After getting some rest from their bye week, the Oregon Ducks are set to face a tough challenger in the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Ducks, 7-1, are the No. 6 team in the nation. On the other hand, Iowa is currently unranked, despite its 6-2 record. Many fans have already chalked this up as a win for the Ducks, and that is a big mistake.
The Hawkeyes' two losses are ones worth taking a look at. Their first came in an in-state rivalry game against the Iowa State Cyclones, where they lost 13-16. It was only their second game of the season, which should always be taken into account when evaluating a team's record. Their second loss came to the No. 2 team in the country, the Indiana Hoosiers. When Oregon played Indiana at home, the Ducks were stunned, losing 30-10. When the Hawkeyes played the Hoosiers, the score was 20-15.
Heading to Iowa for the first time since 1989. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/06DMB9Dxx6
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) November 4, 2025
As far as their resume goes, and playing the Hoosiers closer than the Ducks, Iowa has some solid wins. They beat the Wisconsin Badgers, a team Oregon struggled against, 37-0. They beat Penn State and a 6-3 Minnesota team. Penn State, at one point, was Oregon's biggest win. The one less loss for Oregon is what separates the teams, from a resume standpoint.
The Hawkeyes' pass attack is not great, but they live to run the ball. According to On3, the Hawkeyes are ranked No. 8 in rushing offense and No. 13 in rushing defense. As of late, the Ducks have struggled to buy Dante Moore time, so the running game has been key. Unfortunately for the Ducks, containing that is what Iowa is great at. However, the Hawkeyes do not defend the pass well, so if Moore has time, Oregon can take advantage.
The Ducks are far more talented on paper, but that does not give them the right to think this is a free win. Oregon has played down to its competition before and lost. If the Ducks want to make a deep playoff run, this final stretch of regular-season football is crucial. This could be a tough game, and Oregon should treat it as such. If the Ducks lose, the postseason could be gone.