Identities in college football – the foundational qualities that define how a team will play most weeks – are almost always forged over the course of a season.

The Ducks began the season convinced they would run over most traditionally lesser opponents because of their talent and scheme. Then, in a 180-degree turn, a stable of running backs helped fuel their recent run of wins in ugly, skin-of-their-teeth Big Ten fashion. 

But what about the parts of identity that can’t be learned? What about the things that just are?

At times, Dante Moore has played like a Heisman-caliber quarterback in one of the best conferences in the nation. At times, Oregon has been able to rumble in the run game and lock down other teams’ best weapons. 

But there’s a fine line between a team that can win in any fashion and one that lets the style of game be dictated to them by their opponent. The nation saw what happened against Indiana when a team outschemed Oregon and made the Ducks play left-handed. 

The thing is, it really doesn’t matter, at least not right now. 

There are reasons galore for pessimistic fans to be wary of the Ducks. Moore hasn’t been consistently terrific since the first weeks of the season. Injuries have crept up on the Ducks in a massive way, with three key weapons (including wide receiver Evan Stewart) out after the second bye week.

But Oregon just keeps chugging, with each win emblematic of head coach Dan Lanning’s culture and the Ducks’ ability to still bring their fastball when it matters most. 

“As much as the world tries to look ahead, we try to keep our eyes (on) what’s right in front of us,” Lanning said to GoDucks after the Iowa game. 

Granted, Ohio State and Indiana look to be in a league of their own right now, and the Ducks absolutely will need to play better to have any type of chance of beating some of the nation’s top teams. 

Another loss before the end of the regular season will almost certainly knock them out of the top 12, and for any program with as much money invested in it as Oregon, missing the College Football Playoff is a bust of a season.  

But it is fair to suggest that Oregon football fans have been spoiled over the past 18 months. Teams don’t usually start the season 8-1 after an undefeated regular season. Teams don’t usually have two (and likely soon to be three) Heisman Trophy Finalists take the stage in New York City. 

Indiana and Ohio State aren’t on the regular season slate for the Ducks, and while it is logical to point out some of this team’s serious shortcomings, it is also worth lauding Lanning’s ability to take a team with few impact starters returning and have them winning games on the road in November. 

And while playing wire-to-wire games in awful conditions against teams they should beat talent-wise isn’t the most sustainable winning solution, it’ll more than do for now. 

“We’re not rookies anymore,” Lanning said postgame. “We have some young players who have been playing a lot of football this season. The time of being a freshman and young guys, that’s over with now. We’ve played several games, and that experience pays off, and I think that showed up tonight.”