Eugene, Ore. — In a wet and sluggish matchup, Jordon Davison’s steady ground game proved to be the difference as No. 6 Oregon pushed past Wisconsin 21-7 on Saturday night, handing the Badgers their sixth consecutive loss.
Davison carried the ball 21 times for 102 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Ducks (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) through a game marked by heavy rain, offensive miscues, and missed opportunities. Oregon managed just 21 total yards in the first quarter before finally finding rhythm late in the first half.
“It wasn’t pretty,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning admitted. “But in weather like that, you just have to grind. Jordon did exactly what we needed — smart, physical football.”
Oregon’s offense came alive with 1:07 left before halftime, when Davison powered into the end zone from three yards out for the first score of the night. He opened the third quarter with another touchdown, a 20-yard burst that gave the Ducks a 14-0 lead.
Quarterback Dante Moore struggled to find his footing amid the downpour, throwing for just 86 yards before exiting in the third quarter with a facial injury. Backup Brock Thomas stepped in and delivered a 1-yard touchdown pass to Gernorris Wilson early in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
Lanning said Moore’s injury wasn’t serious. “He got dinged up a bit,” Lanning said. “We felt confident giving Brock a chance to finish it off, and he handled it well.”
Wisconsin (2-6, 0-5) avoided a third straight shutout when Hunter Simmons connected with Lance Mason for a 2-yard touchdown late in the fourth. The score ended the Badgers’ 11-quarter scoring drought — their longest since 1968.
Despite the late touchdown, Wisconsin’s offensive woes continued. With multiple starters sidelined — including running backs Dilin Jones and Darrion Dupree, linebacker Christian Alliegro, and two starting centers — the Badgers mustered only 186 total yards. Simmons, a third-string transfer from Southern Illinois, finished 11 of 23 for 86 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.
“Scoring matters, even in a loss,” Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said. “You can’t fix everything at once, but you have to start somewhere. Getting back on the board was a step.”
Oregon’s defense limited Wisconsin to just 2.3 yards per carry and forced two turnovers, overcoming a slow offensive start to protect its playoff aspirations.
The victory, though far from dominant, allowed the Ducks to rebound from their 30-20 home loss to Indiana two weeks ago.
Up Next:
Wisconsin: Hosts Washington on Nov. 8.
Oregon: Travels to Iowa on Nov. 8.
