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(On The Cover, left) Photo illustration by Adaleah Carman. Oregon Ducks running back Dierre Hill Jr. (23) warms up with his teammates 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. (On The Cover, right) Oregon Ducks running back Jordan Davison (0) warms up with his teammates before the start of the game.
(Saj Sundaram/ Emerald)
(Right) Two Ducks players dance during “Shout”, the University of Oregon’s third-quarter tradition.
OREGON’S “MR. EUGENE”
Senior linebacker Bryce Boettcher defines what it means to be an Oregon Duck — and what it means to hate the Beavers.
BY JACK LAZARUS Sports Editor
All week leading up to No. 6 Oregon’s 41-7 beatdown of the Oregon State Beavers, senior linebacker Bryce Boettcher had been vocal about how much the rivalry meant to him.
“Come Saturday, I’m bringing my all,” Boettcher said the Tuesday before the win.
The centerpiece to Oregon’s defense more than kept his word on that promise. Boettcher tallied a team-high 10 tackles — one off his career-high — and was one of the only players to stay in during the fourth quarter when the Ducks were up big. He admitted that he and Lanning discussed that decision.
“I told him, ‘I don’t want to come out of the game at all,’” Boettcher said. “Obviously, (Lanning) honored that to some degree and on those last few drives we had some younger guys out there.”
For the senior, his own personal rivalry with Oregon State began long even before he made the decision to commit to Oregon.
Boettcher attended South Eugene High School and excelled in baseball and football, ultimately deciding to play
collegiate baseball. As a recruit, Boettcher received offers from Oregon, the University of Utah and supposedly Oregon State.
“I was told I was going to get an opportunity to walk-on (at OSU). The coach called me and said ‘Hey, I’m going to call you on Friday to set up your visit on a Saturday.’ Friday rolls around and I never got a call and I was committing that Sunday,” Boettcher said. “He called me that Saturday night and said, ‘Hey, sorry we spaced on your visit, let’s see if we can get you down here next week.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, man, sorry about that. I’m gonna be a Duck.’”
His talent as a football player was noticed by the coaching staff and he decided to give up his baseball scholarship to become a walk-on for both sports. That meant he would get the opportunity to square up against Oregon State on multiple fields each year.
On the gridiron Saturday, that animosity against the team up in Corvallis was present. Boettcher flew around and shot through gaps like a homing missile directed at the Beavers backfield. He was a man on a mission and was a major part of a Duck defense that let up just 147 total yards and 67 on the ground — an area where Oregon State can dominate at times.
Nowhere was that better defined than during an attempted goal line stand late in the first quarter. On first and second down from the one-yard line, Boettcher locked onto Beavers’ running back Anthony Hankerson and prevented him from breaking the plane and scoring.
Although Hankerson would punch it in on third and goal from the one, he did so on a play that was directed sharply away from Boettcher, who Oregon State had no answer for.
“That’s just flow state,” Boettcher said. “You just see the ball, and obviously you have to know the play and commu-
nicate, but it’s the best feeling in the world.”
Teammate and edge rusher Teitum Tuioti relishes the chance to play with a person and leader like Boettcher, as he describes it.
“That man crazy,” Tuioti said after the game. “But he’s the leader of our defense. Everyone should strive to be like Bryce. Bryce is such a great human on and off the field, he’s a true competitor and he’s always there for the team.”
Even as Boettcher continues his final season as an Oregon athlete, it’s clear he hasn’t lost sight of his squad’s ultimate goals.
“I love our team, I’ve been saying it,” Boettcher said. “The way we practice, (the way) we prepare and the discipline. Going into (the season) with a young team, new guys, discipline is the one thing that we lacked, but the way everyone’s grown into their role on the team is pretty incredible to watch.”
(ABOVE) Oregon Ducks linebacker Bryce Boettcher (28) speaks about his and his teammates performance against the Beavers during the Civil War 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)
A REMATCH FOR THE AGES
A preview of Oregon and Penn State’s face-off in Happy Valley.
BY JOE KRASNOWSKI Sports Writer
The most important game may always be the next one for this Oregon squad, but make no mistake, a Week 5 showdown with Penn State has been circled on the Ducks’ calendar for months.
