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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025

OREGON VS. JAMES MADISON EDITION

THIRD AND NAS True freshman Nasir Wyatt fronts a retooled Oregon pass rush.

B E N S O N ’ S B I G B E T P G . 7 • ‘AU T OM AT I C U S AT T I C U S ’ P G . 1 8 • J A ME S M A D I S O N P R E V I E W P G . 2 1

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GAMEDAY GAMEDAY, the Daily Emerald’s football edition, is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit news company at the University of Oregon founded in 1900. EMERALD MEDIA GROUP 1395 University St., rm. 302 Eugene, OR 97403 541.346.5511 | dailyemerald.com

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(On The Cover) Oregon Ducks linebacker Nasir Wyatt (32) warms up before the start of the Oregon vs. Indiana game. The University of Oregon Ducks played the Indiana Hoosiers at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., where the Ducks were defeated by the Indiana Hoosiers 30-20 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Oct. 11, 2025. (Anna Liv Myklebust/Emerald) (Right) Oregon Ducks wide receiver Malik Benson (4) is blocked by a Washington defender. The No. 5 University of Oregon Ducks defeated the University of Washington Huskies 26-14 at Husky Stadium in Seattle on Nov. 29, 2025. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)

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TEAM ROSTERS: JAMES MADISON OREGON vs. JMU OFFENSE

OREGON OFFENSE

PLAYER DANTE MOORE BROCK THOMAS JORDON DAVISON NOAH WHITTINGTON DIERRE HILL JR. MALIK BENSON JEREMIAH MCCLELLAN KENYON SADIQ JAMARI JOHNSON ISAIAH WORLD EMMANUEL PREGNON IAPANI LALOULU GERNORRIS WILSON DAVE IULI MATTHEW BEDFORD ALEX HARKEY

# 5 12 0 6 23 4 11 18 9 76 75 72 78 74 77 71

POS QB QB RB RB RB WR WR TE TE LT LG C T RG RG RT

YEAR RS-SO/TR RS-SO FR SR/TR FR SR/TR RS-FR SR/TR RS-SO RS-SR/TR RS-SR/TR JR RS-SO RS-JR RS-SR/TR SR/TR

# 52 1 50 10 44 28 26 54 47 31 21 7 4 5 22 0

POS DT DT DT EDGE EDGE MLB MLB ILB OLB FS FS CB CB CB STAR STAR

YEAR JR RS-JR/TR RS-FR JR JR SR RS-JR JR RS-FR JR/TR RS-FR RS-FR FR RS-SR/TR RS-SR RS-SO

OREGON SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER # JAMES FERGUSON-REYNOLDS 46 ATTICUS SAPPINGTON 36 LUKE BASSO 43

POS P K LS

# 14 9 13 11 0 8 12 79 52 60 55 76 15 89 3 28

POS QB QB WR WR WR WR WR LT LG C RG RT TE TE RB RB

YEAR RS-JR RS-SR/TR JR/TR RS-SR/TR RS/TR RS-SR/TR RS-SO/TR RS-JR RS-JR RS-SR/TR RS-SO GR/TR RS-SO/TR RS-SO RS-JR RS-SR/TR

JMU DEFENSE

OREGON DEFENSE PLAYER A’MAURI WASHINGTON BEAR ALEXANDER TIONNE GRAY MATAYO UIAGALELEI TEITUM TUIOTI BRYCE BOETTCHER DEVON JACKSON JERRY MIXON ELIJAH RUSHING DILLON THIENEMAN AARON FLOWERS IFY OBIDEGWU BRANDON FINNEY JR. THERAN JOHNSON JADON CANADY DAYLEN AUSTIN

PLAYER ALONZA BARNETT III MATTHEW SLUKA LANDON ELLIS NICK DEGENNARO JAYLAN SANCHEZ ISAIAH ALSTON ZA’RON COLLINS JOSEPH SIMMONS CARTER SWEAZIE ZACH GREENBERG RILEY ROBELL PAT MCMURTRIE LACOTA DIPPRE JOSH PHIFER WAYNE KNIGHT JOBI MALARY

YEAR SR/TR RS-SR/TR RS-SR

PLAYER SAHIR WEST AMAR THOMAS XAVIER HOLMES AIDEN GOBAIRA ANDREW TADDEO TERRY LOCKETT JR. KELLS BUSH DREW SPINOGATTI TRENT HENDRICK ELIJAH CULP JUSTIN EAGLIN MEKHI RODGERS JACOB THOMAS TYLER BROWN DJ BARKSDALE KJ FLOWE

# 15 8 9 97 33 90 88 56 5 2 30 1 7 13 32 14

POS DE DE DE DE DT DT DT WLB MLB CM CM CM S S NB NB

YEAR RS-FR RS-JR RS-SR/TR RS-JR/TR RS-SR/TR RS-SR/TR RS-JR/TR JR/TR SR RS-JR/TR RS-JR SR/TR SR SO JR SO

JMU SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER PATRICK REA MORGAN SUAREZ JOSIAH KENNARD

# 11 5 47

POS P K LS

YEAR JR/TR RS-SR/TR RS-SR/TR

(Oregon roster from ourlads.com; JMU roster from ourlads.com)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025

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MALIK BENSON BET ON HIMSELF – OREGON WON WHEN IT DID THE SAME The twice-transferred senior wideout has become one of the Ducks’ go-to options after returning to college football for one more year. BY OWEN MURRAY Associate Sports Editor

