Saturday, September 13
Evanston, Ill.
11 a.m. CT
Northwestern
1-2 , 0-1
14
vs
34
#4 Oregon
3-0 , 1-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Oregon
7
10
14
3
34
Northwestern
0
0
0
14
14
Northwestern Falls To No. 4 Oregon, 34-14
9/13/2025 2:34:00 PM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. (September 13, 2025) — Facing its highest ranked opponent in a Big Ten opener since the 2013 season, Northwestern fell to No. 4 Oregon, 34-14, on Saturday at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
After morning thunderstorms gave way to clear skies alongside Lake Michigan, the Wildcats (1-2) battled to solve a Ducks buzzsaw that entered the matchup outscoring opponents by a combined 128-16.
"We got our butts kicked by a really good football team," Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun said. "I want our guys to keep their heads up. I want them to stay the course and be confident."
In his third start as a Wildcat, junior wide receiver Griffin Wilde amassed 55 receiving yards. The former South Dakota State standout became the first player to lead the team in receiving in a season's first three games since Austin Carr did so during the 2016 campaign.
On the defensive side of the ball, redshirt junior safety Robert Fitzgerald registered a team-high 10 tackles.
The Northwestern defense forced an Oregon punt on the Ducks' opening drive. This marked just the third Oregon punt of the season and the first time head coach Dan Lanning's squad didn't produce points on an opening possession this season.
Although the Wildcats' first drive ultimately ended without a score, Northwestern's backfield showed significant flashes early on. Redshirt sophomore running back Caleb Komolafe, thrust into the starting lineup following Cam Porter's season-ending injury, rushed four times for 21 yards on the drive.
With 2:18 remaining in the first quarter, Oregon running back Jayden Limar broke the deadlock on a one-yard rushing score to give the visitors a touchdown lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, redshirt junior running back Joseph Himon II found a bit of daylight and broke loose for a 39-yard return, but the 'Cats couldn't capitalize on their positive field position and punted before the quarter concluded at 7-0. The Ducks' first-quarter output was their lowest scoring opening quarter of the season, having combined for 37 in their previous two opening frames.
While Oregon advanced into Northwestern territory on an extended drive early in the second quarter, redshirt sophomore cornerback Josh Fussell's third-down pass breakup forced the Ducks to settle for a 42-yard field goal that made it 10-0.
Just 31 seconds ahead of the halftime break, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore connected with wideout Kenyon Sadiq to send the Ducks into halftime with a 17-0 lead.
After the Wildcats held the ball for more than seven minutes to begin the second half, Ducks running back Dierre Hill Jr. ripped off a 66-yard rushing touchdown to push the gap to 24-0. The Ducks stretched their lead to 31 with 2:56 left in the third quarter on a two-yard rushing touchdown from Jordan Davison.
For the second consecutive week, graduate student linebacker Mac Uihlein snagged an interception, picking off Moore seven seconds into the final quarter. The play marked Moore's first interception of the year.
Uihlein is the first Wildcat linebacker to record multiple interceptions in a season since Xander Mueller had three in 2023.
In the fourth quarter, Oregon added three more points to its tally before Komolafe scored his first touchdown of the season to get Northwestern on the board, 34-7. With less than two minutes to play, redshirt freshman running back Dashun Reeder broke free down the left sideline for a 79-yard touchdown on his first carry of the game, trimming the margin to 34-14.
"There is an opportunity for us to go back and evaluate and [ask], 'Who are we as a football team and as a coaching staff?'" Braun said. "How do we put this team in position to do it the Wildcat way? It's an opportunity for us to learn and grow."
Northwestern will have a bye week to recover before the team's next test — a September 27 matchup with UCLA at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. A kickoff time and television network are to be determined.
Gallery: (9-13-2025) Football vs. Oregon
After morning thunderstorms gave way to clear skies alongside Lake Michigan, the Wildcats (1-2) battled to solve a Ducks buzzsaw that entered the matchup outscoring opponents by a combined 128-16.
"We got our butts kicked by a really good football team," Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun said. "I want our guys to keep their heads up. I want them to stay the course and be confident."
In his third start as a Wildcat, junior wide receiver Griffin Wilde amassed 55 receiving yards. The former South Dakota State standout became the first player to lead the team in receiving in a season's first three games since Austin Carr did so during the 2016 campaign.
