5 Things To Watch: Oregon at Northwestern
As the Oregon Ducks begin thier Big ten title defense, several storylines will be key to watch in Saturday’s matchup against Northwestern. Here are five things to focus on when the game kicks off:
1. Ducks Aim to Continue Dominance: Oregon enters the game riding a 20-game regular-season winning streak,the longest active streak in the nation. After a perfect 9-0 conference record in their inaugural Big Ten season, the Ducks are looking to replicate their championship success.Head Coach Dan Lanning emphasizes the team expects a strong challenge from every opponent, viewing it as crucial for maintaining their high level of play.
2. Early Kickoff Presents Unique test: Both teams will face an adjusted schedule with an 11 a.m. local time (9 a.m. Pacific) kickoff. Though, the Ducks believe they are well-prepared, as their typical practice schedule begins around 8:30 a.m.Lanning noted the team used practice this week to simulate game conditions, confident their bodies are accustomed to the early start.
3. Wildcats Benefit from Extra Preparation: Northwestern will have a slight advantage in rest, having played on Friday of the previous week. This marks the second consecutive week oregon faces an opponent with extra preparation time; oklahoma State also benefited from a shorter week prior to last week’s game. The Ducks have raised this scheduling concern with the conference.
4. Discipline a Focus for Oregon: Despite a dominant win last week, the Ducks are prioritizing penalty reduction. Oregon committed six penalties in their previous game, many of which were pre-snap procedural errors. This is notably vital against Northwestern, who have been one of the least penalized teams in the country since the start of Head Coach David Braun’s tenure in 2023. Lanning expressed confidence the team will address these issues in practice.
5. Unique Game Day Surroundings: Saturday’s game will be played at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, a temporary 12,000-seat venue while the Wildcats complete construction on a new field scheduled to open in 2026. The stadium is located on the shores of Lake Michigan.Lanning downplayed the impact of the smaller, different environment, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the field itself and maintaining a high level of play nonetheless of the surroundings.
