IOWA CITY, Iowa — Since entering the Big Ten last year, Oregon has shown it can win in some of the league's most hostile environments without losing a single road game. Perhaps more impressive: how the Ducks won.
The latest example occurred on Saturday at IowaNo. 9 Kinnick Stadium in Oregon won. 18-16 next Atticus SappingtonA 39-yard field goal with three seconds to play. Oregon wins without top receiver Dacorien Moore and the top tight end Kenyon Sadiq. Another starting receiver Gary Bryant Jr.., left Saturday's game with a right ankle injury in the team's second series and did not return.
With steady rain falling and temperatures dropping, the Ducks relied on a running game that ranked Iowa 20th with 261 yards on 36 carries, as well as special teams, which scored 12 points, including a safety on Iowa's fumbled punt.
“We said the special teams were going to be special today,” coach Dan Lanning said.
Iowa has consistently won under coach Kirk Ferentz by being better at the line of scrimmage and in the kicking game. But on Saturday, Oregon held the advantage in both areas.
The Ducks outgained Iowa by 121 yards.
“Oregon has always been a flashy team with a fast-paced, explosive attack,” linebacker. Bryce Boettcher said. “As far as the Big Ten goes, I understand Iowa was a classic ball-running, I-form team, and we did it better than them tonight, which is really cool to see.”
Oregon's total was the most yards allowed by Iowa since 2022, and the 7.3 yards per rush average was the most the Hawkeyes had given up since 2014, when Indiana averaged 8.1. Under the leadership Noah Whittingtonall four Oregon rushers averaged more than 6 yards per carry, and all four had runs of 19 yards or more.
“We came into this game saying, 'We're running the trenches,'” said Whittington, who had 118 yards. “We don't really pay attention to outside noise, but coming into this game, the coaching staff kind of said to our faces, 'Our O-line can't handle what Iowa had up front.'
Despite Oregon's consistent success, its pursuit of victory depended on the arm of its quarterback. Dante Moorewho had just 65 passing yards when the Ducks took possession with 1:51 left after Iowa had marched 93 yards in 12 plays to take its first lead of the game. Moore had a bad interception in the end zone and never established a passing rhythm, but completed 5 of 6 attempts, including a 24-yard strike to the ball. Malik Benson this put the Ducks in range.
Benson and other receivers Jeremiah McClellan And Cooper Perry everyone recorded their first moves on the main gear.
“Dante had no lights on this trip,” Lanning said. “It reminds me of what we do in practice. We put our guys in a lot of these scenarios, but I never give them 1:51.”
Despite the strong special teams performance, Oregon needed one more punt from Sappington to win, who made kicks from 46 and 40 yards but had three misses over 30 yards on the season. At first, Whittington wanted to close his eyes and pray, but Moore told him to look at the powerful kick they had both seen many times in practice.
Of course it passed.
“When [Iowa] called a timeout to freeze me, I'm just going through my process, breathing, knowing I have what it takes to get this,” Sappington said. “This moment was made for me.”
Debuting at No. 9 in the CFP standings, Oregon bolstered its playoff profile with a win that should resonate with the selection committee. The Ducks finish the regular season against three teams with winning records—Minnesota, No. 19 USC and No. 23 USC—a tough road for a young team, but one that doesn't make Oregon falter.
“Our guys are resilient, tough and can handle tough times,” Lanning said. “If it’s a four-quarter fight, we can have a four-quarter fight. At the end of the game, guys came up to me and said: “Coach, breathe.” That's what I tell them all week.
“The fact that they can come up and tell me the same thing means they believe in what we do.”