On the defensive side of the ball, redshirt junior safety Robert Fitzgerald registered a team-high 10 tackles.
The Northwestern defense forced an Oregon punt on the Ducks' opening drive. This marked just the third Oregon punt of the season and the first time head coach Dan Lanning's squad didn't produce points on an opening possession this season.
Although the Wildcats' first drive ultimately ended without a score, Northwestern's backfield showed significant flashes early on. Redshirt sophomore running back Caleb Komolafe, thrust into the starting lineup following Cam Porter's season-ending injury, rushed four times for 21 yards on the drive.
With 2:18 remaining in the first quarter, Oregon running back Jayden Limar broke the deadlock on a one-yard rushing score to give the visitors a touchdown lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, redshirt junior running back Joseph Himon II found a bit of daylight and broke loose for a 39-yard return, but the 'Cats couldn't capitalize on their positive field position and punted before the quarter concluded at 7-0. The Ducks' first-quarter output was their lowest scoring opening quarter of the season, having combined for 37 in their previous two opening frames.
While Oregon advanced into Northwestern territory on an extended drive early in the second quarter, redshirt sophomore cornerback Josh Fussell's third-down pass breakup forced the Ducks to settle for a 42-yard field goal that made it 10-0.
Just 31 seconds ahead of the halftime break, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore connected with wideout Kenyon Sadiq to send the Ducks into halftime with a 17-0 lead.
After the Wildcats held the ball for more than seven minutes to begin the second half, Ducks running back Dierre Hill Jr. ripped off a 66-yard rushing touchdown to push the gap to 24-0. The Ducks stretched their lead to 31 with 2:56 left in the third quarter on a two-yard rushing touchdown from Jordan Davison.
For the second consecutive week, graduate student linebacker Mac Uihlein snagged an interception, picking off Moore seven seconds into the final quarter. The play marked Moore's first interception of the year.
Uihlein is the first Wildcat linebacker to record multiple interceptions in a season since Xander Mueller had three in 2023.
In the fourth quarter, Oregon added three more points to its tally before Komolafe scored his first touchdown of the season to get Northwestern on the board, 34-7. With less than two minutes to play, redshirt freshman running back Dashun Reeder broke free down the left sideline for a 79-yard touchdown on his first carry of the game, trimming the margin to 34-14.
"There is an opportunity for us to go back and evaluate and [ask], 'Who are we as a football team and as a coaching staff?'" Braun said. "How do we put this team in position to do it the Wildcat way? It's an opportunity for us to learn and grow."
Northwestern will have a bye week to recover before the team's next test — a September 27 matchup with UCLA at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. A kickoff time and television network are to be determined.
Team Stats
UO
NU
Total Yards
373
313
Pass Yards
197
135
Rushing Yards
176
178
Penalty Yards
0
27
1st Downs
21
15
3rd Downs
7
3
4th Downs
0
2
TOP
27:42
32:18
1st Quarter
UO 7, NU 0
UO - Limar,Jayden 1 yd run (Sappington,Atticus kick), 5 plays, 23 yards, TOP 02:37
2nd Quarter
UO 10, NU 0
UO - Sappington,Atticus 42 yd field goal 12 plays, 56 yards, TOP 06:03
UO 17, NU 0
UO - Sadiq,Kenyon 24 yd pass from Moore,Dante (Sappington,Atticus kick) 11 plays, 89 yards, TOP 04:20
3rd Quarter
UO 24, NU 0
UO - Hill Jr,Dierre 66 yd run (Sappington,Atticus kick), 1 plays, 66 yards, TOP 00:12
UO 31, NU 0
UO - Davison,Jordon 2 yd run (Sappington,Atticus kick), 4 plays, 35 yards, TOP 02:22
4th Quarter
UO 34, NU 0
UO - Sappington,Atticus 25 yd field goal 4 plays, 5 yards, TOP 01:24
UO 34, NU 7
NU - Komolafe,Caleb 1 yd run (Olsen,Jack kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:07
UO 34, NU 14
NU - Reeder,Dashun 79 yd run (Olsen,Jack kick), 3 plays, 91 yards, TOP 01:13
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
11
TD
0
YDS
135
INT
2
CMP
0
TD
0
YDS
0
INT
0
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
WR
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