Trip to Madison Up Next for No. 1 Oregon

The Matchup
#1 Oregon at Wisconsin
Saturday, November 16, 2024
4:30 p.m. PT | NBC
Camp Randall Stadium | Madison, Wis.

#1 Oregon Ducks (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten)
CFP/AP/Coaches Rank: 1/1/1
Head Coach: Dan Lanning (William Jewell College, 2008)
Record at Oregon: 32-5 (3rd Season)
Career Record: Same

Wisconsin Badgers (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten)
CFP/AP/Coaches Rank: NR/NR/NR
Head Coach: Luke Fickell (Ohio State, 1996)
Record at Wisconsin: 13-10 (2nd Season)
Career Record: 76-35 (9th Season)

TV: NBC
Play-By-Play: Noah Eagle
Analyst: Todd Blackledge
Sideline: Kathryn Tappen

Radio - Oregon Sports Network
Local: KUJZ-FM 95.3 (Eugene) | KFXX-AM 1080 (Portland)
Sirius: 133 | XM: 197
Play-by-Play: Jerry Allen
Analyst: Mike Jorgensen
Sideline: Dusty Harrah
Pre-Game Show: Joey McMurry

Unbeaten Ducks Head to Madison
No. 1 Oregon will play its eighth game in eight weeks as the unbeaten Ducks head to Camp Randall Stadium for a showdown with Wisconsin. UO is one of four remaining undefeated teams in the country, getting out to a 10-0 start for just the third time in program history (2012, 2010). The Ducks are going into their fourth game as the No. 1 ranked team in the country, and they earned the top spot in the season's initial College Football Playoff rankings last week for the first time in program history. Saturday will mark the seventh all-time meeting between Oregon and Wisconsin, with the series currently even at three wins apiece. The Ducks have won three straight against the Badgers, including victories in the 2020 and 2012 Rose Bowls.

A Win Would...
» Make Oregon 11-0 for just the second time in program history, joining the 2010 team.
» Secure an 11-win season for the second year in a row and ninth time in program history (all since 2001).
» Improve UO to 10-1 all-time when ranked No. 1 in the nation.
» Be Oregon's fourth straight against Wisconsin and would give the Ducks a 4-3 lead in the all-time series.

10 Wins and Counting
The Ducks are 10-0 to open a season for just the third time in program history, joining the 2012 and 2010 Oregon squads. Last week's win over Maryland secured Oregon's third straight 10-win season since head coach Dan Lanning took over in 2022, and it is the program's fourth consecutive year of at least 10 wins dating back to 2021. Oregon now has 15 total 10-win seasons in program history, with all 15 coming since 2000. A win over Maryland this week would give the Ducks their second 11-0 start ever, joining the 2010 team that played in the BCS National Championship Game, and would secure an 11-win season for the ninth time in program history.

» One of just two 10-0 teams in the nation, along with Indiana.
» Currently, Oregon is the only team in the nation with at least 10 wins in every season since 2021.
» Second time in program history UO has had 10-plus wins in at least four consecutive seasons (2008-14).
» 11 straight wins dating back to 2023, the second-longest active streak in the nation (Army, 13).

Ducks at the Top
Oregon took over the No. 1 spot in both the Associated Press and USA Today coaches polls for the first time since 2012 going into its Oct. 26 game vs. Illinois, and the Ducks have solidified that ranking with a trio of dominant wins over the then-No. 20 Illini, the defending national champions in Michigan, and Maryland. Oregon's top ranking going into Week 12 is the 13th all-time in the coaches poll and 12th all-time in the AP poll, and the Ducks are the unanimous No. 1 team in both polls. Oregon is now 9-1 all-time as the No. 1 ranked team. Prior to this season, Oregon's last No. 1 ranking in both polls was on Nov. 11, 2012, and all of the Ducks' previous No. 1 rankings came during the 2010 season. Oregon came in at No. 1 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings released last week, earning the top spot in the CFP rankings for the first time in program history.

Building the Resume
The No. 1 Ducks are one of just four remaining undefeated FBS teams entering Week 12, along with Indiana, BYU and Army. The Ducks own the best win in the nation with their Oct. 12 victory over Ohio State, which came in at No. 2 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings. Oregon has another win over a current top-15 team with their Sept. 7 victory over Boise State, currently No. 12 in the CFP rankings, and the Ducks dominated Illinois on Oct. 26 when the Illini were ranked No. 20 in the AP poll. Oregon has won each of its last four games by at least 21 points, and the Ducks have scored at least 30 points in nine straight games while allowing less than 20 in seven of their last eight.

