DSC Inside Read: 3-2-1 look back at Indiana and ahead to Rutgers

 

 

For the first time this season, Oregon didn’t look like the better team. Indiana came into Autzen and exposed the Ducks’ weaknesses — protection issues, inconsistent execution, and an inability to finish drives — handing Oregon a 30-20 loss that felt as frustrating as it was revealing. The defeat snapped Oregon’s home winning streak and raised real questions about how quickly this team can correct its mistakes with another Big Ten matchup waiting on the road.

Now the Ducks turn their attention to Rutgers, a 3-3 team that scores over 35 points a game and moves the ball through the air better than anyone Oregon has faced outside of Penn State. The Scarlet Knights aren’t elite on paper, but they’re disciplined, balanced, and comfortable in long drives — the exact kind of opponent that punishes mental lapses. For Oregon, Saturday in Piscataway is less about talent and more about response.

3 Things We Learned from the Indiana Loss

1. Protection and poise remain Oregon’s biggest concern.
Indiana’s front seven exposed Oregon’s communication issues up front, sacking Dante Moore six times and forcing him into hurried reads that short-circuited drives. Moore owned his share of the problem: “They kind of found something in our offense… it starts with me getting the protection right so I can take hits off of me and get the ball to the right place.”

Head coach Dan Lanning was equally blunt. “Our protection wasn’t clean… I don’t think our plan was great, and their pitches were better than our pitches.” Against a disciplined, well-prepared Indiana defense, Oregon’s tempo-heavy offense never adjusted to the spot-zone looks and delayed pressures that neutralized its explosiveness. The Ducks managed only 267 total yards — their lowest output of the season — and failed to score an offensive touchdown after halftime.

2. Oregon’s defense created moments but couldn’t close.
For three quarters, Oregon’s defense did its job. A’Mauri Washington and Teitum Tuioti generated pressure, Brandon Finney’s 45-yard interception return tied the game 20–20, and Bryce Boettcher said afterward, “It felt like that was the play we needed right there… unfortunately we couldn’t capitalize.”

But the final quarter told a different story. Indiana outgained Oregon 114 to –8 in the fourth and controlled the ball for nearly 12 of the 15 minutes. Lanning admitted his defense “was a little loose in coverage… we didn’t do a good job contesting balls and didn’t stop the run when it mattered most.” It was a frustrating fade for a unit that had played well enough to win through three quarters.

3. Leadership and composure will define Oregon’s next step.
This was the Ducks’ first home loss since 2021, and it hit hard. Moore’s comments after the game reflected self-awareness more than frustration: “Nobody is perfect… it’s about how you bounce back. I’ve got to be more of a communicator on the field when things are going bad.” Boettcher echoed the sentiment: “We’ve got something to prove. We can use it as fuel or be down on ourselves.”

The locker room tone was one of accountability, not panic — but Oregon’s young quarterback and veteran core must now prove that words turn into execution. As Lanning said, “Adversity is real. You’re gonna face it at some point in your career — it’s how you respond to it.”

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2 Numbers to Know Heading into Rutgers

– 46.0% — Rutgers’ third-down conversion rate, the second-best mark in the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights sustain drives with high-percentage throws from quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (66.0%, 1,785 yards, 13 TDs, 3 INTs) and a power back in Antwan Raymond (560 yards, 9 TDs). For Oregon, getting off the field — especially after Indiana went 7-for-16 on third and fourth downs combined — will be the priority.

– 35.7 points per game — Rutgers’ scoring average through six games, driven by explosive passing production (309 yards per game, 8.5 yards per attempt) and solid time-of-possession control (33:11 per game). Oregon’s defense has thrived on pressure packages and takeaways, but Rutgers has allowed just nine sacks all season and leads the Big Ten in fewest turnovers lost (0 fumbles, 3 INTs). That ball security and balance could stress Oregon’s defensive front for a second straight week.

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1 Key Question

Can Oregon reestablish control at the line of scrimmage?
If Oregon wants to rebound on the road, it starts up front — both sides. Rutgers isn’t flashy, but it’s efficient and physical, averaging 443 yards per game and converting nearly 70% on fourth down. The Ducks’ offensive line must simplify protection schemes and give Moore time to regain confidence, while the defense must finish pressures with sacks instead of near-misses.

The Ducks still control their path in the Big Ten — but that path narrows with every lapse in fundamentals. Saturday in Piscataway won’t be about talent; it’ll be about execution, communication, and how Oregon handles its first true test of resilience.

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