A year before he sealed No. 5 Oregon’s 26-14 win over Washington with a 64yard, fourth-quarter touchdown, Ducks wide receiver Malik Benson didn’t think he’d play another snap of college football. He was closing out the season for 2-10 Florida State University, and expected 2024 to be his final year of eligibility. Instead, he transferred to Oregon, where he became a deep threat — and a mentor. The door opened for Benson when the NCAA’s December 2024 blanket waiver gave former junior-college players like him an extra year of eligibility. Without it, his career would’ve ended with that season at Florida State. The case gave players like Benson one more shot play. He’s averaging a career-high 17.0 yards per reception in Eugene this season. He’s been employed as a sparkplug, and became one of quarterback Dante Moore’s most-trusted targets. After the Ducks started the season without Evan Stewart and lost Dakorien Moore and Gary Bryant Jr. midway through, he turned up, over and over again. What about Week 11, when Oregon had 23 seconds to get in field goal range in the rain at Iowa? Benson got open, and Moore found him. Or Week 13, when explosive offenses were keeping the Ducks mired in a backand-forth battle with USC? Benson (the third returner on the depth chart) was underneath one in the second quarter. He hadn’t returned big-game punts since JUCO, but he housed that 85-yard return for a game-breaking score. Or Week 14, when Washington was still within a score in the fourth quarter at Husky Stadium? Benson came open over the middle and skirted would-be tacklers en route to a 64-yard score. In the end zone in Seattle, he made a “W” with his hands, and broke it over his knee. “It just came to me in the moment,” he said. In high school, Benson “didn’t really take classes serious.” He ended up in junior college with a promise to his mother: he’d work in school, because he knew his talent could take him “somewhere.” “Somewhere” ended up being Tuscaloosa, Ala., where he caught 13 balls in 14 games under former head coach Nick Saban. He scored his first NCAA touchdown in a 66-10 blowout of Chattanooga off a coverage bust. But Saban retired after the Crimson Tide bowed out in the Rose Bowl that season, and Benson moved on. Then, “somewhere” was Tallahassee, Fla., where he scored another touchdown for a Florida State team that wound up as one of the season’s great disappointments. Benson, again, moved on. He

thought that was the last place — until, after the season, he got a phone call. He could get an extra year of eligibility off the waiver. He knew where he was going. Back in junior college, Benson had been recruited by Oregon, too. “The reason why I didn’t come was because I thought that it was kind of far,” he said after Oregon’s win over USC. “But for a full-circle moment, to come out here and just to get another opportunity to be able to play for Oregon, it was just nothing but a blessing.” He signed on as Oregon sent receiver Tez Johnson to the NFL Draft. Benson visited and stayed with expected starter Dante Moore — they went over plays, but got to know each other, too. Benson had 51 yards and a highlight-reel score in Oregon’s opener against Montana State University. A week later, he posted 48 yards and another touchdown. After he racked up 201 yards off 14 receptions in the Ducks’ first four games, he had become one of Moore’s go-to options. Finally, “somewhere” was Eugene. Then, Benson flew under the radar. He caught just four balls in the next four weeks. Oregon lost its first game to No. 7 Indiana. He was on the sideline, telling teammates, “Bro, we’re good. It’s going to be the spark.” It was, and in Oregon’s last four games of the regular season, Benson had 13 receptions for 249 yards. He topped it with the score against Washington. It’s unknown whether Dakorien Moore, Stewart or Bryant will be available for Oregon’s home playoff game Saturday. Oregon has flown in spite of its missing stars, and Benson finally has risen as one of his own. With 1 yard against James Madison University, he’ll hit 1,000 in his NCAA career. What the future holds isn’t clear for the 23-year-old, but he’ll ask a team to bet on him one more time with a phone call at the NFL Draft. If he gets one more shot play, after all, chances are he’ll make a house call himself.

(RIGHT) Oregon Ducks wide receiver Malik Benson (4) celebrates after returning a punt for a touchdown. The University of Oregon Ducks defeated their West Coast rival the USC Trojans 27-42 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., Nov. 22, 2025. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)

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DAN LANNING AND THE NO. 5 SEED DUCKS TAKE ON ANOTHER WINTER How the Ducks have performed in conference championships and bowl games since Lanning arrived. BY MAX KOEBEL Sports Writer

The Oregon Ducks are 3-2 in postseason play in the first three seasons under head coach Dan Lanning, including conference championship games and bowl games. Each year, the end result of the season has improved, but Lanning is still searching for his first win in the College Football Playoff. As No. 5 Oregon prepares to take on the No. 12 James Madison University Dukes in the first round, the added pressure of getting Lanning his first playoff win starts to take shape. That being said, Lanning’s track record of improving his outcomes each year gives confidence to the Ducks as they embark on another CFP journey. In the first season under Lanning, 2022, the Ducks finished the regular season 9-3, emphasized by a home loss to Washington in the rookie head coach’s first taste of the rivalry. Their final game was a 38-34 loss to Oregon State, which cost them a trip to the Pac-12 Championship Game. The then No. 15 Ducks finished the season in San Diego against the University of North Carolina Tar Heels in the Holiday Bowl. It was a neck-and-neck battle between two future first-round draft picks at quarterback in Bo Nix and Drake Maye, but with a last minute touchdown on fourth down, the former did just enough to secure a 28-27 victory for Oregon. The following season, the Ducks sat at 11-1 by the end of the regular season. They got their revenge on Oregon

State with a 35-7 beatdown at home to secure a spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game, where they fell short 34-31 to Washington, who they had also lost to in the regular season, missing the CFP. Then No. 8 Oregon finished the season in the Fiesta Bowl against No. 23 Liberty University. That game presented a similar matchup to what JMU is expected to bring this Saturday. Liberty dominated its conference in 2023, but hadn’t faced any opponents that were as high-level as the Ducks. It scored on the opening drive, but it was all Oregon after that, and the Ducks went on to win 45-6. Last year was Oregon’s first season in the Big Ten, which did not affect its ability to win. It finished the regular season 12-0 for the second time in school history, which clinched a trip to the Big Ten Championship Game. This time, the Ducks handled business in the conference championship game, defeating then No. 3 Penn State 4537 to clinch the No. 1 seed in the CFP. After almost a month of rest, Oregon made its CFP debut under Lanning when it met a red-hot Ohio State team in the Rose Bowl. The defense could not handle the Buckeyes’ explosive plays and the offense proved flat-footed as OSU put up 34 points before the Ducks finally got on the board just before halftime. They improved in the second half, but the deficit was too big to mount a comeback. Ohio State would win 41-21 and go on to win the National Championship. This Saturday, the Ducks will be coming off three weeks of rest as they look to redeem their playoff reputation in the

first-ever CFP game at Autzen Stadium. For Lanning, the preparation is no different from any other game. “The process has to be very similar to a normal game,” Lanning said. “But the stakes are certainly really high, knowing that if you don’t take care of business, you don’t get a redo. I think the piece for us is to focus on what allows you to have success and what creates the result you want, and that’s maintaining that process.” A win over JMU would send Oregon to the Orange Bowl, where it would play Texas Tech University on New Year’s Day. It would be Oregon’s third straight appearance in a New Year’s Six Bowl Game. Beating Texas Tech would send the Ducks to the Peach Bowl for their first semifinal appearance since 2014.

