Sappington's Kick Gives Ducks Win at Iowa

Saturday, November 8

Iowa City, IA

12:30 PM

University of Oregon

8-1 , 5-1

Iowa

6-3 , 4-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Oregon

Iowa

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

11/08/25 | Football

Box Score FB Box Score: #9 Oregon 18, #20 Iowa 16 Postgame Notes

Atticus Sappington made a 39-yard field goal with 3 seconds left as the Ducks came from behind to beat the Hawkeyes.

By: Rob Moseley

IOWA CITY, Iowa — This was Big Ten football to its very core. And Oregon fit right in.

Playing for the second straight game in cold, wet weather, the Ducks showed their resolve once more Saturday. They leaned on their run game yet again, but got critical plays in the pass game as well while driving to a go-ahead field goal with 3 seconds left to beat No. 20 Iowa at Kinnick Stadium, 18-16.

Atticus Sappington's third field goal on three tries gave the No. 9 Ducks their third straight win. They kicked off a tough stretch of November games with a tough win in tough conditions, staying alive in the race for a College Football Playoff berth.

"I guess that's what they call Big Ten football," UO coach Dan Lanning said. "What an unbelievable game."

After Iowa drove to a go-ahead touchdown with 1:51 to play, the Ducks went 54 yards in 10 plays to set up Sappington for the game-winner. Dante Moore was 5-of-7 passing for 47 yards on the drive, including a 24-yard rifle shot to Malik Benson that got Oregon from midfield into the high red area.

The UO offense took three more plays before Sappington walked back out on the field. Earlier, he'd made field goals of 46 and 40 yards. This one was from 39 yards out. And it was true.

"For me it's just, all right, focus on the kick," Sappington said. "Breathe. You got it. I'm going to go out and make it. ... I was super-blessed to be in that position to go out and win it for the boys."

The Ducks won despite the absence of some key players due to injury, including tight end Kenyon Sadiq, receiver Dakorien Moore, offensive lineman Alex Harkey and linebacker Devon Jackson. In the absence of Jackson, Jerry Mixon started and led the UO defense with 13 tackles.

"Obviously Iowa's a great team, and kudos to them," linebacker Bryce Boettcher said. "... But the most physical team won."

Oregon's offense then lost receiver Gary Bryant Jr. during the game, but ran for 261 yards — the most allowed by Iowa since 2022 — led by 118 from Noah Whittington. Freshmen Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. combined for another 97 yards with 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."

The weather conditions played a role early, as Iowa misfired on a snap in the first quarter that led to a safety and a 2-0 lead for Oregon. Early in the second quarter Hill. ran for a touchdown that made it 9-0 — the only time all night the Ducks found the end zone.

After Iowa answered with a touchdown of its own, Sappington's first field goal sent Oregon into halftime up 12-7. He made another in the third quarter — after a takeaway by the UO defense in the red area — to give the Ducks a 15-7 lead entering the fourth.

"Big moments," Lanning said. "We ended up with one takeaway (until the final play of the game), they ended up with one takeaway. And that takeaway mattered."

Iowa scored twice in the fourth, first a 58-yard field goal and then a long touchdown drive to take the lead. A two-point play was initially ruled successful, but up review nullified. That meant the Ducks needed only a field goal to win it, if the offense could drive into position to attempt on.

The offense came through. Sappington came through.

The Ducks came through.