As is typically the case in top 10, star-studded matchups, No. 6 Oregon’s (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) showdown with No. 2 Penn State (3-0) epitomizes the relative state of parity in college football.
If the controllables of each football game (penalties, busted coverages and tackling) are minimized by each team, the showdown could truly be decided by who makes the big play — or has the ball last.
Similarly, if one team suffers a key injury or is dealt a brutal penalty, fans could leave the game knowing little more than they do now.
To serve Oregon its first regular season loss in nearly two calendar years, the Nittany Lions will look to rely on their one-two punch of running backs in Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton. The pair combined to rush for 229 yards on 24 carries in the Big Ten Championship game and
look just as potent through three games this season.
Oregon’s offense will look to continue one of the most eye-popping — albeit against lousy competition — starts to a team’s regular season in recent memory. The Ducks have hung 69, 34 and 41 points on each of their FBS opponents this season. On the other side of the ball, the Ducks have allowed just 37 points across four games.
Two of the best arms in the country will be behind center for each team, with Drew Allar leading a talented Penn State receiving core and Dante Moore looking to continue his hot start to the season.
“I think it's a team that's obviously extremely talented,” Oregon head coach Dan Lanning said of Penn State. “I feel good about our team. I really like our team. This will be a good environment for us to go play in. We'll be playing people that have a lot of talent as well and a good scheme on both sides of the ball. It'll be a real challenge for us.”
The atmosphere in Happy Valley will also be a challenge for this Oregon team, with Moore even saying he would reach out to former Oregon quarterback Bo Nix — who played at Penn State while with Auburn in 2021 — for advice on managing a white out at Penn State.
Another key storyline to look for is both teams’ head coaches, as Lanning and James Franklin are both looking for marquee wins in the young season. The narrative around Franklin remains rooted in his struggle to win the biggest games of the year — a trend dating back far longer
than Oregon has been in the conference. Lanning will look to earn another signature win heading into a “white out” themed Happy Valley and coming out on top.
“They're really talented,” Lanning said. “Schematically as challenging as anybody we'll play, as far as what they present on both sides of the ball. They play with relentless effort. They play well on special teams. Coach Franklin's teams are always well coached. It will be a real challenge for us, but one we're excited to attack.”
Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time on Saturday.
(BELOW) Jordan James (20) stiff arms a Penn State defenseman as he works to gain extra yardage. The number 1 ranked Oregon Ducks took on the No. 4 Penn State Nittany Lions on Dec. 7, 2024, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)
THREE FORMER OREGON QUARTERBACKS LED THEIR NFL OFFENSES IN WEEK 3
It was a historic Sunday for Oregon alumni as Mariota, Herbert and Nix started at quarterback.
BY RACHEL MCCONAGHIE Sports Writer
A historic Sunday for Oregon’s football program unfolded in Week 3 of the NFL season. For the first time in over 15 years, three former Duck quarterbacks started in NFL games on the same day. Each representing a different era of Oregon football, Marcus Mariota, Justin Herbert and Bo Nix, were all at the helm of their offenses. From league veterans like Mariota and Herbert, to rising starts like Nix, Oregon’s recent quarterback lineage was on full display.
MARIOTA DELIVERS AT HOME IN FIRST START SINCE 2022
In 2014, Mariota became the first Oregon player to win the Heisman Trophy and led the Ducks to the College Football Playoff national championship game. On Sunday, he showed flashes of that elite playmaking from years ago. Starting in place of an injured Jayden Daniels, Mariota made the most of his first start since 2022, leading the Washington Commanders to a 41–24 win over the Las Vegas Raiders at home.
With eleven seasons under his belt, the veteran threw for 207 yards and a touchdown, add 40 rushing yards with a second score on the ground, and finished with just one turnover.
Just under four minutes into the game, he opened the scoring with a 2-yard dive into the endzone. Despite an early fumble on a long scramble that gave the Raiders momentum, Mariota stayed composed. He delivered a 19yard strike to Zach Ertz to help set up a second quarter field goal. On the next drive, he then helped orchestrate a 60-yard touchdown run by Jeremy McNichols.