(ABOVE) The Oregon offense huddles with Dan Lanning and other coaching staff during a time out. The No. 5 University of Oregon Ducks defeated the University of Washington Huskies 26-14 at Husky Stadium in Seattle on Nov. 29, 2025. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)

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OREGON CHEERLEADER BALANCES RIGOROUS TRAINING WITH ACADEMIC DEMANDS

Eugene’s Brooke Tucker reflects on performing with Oregon’s most visible sport spirit groups. BY RACHEL MCCONAGHIE Sports Writer

University of Oregon cheer and dance athlete Brooke Tucker has spent nearly her entire life in motion. A lifelong dancer who began lessons at age five, Tucker is now in her third year with the program, a team that supports multiple athletic events throughout the year. Tucker trained locally at a few studios before studying under the coach at Sheldon High School, who would encourage her to audition for the Oregon cheer and dance team. “I knew I wanted to continue dance in college,” Tucker said. “I grew up in Eugene, so this was always my dream team.” Although Tucker considered programs at other universities, including Texas Christian University, she said Oregon’s dance style influenced her decision to remain close to home. “Oregon style specifically is what made me choose Oregon,” Tucker said. “We do a lot of jazz and we’re pretty hip hop heavy.” Oregon cheer and dance remains entirely tryout-based, a distinction that sets it apart from many collegiate programs that rely heavily on recruiting. Tucker noted that the tryout system makes room for a broader range of applicants. Every dancer must try out each year, so no one is guaranteed a spot. However, with continued progress, the chances become much better. As part of the onboarding process, rookies get a list of roughly 100 sideline routines for football games that they must memorize before showing up to training camp. “We move quickly, and performance is a major part of what we do,” Tucker said. “Understanding our style is the best way to prepare.” The workload for team members is substantial. Training camp begins in mid-August and typically lasts up to six weeks, with two practices each day in addition to conditioning sessions. Practices during the academic year occur three times weekly, with strength training on remaining weekdays. Football game days require full participation from all team members and often last eight hours. Oregon volleyball and basketball seasons, while less strenuous in individual time commitment, include more frequent events. Tucker said the

team performs one routine per basketball game, but football performances require significantly more preparation, including two newly prepared routines each week. In addition to her athletic commitments, Tucker is majoring in accounting and hopes to pursue graduate studies after completing her undergraduate degree. The Oregon cheer and dance team recently received priority registration privileges, which Tucker said has relieved some pressures of scheduling classes around practices and game days. “Staying on top of everything requires motivation and discipline,” she said. “Basketball season in particular means a lot of late nights, but you make it work.” November is considered the most demanding month due to overlaps between football, basketball and volleyball schedules. “I feel like bowl games can be cool just because you’re there for a little bit longer,” Tucker said. “You have more to

do, like at the Rose Bowl, it’s just like such an iconic game. This year, specifically for me, Penn State was probably the coolest, just because the environment was crazy.’ Tucker, who will graduate in the spring, wants to continue pursuing accounting. That doesn’t mean cheer will go away; she explained that NFL teams typically have more flexible practice schedules “I think it’s really about the overall experience,” Tucker said. “Football is so much fun. We probably have the best seats in the entire house.” (Photos courtesy of Steven Chan and Dana Lockett)

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BEST OF: OREGON

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DEFENSIVE TURNOVERS The turnovers forced by the Oregon defense has changed the course of the Ducks’ season. The Daily Emerald runs back the tape on the five best in 2025. BY MAX KOEBEL Sports Writer

Through the first 12 games of the season, the Oregon defense has recorded a total of 13 interceptions and nine forced fumbles. Several of those takeaways were major turning points in close games, and others just served as the cherry on top to a game that had already been decided. The Daily Emerald looks back at five of the best defensive plays from the 2025 regular season.

NO. 5: BRANDON FINNEY PICK-6 VS. INDIANA Not a lot went right for Oregon in its Week 7 matchup against the Hoosiers, but there is no doubt what its biggest moment in the game was. Early in the fourth quarter with the Ducks trailing by seven, the true freshman defensive back picked off eventual Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza and returned it 35 yards for Oregon’s only pick-six of the season thus far. This moment created a roar at Autzen Stadium that could be heard all across Lane County. The only reason it isn’t ranked higher is because it was the last time Oregon put any points on the board that day — Indiana scored 10 unanswered points to hand the Ducks their only loss so far this season.

NO. 4: JADON CANADY END ZONE INTERCEPTION VS. WASHINGTON Late in the first quarter of Oregon’s Week 14 rivalry game against the Huskies, the Ducks were on top, 3-0. They were on the verge of losing the lead, though, as Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. took a shot to the end zone, only to be picked off by Oregon’s nickelback, who leaped, reached and pulled the ball down in the end zone. The pick set up the Ducks’ first touchdown drive, and they were in full control of the game the rest of the way.

NO. 3: IFY OBIDEGWU GIVES OREGON AN EXTRA POSSESSION IN SHOOTOUT VS. USC The Ducks and Trojans had been trading touchdowns in the high-scoring Week 13 affair between two West Coast power offenses until Oregon’s redshirt freshman defensive back picked off a deep pass from quarterback Jayden Maiava. In addition to stopping USC from tying the game again, it set the Ducks up to take a two-touchdown lead into halftime. Oregon maintained the lead the entire second half.

NO. 2: BRANDON FINNEY AND BEAR ALEXANDER KILL SCORING DRIVE IN NARROW VICTORY VS. IOWA There was very little margin or error in Oregon’s 18-16 Week 11 win over the Hawkeyes. The Ducks were ahead five points midway through the third quarter. Iowa was 14 yards away from taking the lead when Finney punched the ball free. Alexander was the first to react to the loose ball and sent the Hawkeyes’ offense to the sideline with zero points. Nine plays later, the Ducks tacked on three more. Had Iowa held onto the ball, Oregon could be in a very different situation right now.

