Oregon head coach Dan Lanning didn’t hold back when describing what unfolded at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday night.
“Well guys, I guess that’s what they call Big Ten football,” Lanning said after the No. 9 Ducks escaped with an 18–16 win over No. 20 Iowa. “What an unbelievable game.”
The Ducks survived a tense finish, overcoming injuries, cold weather and a late Iowa touchdown to drive 54 yards for Atticus Sappington’s 39-yard game-winning field goal with three seconds left. It was Sappington’s third make of the night and sealed Oregon’s third straight victory — a gritty performance that kept the Ducks’ College Football Playoff hopes alive.
“I was pretty nervous,” Lanning admitted. “I’m nervous for him because it shouldn’t come down to that moment for Atticus. And that guy’s gonna feel an unbelievable amount of pressure, however that goes. But I’m really proud that he’s able to handle a moment like that.”
Sappington had already connected from 46 and 40 yards before the final kick. The redshirt freshman said he focused on the moment.
“For me it’s just, all right, focus on the kick. Breathe. You got it. I’m going to go out and make it,” he said.
Lanning emphasized that the Ducks’ ability to execute under pressure came from preparation.
“We do a lot of pressure kicks in practice and try to recreate it,” he said. “But there’s nothing like 70,000 fans, the last second of the game. You can’t recreate that in practice. And Atticus handled that like a champ.”
Quarterback Dante Moore led the game-winning drive, going 5-of-7 for 47 yards, including a 24-yard strike to Malik Benson.
“Dante was lights out on that drive,” Lanning said. “It reminds me of what we do in practice. Nobody panicked. We lined up and executed.”
Oregon relied heavily on its run game, posting 261 rushing yards — the most allowed by Iowa since 2022. Noah Whittington led the effort with 118 yards, while freshmen Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. Combined for 97 and a touchdown.
“We’ve got the best O line in the country,” Whittington said. “And the best running backs in the country. All week we were saying, ‘We run the trenches.’ And we ran the trenches today.”
Lanning continues to prove the university right in their decision to extend him as Ducks improved to 9–1 and extended their winning streak to three games. With playoff implications on the line, Lanning left Iowa City proud of how his team met the challenge.
“Obviously Iowa’s a great team, and kudos to them,” linebacker Bryce Boettcher said. “But the most physical team won.”