In the third quarter, Mariota showcased his arm with his longest throw of the game — a deep 56-yard bomb — to Terry McLaurin that set up another score. He capped his day with a 43-yard touchdown pass to Luke McCaffrey in the fourth, sealing the Commanders’ second win of the season.
After years of bouncing between five teams, sitting behind starters and waiting for an opportunity, Mariota stepped in and delivered under pressure. In a postgame interview on Fox he became emotional recounting his performance.
“(I’m) just thinking about my journey, the ups and the downs,” Mariota said. “It was just a lot of fun for me and I’m just a part of such a great culture and I’ll never take that for granted and I’m just truly blessed and truly appreciative of it.”
Whether Daniels returns next week or not, Mariota’s performance was a powerful reminder that the veteran quarterback still has what it takes to make an impact in this league.
BATTLE OF THE DUCKS: HERBERT RALLIES PAST NIX IN L.A.
A hometown hero for the Ducks, Herbert added yet another milestone to his growing legacy on Sunday, guiding the Los Angeles Chargers to a hard-fought 23–20 win over Nix and the Denver Broncos in a back-and-forth battle between former Oregon quarterbacks.
Herbert threw for 300 yards on 28-of-47 passing, with one touchdown and one interception, and became the
youngest player in NFL history to reach 2,000 career completions at just 27 years-old.
The outstanding two-year starter at Oregon is currently in his second season with the Broncos, Nix finished with 153 yards on 14-of-25 passing with one touchdown and could not match Herbert’s command.
The game started slowly, with only a field goal by the Chargers to put them up in the first quarter, but momentum picked up in the second.
An incompletion followed by an interception for Herbert gave the Broncos a much-needed energy boost. However this was short-lived and the Chargers were quick to bounce-back with a touchdown.
Nix, though, did not back down and delivered a 52-yard bomb —the longest of the game — to Courtland Sutton, who scored to cut the Chargers’ lead to 10-7.
In their opening third-quarter drive the Broncos took the lead for the first time with a touchdown run by J.K. Dobbins. A field goal for both sides put the score at 17-13 Broncos to close out the third.
A field goal to open up the fourth quarter for the Broncos extended their lead by seven. Herbert was quick to respond, breaking a tackle and connecting with Keenan Allen for a 20-yard touchdown strike with just under three minutes remaining to tie it up.
The Chargers ultimately got the win with a field goal in the remaining drive to stay undefeated at 3–0 and atop the AFC West.
(ABOVE) Sep 21, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) is pressured by Denver Broncos defensive tackle DJ. Jones (93) in the second half at SoFi Stadium.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images)
‘THOSE GUYS ARE FOOTBALL JUNKIES’: HOW JORDON DAVISON AND DIERRE HILL
JR. FOUND THEIR PLACE IN OREGON’S OFFENSE
The Ducks’ two freshman backs are on the mind and lips of Oregon fans across the country. Their coaches and teammates can’t stop talking about them.
BY OWEN MURRAY Associate Sports Editor
Blink, and he’s gone. Or maybe you’re the one who’s gone — run over, probably. That’s what happens when you come face-to-face with Oregon’s two youngest running backs.
Born in an era that craved the bell-cow, do-everything solution in the backfield, they grew up into one that values work in tandem. Dierre Hill Jr. — the lightning — sets up Jordon Davison — the thunder. Two true freshmen have expanded the options in Oregon’s offensive backfield by spreading their skills wider than one could alone. As the
Ducks chase a championship and a statement win in State College, the floor is set by its trenches and the veterans. Its ceiling lives with the young rushers.
They’re only young, of course, in physical years.
“Those guys are football junkies,” Oregon running backs coach Ra’Shaad Samples said during fall camp. “When you’ve got freshmen who spend just as much time as the older guys — if not more — in the film room, learning plays and the the system… those guys are years beyond their time.”