NO. 1: DILLON THIENEMAN WINS THE GAME IN FRONT OF PENN STATE’S “WHITE OUT” Thieneman’s interception at Penn State is a moment Ducks fans will remember for years to come. The moment Oregon took over one of college football’s toughest environments. It was the first overtime game under Dan Lanning, against the then No. 3 Nittany Lions. By rule, teams are required to attempt a two-point conversion once the game reaches the second overtime. After the Ducks failed their two-point try, Penn State had a chance to win the game if it could score a touchdown and a two-point conversion. On the first play of the drive, quarterback Drew Allar dropped back quickly and fired, only to have Thieneman jump into the path of the ball for the interception that would greatly alter both teams’ paths for the rest of the season. (BELOW) Oregon Ducks wide receiver Malik Benson (4) celebrates after returning a punt for a touchdown. The University of Oregon Ducks defeated their West Coast rival the USC Trojans 27-42 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., Nov. 22, 2025. (RIGHT) Oregon Ducks defensive back Brandon Finney Jr. (4) celebrates after a successful tackle against USC. The University of Oregon Ducks defeated their West Coast rival the USC Trojans 27-42 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., Nov. 22, 2025. (Katie Poluyansky/Emerald)

NASIR WYATT GOES BEYOND |

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025

Nasir Wyatt defines the struggles and rebirth behind the 2025 Oregon pass rush. BY JACK LAZARUS Sports Editor

On a third and long, a 6-foot-2, 228-pound edge rusher seems like nothing to balk at — just a relatively smaller guy who will probably drop back into coverage once the ball is snapped. However, that ball gets snapped, and the ball carrier is suddenly on the ground staring up at No. 32 in green and yellow. It can’t be characterized as underutilization, as the Ducks knew they just needed to find a way to. But at this point, it seems incredibly obvious that head coach Dan Lanning and his staff would use the speedy, technically-gifted pass rusher in a fast rushing set. “You put him out there like ‘Nas, you about to go in and you have this one job,’ and he’s gonna execute the job and do more. He’s going to hit the quarterback, get a sack, so when you put him in, he’s going to cause havoc no matter what,” junior edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei said. His two sacks rank third on the team, but the timing, criticality and real impact on the game are impossible to reflect on a stat sheet. It’s not always a Wyatt tackle or sack on crucial downs that creates a massive impact. On a third down in a onescore game against USC, Wyatt stormed into the backfield after a nifty spin move on the tackle and got a hit on the Trojans’ quarterback Jayden Maiava just as he released the ball. While Wyatt was just too late to get Maiava down for a sack, his lightning-quick rush caught USC’s signal caller by surprise and forced an errant throw that Oregon cornerback Ify Obidegwu picked off. That gave the Ducks the opportunity to take a two-score lead before halftime on the ensuing offensive possession. They paid it off, and didn’t look back in the 42-27 win. “He’s hard to block, man,” Lanning said. “It’s the same thing we saw when we started recruiting him, that this guy will be able to make an impact. He’s got speed, he’s got athleticism and a really natural pass rush ability, and that’s shown up for us.” Wyatt’s arrival didn’t come until late in the season, which makes sense when unpacked. In 2024, the Ducks greatly benefited from the breakout season of then sophomore Uiagalelei, who led the Big Ten with 10.5 sacks and also added 13 tackles for loss. This season, teams have schemed to shut down Uiagalelei, to the point where he didn’t lead the Ducks this year in either category. At the same time, his speed off the edge has caused quarterbacks to force quick releases on throws. Opponent offensive lines’ emphasis on stopping No. 10 on Oregon has left them helpless on the opposite side, against No. 44 Teitum Tuioti. Tuioti leads the Ducks with his seven sacks (tied for sixth in the Big Ten) and 14 tackles for loss (tied for third in the Big Ten). “I’m just here to help the team,” Tuioti said. “Whatever I can do, it doesn’t matter what I do, if I’m rushing or covering. Whatever I can do to help this team is what I am gon-

na do. On the field, I try to do my job and also make plays.” Tuioti’s improvement highlighted the midseason stretch following the loss to Indiana, where the Ducks woke up in a sense and started the current six-game winning streak that Oregon carries into the playoffs. Before that, the Ducks’ defense left quarterbacks too much time in the pocket, gave rushers at least three to four yards on every carry and forgot about open receivers in pivotal moments. While that midseason period only resulted in one loss to the now top team in the country, it was still far from the standard that this unit expects each time it steps onto the field. For Tuioti, his own growth as a leader became an integral part of the process. He’s experienced his fair share of college football, played with some of the best Ducks of all time and learned under some of the best coaches in the sport (including his own father, Oregon defensive line coach Tony Tuioti). The next step in his progression through this program would be to pass that knowledge onto the next generation.

“

He’s got speed, he’s got athleticism and a really natural pass rush ability, and that’s shown up for us.

“

PAGE 14

Dan Lanning Head coach

“Right now, a lot of the time I try to help the younger guys for the future. Just telling them my view on things,” Tuioti said. As Tuioti mentioned, having that guidance allowed less experienced players to blossom and make their presence felt by opposing quarterbacks. This resulted in recorded sacks for defensive tackle Tionne Gray, middle linebacker Jerry Mixon and outside linebacker Blake Purchase — both an increase in vocal leadership and a lack of focus on non-defensive line pass rushers. Purchase’s highlight play came in the first game of the aforementioned midseason stretch all the way across the country at Rutgers. After a successful pass rush hurried Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, an A’Mauri Washington deflection sent the ball straight into the air, and it was Purchase who rose up and came down with it. His own

pass rush off the edge put him in the perfect position to intercept that ball. While Wyatt isn’t the most prolific, experienced or biggest of these unexpected contributors, his speed and tenacity lend themselves to the fast rush package the Ducks like to employ on third down. His pass-rushing instincts and ability to use high-level moves to get around linemen are nothing short of scary, and it’s nothing new for some. “He’s a freak, man,” Uiagalelei said. “We went to middle school together, so I’ve been seeing it since then.” The freshman’s defining moment of his career so far came in the heated rivalry matchup against the Washington Huskies when he perfectly read a naked bootleg and found himself alone in the backfield with quarterback Demond Williams Jr. Like a hawk, Wyatt stormed in at light speed and made short work of his prey.

