Where do Dan Lanning’s Oregon Ducks stand right at the moment? They have outscored their opponents by a whopping 112 combined points through the first two weeks of the season. Lanning and co. are now on their way to another possible blow out after David Braun’s Northwestern Wildcats, were picked near the bottom of the Big Ten in preseason polls. While Braun prepares for the big game, he ensured not to follow Mike Gundy’s path. After all, knowingly or unknowingly, the Oklahoma State’s head coach gifted Lanning’s squad the motivational juice to prove that no one should mess with them.

Lanning’s boys crushed the Cowboys in a 69-3 win. The overall narrative around the game suggest that the gap wouldn’t have been so much had Gundy not stirred the pot with a blunt remark.

Braun instead was all praise for Lanning during the pre-game press conference. “Incredibly opportunity this weekend with Oregon coming into town, opening up Big Ten play. Coach [Dan] Lanning has done an exceptional job at Oregon…Turn on the tape from last year, turn on the tape from their first two games, and it doesn’t take long to find a profound respect for the quality of football team that they have and the task we have right in front of us this Saturday.” If only praising an opponent had the opposite effect from that of Gundy’s remarks.

The No. 4 Ducks are 28.5-point favorites at Northwestern, according to Action Network. The over/under is 51.5. Braun is making sure he does not give any extra motivational material for the Oregon players. Because we’ve seen how merciless the Ducks can get when anyone dares to call them out. Just ask Gundy after his NIL jab. 

During his press conference on September 1, Gundy claimed Oregon is “spending a lot of money and they’ve put a lot into that organization and you can see, they’re a good football team.” This did not sit well with Lanning who at that moment used his words to give the Oklahoma State head coach a tough lesson. “It sounds like there is (a difference in our programs) listening to him talk. If you wanna be a top 10 team in college football, you better be invested in winning. We spend to win. Some people save to have an excuse for why they don’t,” came Lanning’s retort. Braun can’t afford a loss like Gundy’s as his team is already struggling with a costly loss.

Northwestern star’s injury leaves David Braun searching for answers in the backfield

Running back Cam Porter will miss the rest of the season with a right leg injury. This comes off as a huge blow for Braun’s Wildcats as Porter is their leading rusher. After two games, he had 137 yards and a touchdown. Northwestern went home with a 42-7 win over Western Illinois, but Porter’s injury came off as an unexpected curse.

He has been running for Northwestern since 2020 and had missed the 2021 season. Till now, Porter has rushed for 1,908 yards and 18 TDs over 45 games across the last five seasons. He led the Wildcats in rushing yards each of the last two seasons, finishing with 651 yards in 2023 and 501 yards last season.

The Wildcats will have to rely on Caleb Komolafe, who has rushed 20 times for 97 yards so far this season. Braun might also count on Joseph Himon II to take reins of the Northwestern backfield. And what about Oregon? One concern came just before halftime against Oklahoma State when quarterback Dante Moore was seen with a towel over his head. But the quarterback confirmed that he was feeling good after the game.  

Meanwhile, even though David Braun refused to mess with Dan Lanning, the Oregon Alum, George Wrighster had set out his clear demands. “I don’t even care what they do in the regular season. I don’t care whether they go undefeated. I don’t care whether they lose two games. Just make it to the playoff and then win games,” said the former Ducks’ tight end. Do Braun and his crew gain ground by playing it safe?