Saturday, November 16
Madison, Wisc.
4:30 PM
University of Oregon
11-0 , 8-0
16
at
13
Wisconsin
5-5 , 3-4
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Oregon
6
0
0
10
16
Wisconsin
0
10
3
0
13
Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
No. 1 Ducks Now 11-0 After Win At Wisconsin
11/16/24 | Football
Oregon dominated the fourth quarter Saturday to grind out a 16-13 victory on the road.
MADISON, Wisc. — Oregon is headed into a bye week in rarified territory.
The Ducks are 11-0 for just the second time in school history, after grinding out a 16-13 win Saturday over Wisconsin before 76,298 fans in Camp Randall Stadium. The UO football team takes a No. 1 ranking and an unblemished record into a week off, before hosting its regular-season finale against Washington on Nov. 30.
Playing for the eighth week in a row, against a second straight opponent coming off its own bye week, the Ducks struggled to establish rhythm most of the night. But they controlled the fourth quarter, behind the running of Jordan James and a stout defense.
"It didn't look the way that we scripted it, but I'm really proud of our guys down the stretch there when it mattered, and being able to take advantage of the opportunity there in front of them," UO coach Dan Lanning said.
James rushed 25 times for 121 yards and a game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter, surpassing 1,000 yards on the season. The UO defense limited the Badgers to 226 yards of offense — and just 1-of-12 third-down conversions — despite playing without star lineman Jordan Burch due to injury.
As he did in the win over Ohio State, Matayo Uiagalelei stepped into Burch's role on the defensive front and had a star turn. He had five tackles including a sack, and also the game-clinching interception with 1:32 to play after a pass tipped by Jamaree Caldwell.
Atticus Sappington kicked three field goals on the night, two of them for Oregon's only points of the first half as the Ducks trailed 10-6 at the break. But after Wisconsin kicked a field goal in the third quarter for a 13-6 lead, James tied it with a rushing touchdown early in the fourth, and Sappington made it 16-13 with 2:36 to play.
Jeffrey Bassa and Bryce Boettcher had eight tackles each to lead the UO defensive effort, and Teitum Tuioti added seven tackles with a sack. Dillon Gabriel finished 22-of-31 for 218 yards, while Evan Stewart caught 10 passes for 92 yards as the UO offense continued to operate without receiver Tez Johnson.
For the Ducks, there was no bigger moment than the first play of the fourth quarter. Wisconsin led 13-6, the signature quarter-break song "Jump Around" echoed through Camp Randall, and Oregon was facing fourth-and-nine from just past midfield.
Their unbeaten season perhaps on the line, Gabriel and tight end Terrance Ferguson connected on a 15-yard completion to keep the drive alive. Three plays later, James rushed for the tying score.
"We had a mindset coming into the game, what that song ("Jump Around") was going to mean for us and what our reaction was going to be to it," Lanning said. "Kind of like Pavlov's dog — when you hear that song, it means it's time to go. Didn't know what it would look like in that moment, but that was what we were looking for from our team."
Wisconsin had established its signature physicality during its third-quarter drive to a field goal, marching 62 yards in 16 plays. But the UO defense forced three-and-outs on the next two possessions, the second coming after James' tying touchdown. Oregon then drove to Sappington's third field goal, making it 16-13.
"We talked about the most physical team's got a chance to win this game," Lanning said. "I thought we were the more physical team certainly in the second half, were able to establish the run when it mattered and win third down."
After Wisconsin turned it over on downs, Oregon was in position for another field goal but faked it, looking to extend the drive and kill the rest of the clock. A run play was stopped short, but two plays later Caldwell tipped a ball at the line and Uiagalelei pulled it down for the interception that sealed the Ducks' win.
"Football's all about mentality," Boettcher said. "And our defense showed up in the fourth quarter. ... We showed some grit tonight. I'm proud of our guys."
Oregon improved to 11-0 for just the second time ever, and the first time since the 2010 team completed a 12-0 regular season. The Ducks remain in position to play for the Big Ten Championship entering their bye — and potentially for much, much more.
The Ducks are 11-0 for just the second time in school history, after grinding out a 16-13 win Saturday over Wisconsin before 76,298 fans in Camp Randall Stadium. The UO football team takes a No. 1 ranking and an unblemished record into a week off, before hosting its regular-season finale against Washington on Nov. 30.
Playing for the eighth week in a row, against a second straight opponent coming off its own bye week, the Ducks struggled to establish rhythm most of the night. But they controlled the fourth quarter, behind the running of Jordan James and a stout defense.
"It didn't look the way that we scripted it, but I'm really proud of our guys down the stretch there when it mattered, and being able to take advantage of the opportunity there in front of them," UO coach Dan Lanning said.