T’S IMPACT D STAT SHEET THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025

For this group, the season has been a rollercoaster, but the emergence of a talent like Wyatt helped alleviate the heavy pressure that cemented talents like Uiagalelei and Tuioti received from opposing offenses. Facing the No. 12 James Madison University Dukes, who have one of the most prolific offenses in the Group of Five, Oregon will need to mix up looks on the line in order to create sufficient chaos. Late game, in a crucial moment, the Dukes need to make sure they’re ready for Oregon’s ace in the hole — “Third and Nas.”

(ABOVE) Oregon edge rusher Nasir Wyatt (32) sacks Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (2). The No. 5 University of Oregon Ducks defeated the University of Washington Huskies 2614 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Nov. 29, 2025. (RIGHT) Oregon edge rusher Nasir Wyatt (32) celebrates a sack with linebacker Jerry Mixon (54). The No. 5 University of Oregon Ducks defeated the University of Washington Huskies 26-14 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Nov. 29, 2025. (Tyler Graham/Emerald) (TOP RIGHT) Washington Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (2) passes the ball as Oregon Ducks defensive lineman A’Mauri Washington (52) and linebacker Nasir Wyatt (32) jump to try to block the pass. The No. 5 University of Oregon Ducks secured a College Football Playoff first-round game after defeating the University of Washington Huskies 26-14 at Husky Stadium in Seattle on Nov. 29, 2025. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025

OREGON EQUIPMENT MANAGER FINDS PURPOSE BEHIND THE FOOTBALL SCENE From six-hour mornings to latenight travel, Mitchell Godfrey reflects on his work behind the scenes of Ducks football. BY RACHEL MCCONAGHIE Sports Writer

University of Oregon student and football equipment manager Godfrey’s entry point into college football came after a medical issue in high school ended his ability to participate in sports. Unable to play, Godfrey found another way to stay connected to the game, working in equipment. The decision eventually brought him inside one of college football’s most recognizable programs. “I just knew that going to college, I wanted to be somewhere outside of California,” Godfrey said. “I was really into sports, and Oregon stood out with sports business and Nike right up in Beaverton.” Through a connection with former Oregon offensive lineman Steven Jones, Godfrey secured an interview with longtime Oregon Football Equipment Administrator Kenny Farr in July before his freshman year. He moved to Eugene shortly after and has now spent five seasons with the program. As his time with the program nears its end, Godfrey acknowledged how meaningful the experience has been. He recently gave a senior-day speech to his equipment staff group, becoming emotional at the thought of leaving. “I was honestly almost in tears because this place has meant a lot to me,” Godfrey said. “Soaking it in one last time, just all traditions, the standard of Oregon, there’s a different expectation when people think of equipment.” Godfrey described that the appeal of working with Oregon athletics, specifically football, gives him a reason to keep going every day. “I think more of just having like the team aspect of it and the way I view it is that something bigger than myself,” Godfrey said. “If I’m able to do something that helps a whole organization succeed, then I find that my purpose is to do it.” The work, however, is far from light. During the season, Godfrey’s schedule reflects the intensity of the high-level demands of college football. A recent week of preparation ending with the game against Washington was intense. From Monday through Thursday, Godfrey prepared for the game with daily practices and equipment setup. He ensured that the team’s equipment truck was fully stocked on Thursday. After a walkthrough on Friday morning, his team of 13 students bussed for five hours to Seattle. On Saturday, he arrived at Husky Stadium at 7:00 a.m. for the 12:30 p.m. kickoff, worked the game and then traveled five hours back to Eugene, unloading the truck around midnight before returning home around 1:00 a.m.

“It’s a lot of hours, but it’s good when we get a win,” Godfrey said. Godfrey, who is a School of Journalism and Communication student completing his advertising major and sports business minor, noted that time management was one of the biggest challenges early on. “Working with the football team is a grind,” he said. “I struggled academically my first year, but it taught me how to manage my time.” The demanding schedule also limits how often Godfrey is able to see his family, who live in California. Despite the distance, he said the program has allowed them to stay connected through travel opportunities, including complimentary tickets that allow family members to attend games. “I don’t get to see my family a lot, sadly, but I try to always spend time to myself and hang out with friends,” Godfrey said. “I definitely say the people I spend time with at work, they’re like my second family.” Godfrey’s responsibilities vary depending on the day. As a student equipment manager, he specializes in staff apparel — that means ensuring coaches’ clothing, shoes and gear are packed, organized and ready for practices and game days. During practices, he works directly with the offensive line, setting up drills and spotting the ball. Outside the season, the workload lightens but remains steady. Equipment rooms are reorganized, laundry continues for team lifts and conditioning and the staff prepares for the next cycle. Getting to travel wherever Oregon football goes is one of Godfrey’s favorite aspects of the job. All expenses are covered when equipment staff travels with the team, allowing him to visit places he never expected. Even with travel perks and getting supplied with his own Oregon gear, Godfrey emphasized that the program values connections over material benefits. “It’s not about getting rich,” he said. “It’s about the connections. After this, I’ll be able to reach out to my boss and ask for help getting a job anywhere.” Within the program, Godfrey said the equipment staff functions as a close-knit group. Coaches often interact with them daily, and some even invite staff to off-field events. Fridays before home games, Godfrey plays basketball with a handful of coaches, sports science staff and fellow managers. Still, professionalism remains a priority. “We don’t try to be best friends with players… but they’re good people,” he said. “People forget they’re just humans too, like the rest of us.” For students who want to work in sports despite not being able to play, Godfrey offered simple advice. “You’re not gonna be right at the top right away, and that’s okay,” Godfrey said. “There’s gonna be times you’re gonna have to do jobs that no one likes, but the best people are the ones that are willing to do whatever job it is.” (Photo courtesy of Mitchell Godfrey)

