Whether you believe Oregon can still make the College Football Playoff at 9-3 or that the season is over, the Ducks truly needed a win this weekend. After a week that started with Drew Mehringer being fired and Dante Moore being ruled out for the season, the team needed to block out all the outside noise, and get back to doing what they do best.
The Ducks did just that, pulling off a 34-26 win over No. 20 Northwestern to get the team to 5-3, and to start building some positive momentum. Stars like Dylan Raiola, Dakorien Moore, Jamari Johnson, and even new playcaller Jay Johnson will get all the shine for the way the team played, but it was a total team effort. On Saturday, Oregon got massive contributions from true freshmen, players coming off injury, and on special teams to help lift the team when the fate of the game hung in the balance.
The 4 unsung heroes who helped deliver Oregon a thrilling victory
Brandon Smith - Running Back
It's hard to call Brandon Smith an unsung hero, as he'll be one of the storylines of the game, but the fact that he was able to step up in a big situation with both running backs getting injured deserves a ton of credit. Smith took over the game for Oregon with 8 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown to go with 4 catches for 32 yards. It's unclear just how much time the duo of Dierre Hill Jr. and Jordon Davison will miss, if any, but Smith can easily help keep the offense afloat.
BRANDON SMITH ANOTHER HUGE RUN THE TRUE FRESHMAN IS DOMINATING pic.twitter.com/N7F1COaCL4
— FD (@flooduck) October 31, 2026
Evan Stewart - Wide Receiver
Dakorien Moore's career day pushed Evan Stewart's return from injury and disciplinary action to the back of everyone's mind. The elder statesman in the wide receiver room stepped up and delivered a great performance, catching 4 passes for 71 yards with several big plays. Stewart is going to need to step up and dominate down the stretch to help this offense to continue trending in the right direction.
Dylan Raiola with a BIG throw to Evan Stewart 🦆 pic.twitter.com/UbLA3FdqxG
— Oregon Updates (@oregon__updates) October 31, 2026
Jalen Lott - Wide Receiver
Along the same line as Evan Stewart, true freshman Jalen Lott made his return to the lineup for the Ducks. In the 1st half, Jalen Lott was one of Oregon's best weapons, helping to keep the Ducks in the game when it looked like Northwestern could run away with it. It's clear that Lott is incredibly talented, and if he can stay on the field down the stretch, it won't only help this season, but for the Ducks next year.
THIS JALEN LOTT GRAB 🤯 @oregonfootball
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 31, 2026
Watch on Peacock pic.twitter.com/6Y7E0taFv2
Gage Hurych - Kicker
Gage Hurych was perfect for the Ducks before last week's game, where he missed 3 field goals, which easily could've been in his mind coming into this weekend. Instead, Oregon's kicker bounced back, going 2-for-2 on field goals and 4-for-4 on extra points to help the Ducks win the game. Oregon needs to be able to count on Hurych with the offense's struggles, and he was lights out on Saturday.
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