparation for road games under a microscope, and that will be worth watching throughout the remainder of the Ducks’ away schedule.
Oregon’s Week 5 matchup against No. 2 Penn State will be its first Big Ten conference road game against a ranked team, and the biggest obstacle in the way of another undefeated season.
Assuming the Ducks overcome their longest road trip in the Big Ten to beat Rutgers in Week 8, their next away test will come in Week 11 against Iowa. Longtime Big Ten teams know about Iowa’s ability to play spoiler when it is overmatched, and the Hawkeyes’ brand of strong defense and special teams makes them capable of capitalizing in the vulnerable moments Oregon had against Northwestern.
Oregon ends the regular season in Seattle
against a more talented Huskies roster than the one that the Ducks blew out at Autzen Stadium last season. Ore gon will need a refined approach to road games to win in Seattle, where it hasn’t taken a victory since 2021, and the Ducks’ away schedule is dif ficult enough to build that.
The focus on Oregon’s first road trip throughout Week 3 gave some insight into where the Ducks are starting that process.
“More than anything, our crowd has been a huge im pact in our first two games — I don’t know how many pen alties Oklahoma State had that our crowd induced, but there were several of them,” Lanning said in a press conference on Sept. 8. “For me, it’s about how do we trav el when we go on the road? Business trip, and what that looks like.”
Pregnon and safety Dillon Thieneman both gave insight into their plane trav el habits to prepare for those business trips.
“I’m an aisle guy. That leg room – I will fight anybody for that leg room,” Pregnon, who is listed at 6-foot-5, 318 pounds, said.
“I make sure to stretch after. I know when you get up there you can get some swelling in your legs and stuff, so work that out, and also stress that it’s a business trip, you’re not just going on a trip to go on a trip, you’re going on a trip to go win a game,” Thieneman said.
Oregon players and staff will rely on and refine every aspect of their preparation as they navigate a challenging road schedule in 2025.
(RIGHT) Sept. 13, 2025; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) runs the ball past Northwestern Wildcats defensive lineman Anto Saka (4) during the first half at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. (David Banks-Imagn Images)
AROUND THE BIG TEN: WEEK 3
The final non-conference week concluded with minimal errors from teams in the Ducks’ future.
BY OWEN MURRAY Associate Sports Editor
For the Big Ten teams chasing championships, the key early on is to avoid a stumble. There weren’t any conference teams in ranked matchups in Week 3 of the college football season, and just one team – Wisconsin, at No. 19 Alabama, lost to an out-of-conference opponent. The rest stayed on their feet in search of bigger fish. Emerald breaks down the notable matchups.
NO. 1 OHIO STATE CRUISES PAST OHIO UNIVERSITY IN 37-4 WIN
The top-ranked Buckeyes (3-0) still have No. 7 Texas as their marquee win. Since that Week 1 victory, Ryan Day’s program hasn’t faced another Power Four opponent, but still started slow (three points in the first quarter, 10 in the second) against Ohio University before stepping on the accelerator in the second half. Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin connected for two touchdowns – their relationship will be key if Ohio State is to repeat as champs.
NO. 2 PENN STATE HEADS TO BYE WEEK WITH BLOWOUT VICTORY OVER VILLANOVA
Oregon’s biggest matchup of the regular season still hasn’t faced a power conference team – and won’t before it welcomes the Ducks in Week 5. That doesn’t mean the Nittany Lions (3-0) have struggled, though, as they completed their non-conference slate with a 52-6 win over Villanova University. Star running backs Kaytron Allen (10 carries, 86 yds, TD vs VU) and Nicholas Singleton (20 carries, 84 yds, 2 TD) are driving the Penn State offense.
NO. 9 ILLINOIS CRUISES IN SHUTOUT WIN OVER WESTERN MICHIGAN
Quarterback Luke Altmyer was key to the Fighting Illini’s upstart bid in the Big Ten last year – he threw for 2,717 yards and 22 touchdowns as Illinois finished 10-3 and No. 16 in the AP Poll. This year, he’s thrown for 513 yards and six touchdowns through three games, including two through the air and another on the ground as Illinois looks ahead to a ranked matchup with No. 19 Indiana next week.
NO. 23 MICHIGAN BOUNCES BACK WITH 63-3 DEMOLITION OF WESTERN MICHIGAN
Wolverines interim head coach Biff Poggi said freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood (235 yards, 1 passing TD, 2 rushing TD) “might actually be Batman” following his leadership of Michigan’s rebound win over its in-state foes. Underwood struggled in the Wolverines’ loss at Oklahoma the week prior, but headlined a dominant rushing attack that put up 381 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. He’s looking like a true dual threat.
USC, MAIAVA OVERCOME RAIN DELAY TO STORM PAST PURDUE
Jayden Maiava and the Trojans (3-0) had to wait over three hours after a weather delay halted the start of their visit to West Lafayette. After that, they’d score just three points in the first quarter. After the junior ran in a three-yard score to begin the second, though, it never looked in doubt. USC didn’t have a passing touchdown but handed the Boilermakers (2-1) their first loss of the season with two scores on the ground, four Ryon Sayeri field goals and a 70-yard pick-six.
AROUND THE BIG TEN: SCOREBOARD
No. 22 Indiana (3-0) scored 21 or more in each of the first three quarters en route to a 73-0 win over Indiana State University. The Hoosiers travel to Illinois next.
Wisconsin was the victim as star receiver Ryan Williams returned from injury. The No. 19 Tide downed the Badgers, 38-14, ahead of the latter’s matchup with Maryland. Nebraska (3-0) put up 38 first-half points in a 59-7 victory over FCS Houston Christian University. The Cornhuskers host Michigan in Week 4.
Maryland (3-0) scored 34 first-half points of its own as freshman Malik Washington threw for 261 yards in a 4417 win over FCS Towson University. The Terps travel to Wisconsin in Week 4.
Rutgers (3-0) scored 60 points in a 60-10 destruction of Norfolk State, and will face Iowa in a Friday night matchup at home.
Michigan State (3-0) won, 41-24, over Youngstown State University. Quarterback Aidan Chiles had 346 all-purpose yards ahead of trip to USC.
Iowa (2-1) grabbed a 44-7 win over the University of Massachusetts that saw head coach Kirk Ferentz become the conference’s winningest-ever coach (206, passing Ohio State coach Woody Hayes). Next, the Hawkeyes travel to face Rutgers.
Minnesota (2-1) fell to Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (3 TD passes) and Cal, 27-14. The Golden Gophers are idle next. UCLA (0-3) looked desolate in a 35-10 loss to the University of New Mexico. The Bruins, who travel to face Northwestern, fired head coach Deshaun Foster the next day.
(BELOW) Sep 13, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) runs with the ball during the second quarter against the Villanova Wildcats at Beaver Stadium. (Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images)
