Northwestern arrives in Eugene riding a four-game winning streak, ranked 20th and trying to make it five in a row. Oregon, meanwhile, is searching for answers after a rough stretch that has gone the other way.
The Wildcats are 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten, and much of that success has come with quarterback Aidan Chiles steering the offense. He has thrown 12 touchdown passes and added a career-high nine rushing scores, making him the only player in the country with multiple games of at least three passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns this season. Chiles also knows what it looks like on the other side against Oregon; in 2024, when he was at Michigan State, he took the loss in a 31-10 game against the Ducks.
Northwestern’s calling card has not been offense alone. The defense has given up just 13 touchdowns and 16.6 points per game, keeping the Wildcats steady while the wins have piled up.
Oregon enters at 4-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play, having dropped two of its last three. The Ducks also had a major quarterback development early in the week, when coach Dan Lanning said he does not expect Dante Moore to play again this season. Moore has been out since suffering a concussion against Southern California on Sept. 26 and has now missed three straight games.
"I can't go into great detail about it other than it's bigger than what we can say," Lanning told USA Today on Monday. "Now I do know, like I said, that he's going to be 100 percent recovered, be able to be an effective player in the future.
But this isn't like a selfish decision on Dante's part, saying, 'I don't want to come back. The season doesn't look like the way I want it to look.'
That's not at all what this is."
That leaves Oregon likely turning again to Dylan Raiola at quarterback. He started against UCLA on Oct. 10 and struggled badly, finishing 6 of 19 for 43 yards before being pulled in the fourth quarter of a 17-15 loss.
Raiola then came off the bench the next week against Nebraska after Brock Thomas was replaced, and he helped spark a 17-14 comeback win. Last week at Illinois, he completed 27 of 41 passes for 246 yards, but Oregon still fell 21-10 because the offense could not finish enough drives.
The Ducks have averaged only 14.0 points over their past three games, a sharp drop for an offense that has been much more dangerous at other points this season. The skid led to another significant change, with Oregon firing offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer after the loss to Illinois.
Northwestern coach David Braun said the move changes the feel of the week, but it also creates an opening for his defense to stay locked in.
"It's a great opportunity for us defensively to put our focus back on being the best version of us, prepare for what we know and what we've seen on film, and then be in a situation to adjust well throughout the game," Braun said of Mehringer's dismissal. "But that does certainly put a unique twist on this week's preparation."
Lanning said assistant quarterbacks coach Jay Johnson will handle play-calling duties. Johnson has previously been an offensive coordinator at Wyoming, Michigan State and Colorado, and he also worked with Lanning on Georgia's staff in 2018. The broader offensive plan, Lanning said, will be a group effort.
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 🡒]