Kirk Herbstreit apparently has no faith in Oregon this week. The Ducks have made the cross-country trip to Iowa to take on the Hawkeyes with FOX Big Noon Kickoff in Iowa City for the Top 25 matchup, and Herbstreit is calling for an upset.
The No. 9 Ducks are taking on the No. 20 Hawkeyes, and Herbstreit has been calling for the upset of Iowa over Oregon in this game since Thursday. Now, everyone is saying that Herbstreit has just jinxed the Hawkeyes, but he did at least try to back up his claim with a reason that doesn't make a lot of sense.
Herbstreit is calling for the upset for one big reason, and that is the weather. Apparently, Herbstreit is forgetting that it gets cold and rainy in Oregon just like it does in Iowa. The Ducks are used to playing in cold conditions. Yes, it is a little different, but it is not like a USC or UCLA team trying to go and play in Iowa.
Oregon and Iowa is gonna be a GREAT game..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 8, 2025
Why did you do this @KirkHerbstreit 😂😂#CollegeGameDay https://t.co/nEY4Q22jJM pic.twitter.com/5dBBfOQQyd
Now, Herbstreit went on to talk about how Oregon's run defense is probably the weakest part of the defense as a whole, and Iowa is a running team. Hawkeye quarterback Mark Gronowski certainly has a great running ability, adn the Hawkeyes love to just pound the run game. The Ducks will also face a tough defense led by Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker.
Quarterback Dante Moore will face a lot of pressure against Iowa, which will make the game a lot tougher, along with being in a very hostile environment. Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz always seems to slay a giant in November with a 5-1 record against Top 10 teams in November, but let's not forget that Dan Lanning always hears the chatter.
If anyone thinks that Lanning doesn't know about what Herbstreit said on the Pat McAfee Show on Thursday, they are crazy. Lanning knows how to game plan against a tough opponent and is going to have this team ready for the run and ready for the pressure.
Oregon really can't afford to lose this game, as the Ducks don't have a quality win on their schedule so far. They lost to Indiana at home, and their win against Penn State is no longer quality with how far the Nittany Lions have fallen. Getting a win over an Iowa team that was ranked No. 20 by the selection committee would really help the resume for the Ducks.
A loss, however, could really shake up the rankings and cause some trouble for the Ducks when the College Football Playoff teams are selected.