Autzen had the full Halloween treatment on Saturday night, and Oregon’s 34-26 comeback win over No. 20 Northwestern gave the crowd plenty to cheer about beyond the final score. A misty evening, fans in costume, the Duck cycling through five costume changes, green and yellow fireworks during “Shout,” and a packed house of 55,673 set the scene for a Big Ten matchup that delivered more than one layer of drama.
The Ducks had to dig out of a 20-6 hole, but the comeback only told part of the story. There were sideline moments, injury concerns, and one freshman running back who turned his chance into a breakout performance.
One of the night’s most visible figures was Chip Kelly, back at Autzen as Northwestern’s offensive coordinator. Oregon’s offense flashed hints of the style that made Kelly such a familiar name in Eugene, and the Wildcats looked sharp early, scoring on each of their first three possessions. Kelly’s reaction on the sideline made that clear.
After the game, Kelly and Oregon coach Dan Lanning met on the field, a postgame moment between two coaches tied to different eras of Ducks football. Kelly also connected with quarterback Dante Moore, whom he coached during Moore’s freshman season at UCLA. Moore is expected to be sidelined for the rest of the 2026 season, and the two shared a brief exchange after the final whistle.
Kelly’s influence on Northwestern has shown up in the numbers, too. The Wildcats entered the game ranked second in the Big Ten in rushing at 204.6 yards per game and third in scoring at 34.7 points per game, a sharp turnaround from one of the conference’s least productive offenses last season.
Oregon also had to manage another injury situation on offense. Running back Jordon Davison left in the first quarter with an apparent leg injury and went to the locker room.
Lanning said his status will be updated on Wednesday’s availability report. Davison later came out of halftime in street clothes and on crutches, and quarterback Dylan Raiola checked on him after the game as the Ducks celebrated the win.
There was at least one encouraging sight for Oregon’s receiving corps before kickoff. Jeremiah McClellan, who has been out since breaking his foot on Sept. 18 during warmups before the Portland State game, was back warming up at Autzen without pads.
It does not change his timeline, but it was a welcome visual for an offense that has dealt with plenty of injuries. McClellan entered 2026 as Oregon’s leading returning receiver after catching 38 passes for 557 yards and three touchdowns in 2025.
The biggest offensive lift of the night came from Brandon Smith. After the game, sophomore running back Dierre Hill Jr. was seen hyping up the freshman, and Smith had every reason to soak it in. He carried eight times for 82 yards and a touchdown, averaging 10.3 yards per carry, while also catching four passes for 32 yards for his first career receptions.
Smith’s best moment came in the fourth quarter, when he punched in a two-yard go-ahead touchdown. He also broke off a career-long 35-yard run in the third quarter. Through his first four appearances, he had totaled 24 carries for 125 yards and one touchdown, so Saturday’s output nearly matched that work in one game.
“That’s all you want as a coach, a guy who isn’t necessarily begging for his opportunity but is ready when his opportunity comes," Lanning said of Smith after the win. "His role has continued to grow with this team. He’s obviously very capable, and I’m excited about what he was able to accomplish today."
In Other News...
Oregon Just Landed A Surprising New Name In Its OC Search
Florida States decision to fire Mike Norvell after the loss to Clemson has already sent ripples through the coaching carousel, and it comes at a moment when Oregon is trying to steady its own offensive staff. The Ducks recently moved on from offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer, leaving Dan Lanning with a major hire to make as the program continues to chase stability and continuity on that side of the ball.
Norvells name has now surfaced in the discussion around Oregons opening, largely because of his previous working relationship with Lanning. It is still only speculation, but it adds an unexpected wrinkle to a search that figures to draw plenty of attention, especially if Oregon wants an experienced voice with ties to its head coach rather than a more conventional outside candidate. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Suddenly Has A Real AP Poll Problem
The latest AP Poll is headed for a shakeup after USC, still unranked, stunned No. 2 Ohio State and sent ripples through the top of the rankings. Oregon and Iowa, both of whom had fallen out of the poll, also took care of business in their recent games, putting themselves back in the conversation as voters sort through a weekend that featured wins from Georgia and Texas Tech along with a handful of losses elsewhere.
For Oregon, the timing matters. A strong response after dropping out of the rankings can quickly change the tone around a team in a crowded Big Ten race, and the Ducks now have a realistic path back into the poll when the new rankings are released. With so many results moving in different directions, the bigger question is how far the reshuffle goes and which teams get caught in the middle of it. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons First Stubblefield Lineup Says A Lot About This Roster
Tony Stubblefields first projected starting group at Oregon says plenty about where this roster is right now. With Dana Altman retired and a new era underway, the Ducks are leaning on a mix of transfers and a key returnee, with Tyrone Riley IV, Jasper Johnson, Andrew Meadow, Dwayne Aristode and Sean Stewart all expected to help set the tone. It is a lineup that reflects how quickly this program has had to be rebuilt, and how much of the early identity will come from players who arrived from elsewhere.
For Oregon, the bigger question is less about who starts and more about how fast this group can come together once the games begin. The Ducks are trying to improve as the season goes on while adjusting to the grind of Big Ten competition, where cohesion and depth tend to matter just as much as talent. Stubblefields challenge is to turn a roster full of new pieces into something that looks connected before the schedule starts asking tough questions. [Read more 🡒]