All Three Phases
Oregon has proven to be a well-rounded team while getting out to a 10-0 start. The Ducks are ninth nationally in total defense (293.5 YPG) and 11th in total offense (457.0 YPG), making them one of just four teams (Ohio State, Tennessee, Texas) in the top 15 for both categories. Oregon is also in the top 20 for both scoring offense (19th, 35.7 PPG) and scoring defense (9th, 16.0 PPG), and in the top 30 for both third-down offense (7th, 50.81%) and third-down defense (30th, 33.83%). UO has also been effective on special teams, as the Ducks are one of just seven teams in the nation (BYU, Central Michigan, Ohio, James Madison, Tulsa, UNLV) with both a punt return and a kick return for a touchdown this season. Oregon's overall team grade of 92.7 from Pro Football Focus ranks No. 9 in the nation.

Gabriel The Touchdown King
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel made history in last week's 39-18 win over Maryland, throwing three touchdown passes to break the NCAA all-time record for total touchdowns responsible for. Gabriel's three touchdowns gave him 180 total TDs in his career, passing Case Keenum's 178 for the FBS record. Gabriel tied the record with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Terrance Ferguson late in the first half, and he made history in the third quarter with a three-yard touchdown pass to Gernorris Wilson on a lineman-eligible play. Gabriel added to his record in the fourth quarter with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Evan Stewart, matching his season high with three TD passes. Gabriel will now set his sights on Keenum's all-time record for touchdown passes of 155, entering Saturday with 147 in his career.

QB1
Dillon Gabriel has been one of the nation's top quarterbacks while leading Oregon to a 10-0 start. He leads the country with a terrific 74.1 completion percentage while also sitting in the top 10 for total touchdowns (T-5th, 28), passer rating (6th, 168.38), passing touchdowns (T-6th, 22), passing yards per game (9th, 284.8) and total yards per game (10th, 299.6). Gabriel has thrown multiple touchdown passes in nine of 10 games, including a trio of three-TD games against UCLA, Illinois and Maryland. The NCAA all-time leader in total touchdowns has also continued to show his ability as a dual-threat quarterback, adding six rushing touchdowns so far as a Duck. Gabriel had a season-high four total touchdowns on Oct. 26 vs. Illinois, throwing for three scores and adding another on the ground.

» Leads the Big Ten in completion percentage, completions (237), passing yards per game and total yards per game.
» Tied for first in the Big Ten in passing touchdowns and total touchdowns.
» Six rushing touchdowns are tied for the most among Big Ten quarterbacks (Will Howard, Ohio State).
» Tied for No. 10 nationally in passing yards per attempt (8.9).
» At least 200 passing yards in nine of 10 games, including two with 300-plus (Idaho, Ohio State).
» Six games this season with both a passing and rushing touchdown.

JJ Leading The Way
Jordan James has established himself as Oregon's workhorse in the backfield this season while emerging as one of the top backs in the nation. James has racked up 946 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 166 carries, ranking foruth in the Big Ten and 28th nationally with 94.6 rushing yards per game. The junior ran for 100-plus yards in three straight games against UCLA (103), Michigan State (166) and Ohio State (115), and he has five 100-yard performances on the season including a 102-yard game on Sept. 7 vs. Boise State and a 117-yard performance on Nov. 2 at Michigan. James has rushed for at least 80 yards in eight of 10 games this season, and he has had at least 10 carries nine times with four games of 20-plus attempts.

» 54 rushing yards away from his first career 1,000-yard season, and 29th in program history.
» 106 rushing yards away from 2,000 in his career.
» Career-high 166 rushing yards vs. Michigan State were the most by a Duck since Nov. 6, 2021 (Travis Dye, 211 at Washington).
» Career-long 41-yard rush in Week 6 against the Spartans.
» 30 carries of at least 10 yards, third-most in the Big Ten and tied for 12th nationally.

Explosive Ducks
Oregon's offense has been one of the nation's most dynamic once again this season, scoring 30-plus points in nine straight games after last week's 39-18 win over Maryland. The Ducks were the only team in the nation to score 30-plus points in every game in 2023, and they're 19th nationally this season with 35.7 points per game while ranking 11th in total offense with 457.0 yards per game. Oregon is also 15th nationally in passing offense (287.7 YPG) behind star quarterback Dillon Gabriel, and first in the country with a 73.9 team completion percentage. The Ducks' passing game has been among the most explosive in the nation, as they're tied for third in the FBS with six passing plays of 50-plus yards while also sitting in the top 15 for passes of 40-plus yards (T-9th, 10) and 30-plus yards (T-13th, 19).

