The No. 23 Oregon Ducks have experienced many ups and downs this season, and in Week 9, they got back on track offensively, beating the Northwestern Wildcats 34-26 at Autzen Stadium to improve to 5-3 on the season.
With Jay Johnson taking over offensive play-calling, the Ducks offense showed promise after three straight games with fewer than 20 points. The performance of freshman running back Brandon Smith on Saturday against the Wildcats was a step in the right direction.
The former four-star running back, who was committed to the Arizona Wildcats before flipping to the Ducks in January, rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown in Oregon’s win over Northwestern.