Dan Lanning knows what he has with his Oregon football defense.
It does not matter that the Ducks have not faced the toughest quarterbacks on their schedule yet. Through three games, Oregon has allowed just six points in the first three quarters of play. Yet, it’s the consistency and closing Lanning wants to see fixed.
‘Just disappointed with the last couple of drives on both sides of the ball,’ Lanning said. ‘We knew this was going to be a limited possession game with the way they play football. They did a really good job of eating the clock. We have to take advantage of every series on both sides of the ball. At times we did that, at times we did not. … We just didn’t finish the way I wanted to.’
The Ducks jumped out to a 34-0 lead with 11:27 left in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats outscored Oregon 14-0 to end the game, something he was not pleased with following the game.
Oregon has opened the season with wins over Montana State, Oklahoma State and Northwestern, but will start to face stiffer competition with rival Oregon State and No. 2 Penn State on the docket over the next two weeks.
The Ducks have allowed just six points in the first three quarters this season, but 24 points in the fourth.
‘I think I know where our defense is at,’ Lanning said of what he’s seen through three weeks. ‘I think I know where we have to improve.’
Fourth quarter lull for Oregon
The Ducks extended their lead to 31-0 with 11:27 left in the fourth quarter. The 27-yard field goal by kicker Atticus Sappington was set up by Oregon’s defense, forcing a turnover on downs on Northwestern’s own 13-yard line when Bryce Boettcher and Peyton Woodyard stuffed a run by Caleb Komolafe on fourth-and-1.
At that point in the game, Northwestern had just 147 yards of total offense and was being shut out. However, on the Wildcats’ final two drives, they racked up 166 yards and scored all 14 of their points. The big plays, especially, hurt the Ducks.
Northwestern quarterback Preston Stone connected with receiver Drew Wagner for a 40-yard pass to set up the first score, while running back Dashun Reeder broke a 79-yard touchdown run right after the two-minute timeout.
‘We started out the second half with three straight stops, but ultimately we did not get enough stops at the end,’ Lanning said. ‘Ultimately, we got the win, but that’s not our expectation.’
Oregon defense causing turnovers
For the second straight week, Oregon’s defense forced the quarterback to throw two interceptions. Boettcher intercepted Stone in the first half and returned it 31 yards to set up Oregon’s first scoring possession.
Fellow linebacker Jerry Mixon picked off Stone in the third quarter and returned it for 36 yards, leading to a touchdown that put Oregon ahead 31-0.
‘We were advantageous when we had the opportunity to make plays on the ball,’ Lanning said. ‘Whether it’s Bryce or Jerry, those guys are proven to be guys who are ball production guys. That’s definitely what we’re looking for. I think we can be better before we get to that point.’
Boettcher ― who led Oregon with 94 tackles ― and Mixon have stepped into larger roles in 2025, with inside linebacker Jeffrey Bassa being drafted in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Mixon had a season-high five tackles and a tackle for loss against Northwestern, while also getting an interception in a second-straight game. Boettcher had five tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, the interception and a pass breakup.
‘Coach Lanning calls us ‘Sticks and Picks,” Mixon said. ‘(Boettcher) is a hard hitter and I get picks. We mesh together well.’
Boettcher could have had a couple of more interceptions. The Oregon star linebacker also played baseball for Oregon and was a 13th-round selection by the Houston Astros in the 2024 MLB Draft.
He broke up a pass from Stone from the Northwestern 39-yard line, one which he believes his baseball instincts should have kicked in to help him complete the play. Boettcher pushed off starting his MLB career to play a final season of football.
‘First one, I was keying the quarterback and it kind of took me to right where he was throwing the ball, Boettcher said. ‘It was a little out of reach; I should have dove like a centerfielder on that one. I made up for it a couple of plays later.’