Samples, who joined the program in April 2024, didn't even need a real game to see their ability; “Those guys have
a chance to be really special,” he said that same day. The idea of a dual backfield isn’t new, nor unique to Oregon. On both the collegiate and professional levels, football has embraced two-man backfields over the past half-decade. In State College, Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s attack anchors its contention hopes with Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. When Oregon faced the two backs in Lucas Oil Stadium for the Big Ten Championship last December, both went over 100 yards and combined for 287 all-purpose yards.
Not only do Singleton and Allen remain in Happy Valley as one of the FBS’ best duos, 2025 national champion Ohio State drove its ground offense with Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, who were selected with the No. 36 and 38 overall picks, respectively, in the 2025 NFL Draft. In the league, the Detroit Lions went 15-2 with a thunder-and-lightning duo of their own (they call themselves “Sonic and Knuckles”) in Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
But those pairs are all starters, and for Hill (16 carries, 188 yards, 2 TD, 11.8 avg.) and Davison (19 carries, 74 yards, 6 TD, 3.9 avg.), the task is a little different. In Eugene, senior Noah Whittington began the year as the lead back, backed up by juniors JJayden Limar, Makhi Hughes, Jay Harris and sophomore Da’Juan Riggs. These two freshmen aren’t the starters — they’re the spice.
Hill might have been too quick for eyes to catch, but not too quick for offensive coordinator Will Stein, however, who recognized them early.
“I’m starting to call them ‘Thunder and Lightning,’ man,” Stein said after practice on Aug. 19. “Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill are going to be special players here for a long time. (I’m) really excited about them and their development and that whole room.”
Stein, a young phenom in his own right, turned 36 on Sept. 25 (he was 15 when the original “Thunder and Lightning,” Reggie Bush and Lendale White, dominated at USC). Even at his age, Stein routinely appears on head-coaching shortlists. His offense, which he describes often as one focused on getting the ball in playmakers’ hands, is as notable for its creativity as it is for its tendency to spread the wealth. The two backs have taken full advantage.
The ‘Thunder and Lightning’ nickname that Stein applied in August is becoming quickly apparent. Davison, the thunder, has manipulated all of his six feet and 236 pounds into a terrifying approximation of a human bowling ball — one that only rolls for strikes.
Before Oregon’s matchup with the Beavers, no player in college football took more of his carries for either a first down or touchdown than Davison, per PFF. Hill Jr., the lightning, hit a top speed of 21.5 mph — among the 10 fastest in the nation at that point in the season — on his 66-yard touchdown sprint against Northwestern on Sept. 13.
“I feel like there was no drop-off with the young guys, even,” Limar — the lead back against Northwestern — said. “They did amazing.”
Davison entered camp as a four-star recruit and the No. 1 back in California. He came from high school football’s Mecca — Mater Dei High School, which counts multiple Heisman Trophy winners among its alumni — where he started for three seasons.
Stein and Lanning saw him as the perfect goal-line solution. In the season opener against Montana State University, he took carries from the 8, 2 and 1-yard lines for touchdowns. The secret was out. No one was happier than Whittington.
“Oh yeah, I’m not surprised at all,” the senior said after the game. “We get down by the goal line, no one’s stopping him from getting one yard… two yards… three yards… four yards… five yards… six yards.”
Eight yards, at least. Whittington smiled.
“He’s a big back, man. He runs with a lot of power, and he showed that today.”
Hill, meanwhile, showed up as a joker card. The next week, with Oregon on Oklahoma State’s 19-yard line, he lined up in the slot when quarterback Dante Moore faked a handoff to receiver Dakorien Moore (lined up in the backfield) before turning to toss to an in-motion Hill. The freshman sent a blitzing safety flying with a step before turning upfield. Tight end Kenyon Sadiq — one of the nation’s best receiving threats at his position — cleared the way to the endzone with a block, and Hill waltzed in.
The Illinois native checks in around 30 pounds lighter than his backfield partner, and an inch shorter. He’s not just a metaphorical track star, either — he posted 11.04-second 100 meter, 22.60-second 200 meter and 51.78-second 400 meter personal bests in high school. Like Davison, he was the top back in his state.
The skill left Lanning with a decision before Oregon’s first away game of the season, at Northwestern. He’d “probably never” traveled seven running backs before, he said before the game.
Davison and Hill — and the rest of the room — forced his hand.