T-Ferg Chasing History
In his fourth and final season with the Ducks, TE Terrance Ferguson has a shot at becoming the most accomplished tight end in Oregon football history. Among UO tight ends, Ferguson is currently second all-time in receptions (119), tied for second in receiving touchdowns (14) and fourth in receiving yards (1,336). Ferguson opened his senior season with a career-high seven catches for a team-high 87 yards vs. Idaho, and he has 28 receptions for 390 yards and a touchdown through eight games played. Ferguson returned to action on Nov. 2 after missing two games due to illness, and he hauled in six catches on 12 targets for 35 yards and his first touchdown of the season last week vs. Maryland.

» Just one receiving TD away from the UO all-time record for a tight end of 15 held by Josh Wilcox (1993-96).
» Needs five more receptions and 221 receiving yards to catch Ed Dickson for those UO all-time records by tight ends.

Consistent Intensity
Defense has been the driving force for the Ducks throughout the 2024 season, as Oregon has allowed the ninth-fewest yards per game nationally (293.5) and sports the ninth-best scoring defense (16.0 PPG) as well as the 19th-ranked passing defense (176.1 YPG). UO started the season by holding nonconference opponents to 287.8 yards per game, the 16th-lowest total among FBS teams and fourth lowest in the Big Ten. That momentum has carried over into Big Ten play, where the Ducks are allowing just 14.0 points per game against conference opponents, the third-best mark in the nation, and rank sixth in total defense in conference games (292.2 YPG). Since the Ducks took down No. 2 Ohio State on Oct. 12, Oregon has held opponents to just 11.0 points per game, the third-lowest mark in the nation in that span, and has forced seven turnovers, the 15th most among FBS teams. The Ducks forced a season high three turnovers last week against Maryland - including a 62-yard scoop-and-score by Brandon Johnson after a Jordan Burch strip-sack - while holding the Terrapins to just 83 rushing yards for the game.

» Johnson's 62-yard fumble return for a touchdown vs. Maryland was Oregon's first defensive touchdown the season, first fumble return for a TD since Jan. 1, 2020, and the longest fumble return for a touchdown in Autzen Stadium history.
» One of six teams (Army, Indiana, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Tennessee) to hold eight opponents to 18 points or less.
» One of 11 FBS teams to be holding opponents under 300 yards of total offense per game.
» Forced at least one turnover in six of the last seven games and multiple turnovers in five of those contests.
» One of 11 teams (Army, Indiana, Louisiana Tech, Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Tulane) to have a top-35 passing defense (176.1 ypg, 19th) and rushing defense (117.4 ypg, 32nd).

Behind Enemy Lines
The Ducks have gotten to opposing quarterbacks for 27 total sacks this season, tied for the 20th-most in the nation, after tying for 25th nationally with 34 in 2023. The UO front combined for seven sacks in nonconference play before tallying four sacks and a then-season-high seven TFLs in a dominating performance on the road at UCLA to open the Big Ten schedule. Oregon then recorded a season-high five sacks against Michigan State in the first Big Ten game in Autzen Stadium, including one from former Spartan Derrick Harmon. The Ducks put together back-to-back three-plus sack performances against Purdue and Illinois while totaling 17 TFLs in those two contests. UO has multiple sacks in seven of 10 games after doing so eight times a season ago, most notably in a seven-sack performance against Colorado, the program's most in a game since 2017.

» 10 TFLs against Purdue were a season high and the Ducks' most since tallying 11 against Stanford on Sept. 30, 2023.
» The Ducks have recorded three or more sacks five times this season (Michigan State - 5, UCLA - 4, Idaho - 4, Illinois - 4, Purdue - 3).
» 20 sacks against conference opponents is the third-highest mark in the Big Ten and tied for seventh nationally.
» Oregon has tallied 14 TFLs and five sacks against teams ranked in the AP poll; 57 total TFLs on the season rank fifth in the Big Ten.
» The Ducks have tallied four or more TFLs in seven of ten games, including five of seven Big Ten contests; tallied at least six TFLs in three of the last four games five of the last seven.

University of Oregon Athletics

Related News

Players Mentioned

Jordan Burch

Terrance Ferguson

Dillon Gabriel

Derrick Harmon

Jordan James

Brandon Johnson

Evan Stewart

Gernorris Wilson

Related Videos