Oregon’s O-Line Snubbed Again - and They’re Taking It Personally
EUGENE, Ore. - For the third straight year, Oregon’s offensive line has been knocking at the door of college football’s most prestigious honor for big men in the trenches - and once again, they’re left standing outside.
Despite another dominant season up front, the Ducks came up short in the Joe Moore Award race, which went to Iowa this year. It’s the third consecutive season Oregon’s O-line has been a finalist under position coach A’lique Terry, but the trophy has remained elusive.
Washington took it in 2023. Army claimed it in 2024.
Now, it’s the Hawkeyes’ turn.
Inside Oregon’s building, the reaction was more than just disappointment - it was disbelief.
“To be completely honest, I’m really shocked they did not win the Joe Moore Award,” said offensive coordinator Will Stein. “Statistically, it was a shock to me.”
And you can understand why. This Ducks offensive line didn’t just play well - they adapted, they endured, and they delivered.
Injuries? Handled.
Game plans that shifted from ground-and-pound to air-it-out? Executed.
Through it all, they stayed cohesive, resilient, and fundamentally sound.
“Those guys to me are the best offensive line unit in the country,” Stein continued. “They’ve played that way through injuries, different games where we’ve had to run it to win, throw it to win.
Those guys are coached better than any place I’ve ever been. They’ve played as a unit better than any year since we’ve been here.”
That last part is key: as a unit. The Joe Moore Award prides itself on honoring the best group, not just individual talent. And by all accounts, Oregon’s line checked every box - except, apparently, the one that gets you the hardware.
Still, the Ducks aren’t using the snub as an excuse. If anything, it’s fuel.
Center Iapani Laloulu kept it real while tipping his cap to the Hawkeyes.
“We all have our thoughts and opinions. I feel like we should’ve won it, but at the end of the day just hats off to Iowa - they have a good squad as well,” Laloulu said.
“They’ve got good leadership right there in the middle. Shoutout to Logan [Jones].
He did a great job with those guys.”
But Laloulu didn’t shy away from the edge that comes with being overlooked.
“It just puts more fire for us to come back next year and win it all.”
That fire is burning at the perfect time. While Iowa celebrates the Joe Moore Award, Oregon is still in the hunt for something bigger: a national championship. The Ducks are locked in on the College Football Playoff, and if you think this O-line isn’t using the snub as motivation, think again.
“All I can say on that piece is that it’s most certainly motivation to work harder and really just reemphasize all of our principles and what our goals are in the end,” Laloulu said. “Ultimately that’s winning a championship.”
He added, “Getting the Joe Moore would’ve been another accolade that would’ve been great. I would say more so just finishing the job for us - being able to finish. All I can say is that we’re going to leave it in the past and use it as motivation to do better and be better players.”
That’s the mindset of a group that knows what it’s capable of - and isn’t relying on outside validation to prove it.
The No. 5 Ducks (12-1) will get their shot to make a statement on the biggest stage Thursday morning when they face the Red Raiders (12-1). Kickoff is set for 9 AM on ESPN.
Trophies are nice. But Oregon’s offensive line is chasing something more - and they’re bringing a chip on their shoulder into the College Football Playoff.