IOWA CITY, Iowa (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by field position and missed opportunities, the Oregon Ducks escaped a hostile Kinnick Stadium with an 18-16 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday, November 8, 2025.

A crowd of 69,250 watched as the Ducks, leaning on a stout defensive effort and a methodical ground game, built a lead and held off a furious fourth-quarter rally by the Hawkeyes. The win improved Oregon’s record to 8-1, while Iowa fell to 6-3.

The game’s opening points came in bizarre fashion late in the first quarter. An Iowa offensive drive stalled deep in its own territory, and a penalty for an illegal bat in the end zone resulted in a safety, giving Oregon a 2-0 lead.

The Ducks capitalized on the ensuing possession, embarking on a 12-play, 78-yard drive capped by a 19-yard touchdown run by Dierre Hill Jr. The Atticus Sappington point-after attempt was good, extending Oregon’s lead to 9-0.

Oregon’s defense continued to stifle the Hawkeyes’ offense, and the Ducks added to their lead just before halftime. A late drive, keyed by a 27-yard rush from Noah Whittington, set up a 46-yard field goal from Sappington as time expired in the second quarter, sending the Ducks into the locker room with a 12-0 advantage.

Iowa finally found the end zone on its first possession of the second half. Quarterback Mark Gronowski engineered a 10-play, 75-yard drive, connecting with tight end DJ Vonnahme on a 3-yard touchdown pass. Drew Stevens’ extra point cut the deficit to 12-7.

Oregon responded with a long drive of its own, chewing up over five minutes of clock before Sappington connected on his second field goal of the day, this time from 40 yards, to push the lead back to eight points at 15-7.

The fourth quarter saw the Hawkeyes mount their comeback attempt. Stevens nailed a 58-yard field goal early in the period to make it 15-10. After forcing an Oregon punt, Iowa marched down the field on a 13-play, 93-yard drive. Gronowski finished the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run with 1:51 remaining, pulling the Hawkeyes within two points. However, the crucial two-point conversion attempt failed when Gronowski’s pass fell incomplete, preserving a slim 15-14 lead for Oregon.

The Ducks recovered the onside kick and, after a series of plays, Sappington sealed the victory with his third field goal, a 39-yard kick with just three seconds left on the clock, setting the final score at 18-16.

Oregon’s offense was powered by its running game, with Noah Whittington leading the way with 118 yards on 17 carries. Quarterback Dante Moore added 46 rushing yards and passed for 112 yards, managing the game effectively against a tough Iowa defense.

The Hawkeyes were led by running back Kamari Moulton, who rushed for 87 yards on 23 attempts. Gronowski finished 10-of-18 for 138 yards with one touchdown pass and one rushing touchdown, but was sacked twice and consistently pressured by the Oregon front seven.

Defensively, linebacker Jerry Mixon was everywhere for the Ducks, recording a game-high 13 tackles. For Iowa, defensive back Koen Entringer and linebacker Karson Sharar each notched 10 tackles in a losing effort.

The game defied pregame projections, as Iowa had been installed as a 6.5-point favorite and the total score of 34 fell well below the over/under line of 42.5. Oregon next hosts Minnesota on Friday, November 14, while Iowa travels to face Southern California on Saturday, November 15.