CHICK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL: OREGON VS INDIANA

January 5, 2026

Aaron Flowers

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Oregon Ducks

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Aaron.

Q. (No microphone.)

AARON FLOWERS: It felt bad losing, especially at home. That's what sits with me most.

Q. Your coaches have talked about how this team is different since that meeting. Where do you feel like this defense has improved, grown?

AARON FLOWERS: I feel like we just don't make as much mental mistakes. We just have a better game plan for each game now than we did last time we played them.

Q. You talked about how much that loss to Indiana hurt earlier this season. How much more hungry are you guys to get the opportunity to face them again? What does it look like in practice?

AARON FLOWERS: I mean, we're just super hungry. This is a good opportunity for us to just try to just get a get-back. That loss felt horrible, especially at Autzen.

Q. How do you think the variety of coverages that you guys used against Tech confused their quarterback? Being able to do that as a defense, how might that affect an opposing quarterback?

AARON FLOWERS: I think it made it harder to read our defense. He couldn't get off after his first read. We were in one coverage or another. That helped us win that game and helped us shut them down.

Q. Your teammates have said the first game is a reminder of the standard, not that the loss was a blessing, but that that reminder can be. Can you speak to what that means for you.

AARON FLOWERS: I mean, that game just showed us that -- before the game, we were undefeated. That game really taught us a lot. We thought we can't get beat. We finally got beat by a really good team. That opened our eyes, made us learn a lot of stuff that we didn't know we had to improve on.

Q. What has it been like over the past couple weeks, especially with the trip to Miami, now to Atlanta, to be able to spend all this time with your teammates, especially guys that you might not be playing with next year, like Dillon?

AARON FLOWERS: I mean, it feels great. It makes me cherish my team with them. Dillon might not be here next year. Jayden won't be here next year. It helps our bond grow closer as the season comes to an end.

Q. Looking at this team as a whole, what have you seen defensively that has grown the most that you feel like isn't going to be the same from that last game?

AARON FLOWERS: I feel like just our game plan really. I feel like we have a better game plan now than we did last game. Last game I feel we weren't prepared as much for some of the plays as we are for this game.

Q. You decided to come to college early, give up the second half of your high school year. What did you gain from that as a football player? What did you give up as a high school kid?

AARON FLOWERS: I feel like I didn't miss that much of high school. The only thing I really missed out on is maybe prom your senior year. Helps you gain a lot in football knowledge, get your body ready for college football. It's a bigger jump playing against 25-year-olds compared to 15- and 16-year-olds.

Q. You went from redshirting last season to starting this year. How did that year help you? How do you feel your progression has consistently gotten better and better this season?

AARON FLOWERS: I feel like just I've developed better mentally and physically. I feel like I'm ready to play in college now. Over the course of the season, I improved a lot. I'm still not where I need to be at. I feel like overall my progression has grown a lot through the season.

Q. What does Peyton bring at the deep safety spot with you and Dillon? What does Zach bring?

AARON FLOWERS: Peyton, he brings a lot, just range. He's really smart, really vocal leader. Great tackler. I play super comfortable playing out there with him.

Zach, he's a man of the game, knows every position. He knows star, safety, dime safety, field safety. He's really quick, really good man coverage. I feel like he can bring a lot to the team.

Q. How much has Dillon helped stabilize this group throughout the year? How much have you learned from him?

AARON FLOWERS: I mean, he helped us a lot. He's the leader of our defense basically. I mean, I look up to him a little bit. He's going to be a high draft pick. I want to do the same thing he wants to do. I feel like his communication, the way he role models, coming here super early, leaving here super late, studying the playbook, I feel like he does a lot for our defense.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.