Wednesday War Room: Previewing Northwestern Game

 

 

“We’re a morning-practice team… our bodies are used to it,” Dan Lanning said, shrugging off the 9 a.m. PT kick and the lakefront oddities of Northwestern’s temporary 12,000-seat venue. The message all week: routine over romance. Oregon graded itself at 72% assignment-sound last week—down a tick from Week 1—and Lanning set the bar plainly: “We expect that to be higher.”

Northwestern head coach David Braun is embracing the moment and the microscope: “Big Noon coming to campus… this is why you play in the Big Ten.” But he’s not sugarcoating the matchup: “Oregon is explosive, well-coached, aggressive in all three phases. We’re going to have to score—and be smart about how we do it.”

What Oregon Wants the Game to Be

Lanning calls it strength in numbers: “Eighty-one players played… 31 made a tackle… 19 touched the ball. It doesn’t let you hone in on one guy.” That multiplicity shows up in tempo changes, perimeter screens, and the tone-setting counter game Emmanuel Pregnon loves: “Counter is a tone setter… you let the defense know how you’re coming. Our goal is one thing—win and keep our QB clean.”

On defense, the Ducks want to make Preston Stone read post-snap truth. Safety Dillon Thieneman spelled it out: “We’re really versatile… two- and three-safety looks to confuse the offense.” The young corners will press, the safeties will spin late, and the edges will force rushed answers. If Oregon wins first down and owns the perimeter fits, this becomes a Big Noon business trip.

Northwestern, Honestly

Braun has built a process team that is aligning around complementary football. He knows the trap: try to match Oregon’s pace snap-for-snap and you’ll blink into 85 Ducks plays.

Offense:

QB Preston Stone has the arm and résumé, but his 2025 line is split-screen: four turnovers in the opener, then a settle-in performance last week. Oregon’s secondary has noticed the plan: short, on-schedule throws to WR #17 Griffin Wilde. “He’s their go-to… strong YAC,” CB Ify Obidegwu said. Expect bubbles, sticks, glance RPOs and a shot or two to test the Ducks’ young corners’ eyes. Since Cam Porter (lower-leg) was ruled out for the season, Braun will lean more on Joseph Himon II and Caleb Komolafe to keep the call sheet in phase.

Defense

Captain Mac Uihlein is the heartbeat at linebacker, and S Robert Fitzgerald cleaning up as the leading tackler tells you where the run fits have leaked. Braun’s dilemma is candid: “Limit explosives without handing Oregon five-yard answers all day.” When Northwestern has heated protections, it’s been selective and situational—he’ll need perfectly timed pressures and red-zone stubbornness to trade 7s for 3s.

Special Teams:

Braun’s scouting report doubled down on this phase: “They use special teams to weaponize their skill.” Lanning slipped in a wink about actually punting—“I was just worried we’d lose a punter to the portal”—then watched James Ferguson-Reynolds pin inside the 10. In a tight lake breeze, hidden yards are leverage plays.

Where It Tilts

Two levers:

1. Oregon’s perimeter run + counter vs. Northwestern’s alley fits. If Roley’s receivers keep blocking like they have—“be on block, you’ll get the rock,” as Ify says—the Ducks will keep the Cats in a bind between crack-replace and screen force.
2. Post-snap disguise vs. Stone’s rhythm. Lanning owned last week’s one bust—“poor coaching… we’ll get it cleaned up”—and the call this week is creepers and late rotation. Force second reads; rally to Wilde after the catch.

Health/Depth Notes that Matter

• Injuries: Lanning wouldn’t bite on specifics, but, “some guys who weren’t available last week I think will be this week.”
• Austin Novosad: “More precautionary than anything.”
• Running back depth: “Yeah, I’m traveling all seven.” That’s not posturing; it’s who they are.
• Northwestern RB Cam Porter: His loss is a big blow to the Northwestern offense

How It Unfolds

First 15: Oregon hits with counter/RPO and perimeter quicks to force early defensive declarations, then steals a shot after a tempo change. Dante’s note from Lanning—redirect protection earlier—shows up on the second drive in a tidy blitz answer.

Middle eight: Northwestern scripts a Wilde feature—choice/out/now screens—then a misdirection shot to loosen the box. Oregon answers with a field-position drive that ends in points; special teams flips one short field.

Fourth quarter: If the Ducks are north of 80% assignment and clean on pre-snap (Lanning: “We’ll get it fixed”), the depth starts to separate. Thieneman and the back end toggle to three-safety on long yardage; an Oregon edge wins a late one-on-one that turns into a hurried throw and a short field.

Keys to the Game

Oregon

1. Edges & Alleys: Keep counter efficient; make the corners and safeties tackle in space.
2. Disguise Without Busts: Spin late, but communicate—Obidegwu: “We see it on the iPads, fix it, and keep it pushing.”
3. Clean Operation at 9 a.m.: Cadence, subs, special teams—no free first downs.

Northwestern

1. Explosive Triage: Bend between the 20s, win in the red area.
2. Scripted Answers for Stone: Day-one throws to Wilde, one designer shot before halftime.
3. Complementary Count: Don’t chase Oregon’s snap volume; steal possessions with field position and a gadget at midfield.

Prediction

Braun is building the right way, and the lakefront setting will feel quirky. But Oregon’s multiplicity on offense and post-snap disguise on defense travel, and the Ducks’ “strength in numbers” shows after halftime.

Oregon 38, Northwestern 10