“Mighty Oregon” rang through Autzen Stadium as Noah Whittington completed a burst into the endzone, trucking over a defender in the process.
The running back’s touchdown run against Illinois on Oct. 26 was 13 months in the making.
Whittington missed much of the 2023 season after tearing his ACL against Colorado last September. It took him some time to get back to putting up the same numbers he did in his last fully healthy season. Finally, his year of hard work rehabbing paid off.
The physical touchdown against the Illini provided a warning to the rest of the nation: Whittington is back and the Ducks are better because of it.
“He was on a different level [against Illinois],” wide receiver Tez Johnson said. “I’m glad to see that for him, how hard he practiced and the injuries he went through. It’s crazy just to see him have success.”
The junior running back recorded 388 yards and four touchdowns on 88 carries in the Ducks’ 11-0 start. His increase in production as the season’s gone on has been a difference-maker for No. 1 Oregon.
Whittington’s five highest rushing yard totals this season happen to have come in the five highest margins of victories for the Ducks — Maryland, Oregon State, Illinois, Purdue and Michigan. At the same time, his three lowest-rushing outbursts have been the thinnest margins of victories for Oregon — Boise State University, Wisconsin and Ohio State.
His presence adds another layer of versatility to the Ducks’ offense. Whittington’s style of play is more physical than that of his partner in the backfield, Jordan James.
Take his touchdown rush against the Illini as an example. Whittington squeezed through a gap in the defense until he came face-to-face with one final defensive back. He wouldn’t let Illinois’ Miles Scott get in his way of scoring.
“I think that’s something our team prides itself in,” head coach Dan Lanning said following that game. “When you get an opportunity to run through a man’s face, there’s nothing better than that.”
Whittington accumulated 211 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 5.3 yards per carry during his efficient four-game span between Oct. 18 and Nov. 9.
“I’m kind of appreciative that [the injury] happened because I feel like it brought the love back to the game,” Whittington said during preseason. “I’ve never been hurt before so it’s just been a continuous cycle. And then taking that break — I know for sure this is what I love to do.”
The Ducks faced a scare in Wisconsin two weeks ago when they won by only a field goal. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel handed the ball off to Whittington just three times in that game for a total of five yards.
Oregon’s quest to appear in the National Championship Game is far from over. It still has Washington — a team it’s lost to three times in the last two seasons — and the Big Ten Championship Game on the schedule before it plays in its first College Football Playoff game.
Getting Whittington back to the same form he was in at the end of October will only help the Ducks’ cause if they are to complete a perfect season. His newfound perspective has fueled his performances this season.
“I got to attack every day like it’s my last,” Whittington said back in July. “Because going through what I went through last year I fully understand that this can be taken away from you at any point.”