James rushed 25 times for 121 yards and a game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter, surpassing 1,000 yards on the season. The UO defense limited the Badgers to 226 yards of offense — and just 1-of-12 third-down conversions — despite playing without star lineman Jordan Burch due to injury.
As he did in the win over Ohio State, Matayo Uiagalelei stepped into Burch's role on the defensive front and had a star turn. He had five tackles including a sack, and also the game-clinching interception with 1:32 to play after a pass tipped by Jamaree Caldwell.
Atticus Sappington kicked three field goals on the night, two of them for Oregon's only points of the first half as the Ducks trailed 10-6 at the break. But after Wisconsin kicked a field goal in the third quarter for a 13-6 lead, James tied it with a rushing touchdown early in the fourth, and Sappington made it 16-13 with 2:36 to play.
Jeffrey Bassa and Bryce Boettcher had eight tackles each to lead the UO defensive effort, and Teitum Tuioti added seven tackles with a sack. Dillon Gabriel finished 22-of-31 for 218 yards, while Evan Stewart caught 10 passes for 92 yards as the UO offense continued to operate without receiver Tez Johnson.
For the Ducks, there was no bigger moment than the first play of the fourth quarter. Wisconsin led 13-6, the signature quarter-break song "Jump Around" echoed through Camp Randall, and Oregon was facing fourth-and-nine from just past midfield.
Their unbeaten season perhaps on the line, Gabriel and tight end Terrance Ferguson connected on a 15-yard completion to keep the drive alive. Three plays later, James rushed for the tying score.
"We had a mindset coming into the game, what that song ("Jump Around") was going to mean for us and what our reaction was going to be to it," Lanning said. "Kind of like Pavlov's dog — when you hear that song, it means it's time to go. Didn't know what it would look like in that moment, but that was what we were looking for from our team."
Wisconsin had established its signature physicality during its third-quarter drive to a field goal, marching 62 yards in 16 plays. But the UO defense forced three-and-outs on the next two possessions, the second coming after James' tying touchdown. Oregon then drove to Sappington's third field goal, making it 16-13.
"We talked about the most physical team's got a chance to win this game," Lanning said. "I thought we were the more physical team certainly in the second half, were able to establish the run when it mattered and win third down."
After Wisconsin turned it over on downs, Oregon was in position for another field goal but faked it, looking to extend the drive and kill the rest of the clock. A run play was stopped short, but two plays later Caldwell tipped a ball at the line and Uiagalelei pulled it down for the interception that sealed the Ducks' win.
"Football's all about mentality," Boettcher said. "And our defense showed up in the fourth quarter. ... We showed some grit tonight. I'm proud of our guys."
Oregon improved to 11-0 for just the second time ever, and the first time since the 2010 team completed a 12-0 regular season. The Ducks remain in position to play for the Big Ten Championship entering their bye — and potentially for much, much more.
Team Stats
ORE
WIS
Total Yards
354
226
Pass Yards
218
96
Rushing Yards
136
130
Penalty Yards
55
56
1st Downs
19
15
3rd Downs
5
1
4th Downs
1
1
TOP
32:23
27:37
1st Quarter
ORE 3, WIS 0
ORE - Sappington,Atticus 35 yd field goal 11 plays, 43 yards, TOP 04:36
ORE 6, WIS 0
ORE - Sappington,Atticus 42 yd field goal 6 plays, 30 yards, TOP 03:08
2nd Quarter
ORE 6, WIS 3
WIS - Vakos,Nathanial 31 yd field goal 13 plays, 56 yards, TOP 05:52
ORE 6, WIS 10
WIS - Pauling,Will 2 yd pass from Locke,Braedyn (Vakos,Nathanial kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:40
3rd Quarter
ORE 6, WIS 13
WIS - Vakos,Nathanial 35 yd field goal 16 plays, 62 yards, TOP 08:53
4th Quarter
ORE 13, WIS 13
ORE - James,Jordan 11 yd run (Sappington,Atticus kick), 13 plays, 81 yards, TOP 06:24
ORE 16, WIS 13
ORE - Sappington,Atticus 24 yd field goal 9 plays, 37 yards, TOP 04:13
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
22
TD
0
YDS
218
INT
1
Players Mentioned
ILB
/ Football
ILB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
DL
/ Football
TE
/ FootballQB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
K
/ Football
WR
/ Football
OLB
/ Football
OLB
/ FootballIsaiah World: "Ready for any situation."
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Theran Johnson: "One play at a time."
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Dan Lanning Weekly Press Conference | September 15, 2025
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