Ducks Win Big Ten Opener Over Northwestern

Saturday, September 13

Evanston, IL

9:00 AM

University of Oregon

3-0 , 1-0

Northwestern

1-2 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Oregon

Northwestern

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

09/13/25 | Football

Box Score 3 - #4 Oregon 34, Northwestern 14 Photo Gallery

Oregon beat the Wildcats on Saturday, 34-14, to improve to 3-0 entering next week's rivalry game at home.

By: Rob Moseley

EVANSTON, Ill. — Make it a perfect 10 for Oregon so far in regular-season play as members of the Big Ten.

A year after going 9-0 and winning the Big Ten title as first-year members, the Ducks won their 2025 conference opener Saturday over Northwestern, 34-14. The UO football team had plenty to critique after the Wildcats scored the final 14 points of the game, but Oregon maintained its exceptional balance on offense through three games of the season, didn't allow a point until late in the fourth quarter and didn't commit a penalty after making that a point of emphasis this week.

"First away game, we usually have 60,000 cheering for us — that's how it usually goes — but we're on the road, it's just us versus us," UO quarterback Dante Moore said. "Playing in a different environment, thunder and lightning (pregame) and windy, just a lot of things going on. But overall we came out with the win. It wasn't the best look, but you know, we're gonna go back to the doctor, we're gonna learn, we're gonna better our mistakes. And that's the biggest thing."

Moore was 16-of-20 passing for 178 yards and a touchdown, as the Ducks threw for 197 yards and rushed for 176 in the game. A 66-yard touchdown run by Dierre Hill Jr. on Oregon's first play of the second half made him one of three UO backs to rush for a touchdown on the day, as the Ducks ran for 176 yards to complement the passing attack.

Aaron Flowers had seven tackles to lead the UO defense, inside linebackers Bryce Boettcher and Jerry Mixon each had an interception, and Atticus Sappington drilled two field goals. The Ducks led 31-0 through three quarters, giving them a combined scoring advantage of 152-9 entering the fourth quarter of their three games so far this season.

The Oregon Ducks take on the Northwestern Wildcats at Martin Stadium in Evanston, Illinois on September 13, 2025 (Eric Evans Photography)

"We take a lot of pride in be able to pitch a shutout (through three quarters) like that," Boettcher said. "It was clean football all the way through until the end there. You know, the standard is the standard. Would have liked to keep it a zero there, but you know, we got the win."

Oregon returns to nonconference play next week, hosting Oregon State in Autzen Stadium at noon.

Along with not committing a penalty Saturday, the Ducks didn't allow a sack for the third straight game. They did lose a turnover for the first time, an interception by Moore to open the fourth quarter. But No. 4 Oregon overcame that to win its 33rd straight game against an unranked opponent and improved to 14-2 on the road under Lanning.

"You get what you emphasize," Lanning said of the lack of penalties. "And we emphasized that a lot. … We don't beat ourselves, you got a chance to have success. That was a big emphasis this week; it showed up. We operated clean. We have to continue to do that to help ourselves out."

Playing without running back Noah Whittington, who was listed as questionable prior to kickoff and ultimately didn't play, the Ducks opened the game with the ball and didn't score. But after Boettcher's interception ended Northwestern's first possession, Jayden Limar ran for a touchdown and Oregon took a 7-0 lead into the second quarter.

The Oregon Ducks take on the Northwestern Wildcats at Martin Stadium in Evanston, Illinois on September 13, 2025 (Eric Evans Photography)

Sappington's first field goal made it 10-0 early in the second, and just before halftime Moore threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Kenyon Sadiq for a 17-0 lead at the break. Hill's explosive run made it 24-0 in the third, and Jordon Davison added another UO rushing touchdown later in then period for a 31-0 lead.

"They had a good plan for us," Lanning said. "They executed well. I thought we also had answers and were able to create some things there, especially early in the second half, create some of our run game that we needed to have in this game."

Northwestern's 14 points were the most allowed by the Ducks all season, and they became the first FBS opponent to score a touchdown against Oregon in 2025.

"I thought we lacked a little killer instinct there at the end," Lanning said. " … Just disappointed with the last couple drives on both sides of the ball. … We didn't finish the way I wanted to finish."