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BREAKING DOWN ATTICUS SAPPINGTON’S SECOND HALF TURNAROUND. Sappington overcame a precarious start with a perfect second half. Now, as the Ducks enter the College Football Playoff for the second straight season, his experience will be relied on even more. BY HENRY LIGHT Sports Writer

Atticus Sappington stands on the 34-yard line at Autzen Stadium, leaning backwards and letting out a frustrated yell. Seconds earlier, Oregon’s kicker had lined up a 36-yard field goal attempt that seemingly guaranteed the No. 3 Ducks a halftime lead over No. 7 Indiana. After hooking it wide left, he was plunged into an all-too-familiar pursuit of redemption. In the third quarter, Sappington corrected course with a successful 33-yard, game-tying attempt, but his sense of redemption was obscured by his matching one-for-two performance in the previous game against Penn State, along with Oregon’s eventual loss to the Hoosiers. Sappington’s miss against Indiana dropped him to eight-for-11 at the halfway point of Oregon’s season. He opened the second half with a second straight week of practice spent correcting a missed kick, but rallied back to finish the season 15-for-18 with a perfect second half. His comeback was the product of a “next kick mentality” that Oregon head coach Dan Lanning has instilled throughout Sappington’s two seasons at Oregon, and the senior is now going into the playoffs in the best form of his career. Over their next two games, the Ducks kept their field goal unit off the field for completely different reasons. In Oregon’s 56-10 blowout win over Rutgers, Sappington’s role was reduced to kicking half of the Ducks’ eight extra points. Sappington stuck to extra points again in a 21-7 win over Wisconsin, in which a lethargic offensive performance led to Oregon’s season high of five punts. Sappington finally got a chance to retain the momentum from his second-half field goal against Indiana 28 days later against Iowa. Rain in the forecast in Iowa City meant that special teams would likely play a bigger role, although Sappington was still left to stay warm on the sideline until the final seconds of the first half. With two seconds on the clock, Sappington emerged to attempt a 46-yard field goal, which would tie his career-long. He got the second half of his season underway by drilling the attempt down the middle, giving Oregon a 12-7 halftime lead. Sappington extended the lead with a 40yard field goal in the third quarter, but Iowa responded with a field goal of its own and a touchdown in the fourth to take a 16-15 lead. In its first drive of the game without the lead, Oregon’s offense ran a perfectly executed two-minute drill to give Sappington a chance at a walkoff field goal from the left hash mark on the 39-yard line. Sappington capped off his comeback game with a signature moment, hitting the game-winning field goal and turning to run toward the Ducks’ sideline to celebrate. “Well, if you want the truth, I was pretty nervous,” Lanning said after the game. “I mean, I’m nervous for him because it shouldn’t

come down to that moment for Atticus, and that guy’s going to feel an unbelievable amount of pressure, however that goes. I’m really proud that he’s able to handle a moment like that.” Sappington enjoyed the moment on the field, but he reverted to the “next kick mentality” that had guided him through his struggles earlier in the season. “Iowa was a great game, and I’m super blessed that I was able to deliver in that moment, but at the same time, as (Lanning) always says, (it’s) next kick mentality,” Sappington said after Oregon’s Week 14 matchup with Washington. Sappington was provided another twogame break following his heroics in Kinnick Stadium, kicking 11 extra points in high-powered offensive performances against Minnesota and USC. Lanning made an uncharacteristic decision on the Ducks’ opening drive in Seattle, calling on Sappington with Oregon facing fourth-and-5 on Washington’s 28-yard line. Sappington rewarded him by tying his career-long of 46 yards for the second time in 2025. Sappington continued to execute Lanning’s decisions to take the points, converting a 32-yard attempt in the second quarter and exorcising his demons from the 37-yard miss against Indiana with a kick down the middle from the same distance in the third quarter. Late in the third quarter, Lanning sent Sappington back out to attempt a career-long 51-yard field goal. Sappington did just enough to clear the crossbar, and capped off his perfect second half with a series of fist pumps and screams. “I hit it pretty good, so I saw it had some good height on it, and I was like, ‘Come on,’ like, ‘Just get there.’ As I saw it start to cross the plane, that’s when I was like, ‘Okay, I banged it.’ That was my career-long and first-ever 50yard field goal I made, so I was super, super fired up,” Sappington said after the game. Sappington came into the second half facing a clouded process to correct mistakes after it had failed him the week before. He now moves on to the postseason with three career-long field goals this season and Lanning’s trust that he can win the Ducks a game if needed.

(RIGHT) Oregon kicker Atticus Sappington (36) points to the sky. The No. 5 University of Oregon Ducks defeated the University of Washington Huskies 26-14 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Nov. 29, 2025. (Tyler Graham/Emerald)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025

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OPPONENT PREVIEW: NO. 12 JAMES MADISON VS. NO. 5 OREGON DUCKS Take a look at head coach Bob Chesney’s Dukes, who achieved a playoff berth in just their third season as an FBS member. BY JACK LAZARUS Sports Writer

This season, the Ducks have played just two opponents that would be considered outside the realm of the Power Four conferences: Montana State and Oregon State. Of the 11 teams Oregon has beaten this season, none have a better total offense or defense than the No. 12 seed James Madison University Dukes, who travel 2,807 miles from Harrisonburg, Va., to take on the Ducks on Saturday in the first round of the College Football Playoff. The story of the Dukes’ rise in the FBS has been of incredible coaches taking them to new heights, as now No. 1 Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti took JMU up a level, and soon-to-be UCLA head coach Bob Chesney has taken them one step further. Chesney, who specializes in defense enters the playoffs with a 21-5 career record, a 2025 Sun Belt Conference Championship and the 2025 Sun Belt Coach of the Year honors under his belt. Defense has been a large part of the winning equation for JMU. This season, the Dukes are second in the country in yards allowed with 247.6 per game,

