Dan Lanning's Oregon Ducks will be travelling cross-country this weekend to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, at the birthplace of college football. A bounce-back spot for the Ducks, this is their first game being played after a loss (in the same season) since the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Day of 2024, and the first regular season instance of this since October 21 of 2023.
The good news for Duck fans -- they respond well after a loss under Lanning.
- Week 2 - 2022 (Following 49-3 loss to Georgia) Win vs Eastern Washington - 70-3
- Week 11 - 2022 (Following 37-34 loss to Washington) Win vs #10 Utah - 20-17 (through a very inspired, hobbled Bo Nix performance).
- Holiday Bowl - 2022 (Folllowing 38-34 loss to Oregon State) Win vs North Carolina - 28-27
- Week 7 - 2023 (Following 36-33 loss to Washington) Win vs Washington St. - 38-24
- Fiesta Bowl - 2024 (Following 34-31 loss to Washington) Win vs Liberty - 45-6
Oregon enters the matchup as 17.5 point favorites (-780) on the moneyline, and the total is set at 60.5. That 60.5 number should be tempting based on the production these two offenses are capable of.
What to know about Rutgers - 2 Minute Drill
1. Greg Schiano is the man
Schiano coached Rutgers from 2001-2011, leading them to some of their best seasons in program history. He led the Scarlet Knights to one of their two double-digit win seasons in program history, and returned to the program to get them out of a very grim era, led by Chris Ash (current Notre Dame defensive coordinator). In 2021, he brought them back to a bowl game for the first time since 2014, and has had seven wins in back-to-back seaosns. He understands the program, the area, the recruiting, and according to Bobby Deren of 247Sports, has coordinated much of the NIL fundraising efforts himself.
2. Canadian RB Antwan Raymond is elite.
Rutgers is on a hot streak at running back. Starting in 2017 with Gus Edwards (Ravens, Chargers in the NFL), then to Isiah Pacheco as a main-stay for several years (Chiefs), and then to Kyle Monangai (Bears) who had back-to-back 1200 yard seasons in 2023 and 2024 for Rutgers. Antwan Raymond is shaping up to be the best of the bunch. Thus far, he has 691 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns, and is one of PFF's highest graded tailbacks. Dan Lanning called Raymond "one the best running backs we've seen this year." High praise, considering Oregon has faced Penn State's duo of Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, and Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black of Indiana.
3. Canadians headline the defense
Djabome started all thirteen games for Rutgers last season, totalling 105 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 7.5 TFL's and a pair of forced fumbles. His efforts earned him a coaches all-Big Ten nod, and was a semi-finalist for the Cornish Trophy, given annually to the best Canadian in the NCAA. He has kept up a very good pace in 2025, with 33 tackles, a sack, and two forced fumbles. From an underrecruited prep-player out of Quebec, to the heart and soul of a Big Ten defense, Djabome will look to fill gaps and get in passing lanes on Saturday.
Safety Jett Elad also hails from Canada, the UNLV transfer is the team's leader in tackles, and was also a semi-finalist for the Cornish Trophy in 2024. He had 84 tackles a season ago with the Rebels, and has had at least seven tackles in Rutgers' last three games.
4. Wide receivers present an all too familiar challenge
Ian Strong and KJ Duff, high school teammates from New York, are physcially the biggest pair of wideouts Oregon will face all season. Strong is 6 feet 3 inches, and Duff is 6 feet 6 inches. QB Athan Kaliakmanis, who has well over 30 career starts, shows a lot of trust in them. Put the ball in the area, they'll more than likely come down with it. Dan Lanning, Tosh Lupoi, and Chris Hampton have all preached acquiring and coaching "speed and length." Big receivers have given Oregon fits over the years. Rome Odunze, Jeremiah Smith, and now Elijah Sarratt are names that all bring up sore memories for Duck fans. It's time for that length at defensive back to show up.
5. Oregon should be able to run up the score
Despite the aforementioned individual talent, Rutgers have been lackluster on defense in 2025. They've allowed 31 or more points in four of six games, three times against Big Ten opponents, and once against Ohio from the MAC. One of those Big Ten outings came against Iowa, whose offense is improved compared to how they are normally perceived, but are certainly not at Oregon's level.
Rutgers defense by the national rankings
- Opponent yards per game: 99th
- Oppenent rushing yards per game: 49th
- Opponent passing yards per game: 123rd
- Opponent yards per play: 134th
Rutgers' defense has been relatively effective against the run, and have controlled the clock using their strong run game and RPO-heavy offense. However, opponents are scoring quickly. We could be in for a fun, high scoring game, where Oregon fans can expect to see one of a littany of receiving options running wild.
As the resident Canadian here at Autzen Zoo, seeing talent from north of the border shine is certainly a personal treat, and Oregon could have some fits trying to stop the three Canadians mentioned, who could all end up as finalists for the Cornish Trophy. There are five total Canadians on Schiano's roster.