In just his 4th year at the helm, Dan Lanning has guided his team to an 8-1 record. With that, his squad moved one step closer to the CFP after their hard-fought 18-16 win over Iowa. The win did keep their postseason hopes alive, but it didn’t come easy. The Hawkeyes brought one of the nation’s best defenses with 243.1 YPG, and Mother Nature wasn’t doing the Ducks any favors either. Despite that, Lanning’s squad managed a win, and that incited the HC to express his emotion.

In the postgame press conference, Oregon HC admitted, “‘I was pretty nervous’ before Sappington’s last field goal. Shouldn’t have down to that. Can’t recreate in practice, ice in the veins.” That final kick was all it took. With three seconds left on the clock, Atticus Sappington drilled a 39-yard field goal, sealing Oregon’s win and shattering Iowa’s College Football Playoff hopes as the Hawkeyes fell to 6-3 on the season.

Dan Lanning: “I was pretty nervous” before Sappington’s FG. Shouldn’t have down to that. Can’t recreate in practice, ice in veins.

— James Crepea (@JamesCrepea) November 9, 2025

Despite both having their defensive prowess, Oregon controlled this game offensively, outgaining Iowa 373 yards to 239. Dante Moore led a decisive 54-yard drive that set up Sappington’s third FG. Besides, Moore’s 24-yard connection with Malik Benson and five completions for 47 yards on the drive highlighted his poise under pressure.

The ground game was just as vital. Dierre Hill Jr. broke loose for a 19-yard touchdown, while Noah Whittington powered through for 118 rushing yards, anchoring Oregon’s attack. On defense, the Ducks added a critical safety after Iowa punter Rhys Dakin mishandled a snap. With the win, Oregon extended the nation’s longest active regular-season road streak to 10 games, though the Hawkeyes made them fight for every inch.

After the game, Lanning acknowledged the grind with a touch of humor, posting on social media. “I guess that’s what they call Big Ten football. What an unbelievable game.” Iowa showed flashes of brilliance, particularly late. Mark Gronowski connected with D.J. Vonnahme for a 3-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and Drew Stevens nailed a 58-yard field goal in the fourth.

Gronowski’s 3-yard TD run briefly gave the Hawkeyes their first lead at 16–15, but his two-point attempt fell incomplete. Costly mistakes — including five penalties for 57 yards — ultimately kept Iowa from closing the door on the Ducks. Now, this ‘one’s gain, another’s pain’ situation gave Dan Lanning’s Oregon one more reason for a smile.

Dan Lanning’s RB seems to earn MVP

The Ducks RB Noah Whittington was one of the driving forces behind Oregon’s win over Iowa. With the absence of key skill players like Kenyon Sadiq and Dakorien Moore, Whittington completed 17 carries, powering the Ducks through freezing rain. His dominance on the ground stood out facing the nation’s 12th-ranked rush defense, and his impact was felt early.

Late in the first half, Whittington picked up 2 crucial first downs on back-to-back carries, and he finished the half with 87 yards. It marked the fourth game this season that he led the Ducks in rushing, and with such a stunning display in the win over the Hawks, Whittington is the deserving MVP. Probably, that’s why Dan Lanning didn’t hold back from praising his team’s resilience to CBS’s Jenny Dell.

After the win, Lanning stated, “Our resilience, next guy up, unbelievable team. They had no quit, our team had no quit. It’s kind of like whoever had it last is going to have a chance. We had a chance tonight.” Now, as they turn their sights to Minnesota, their focus will climb even higher in the CFP rankings.