Dan Lanning, players react to Oregon’s 21–7 win over Wisconsin

EUGENE — In a rain-slogged, defense-first afternoon at Autzen, Oregon found its answers in poise, physicality, and a 99-yard drive that, as running back Jordon Davison put it, “broke their spirits going 99 yards.” Head coach Dan Lanning framed the night bluntly: “A good defense, when it comes to trying to rush the ball against them, it’s really difficult. This became that type of game… We had some really unselfish play from our players… It was really clear that it’s gonna be hard to be able to throw in some of those conditions. I saw some guys step up when their number was called.”

Lanning added, “To start so poorly on third down offensively and turn around to finish so strong in the second half… the defense played lights out today… [but] the nine penalties is troublesome. We have to be better there… Outside of that, I’m proud of how our players played in a tough environment and were able to take advantage of every opportunity in front of them.”

‘Proud of that kid’: Ducks rally behind Brock Thomas

Linebacker Bryce Boettcher said the sideline felt the lift when Brock Thomas entered: “I’m proud of that kid… it wasn’t surprising when he came in, especially in a rain game, and performed the way he did with that poise.”
Lanning echoed it: “He went 4-for-4… handled some tough snaps… got us into some of those checks… made some tough runs. I thought Brock did everything we asked of him in those moments.”

Thomas called it “pretty special” to be trusted: “Just treating it all the same… being confident, not getting too high or too low — just being calm, doing my job.” Lanning said the opportunity wasn’t an accident: “He shows up in practice every day… he’s been very consistent… a guy that was down there chopping us up on the scout team and earning his stripes.” The locker room reaction told the story: “They should go to our locker room and see them carry Brock Thomas up after the game,” Lanning said. Thomas confirmed, “Yeah, they picked me up… I got to break us down. That was pretty special.”

‘Ninety-nine yards’: The drive that flipped the game

Davison’s mantra was simple: “Coach Stein put all his trust in us, and we went out there and did that.” Lanning zoomed out: “We felt like it was gonna be that type of game… knowing we were gonna get the ball [after halftime]… big sequence to flip the field late and score 14 points there relatively quick at the end of the half and beginning of the second half… When the defense is playing well… it’s okay to use the clock. And we used the clock well today and played the brand of football that was necessary to win this game.”

The drive itself had been rehearsed. “We did a coming-out period on Wednesday where we put the ball on the minus one… funny how those moments show up,” Lanning said. “Ball security… our players [were] conscientious to cover the ball up… They did a really good job of protecting it and continuing to chug forward.” Davison’s in-game loop: “‘Protect the ball. Protect the ball. Protect the ball’… every single time.” And the credit: “That was all the O-line. I’m just running behind them.”

Adjusting to a Big Ten slog

Oregon leaned into the run because it had to. “We just had to settle in and figure out what runs were gonna be able to work… They had some tells… We had to find the look that worked for us… To be able to finish the game with 203 yards rushing I think shows we figured it out,” Lanning said. Pass-game standard? “We missed some opportunities early… just a little bit off… We’ll watch the film and go attack it.”

Boettcher reveled in the elements: “Personally, I love playing in the rain… sliding around… the ball comes out a little easier.” Safety Dillon Thieneman called it a childhood scene: “Playing in the rain is something you dream of… be ready for the ball to come out… read your keys… be ready to come downhill and hit.” He owned a late miss: “I gave up a big pass I needed to play better… just got to catch those when the opportunities come.”

Edges, risks, and special teams

Lanning stayed aggressive. On the opening onside kick: “You don’t just do it. You feel like the look is there… Once we thought it was there, wanted to confirm it was there… I don’t know if we executed it perfectly, but we had a lot of guys with their hair on fire trying to go get the ball and it worked out.” On a late fake punt: “We tried a fake punt… I was disappointed we weren’t able to take advantage… but we’re gonna continue to try to find edges like that.”

On James Ferguson-Reynolds: “It was a punting competition today… Ferg has done a great job… connects on the punt fake if we don’t have the holding call. We have a ton of confidence in him,” Lanning said, while noting it doesn’t change the offensive call sheet.

Harkey’s juice, Flowers’ captaincy, and the O-line’s imprint

Lanning on Alex Harkey: “He’s a guy that has juice every single day in practice and it shows up on game day… they were swimming some blocks… coaches made good adjustments… his physicality is going to show up in a game like that.”
On Aaron Flowers as captain: “When you talk about growth… he’s probably grown more than anybody else… He just worked, worked, worked… plays really physical… does everything we ask… All that work is paying off and Aaron is playing really good football for us.” Thieneman co-signed: “We room together… watch film… talk through what we’re going to do… It’s fun playing with him.”

Davison lauded the big men: “I feel we have the best O-line in the country, and that showed today.” And Gernorris Wilson loved the heavy looks: “Goal line is where we live — just push somebody forward… if we do our job, the result we want is going to be given.”

‘Gernorris or nothing’: The big-man touchdown and the dance

On the call to Wilson: “We knew it was Gernorris or nothing. Brock was either throwing that ball for a touchdown or throwing it away… It’s looked really good in practice. We’ve run that play for seven weeks and now it showed up,” Lanning said. The execution? “Very similar [to last year]. It’s either him or no one… the conditions play it different… he was wide open and did a great job coming down with it. I’ve seen that dance in practice a million times… I was hoping he would wait to get to the sideline to do it. But it worked out.”

Wilson, smiling: “I actually said a prayer… ‘If you bless me with this touchdown, I’m going to give the glory back to you.’… and it was raining and over-the-shoulder.” On the celebration: “I worked on it… didn’t want to get the Key & Peele three-pumps flag… but when it happened I said, ‘Freak it — go for it.’ Thank God he didn’t throw it.” Thieneman: “He nailed it.” Teitum Tuioti: “When he gets this opportunity, he’s going to do it.”

The QB room, the noise, and Dante’s status

Lanning addressed the backup-QB discourse directly: “Our backup quarterback went 4-for-4 tonight and we won the game… People should stop worrying about it… those other quarterbacks are doing a really good job in practice too. But Brock is playing well… Watch the film.”
On Dante Moore: “I think we could have pushed to get him back in, but he’s gonna be good… He had a bloody nose… looks like he’s in great shape now.” Thomas kept his focus: “Just not really looking at [the noise]… we’re all working for the same goal: to get a win.”

Grateful Ducks, grateful crowd

The tie-dye theme landed with Lanning: “The gear was awesome… It introduced me to some music I didn’t realize I knew… It’s a good example of how unique Oregon is… This is a place that does stuff that nobody else does.” Boettcher shrugged — “some cool jerseys” — while Wilson said the team “learned a lot” in meetings and even heard a story about Thomas’s dad working security at a Dead show.

The through-line

In Lanning’s words, this was about unselfish play and the right brand for the night: “When the defense is playing well… it’s okay to use the clock.” Davison distilled the offensive identity — “Protect the ball… every single time” — and Thomas matched it with calm: “Being confident… doing my job.”

Oregon didn’t start fast, but in Lanning’s punchline, it didn’t have to: “I guess it wasn’t that crucial to start fast since we still won.” The Ducks found their lane, leaned on their lines, and let the rain become an ally.