Oregon’s special teams have quietly become one of the Ducks’ most reliable weapons, and Gage Hurych just put a spotlight on that unit with a big individual honor.
After helping Oregon knock off Nebraska 17-14 on Saturday, the junior kicker was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week. Hurych handled the kicking duties in the second half and drilled three field goals to help fuel the comeback, going 2-for-2 from 36 yards and adding another make from 37 yards.
It was the kind of performance Oregon has come to expect from him whenever Dan Lanning has called his number. In his first season as the team’s starting kicker, the West Linn product has been perfect through nine field goal attempts, including a long of 44 yards in the season opener against Boise State. He has also gone 19-for-19 on extra points.
That spotless field-goal mark puts Hurych in rare company. He is one of only seven kickers in FBS who have not missed a field goal this season while attempting at least nine.
The honor also gives Oregon its first Big Ten weekly award winner of the season. The last Ducks specialist to earn the recognition was Atticus Sappington, who did it last November after making three field goals and the game-winner at Iowa.
Hurych now gets another chance to keep building on that strong start when Oregon heads to Illinois on Saturday for another Big Ten matchup. Kickoff is set for noon PT, with the game scheduled to air on Big Ten Network on Oct. 24.
In Other News...
Oregons New Five-Star Commit Is Buying Into One Big Defensive Vision
Rashad Streets is still early in his path, but the five-star edge rusher from Raleigh, North Carolina, already sounds like a player who understands why Oregon has become such an attractive landing spot for elite defenders. The 2027 commit spent time at Autzen Stadium recently, where he connected with Dan Lanning and defensive coordinator Chris Hampton and spent part of the visit talking through how he could fit into the Ducks scheme.
What stands out for Oregon is how Streets' speed and bend line up with the Wide-9 style the Ducks want from the edge. He is expected to add bulk over time, but the framework is already there for him to grow into a role similar to what current edge rushers Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti provide. For a program that keeps selling disruption up front, Streets looks like another piece who sees the same big-picture defensive vision. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Faces A Precarious Oregon Test With QB Uncertainty On Both Sides
The buildup to Oregons Week 8 matchup with Illinois has taken on an unusual wrinkle, with both programs entering the game uncertain at quarterback. Bret Bielema said Illinois has had to prepare for multiple Oregon options because of the Ducks injury situation, and that kind of uncertainty can change a game plan quickly this late in the season. For Oregon, the focus is on Dante Moore, who is recovering from a concussion and could be back in time to face the Illini.
Illinois has its own quarterback concern to manage, with Katin Houser expected to miss several weeks after a hand procedure. That leaves both staffs trying to balance preparation with unknowns, a tricky spot in any Big Ten matchup and especially one involving a team as deep and dynamic as Oregon. For the Ducks, it adds another layer to a game that was already shaping up as a test of flexibility before the ball is even snapped. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Just Gave Nebraska Fans A Reason To Believe
Nebraskas narrow loss to Oregon still looks better with each passing week, and the timing of the bye gives the Cornhuskers a chance to catch their breath at 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten. They have already shown they can hang with one of the leagues top teams, and the way the conference has churned since then has only sharpened the sense that Nebraska is not far off from being a real factor in the race.
Ohio States 19-15 win over Indiana did more than snap the Hoosiers 22-game winning streak, it also came with the kind of quarterback setback that can change a seasons outlook in a hurry. With Julian Sayin expected to miss multiple weeks, the door is at least cracked open for opponents still waiting to see what the Buckeyes look like without him, and Nebraskas path through the rest of the schedule just got a little more interesting. [Read more 🡒]