To compound matters, Evan Stewart, Oregon's top returning wide receiver, suffered a preseason knee injury that has sidelined him for the entirety of the 2025 campaign thus far. There is a chance that he returns late in the year.

Atticus Sappington’s 39-yard field goal with three seconds left shut the door on any more Iowa City magic. No. 9 Oregon escaped with an 18-16 victory to keep its College Football Playoff visions alive, while No. 20 Iowa is forced to swallow another tough outcome when facing the sport’s elite.