On the shore of Lake Michigan on Sept. 13, Oregon led 17-0 against Northwestern when the Wildcats turned the ball over on downs. Handed the ball on his own 34-yard line, Stein chose Hill and Davison together in the backfield.
The Ducks appeared in a 21-personnel set — two running backs, one tight end — with Sadiq aligned offset of left tackle Isaiah World as the off-ball H-back.
When Davison is on the field, the opponent has to respect his ability between the tackles. Northwestern’s 4-3 base defense stepped up as quarterback Dante Moore snapped the ball — but it’s not Davison getting the handoff. Instead he was the lead blocker as Hill took the ball and swept wide.
“Jordon’s been really good in the red area for us… (he) had some unbelievable blocks on some of those runs for Dierre as well,” Lanning said the next week. “Let’s let them keep complementing, right?”
In Evanston on first down, true freshman receiver Dakorien Moore and Sadiq walled off a hole for the two backs to sprint through. Davison was seven yards upfield, laying the key block on defensive back Fred Davis II.
Hill, with the gap already behind him, stepped on the gas. Per Reel Analytics, he hit a top speed of 21.5 mph near the 15-yard line. Two seconds later, he was in the endzone — and Oregon’s lead was unassailable. Only two players in the nation were faster that week.
Thunder grabbed his sixth touchdown of the season, from the 3-yard line to separate Oregon from Oregon State by two scores last Saturday. Davison is joint-fifth in the nation in scores, plus he got carries away from the goal line against the Beavers for a career-high 34 yards.
Lightning flashed around the field that day — in the slot, then on a two-minute drill carry. With Whittington on the sideline and Limar the starter in Week 3 and 4, Hill is the change of pace.
They’ve earned their spot on the plane to Penn State. The snaps get spread around, but these aren’t freshmen any more — now, they’re the ones who can blow the ceiling off Nittany Lions defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ unit. They’re years beyond their time. They’re football junkies. They’re going to be special, and Oregon thinks they’re its future.
Soon, their team, still unsurprised, won’t have to tell you anymore. They’ll take the handoff. If it’s Davison, you’ll see it. If it’s Hill, you won’t.
(RIGHT) Oregon Ducks running back Jordon Davison (0) celebrates as he scores a touchdown. The University of Oregon Ducks opened their football season against the Montana State Bobcats at Autzen Stadium on Aug. 30 in Eugene, Ore.
(Saj Sundaram/Emerald)
(LEFT) Montana State Bobcats defensive tackle Josaiah Asuega (94) tackles Oregon Ducks running back Dierre Hill Jr. (23) as he makes a break for the end zone falling just short. The University of Oregon Ducks opened their football season against the Montana State Bobcats at Autzen Stadium on Aug. 30 in Eugene, Ore.
IS THE THIRD TIME THE CHARM?
Dante Moore has the chance to win the Heisman after two previous Oregon quarterbacks finished third in voting.
BY ROWAN SHEA Sports Writer
Dante Moore appears to be an upcoming superstar under center for Oregon. Following Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel, Moore has been showing why his name deserves to be right alongside theirs. By year's end, Moore has the opportunity to surpass Nix and Gabriel and join an elite club in Oregon history if he can win the trophy that has been eluding Oregon since 2014: The Heisman Trophy.
The 20-year-old is going to need a set of very strong games against the ranked play that Oregon has left on the schedule, but it all needs to start against No. 3 ranked Penn State. The game will be the first true battle for Moore and the Ducks in 2025. Not only will it be taking place in Happy Valley, but it will also be Penn State’s infamous “white-out” game. Heisman winners are not only best in the game, but they often carry a “Heisman moment:” a moment that fans can look back at and know that’s what decided a Heisman winner. Leading Oregon into Happy Valley, driving down the field as he has early in the season, commanding the offense and staying calm when faced with 106,572 fans in a sea of white, this game has the opportu-
nity to be Moore’s Heisman moment.
Moore has been firing on all cylinders to start his 2025 campaign and he has seamlessly taken control of the Ducks offense. Moore has been showing off his decision making skills and his rocket arm as he has guided the Ducks to a 4-0 start. He’s proved there’s no lull in dominance since Dillon Gabriel left for the NFL.