second in rush yards allowed with 76.2 per game and No. 10 in points allowed per game with 15.8. The unit is led by Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year senior linebacker Trent Hendrick, who led the team this year with 96 tackles and tied for No. 4 in sacks with three. The most points that James Madison allowed since a Week 2 loss to the University of Louisville was in a 63-27 demolition of Old Dominion University. The Dukes also outscored their opponents by multiple possessions in all but one conference game this season, and won their last five games by a combined score of 207-77. Hendrick and the defense proved too much to handle for the Troy University Trojans in the Sun Belt Conference Championship Game, which the Dukes won 31-14. The day was led by true freshman edge rusher Sahir West, who racked up 10 tackles and a whopping three sacks. The offense, meanwhile, has been a lot of the same story. James Madison would not be in the CFP without the incredible athleticism of junior quarterback and Sun Belt Player of the Year Alonza Barnett III. Barnett is a true dual-threat under center and along with junior running back Wayne Knight’s 1,263 rushing yards (No. 10 in FBS), nine touchdowns and 6.6 yards per carry (No. 15 in FBS), the Dukes are No. 5 in the country in rushing yards per game with 245.8. Barnett added 544 yards and 14 touchdowns of his own on the ground. The 14 rushing touchdowns are tied for No. 7 in the country for quarterbacks, placing Barnett in some elite company among running quarterbacks. Barnett added

2,533 yards and 21 touchdowns through the air while mitigating turnovers, which makes the Dukes’ passing attack one to look out for as well. Statistically speaking, the Ducks haven’t faced an offense or defense like this one since they lost to the No. 1 seed Indiana Hoosiers at home. In that game, Oregon allowed the Hoosiers’ defensive pressure to pile up and limit the run, while the defense failed to account for Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s running talent, especially on third downs. Those are the same mistakes that coach Chesney and James Madison hope to force the Ducks to make. That being said, this is a different Oregon team than it was against the Hoosiers, and being able to attack specific mishaps from that game will prove crucial for head coach Dan Lanning and his preparation. The game will kick off at 4:30 p.m.

(BELOW) The No. 5 University of Oregon Ducks defeated the University of Washington Huskies 2614 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, on Nov. 29, 2025. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025

MEET THE

COACHES A breakdown of the Ducks’ new offensive and defensive coordinators. BY HARRY LEADER Sports Writer

With offensive coordinator Will Stein and defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi accepting head coaching positions with Kentucky and Cal, respectively, the Ducks have reportedly promoted co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Drew Mehringer and co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Chris Hampton to replace them. Mehringer has been a part of head coach Dan Lanning’s staff since he became the head coach in 2022. Mehringer previously was the co-offensive coordinator for New Mexico in 2021 and Florida Atlantic in 2021, receiver coach and passing game coordinator at Texas from 2017 to 2019 and offensive coordinator at Rutgers in 2016. He played quarterback at Rice University in 2006 until a career-ending injury led him to coaching as a student assistant. After graduating in 2010, Mehringer was a graduate assistant at Iowa State and Ohio State, following his offensive coordinator, Tom Herman.

During his time as the offensive coordinator at Rutgers, Mehringer utilized a spread offense, which puts the quarterback in shotgun formation and spreads out receivers. This is the same offensive scheme that Oregon has used since 2020, when Mario Cristobal was the head coach. “He is one of the top young offensive minds in college football with an impressive history coaching multiple different positions,” Lanning said during a 2022 press conference after hiring Mehringer. “He was once the youngest play caller in the Power 5, and that experience will be very beneficial as we develop our offense.” Hampton has been with Oregon since 2023, following his two-year stint as the defensive coordinator for Tulane. He played safety at South Carolina from 2004 to 2007 and transitioned to coaching after becoming a graduate assistant at Arkansas State. His first coaching appointment came in 2011 when he became the defensive backs coach at Central Arkansas. He then moved to McNeese State, where he was the defensive back coach from 2012 to 2015, and then took a step up to Tulane, coaching defensive backs from 2016 to 2019. Following a brief stint at Duke in 2020, Hampton returned to Tulane in 2021 to be their defensive coordinator under head coach Willie Fritz. “Coach Hampton is a true student of the game,

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning and defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi stand on the sidelines during the No. 7 Oregon Ducks’ game against the No. 15 USC Trojans at Autzen Stadium on Nov. 22, 2025, in Eugene, Ore. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)

who truly cares about developing young men on and off the field,” Fritz said in a 2020 press conference. “He has a great defensive mind.” During his tenure as defensive coordinator, the Green Wave went 2-10 in his first season, but quickly turned things around, going 12-2 and winning their first AAC championship and first conference championship since 1998. Tulane went from being the No. 102 ranked defense to being the No. 46 ranked defense during his time at Tulane. Hampton’s track record is there, but with Oregon currently ranked as the No. 4-ranked defense in the country, it won’t be easy to maintain what Lupoi built on the defense. Hampton utilized a 4-2-5 defense, also known as a nickel defense, which uses five defensive backs. The Ducks have utilized both a 4-2-5 and 4-3 defense during Lupoi’s tenure as defensive coordinator and would likely continue to utilize that system going forward. Lanning, in the past, has praised Hampton’s ability to develop players. “He has a terrific work ethic, and his ability to build relationships will help our student-athletes thrive both on the football field and as men,” Lanning said. While these promotions are not official at this time, it’s likely that the team will make an announcement in the coming weeks, as it prepares for the upcoming College Football Playoff.

Ducks offensive coordinator, Will Stein, pumps up the large crowd of Oregon fans as the team heads back to the locker rooms for half time. Both sides of the ball for Oregon had a lot to be happy with the 42-0 lead at the half. The Oregon Ducks crushed the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., on Nov. 18, 2023. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)

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“THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO MISS THIS” STUDENTS REACT TO STAYING FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF Students are in Eugene, ready for one final game at Autzen Stadium this season. BY JOE KRASNOWSKI Senior Sports Writer

Dan Lanning is for the people. It’s one of his many calling cards, from showcasing his day-to-day coaching style with “Ducks vs Them” videos to always looking for pro-fan opportunities for his program. In fact, just seven seconds into his online press conference to address the Ducks’ College Football Playoff draw against James Madison University, he took the opportunity to discuss the kind of atmosphere he expects on Saturday.

“

OUR FANS ARE GOING TO SHOW OUT FOR THIS GAME.

