Northwestern coach David Braun isn’t walking into Autzen Stadium blind.
Ahead of Oregon’s first-ever home meeting with the No. 20 Wildcats on Oct. 31 at 12:30 p.m.
PT, Braun made it clear he knows exactly what kind of test is waiting in Eugene. He knows Dan Lanning.
He knows the talent on Oregon’s roster. And he knows this is not the sort of place where visiting teams usually get comfortable.
“Dan Lanning is a flat-out ball coach and a master motivator,” Braun said. “He’s one of the best in the country and has been for a long time.”
That respect extends beyond Lanning’s reputation. Oregon has gone 29-3 at home since Lanning took over in 2022, a run that ranks seventh nationally with a .906 winning percentage. Braun pointed to that record as part of the challenge, along with the Ducks’ defense, special teams and the overall difficulty of playing in Eugene.
“Oregon's got an elite defense. Not only are they talented, they're well coached, playing at a really high level,” Braun said.
"Their special teams play is some of the best in the country. So we have our hands full.
We're excited about the challenge. We know what a difficult challenge it's going to be.
Oregon plays really well at home. The proof is in their record."
Oregon enters at 4-3 and 2-2 in the Big Ten, but Braun said the Ducks still look loaded on offense. Even with uncertainty at quarterback, he singled out the pass catchers, the backs and the overall firepower on that side of the ball.
“They have all the weapons you could ever imagine,” Braun said. “Wide receiver group, extremely talented.
Two extraordinary backs that really play well off of one another. The quarterback position has been in a little bit of a flux, but all we need to do is look at what Dylan Raiola did to us last year.”
If Raiola gets the start again, Braun has fresh tape to lean on. Last season against Northwestern, Raiola delivered in the biggest spot for Nebraska.
With the game tied in the fourth quarter, he hit four third-down passes during a 13-play, 64-yard touchdown march. He finished the drive 5 of 7 for 47 yards, helping set up Emmett Johnson’s four-yard score with 2:44 left.
Raiola went 16 of 22 for 141 yards, a touchdown and an interception in Nebraska’s 28-21 win over Northwestern on Oct. 25, 2025.
The quarterback situation in Eugene remains unsettled. Lanning has not named a starter for Northwestern, and Oregon did provide an update on Dante Moore, saying he does not anticipate Moore playing again this season after Moore suffered a concussion on Sept. 26 against USC.
For Northwestern, Oregon’s recent coaching change on offense only adds another layer. The Ducks moved on from offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer after seven games, and veteran analyst Jay Johnson will call plays in the interim. Braun said that shifts part of the preparation burden onto his defense.
“It’s a great opportunity for us defensively to just put our focus back on what we know and what we’ve seen on film, and then be in a situation to adjust well and thoroughly throughout the game,” Braun said. “That does certainly put a unique twist on this week’s preparation.”
Northwestern arrives at 6-1 and has plenty riding on the trip, but the matchup also brings familiar faces back to Eugene. Former Oregon coach Chip Kelly, now the Wildcats’ offensive coordinator, is returning, and Northwestern quarterback Aidan Chiles began his college career at Oregon State.
Braun also offered a blunt assessment of the Ducks on the other side of the ball. Oregon’s defense has been surging, backed by a 92.7 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which is tied for sixth nationally.
The Ducks’ tackling grade also ranks sixth. They’ve piled up 13 sacks over their last five games, forced a turnover in six straight contests and held opponents to 152.7 passing yards per game over their last three.
“It’s acknowledging and understanding our opponent,” Braun said. “All you got to do is look down their roster and say, ‘My gosh, these guys are really talented, really talented.’
And then that coaching staff. You know who Dan Lanning is… he will have them ready to play at their best.”
Oregon and Northwestern kick off at 12:30 p.m. PT at Autzen Stadium, with the game set to air on Peacock.
In Other News...
Oregon's Offense Just Got Needed Help As Bigger Absences Loom
Oregons passing game is getting a timely boost as it heads into the Northwestern matchup, with three wide receivers who sat out the Illinois game expected back in the mix. Evan Stewart, Jalen Lott and Messiah Hampton should all be available, which gives the Ducks a little more room to work after a stretch where the offense has had to absorb more than its share of absences.
The return help comes with plenty still unsettled, though. Jeremiah McClellan remains sidelined by a foot injury, Dante Moore is not expected to play again this season after suffering a concussion, and the offensive line remains shorthanded with Dave Iuli and Matthew Johnson out indefinitely following surgeries. Freshman Immanuel Iheanacho is questionable, though he is expected to be available, leaving Oregon to piece together its protection and skill group as it tries to stabilize the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon May Finally Be Getting Needed Offensive Help Back
Oregon has spent most of the season patching together its offense through injuries, and the latest practice news offers a much-needed lift. The Ducks have already taken major hits with Dante Moore out for the year, while Dave Iuli and Matthew Johnson both underwent surgeries, leaving the group thinner than anyone would have expected this early in the schedule.
Now the receiver room is starting to trend in a better direction, with Evan Stewart, Jalen Lott and Messiah Hampton all returning to practice ahead of the Northwestern game. For an offense that has been forced to manage around so many absences, getting that kind of depth back could matter quickly, especially with a road test looming and Northwestern also getting some of its own injury help in tight end Luke Dehnicke. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Unveils A Rare Halloween Look At A Crucial Time
Oregon is leaning into the Halloween mood for its night game against Northwestern at Autzen Stadium, unveiling a black-and-white combination from the Generation O collection. The look includes a black matte helmet with white wings, a sharp contrast that gives the Ducks another one of their trademark fashion-forward national TV moments while still fitting the spooky setting.
What makes this set stand out is the history attached to it. Oregon has never before paired a black jersey with white pants, and the white wings on a black helmet are a first for the program as well. As with so many of the Ducks signature looks, the design came through a collaboration involving Nike, designers, Oregon football staff and athletes, adding another layer to a uniform reveal that arrives at an important point in the season. [Read more 🡒]