DSC Inside Read: 3-2-1 Look at Oregon’s Win Over Penn State

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Three Observations

1. Oregon’s identity travels.
In one of the nation’s toughest road environments, Oregon proved its style works anywhere. The Ducks controlled possession (33:52 to 26:08), leaned on interior OL play (Pregnon and Laloulu both graded around 70+ PFF), and went 5-of-7 on fourth down. That conviction reflects a team that doesn’t just talk toughness—it operationalizes it. The 4th-and-1 TD at the Penn State 9 wasn’t just a conversion, it was a declaration.

2. The defense has turned a corner.
After surrendering nearly 300 rushing yards in last year’s Big Ten title game, Oregon flipped the script: Penn State had 69 total first-half yards and just 24 rushing yards on 13 carries (1.8 YPC). Bear Alexander (86.4 PFF) and Matayo Uiagalelei (2 TFL, sack) dominated the front, while Dillon Thieneman’s overtime interception sealed it. Yes, the defense bent late, but the body of work says this unit has grown into a strength.

3. Dante Moore is Oregon’s closer.
The sophomore QB didn’t just manage the game, he authored it in the moments that mattered. He went 29-of-39 (74%) with 3 TD and 0 INT, with his best throws coming late—across-body on 3rd-and-3 to Sadiq, the OT keep for a first down, and the back-to-back touchdown strikes to Gary Bryant Jr. PFF credited Moore with an 80+ passing grade, and his efficiency in short-to-intermediate windows (19-for-20 under 5 yards) proved that patience doesn’t preclude explosiveness.

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Two Questions

1. Can Oregon clean up special teams before it costs them a game?
The missed 46-yard field goal and the shanked punt that gifted PSU field position nearly swung this one. In a playoff chase, those margins are often the difference.

2. Will the tackles catch up to the interior?
The OL guards and center graded steady (~70 PFF), but the tackles struggled (Harkey low-60s, World low-50s). Against the nation’s top edge rushers, can Oregon trust its protection enough to stay balanced, or will Moore be forced into quick-game survival mode all season?

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One Bold Prediction

Oregon will be favored in every remaining regular-season game—and win the Pac-12/Big Ten crossover because of its defense, not its offense.
For the first time under Dan Lanning, the Ducks’ defense looks like a legitimate championship-caliber group: they shut down the run, generated 5 TFLs to PSU’s one, and stayed disciplined against motion and trick plays. If this holds, the Ducks’ path to the playoff runs through stops, not just scores.