The No. 6 Oregon Ducks took down the No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions in Pennsylvania on Sept. 27 in a 30-24 double overtime thriller. Oregon showed up to Beaver Stadium and proved they were a top-three team, but what has gotten them this far?

The Defense

Oregon’s win over the Nittany Lions was defense heavy in the first half with both teams only managing to score a field goal apiece, but the Ducks’ defense looked like the better unit. Oregon allowed 69 total yards in the first half and forced three punts as well. 

The game was also won by the Oregon defense after junior safety Dillon Thieneman picked off Penn State quarterback Drew Allar to end the game. Thieneman was also a major contributor throughout the game, where he picked up four tackles and one quarterback hurry in the second quarter.

Other key contributors are senior linebacker Bryce Boettcher and redshirt junior defensive tackle Bear Alexander. Boettcher picked up a team-high 12 tackles, more than doubling the next-closest Duck, and assisted a tackle for loss. For his performance, he was named the Burlsworth Player of the Week, given to the best player who began their career as a walk-on. 

Alexander was also a major factor in slowing down the Nittany Lions’ star-studded backfield, which put up 297 rushing yards in their previous matchup with the Ducks in the 2024 Big Ten Championship Game but was held to 139 this season.

Freshmen

This Ducks team is very experienced, but there are also so many young players contributing at a high level. The running back room is very deep this year with redshirt senior Noah Whittington and junior Jayden Limar taking half of the carries, but true freshmen Dierre Hill Jr. and Jordon Davison have exceeded expectations with their share of the rushing duties.

Hill Jr. brings a lot of speed and solid receiving skills to the Oregon backfield. In a deep running back room, his ability to break out in open space makes him a great option for play-action pass plays and outside runs.

Davison brings power to short yardage situations, which can be so valuable for a team with so many running backs. When a team has a player they can look to on hard hitting goal line pushes, they can rest their main backs and play with a high intensity for all four quarters.

“Obviously, (Hill Jr.’s) had some really explosive runs. (Davison’s) been really good in the red area for us, punching in touchdowns. He runs hard. He had some unbelievable blocks on some of those runs for Dierre as well,” Ducks head coach Dan Lanning said at a press conference in September. “So complimentary football, those guys are doing a really good job.”

One freshman standing above the rest is wide receiver Dakorien Moore. Against Penn State he caught seven passes and led the team in receiving yards with 89 yards. He currently ranks No. 2 in receiving yards in the nation among freshmen and No. 5 in receptions per game among freshmen. 

Dante Moore

The biggest takeaway from the Oregon offense was Dante Moore and his decision making. Moore threw for 248 yards on 39 attempts, with only 10 incomplete passes. His ability to read Penn State’s secondary was key in moving the ball upfield and preventing costly turnovers.

Moore also ran for 35 yards on 10 carries, one of which put Oregon on the 8-yard line to set up Davison for a touchdown run the following play. His awareness in the pocket is what separates him from other top quarterbacks and puts him in mid-season contention for the Heisman Trophy.

 “I think we have the best quarterback in college football,” Lanning said. “Anybody watch that game? That guy’s composure, his poise…tells you a little bit about that guy.”

Moore and the Ducks play No. 8 Indiana on Saturday, Oct. 11 at Autzen Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.