Moore, after throwing for 305 yards against Oregon State, has thrown for 962 yards on the season; but he’s also been using his legs too. Moore has great presence in the pocket, does not try to rush anything and can recognize when he should break off a run.
“Dante’s done what we’ve seen him do a lot this year: take what’s there,” head coach Dan Lanning said. “That’s good decision making at quarterback… maturity of not forcing something that’s not there.”
Of the Heisman front runners, Moore is both the youngest, at just 20 years old, and also has the least number of career games under his belt at 18. While there is no limit to how old you have to be or how much experience you need to have to win the Heisman, it will be difficult as the other front runners are University of Miami’s Carson Beck, who left the University of Georgia after four years, and University of Oklahoma’s John Mateer, who just came from Washington State University.
Of the top three front runners, Moore is last in all passing categories, but he does have Beck beat in rushing yards. Mateer, however, is crushing both Moore and Beck in passing and rushing with over 1200 passing yards and close to 200 rushing yards going into Week 5. It was recently announced that Mateer would undergo hand surgery and
miss a significant portion of the year, potentially halting one of Moore’s greatest obstacles.
With the competition in the 2025 Heisman campaign, it begs the question: What can the Oregon field general do to truly solidify his name in the Heisman push? For Moore, the game that could be his turning point in the Heisman race is against Penn State.
For an ideal individual performance, Moore can replicate his own of Week 4, where he threw for over 300 yards, had no interceptions and marched the Oregon offense to a 41-7 win over Oregon State. As the leader of the Ducks offensive, if he can guide the Ducks to their fourth game with over 300 total-yards, that would be the first game Penn State gives up over 300 yards in a game in 2025.
Replicating Moore’s Week 4 performance will be difficult against a stacked Penn State. An ideal game that would push him into phenomenal Heisman contention would end with Moore showing that the big moment does not rattle him: maybe that’s ripping off over 200 passing yards, commanding Oregon to an over 300 yard day or maybe a measly 100-yard performance — as long as the Ducks win, he’ll help his case.
(ABOVE) Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) runs down the sideline towards the the end zone. 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)
A TRIBUTE TO UNCLE PHIL
How the origin of Nike inspired Oregon’s newest uniforms.
BY MAX KOEBEL Sports Writer
In last week’s home matchup against in-state rivals, the Oregon State Beavers, the Ducks debuted a new uniform: the “Shoe Duck.” It was designed as a tribute to Nike cofounder Phil Knight and all the funding he has provided the University of Oregon.
“We can’t give (Phil) and Penny enough flowers for the things that they’ve done for this program and for everybody in the sport of college football and sports in general,” head coach Dan Lanning said before the game. “So, pretty awesome to honor somebody that matters so much to us.”
The base color of the jerseys and pants is listed as “Dark Anthracite Grey.” The numbers on the jerseys are white with a gold outline and dark smears in the middle, which resemble what shoes often look like after they’ve been worn several times.
The color gold is also used for the players’ nameplates, the cleats and the designs on the white, matte marble-style helmets. Along with the name “Shoe Duck,” the gold represents Knight’s memoir about starting Nike, “Shoe Dog,” where he talks about the “gold standard.” The cleats were designed by former Oregon football player Mattrell McGraw. The sleeves of the jerseys contain tiger stripes, which represent Onikua Tiger, the first company Knight worked for.
“He has a big impact on this university and on the world,” quarterback Dante Moore said after the game. “Just the person he is, the brand he’s built (and) the good soul he is as a person. He’s done so much for this program and we have a chance to honor him. I feel like we’re playing out there for our brothers, but also playing for Phil.”
The uniform also contains a couple of patches. One of them is a handshake, which represents Knight’s partnership with Bill Bowerman, his former coach in founding the company originally called “Blue Ribbon Sports,” and known today as “Nike.” The other patch portrays two mountains: Mount Hood in Oregon and Mount Fuji in Japan. This commemorates the influence Knight gained working for a company based in Japan before ultimately creating his own in Oregon, as well as celebrating Nike’s international success. The mountains are separated by the phrase, “Mens Agitat Molem,” which is Latin for “Mind Moves Mountains,” which appears on the University of Oregon’s Great Seal.
