It's raining this morning at Martin Stadium, overlooking Lake Michigan in Evanston, Illinois. With kickoff just under two hours away there's a threat of thunderstorms, with winds from 10-20 mph.
Road games are all about adjustments.
This morning on Big Noon Kickoff, the Fox college football pregame show, fans are in rain gear and Chris Fallica reports in front of a screen of plastic sheeting.
An early kickoff (9 a.m. PT) and unexpected weather put a premium on a solid start. The wind gusts make the passing game trickier. It could be advantage Ducks in that they have a stronger running game, averaging 283 yards a contest and 7.43 yards a carry.
Thankfully the game isn’t being played now. Would be miserable. Rain should clear well before kickoff pic.twitter.com/QrQOhdbuvU
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) September 13, 2025
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore is from Detroit, so he's used to variable weather. And he's practiced in Eugene for 18 months.
Pregame from the parking garage… #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/SiuTYSiv8S
— Rian Winter (@SportsChat503) September 13, 2025
As Schwartz said, conditions are expected to improve by gametime. But it's something to monitor and Dan Lanning will have to refocus his team. It could be a further indication of this group's character and focus.
Urban Meyer makes the point that the field is artificial turf, a recently remodeled surface with state-of-the-art drainage.