While it wasn't the prettiest of wins, the Oregon Ducks cruised to victory on Saturday Afternoon, handing the Michigan Wolverines a 31-7 beatdown. The result was never in question as the Wolverines offense was abysmal, and Oregon jumped on their defense, putting the game out of reach before they seemingly woke up. The struggles of the Wolverines' this season didn't make the result a surprise, but Oregon needed to keep stacking wins.
When you win as easily as the Oregon Ducks did on Saturday, it's much easier to miss out on some of the intricate details of the game as it isn't nearly as life or death on every play. On Saturday, the game revealed 3 interesting storylines worth following heading into the final two games of the regular season.
3 interesting storylines that were revealed in Oregon's big win over Michigan
Wide Receiver Messiah Hampton returns to the lineup
The legal issues following the Nebraska game have impacted the Oregon wide receiver room with both Evan Stewart and Messiah Hampton missing time. On Saturday, Hampton made his first appearance for the Ducks since the Nebraska game, playing 4 snaps with 1 catch for a yard. It was interesting to see Hampton involved given that he was charged this week, but it appears that he remains a member of the team.
Did Evan Stewart get benched in the 2nd half?
Given that Oregon held a 21-7 lead and never appeared to be in danger, it was easy to miss Evan Stewart's lack of usage. The veteran wide receiver played just 22 of the 66 offensive snaps, with true freshman Jalen Lott out snapping him, playing 38 plays. Many saw Dan Lanning giving Evan Stewart an earful going into the second half, and it'll be interesting to see if it's addressed during the week.
Did anyone see who Dan Lanning was giving a talking to as the Ducks went to halftime?
— kwade (@KwadeSays) November 15, 2026
Saw Dan quite animated at one of the players after doing his tv interview
Dylan Williams' impact quieted the loss of LB Jerry Mixon
The Ducks' defense was so dominant on Saturday afternoon that it was easy to overlook the fact that linebacker Jerry Mixon didn't play against the Wolverines. Dan Lanning revealed that the veteran linebacker tweaked something before the game, but his absence didn't have a significant impact on the unit's performance. Dylan Williams took advantage of the expanded playing time, leading the team in tackles and showcasing the depth of Oregon's linebacker room. The one play where Mixon's presence may have made a difference was Savion Hiter's 70-yard run, when the Ducks appeared to be out of position defensively. Outside of that one breakdown, however, the unit was outstanding for nearly the entire game.
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