One side of the helmets features the traditional duck wing used for many other Oregon football helmet designs in recent years. The other side has the winged Greek goddess of victory, which was originally carved out of marble and is where the name “Nike” comes from. One of the most well-known slogans of Nike — “Just Do It” — can be found on the back of the helmets, while another commonly used phrase, “There is no finish line” can be found on the inner collar of the jerseys. Also on the back of the helmets is a gold bar, which represents the captain’s symbol for when Bowerman served in the military.
The gloves contain waffle prints, which represent Bowerman’s use of a waffle iron to build the soles of the shoes he and Knight made when Nike was first getting started.
“Coming up with a jersey that basically honors you and everything you’ve done for this university,” Oregon linebacker and Eugene native Bryce Boettcher said while presenting the uniforms to Knight. “Really what the jersey represents is just a thank you from all of us on the team, and honestly, the state of Oregon.”
(RIGHT) Oregon Ducks offensive lineman Gary Bryant
(2) shakes hands with Ducks wide receiver Alex Harkey (71). The
LANNING AND FRANKLIN LOOK TO ESCAPE OLD NARRATIVES IN COACHING MATCHUP
Oregon’s matchup against Penn State represents a careerdefining game for both coaches.
BY HENRY LIGHT Sports Writer
In the aftermath of the Week 5 clash between No. 6 Oregon and No. 3 Penn State, a storyline will emerge.
If Dan Lanning leads the Ducks to victory, it will add to Penn State head coach James Franklin’s reputation of struggling against elite competition. If Franklin and the Nittany Lions defend home turf, it will be another road loss for Lanning that will revive concerns about his ability to prepare his team for tough road games.
Ahead of a game that will land near the top of both coaches’ vastly different resumes, it is worth reviewing how they got to this point.
When Franklin took over the Penn State job in 2014, Lanning had just stepped into his first role as a position coach, overseeing defensive backs at Sam Houston State University.
By the time Lanning came to Eugene in 2022, Franklin had amassed 91 wins between Penn State and his previous stop at Vanderbilt University, and the Nittany Lions.
The coaches began on somewhat similar career paths, although Franklin saw more success both in his playing days and his transition to coaching.
In his senior season playing quarterback for Division II East Stroudsburg University, Franklin was nominated for the 1994 Division II Player of the Year award after setting school records for both passing yards and total offense. He took his first coaching job the next year as wide re-
ceivers coach at Division II Kutztown University, before learning to coach the other side of the ball as secondary coach at East Stroudsburg.
Lanning had a more modest playing career, finishing third in total tackles for Division III William Jewell College in 2007, while recording one interception and four sacks. He also made an effort to learn the opposite side of the ball early in his coaching career, but did so at the high school level as the wide receivers coach at Park Hill South High School in Missouri.
Franklin’s journey included a stop in the NFL as the Green Bay Packers’ wide receivers coach in 2005, and, while Lanning hasn’t yet reached that level, he collected national championships at the University of Alabama in 2015 and the University of Georgia in 2021.
Franklin came to Penn State off the back of two top-25 finishes at Vanderbilt. He began with two middling 7-6 seasons, but broke out in 2016, achieving an 11-3 record, a win over No. 2 Ohio State and a Big Ten Championship.
Since then, rising expectations have gradually caught up with Franklin, with 11 wins going from an excellent outcome for the program to making fans and media wonder if this program could contend for the Big Ten Championship more often under a different coach.
Although Lanning started stronger than Franklin, going 10-3 and 12-2 in his first two seasons, similar questions lingered around both programs at the beginning of the CFP era in 2024. Lanning had amassed six ranked wins, but dropped three away games to Washington and one to Oregon State, prompting the same storyline of stalling out in rivalry games.
By the time of their first meeting in the 2024 Big Ten Championship game, the narratives around both coaches had shifted. Lanning had eased the concerns about winning big games with a home win over No. 2 Ohio State, while Franklin needed to recover from another loss to the Buckeyes.