“ Dan Lanning Head coach

“We’re really excited about this opportunity to host a playoff game at Autzen Stadium,” Lanning said. “It’s going to be a really unique atmosphere that didn’t really exist in the last 20 years.” Well, bringing that atmosphere to life requires students. Hosting a playoff game five days before Christmas Eve, a good eight days after students’ final exams have wrapped up, isn’t the ideal fan-forward environment for most schools. Most out-of-state students are either reluctant or unable to move their flights around to attend the game — student tickets were going for $36 if you have the Duck Sports Pass.

That, of course, leaves in-state students and those willing to travel for the game — which includes a 21.5 point spread in favor of the Ducks — to experience a first in Autzen Stadium history. For some, the decision was easy. “There was no way I was going to miss this,” Oregon sophomore Jay Mitowsi said. “This might only happen once in my time at UO, plus it’s only a few extra days, and I can just fly down when it’s done… I only ever booked my flight home for after a playoff game just in case.” Others, like junior student Matthew Dunn, who had been studying abroad for most of the term and football season, admitted they were excited about the chance to go to one more game this year. “It might be cold; it might be rainy and wet,” Dunn said. “But like, what’s the alternative? Miss it? That’s not going to happen.” Lanning echoed a similar statement regarding the weather. “It’s going to be a great atmosphere. You know, the 10-day forecast around here never necessarily holds true, so we’ll see what that looks like as we prepare ourselves,” Lanning said. “But one thing I know I can count on is our awesome fans to make this a really fun experience for our student athletes. And we went out there on senior day, and I remember talking to some of our players saying, ‘I hope this isn’t the last opportunity we get to play on this field.’ Well, now all those seniors get an opportunity to do it one more time here, which is really special.” Others, like Alec Hansen, a 2024 graduate who works across the country but will be home in Beaverton for the Holidays, said he’s excited for the chance to go to a game this season. “I can’t remember the last season I didn’t attend a game,” Hansen said. “James Madison or not, Autzen is perfect.” Lanning agrees. “Our fans are going to show out for this game. There’s zero doubt in my mind that they’ll be there. If it’s not a student, it’ll be another Oregon fan that’s in there, but they don’t want to miss the opportunity. To see the one playoff game in Autzen Stadium, that hasn’t happened before. So I think we’ll have a lot of fans there ready to support it and ready to see that myself.” (LEFT) Oregon student section during "Shout." The University of Oregon Ducks defeated the University of Minnesota Gophers 42-13 in a Friday night matchup on Nov. 14, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. (Julia Massa/Emerald)

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SHEA: WHY OREGON’S MID-SEASON LOSS PUTS THE DUCKS IN A BETTER POSITION THAN LAST YEAR A worse overall record and seeding means a better route for Oregon in the playoffs. BY ROWAN SHEA Sports Writer

While not undefeated at this point, it’s been another near perfect season for Oregon football. The loss against Indiana is the one blemish on the Ducks’ 2025 campaign. However, going 11-1 and getting a first round playoff game is a better position for Oregon going into the playoffs than last year. Why? It comes down to three things: the Ducks didn’t have to play an extra game, they were granted the No. 5 seed, meaning Oregon wouldn’t face a top-three team until at least the semi-finals and this also means the Ducks will likely avoid playing a team they’ve faced this season until that same point. While Oregon started the 2024 playoffs on a bye week as the No. 1 seed, this actually put the Ducks at a disadvantage. By winning the Big Ten conference, resulting in a bye week during the first round of the playoffs, Oregon was off the field for almost a month. In the Rose Bowl against Ohio State, Oregon looked like a shell of its Big Ten Championship game form. With the loss against the Hoosiers, Oregon did not have the opportunity to play in the Big Ten Championship game this season. The Ducks get to start the playoffs in the first round. What seems like a more tiring schedule is actually better. With no conference championship game and no bye week, the Ducks do not have the chance to take their foot off the gas, letting them remain dialed in for the entirety of the playoffs. Going 11-1 also means getting a lower seed. That lower seed means they get to hit the playoffs sooner, and they can have an easier route to the later stages.

The No. 1 seed is a coveted position, but the team that has occupied that seat doesn’t always win the highest honor in college football. Since the inception of the College Football Playoff structure in 2014, the No. 1 seed has only won a national championship four times in the last 11 years. The three-seed won it once, the four-seed has won it two times, the two-seed has won it three times and the eightseed Buckeyes won it last year. Being placed at the No. 5 seed gives Oregon exactly what they need: A game against the last team to make the playoffs in the James Madison University Dukes. JMU will prove to be a tough opponent that will bring real fight to Eugene which will keep the Ducks in the mindset of the playoffs while not tiring out in the first round. With a win against the Dukes, Oregon flies from one corner of the country to the other. Heading into the

Sunshine State, the Ducks took on Texas Tech at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Reaching the third round means a potential rematch for the Ducks against the Hoosiers. If 2025 Heisman Trophy winner quarterback Fernando Mendoza can lead Indiana to the Peach Bowl, Oregon has the opportunity to pull off the upset and propel themselves into the National Championship. Facing Indiana in the third round bodes well for Oregon. The Ducks get to establish themselves in the playoffs before having to face a strong Hoosier squad. Oregon also has a little bit of history on its side. Since the first season of the College Football Playoff in 2014, when two teams face each other in the regular season then rematch in the CFB playoffs, the team that won in the regular season often loses in the postseason. In the 2022 playoffs, Alabama won against Georgia in the regular season, but lost to Georgia 33-18 in the National Championship game. And, to beat a dead horse, Oregon lost to Ohio State. Since playing Indiana, Oregon has gone through more struggles than just the loss it was handed. An injury-riddled Ducks squad went on the road against Iowa and eked out a 18-16 win. Oregon beat Minnesota, USC and rival Washington without superstar freshman Dakorien Moore and senior Gary Bryant Jr.. The Ducks were without wide receiver Evan Stewart for all of 2025, and he will remain off the field for the Ducks in the playoffs. Unlike last year, there can be no perfect run this year for Oregon, as the imperfection has already shown. Though, with no conference game, lower-seeding and not having the possibility to face an in-season opponent until the third round, Oregon is in a stronger position. The University of Oregon Ducks were defeated by the University of Indiana Hoosiers 30-20 at Auzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Oct. 11, 2025. (Anna Liv Myklebust/ Emerald)

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