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Dante Moore, Source: IG
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Dante Moore, Source: IG
If Oregon needed a statement win after the Indiana stumble, they sure made everyone notice. The No. 6 Ducks unloaded 56 points on Rutgers in a road demolition. You could almost sense the pent-up frustration from the last 30-20 loss to the Hoosiers pouring out of every touchdown, every deep ball, every defensive stop. And the exclamation point is that the nation recognized and honored Dante Moore and the Ducks.
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On October 19, Pro Football Focus released its latest rankings after Week 8. Six Ducks made it to their Big Ten Team of the Week list, starting with Dante Moore. Coming off a season-low 46.3 PFF grade against Indiana, the sophomore QB looked like he’d taken that personally. He went 15-of-20 for 288 yards and four touchdowns, five of those completions being big-time throws. The most impressive part is that there is not a single turnover-worthy play. He also added 49 rushing yards just to show off the dual-threat card. The other players include RB Noah Whittington, TE Kenyon Sadiq, and LT Isaiah World on offense. EDGE Teitum Tuioti and S Aaron Flowers represented the Ducks’ defense.
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Credits:Oregon running back Noah Whittington is hoisted into the air after a touchdown as the Oregon Ducks host Hawaii Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. Ducks Wire
Each player turned heads in Week 8. Noah Whittington turned 11 carries into 125 yards, an absurd 11.4 yards per carry, with two touchdowns. His 68-yard first-quarter burst flipped the momentum early and sparked a scoring avalanche that Rutgers never recovered from. Meanwhile, Kenyon Sadiq quietly became every QB’s best friend. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound junior had four catches for 80 yards, two of them touchdowns. Isaiah World also deserves a salute. He posted an 88.4 pass-block grade and an 81.8 offensive grade overall.
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And while the offense stole the spotlight, Oregon’s defense made sure the party didn’t stop there. Teitum Tuioti had a sack and three tackles while Aaron Flowers turned in another gem, logging five tackles, forcing a fumble, and snagging an interception. The scoreboard said it all. The Ducks led 56-3 after three quarters, with the final score reading 56-10. This big win also catapulted their ESPN rankings.
Dante Moore and Oregon climb in the latest ESPN FPI rankings
When the dust settled, Oregon’s 750-yard offensive explosion, their second-highest total in school history, was enough to push them up three spots to No. 2 in the ESPN FPI rankings, sitting only behind Ohio State. Indiana, the team that beat them a week ago, is now two spots lower at No. 4.
Right now, Oregon’s 6-1 and surging back toward playoff relevance. Up next, they face Wisconsin at Autzen Stadium. The Ducks have beaten the Badgers four straight times, including both Rose Bowl meetings in 2011 and 2019. History says Oregon owns this matchup. A win keeps them firmly in the playoff hunt and turns that FPI climb into real momentum.
Momentum says they’re about to remind everyone why the Ducks don’t stay down for long. History, rankings, and rhythm are all on their side, and right now, Oregon looks like a program no team wants to face in November.
Written by
Edited by
Nourin Parvin