No. 21 UCLA walks into one of the toughest road environments in college football on Saturday with a chance to do something the program hasn’t managed in more than 20 years: win in Eugene.
The Bruins are 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten, but the trip to Autzen Stadium brings a different kind of test. UCLA has dropped five straight games against No.
13 Oregon since 2018 and hasn’t won in Eugene since a 34-26 result in November 2004. The Bruins are also winless in their last eight visits to the Ducks’ home field.
That old result came long before the men leading these programs today were in their current roles. UCLA first-year head coach Bob Chesney was working as a special teams coordinator at Division III King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., while Oregon coach Dan Lanning was a freshman linebacker at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo.
Chesney, though, knows exactly what Autzen can feel like. He was already there once this year, leading James Madison into Oregon’s 2025 College Football Playoff matchup.
"It was dark (because) it was a night game. It was cold, it was loud, it was all those things," Chesney said of the Dukes' Dec. 20 game at Oregon, a 51-34 first-round loss.
"They did a great job there. Their fans were extremely involved.
They did everything the right way."
Oregon comes home for the first time since Sept. 18 after a bye week that followed its 41-27 win at Southern California on Sept. 26.
The break gave quarterback Dante Moore extra time to recover from the concussion he suffered against the Trojans, but he will not play against UCLA even though he returned to practice this week. Moore was injured on a late hit while sliding, and Nebraska transfer Dylan Raiola stepped in at quarterback.
Raiola handled the job well, completing 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns.
UCLA’s offense, though, is built to make life difficult on a defense no matter who is taking snaps for the Ducks. The Bruins are averaging 281.5 rushing yards per game, good for fourth in the FBS, and their 18 rushing touchdowns are tied for second nationally, one behind LSU despite LSU having played one more game.
"A few things that stand out on film are just how effective they are at running the football, (and) the quarterback (Nico Iamaleava) is operating at a really high level," Lanning said.
Iamaleava is adding 35.8 rushing yards per game to a backfield that already features Wayne Knight, Anthony Woods and Javian Thomas. Knight leads the group with 111.3 yards per game, followed by Woods at 67.3 and Thomas at 38.8.
Knight’s season has been especially productive. He has nine rushing touchdowns, which is tied for third in the nation, and he’s averaging 9.1 yards per carry, second-best in the country.
Oregon’s defense has been stingy against the run, allowing only three rushing touchdowns and 3.6 yards per carry. The Ducks also held USC in check in their last game, with linebacker Devon Jackson playing a big role in that effort by finishing with 11 tackles.
In Other News...
Oregon May Have To Rethink Its Biggest Defensive Weakness Against UCLA
Oregons first injury report ahead of UCLA added another layer of uncertainty to a secondary that has already spent much of the season under the microscope. Starting safety Aaron Flowers was listed as doubtful, while Dante Moore was ruled out, leaving the Ducks to potentially shuffle the back end of the defense at a time when that group has been looking for steadier play.
If Flowers cant go, Oregon may have to lean more heavily on Peyton Woodyard or freshman Jett Washington to hold things together on the back line. It is the kind of adjustment that can quickly change how the Ducks handle the Bruins, especially with the safety position still carrying some of the same issues it has battled all season. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon's UCLA Showdown Suddenly Feels Different For One Big Reason
The matchup with UCLA was already carrying plenty of weight for Oregon, with both teams in the top 25 and Autzen Stadium set for another nationally televised stage on CBS. The Ducks have had the upper hand in recent meetings, even if the Bruins still own a slight edge in the all-time series, so this is the kind of Pac-12-era-style collision that still feels like it matters in a big way.
What makes it feel different now is the quarterback situation. Dante Moore will be out because of a concussion, changing the look of Oregons offense at the exact moment the Ducks are trying to keep momentum in a high-profile home game. On the other sideline, UCLA coach Bob Chesney is stepping into this rivalry for the first time, adding a new wrinkle to a matchup that already has enough history without needing any extra help. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Faces A Huge UCLA Test With Its QB Situation Still Unclear
Greg McElroy is leaning Oregons way in the Ducks upcoming matchup with UCLA, and his reasoning starts on the line of scrimmage. He pointed to Dan Lannings team as a group that has held up well against the run and has been sharp in the red zone, two traits that tend to travel when the games get tight and the margins shrink.
The quarterback picture is still the part that keeps the matchup from feeling straightforward. McElroy noted Dante Moores concussion and also brought up Dylan Raiolas past trouble against ranked opponents, while UCLA brings its own case with a productive run game and a solid turnover margin. The concern for the Bruins, though, is whether the passing game can do enough and whether the penalties continue to drag them into bad spots. [Read more 🡒]