Lanning took home the conference championship by a score of 45-37, but Franklin eventually got his postseason redemption in the new format by leading Penn State to the CFP semifinal while Oregon crashed out in the second round. While Lanning set a new standard for the Oregon program and Franklin indicated that he could succeed in the new format, both coaches ultimately came out of the season with more to prove.
Penn State came into 2025 with its highest preseason AP poll ranking of Franklin’s tenure, at No. 2. The Nittany Lions won their first three games — none against Power Four teams — by blowout scores, and come into the Oregon matchup off a bye week.
The Ducks similarly have not been tested early in the season, but Lanning has done an impressive job getting the talent on Oregon’s roster to show through despite its inexperience. Neither coach has said that this game alone will define their season. The losing one, though, will have to contend with that in the aftermath.
(ABOVE) Dan Lanning hypes his Ducks up during team stretches as he looks to get his team in the right mindset before the start of the game. The Oregon Ducks traveled up to Corvallis to face their in-state rival the Oregon State Beavers on Sept. 14th, 2024. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)
LOOKING BACK: BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Oregon and Penn State will meet in Happy Valley on Saturday — how much will their most recent meeting inform what will happen this weekend?
BY HARRY LEADER Sports Writer
On Dec. 7, 2024, the Oregon Ducks faced off against the Penn State Nittany Lions in what would become Oregon's first Big Ten title in their debut season. This week the Ducks and Penn State face off for the first time since the championship game last season.
A lot has changed since these two teams faced off with over 20 Ducks departing the program for the NFL or the transfer portal. The biggest losses for Oregon came on offense with the departure of starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel, wide receiver Tez Johnson and running back Jordan James.
Gabriel was a major part of the Oregon offense in the Big Ten championship, passing for 283 yards and four touchdowns. The Ducks’ new starter, though, had plenty of time to learn from the third-round NFL Draft pick.
"The biggest thing he taught me was preparation,” Moore said at a post game press conference after this year's Northwestern game. “The way he just prepped Monday through Friday and on Saturday. How he just went out there and got the job done. Another thing I learned from him is you gotta enjoy this process."
James and Johnson were both instrumental in the championship win and led the Ducks in rushing and receiving yards respectively in the win. Another key player in that game was backup tight end Kenyon Sadiq.
Sadiq, now a starter, has become an integral part of the Oregon offense. He has had a great start to the season with 155 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns through 4 games. Sadiq has even been getting looks out of the back field, giving Oregon yet another player to hand the ball to.
Penn State returns with most of their key starters that went 13-3 last season with nine starters on both sides of the ball leaving for the NFL. Of those drafted, tight end Tyler Warren and defensive end Abdul Carter were major contributors for the Nittany Lions.
Warren was ranked No. 7 in receiving yards and No. 36 in receiving touchdowns in the nation. Carter was one of the nation’s best edge rushers ranking No. 15 in sacks and No. 5 in tackles for loss. The departure of these stars is a major loss for Penn State who head into this game 3-0.
In the championship game the Nittany Lions dominated the run and kept themselves in the game. Running back Kaytron Allen ran for 124 yards and a touchdown and was supported by Nicholas Singleton who ran for 105 yards. Both running backs are back and splitting snaps.
In their last game against Villanova, Allen and Singleton ran for a combined 170 yards and three touchdowns in a blowout 52-6 win. In the blowout game Singleton moved to No. 3 all-time in rushing touchdowns for Penn State.
"These guys have shared carries their entire career and they have a chance at the end of this year to be the No. 1 and No. 2 all-time leading rushers in Penn State history,” Penn State head coach James Franklin said at Big Ten Media Day. “To me, that is a crazy stat of two backs who have shared carries."
Going into this week's matchup it looks like the run game will be present for both teams with Penn State's explosive backfield and Oregon's deep running back room. The Ducks backfield returns deeper than ever with four different backs getting into the endzone early in the season.
(LEFT) Tez Johnson pays his quarterback a visit as he sits down for an interview after the big celebration on the field. The number 1 ranked Oregon Ducks took on the number 4 Penn State Nittany Lions on Dec. 7, 2024, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)
