Week 3 Game Predictions: Northwestern vs. No. 4 Oregon

Gavin Dorsey

Sep 12, 2025, 23:27

Gavin Dorsey

Sep 12, 2025, 23:27

Updated at: Sep 12, 2025, 23:27

With Northwestern set to host the No. 4 Oregon Ducks on Saturday morning, our writers gave their predictions for the two teams' Big Ten opener:

Gavin Dorsey: Oregon 45, Northwestern 10

Ultimately, I think Oregon is too talented a team for Northwestern to keep this close. The Wildcats showed a lot of progress last week against Western Illinois, but the FCS Leathernecks are simply not comparable to a top-five team in the nation.

Oregon's quarterback is likely going to be a Heisman contender this season. Its starting offensive line averages nearly 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds, has not allowed a sack through two weeks and boasts the No. 6 rushing offense in the FBS. The Ducks are also overflowing with outside weapons that can gash any opposing defense.

The other unit is just as strong. Oregon's defense has had just 16 points total scored against it and features a fearsome front seven that will look to put Preston Stone on his back as often as possible.

Northwestern's defense will surprise many by keeping this game close in the first half, but if the 'Cats could only score three points against Tulane, it's hard to believe they'll be able to keep up with one of the most explosive teams in the country. Oregon gets a resounding win, though Northwestern feels good about the way it competed heading into a much more winnable game against UCLA.

Ryan Cole: Oregon 42, Northwestern 17

The ‘Cats cover! Well, just barely. Here’s my thought process: regression to the mean, from both sides, positive vs. negative.

For Oregon, the Ducks simply can’t keep getting away with this. They won their first two games by a combined score of 128-16. Unless this team is going to be historically proficient on offense, the margin has to start decreasing at some point. Why not now in their first road contest of the season on an unfamiliar Lakeside Field?

For Northwestern, factor out the FCS game. Let’s be real with ourselves, that win still hasn’t made up for the Tulane stinker. So, I think the ‘Cats are due for some positive regression as well.

Preston Stone isn’t five turnovers bad, even against an elite program like Oregon. I expect him to hold on to the football in this one and show fans a snippet of why Northwestern was excited to get him in the portal.

However, that just won’t be enough to really play the Ducks close. I think the ‘Cats battle some early, and then the wheels come off. They still reward bettors, and the Stone believers get just a little more momentum towards their cause, but the result isn’t a very exciting football game.

Week 3 Game Predictions: Northwestern vs. No. 4 Oregon

Gavin Dorsey: Oregon 45, Northwestern 10

Ryan Cole: Oregon 42, Northwestern 17

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