For the first time since its inception in September 2019, Big Noon Kickoff is heading to Evanston. After getting into the win column via a much-needed tuneup game against FCS Western Illinois, Northwestern will have its hands full this Saturday as it welcomes in No. 4 Oregon to Martin Stadium. Just the first of four ranked matchups the Wildcats have on their slate this season, this game should be very telling for how much David Braun and Co. will really be able to compete in this year’s Big Ten.
Before the game, we asked some questions to Carl Blackwell, commonly known by the pseudonym “Badwater,” of Oregon SBNation affiliate Addicted to Quack.
Inside NU: Oregon unquestionably looked like the best team in the country last year, up until a tough loss to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff brought their season to a swift end. What are the expectations for Ducks fans headed into this season? What defines success for Dan Lanning and company?
Blackwell/Badwater: The expectations for this team are the same as last year: get in the College Football Playoff. You can’t contend for a title unless you’re in the CFP, so that’s the first step — and the expectation.
INU: The game might be halfway across the country, but Oregon vs. Northwestern will be featured on Big Noon Kickoff and should still bring its fair share of Ducks fans. How much do you expect this U of O fanbase to travel, and what impact do you think the crowd makes on this game in Evanston?
CB: Oregon fans, historically as well as this season, travel well and there will be a fair representation of them in Evanston. Martin Field only holds, what, 14,000? I don’t think fans on either side will necessarily impact the game, but I could be wildly off-base. With the game being next to Lake Michigan (and visually, it really is a stunning location), I would expect weather — especially wind — to be a greater factor than the fans on either side. But again, I’ve never been there, so take it for the shallow speculation that it is.
INU: After a pair of dominant wins to open the season, redshirt sophomore quarterback Dante Moore has quickly risen to the top of the Heisman race. Does his immediate success under center surprise you, and do you view him as a legitimate Heisman candidate?
CB: A couple of seasons ago, Dante Moore was a 5-star recruit that was set to come to Oregon, but flipped to UCLA under Chip Kelly. The Bruins started him and Moore did well in the first three games, but two poor performances sent him to the bench in favor of Ethan Garbers. After Garbers went down to injury, Moore played in Game 12 against Cal, throwing for 266 yards, a touchdown, and two picks with a 60.5% completion rate.
The lazy response would be to blame a freshman QB for not performing to expectations, blah blah blah, and all the blah blah blah that went with it. The informed ATQ readers knew otherwise, however, because they read Hythloday’s film review of UCLA and Chip Kelly’s abysmal roster management, especially where the offensive line was concerned, along with a playbook that was not designed with Moore necessarily in mind.
Dante Moore did not get along with Kelly, was not developed, and entered the transfer portal at the end of the 2023 season and came to Oregon. Moore then made a smart, mature choice regarding his future. He redshirted last season, with Dillon Gabriel leading the Ducks, and worked on his game and fundamentals under OC/QB coach Will Stein.
I personally had no doubts that Dante Moore would be the starter. I wrote before the season started that Moore’s time as a starter at UCLA would translate into a better quarterback than what I think most others were expecting. We at ATQ were looking at some offensive line flux to start this season (and potentially lead to a similar rocky start), same as last year, but Moore had already been in college games with OL breakdowns (Chip Kelly’s bad OL lines) and would not be in the game completely green.
I do view him as a legitimate Heisman candidate, and will write up a piece on Moore and where I think the Heisman race stands next Monday on ATQ.
INU: One of the biggest concerns for this Oregon team headed into the fall was the lack of returning production, after bringing back just five starters from last year. Which players, offensively and defensively, have been able to step up the most so far?
CB: I don’t think that any of us here at ATQ have ever voiced concern about the lack of returning production, even with all of the seniors and graduates that left after last season. We did have some concerns about the offensive line, given last season’s problems at this time with veteran linemen and the inclusion of three OL players from the transfer portal. It was also unfortunate to have lost wide receiver Evan Stewart to injury (likely for the season) before the season started.
The upside is that Oregon has recruited very well since [head coach] Dan Lanning arrived, and those efforts have started to show on the field. Oregon has tremendous depth at all positions, and in the last two games the Ducks have not waited until garbage time to rotate players in the game. In Lanning’s words: “If they’re good enough, they’re old enough.”
You will see that continue this Saturday. The Ducks will rotate a lot of players beginning early in the game.
On offense, of course all eyes will be on No. 5 Dante Moore. Another player that will shine is the veteran RB, No. 6 Noah Whittington. He was banged up last season and was never at 100%, but that was last season. Freshman WR No. 1 Dakorien Moore will dazzle. Sure, he scored a TD in the air and another on the ground against Oklahoma State, but he’s a wrecking ball on his blocks as well. Another standout will be our veteran TE, No. 18 Kenyon Sadiq. He can run, he can catch, he can block, and he’s very good.
On the defensive side, LB No. 28 Bryce Boettcher is a veteran that is the heart and soul of the Ducks defense, and he leads the team in tackles. OLB No. 10 Matayo Uiagalelei leads the team in tackles for loss. But the player on defense that will probably give the Wildcats the most problems is defensive lineman No. 52 A’Mauri Washington. The junior is 6-3, 330 lbs., and faster than his weight would suggest. NU’s offensive coaches are probably having some near-sleepless nights trying to figure out how to limit his impact on the game.
INU: Finally, give us a prediction for the game and a score. Who wins this one, and why?
CB: My score prediction is Oregon 52, NU 17. The Ducks are legitimately one of the top five teams in the nation, and I don’t think Northwestern will have much success exploiting the weaknesses that Oregon has. I could be wrong about that, though, and that’s why we play the game. Best of luck to Northwestern; I hope you do well even as I hope for a win from Oregon.
