It felt like the odds were stacked against the Oregon Ducks coming into this game.
They were down and beaten up. Injury had been added to insult the week before, with starting quarterback Bo Nix getting dinged up as the Ducks lost to their biggest rival, the Washington Huskies. Oregon was faced with a quick turnaround, and an emotional obstacle, having to face the one team that had their number from the 2021 season — the Utah Utes.
Had Oregon come out a bit flat in this one, unable to shake off the loss from last week, and faced with tough injuries to the best players on offense, it would have been understandable.
That’s not what happened, though.
The Ducks showed heart, and they proved that they’re tougher than we all thought they were. A hobbled Nix ended up playing the entire game and putting the team on his shoulders despite the pain that he was in. The defense had its best performance of the season, shutting down a good Utah offense. The team as a whole bound together and got a hard-fought victory at home that kept Oregon’s Pac-12 title hopes alive.
It was arguably the most impressive win we’ve seen from the Ducks this season and one that will go on the career highlight tape for Nix.
Here are some of our biggest takeaways from the game: