UCLA and Oregon are back on the same field Saturday afternoon, and this one finally comes with some real weight. The Ducks enter at 3-1 and ranked No. 13, while No. 21 UCLA is unbeaten at 4-0 and trying to show that Bob Chesney’s team is more than just a hot start.
The series itself still belongs to UCLA on paper. The Bruins lead the all-time matchup 38-35. But that number hides the bigger story of the rivalry’s modern stretch, because Oregon has taken control in the era that matters most right now.
For a long run, UCLA had the upper hand. From 1935 through 1988, the Bruins went 28-10 against Oregon. Then the Ducks started turning the rivalry around in 1989, and by the time the 2000s rolled around, the balance had flipped hard in Eugene’s favor.
Since 2000, Oregon is 16-3 against UCLA. The Ducks have won the last five meetings, by an average of 12.6 points. Over the last 10 games, Oregon is 9-1, including the 2011 Pac-12 Championship Game, and those nine wins came by an average of 18.67 points.
This is also Chesney’s first shot at the rivalry. He inherits a UCLA team that is finally showing some promise after being poorly prepared to join the Big Ten, and this is the first real chance to validate that progress.
Dan Lanning has already handled UCLA twice, winning both meetings comfortably. He and Chesney have met once before, when Oregon knocked James Madison out of the College Football Playoff last season.
One notable absence hangs over the matchup: Dante Moore is out with a concussion, so he won’t get the chance to face his former team. Moore was a 5-star recruit who originally committed to UCLA out of high school, then spent one season as the Bruins’ starting quarterback before eventually ending up in Eugene.
The game is set for Saturday at 12:30 PM PT at Autzen Stadium and will be broadcast on CBS.
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 Faces A Dangerous Home Test At The Worst Time
UCLA heads to Eugene with a chance to break a long losing streak on the road and do it against an Oregon team dealing with a major change under center. Dante Moore will not play because of a concussion, so Dylan Raiola is set to make the start for the Ducks, adding a layer of uncertainty to a game that already carried some intrigue given the matchup on the ground.
The Bruins rushing attack figures to be the part of this game that tests Oregon most, even though the Ducks have generally done a good job keeping opponents from piling up rushing yards and touchdowns. For Oregon, the challenge is obvious: protect home field, adjust quickly at quarterback and avoid letting UCLA turn a difficult trip into the kind of upset bid that can reshape the conversation in the Big Ten race. [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 🡒]