UCLA walked into Eugene and came out with a win that says plenty about where this team is right now. The Bruins snapped a five-game skid against Oregon, won at Autzen Stadium for the first time since 2004, and did it by turning the night into a defensive wrecking ball.
No. 21 UCLA beat No.
13 Oregon 17-15 on Saturday, forcing seven turnovers and slamming the door when the Ducks had a chance to tie it in the final minutes. It was the kind of performance that can change how a season feels, and it also gave head coach Bob Chesney a place in UCLA history.
He became the first coach in program history to open his tenure 5-0.
Oregon came in averaging 47.5 points per game, fourth-best in the country. UCLA made all of that look irrelevant.
Colin Hitschler’s defense held the Ducks to 15 points and 272 total yards, both season lows, and kept Oregon to 73 rushing yards on 27 carries. On third down, the Bruins were even sharper, holding Oregon to 1-for-12.
Over the last two games, opposing offenses are 2-for-27 on third down.
The turnover count tells the story, too. UCLA entered the game with 12 takeaways on the season, already ranking second nationally and first in the Big Ten.
Against Oregon, the Bruins came up with seven more, tying a school record set in 2003. Their five fumble recoveries were the most since a 34-17 win over USC in 1998.
The last takeaway came on the final play to seal it.
The game tilted in UCLA’s favor in the second quarter, when Oregon was threatening to add to a 6-3 lead. After runs of eight and 21 yards moved the Ducks deep into Bruins territory, Jordon Davison fumbled on a direct snap in the wildcat. Tyson Ford recovered at the UCLA 15 and wiped out the drive.
UCLA struck again soon after. On third-and-3 from the UCLA 43, Raiola was pressured by Anthony Sacca, lost the ball as he tried to throw, and Amber Washington recovered. That set up a four-play, 51-yard march finished by Wayne Knight’s 35-yard touchdown run, pushing UCLA in front 10-6.
Raiola, starting because regular quarterback Dante Moore was in concussion protocol, never settled in. He turned it over three times before being replaced by Brock Thomas in the fourth quarter. Through three quarters, Oregon had only 43 passing yards on six completions, and UCLA cornerback Ta’Shawn James added an interception in the third quarter, his fourth of the season.
Thomas gave Oregon a brief spark late. He threw for 156 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter, including a 44-yard strike to Evan Stewart that trimmed UCLA’s lead to 17-15 with 2:16 left.
Then came the moment that decided the game. Oregon went for two and the tie.
Thomas kept it on a quarterback draw, but UCLA stopped him short. A facemask penalty on Sammy Omosigho gave the Ducks another shot from inside the two-yard line, and Oregon switched the call to Davison.
UCLA’s interior line held firm and denied him at the goal line.
UCLA also had to navigate some adversity of its own. Fifth-year senior quarterback Nico Iamaleava left late in the first half with a lower-body injury and did not return. He finished 10 of 17 for 162 yards and two interceptions.
Wayne Knight was the offensive bright spot. He scored both UCLA touchdowns, including a nine-yard receiving score from Ty Dieffenbach, and went over 100 rushing yards for the third straight game.
His 35-yard touchdown run made him the first player to rush for a touchdown in the first five games of a season since Maurice Jones Drew in 2005. Knight now has 11 touchdowns on the year.
“These guys battled and fought today,” Chesney said.
The win moved UCLA to 5-0 and gave the Bruins their first victory over Oregon since 2017. For Chesney, it also carried a little extra weight after his James Madison team lost to Oregon in the first round of last season’s College Football Playoff.
“This is not the same UCLA,” Chesney said in a postgame interview with CBS reporter Jenny Dell.
Next up, the Bruins return to the Rose Bowl on Saturday to face Wisconsin with a perfect record and a defense that just delivered its loudest statement yet.
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UCLA Suddenly Has A New Offensive Question After Stunning Oregon Win
UCLAs 17-15 upset of Oregon in Eugene gave the Bruins a long-awaited breakthrough, their first win there since 2004, and it came with the kind of defensive backbone that can change a seasons mood in a hurry. Cornerbacks Scooter Jackson and TaShawn James helped make life miserable for the Ducks, while receiver Morgan emerged as the most dependable option in a passing game that never really found its comfort zone.
The victory, though, left UCLA with a fresh offensive question to sort through in the days ahead after the quarterback situation shifted in the second half and the Bruins had to lean on Ty Dieffenbach in difficult circumstances. He settled in well enough to keep the game moving, but with the starters status now part of the conversation and the passing attack still searching for consistency, UCLAs next step may depend as much on how it handles that position as on the confidence this win should provide. [Read more 🡒]
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UCLA Just Exposed A Huge Oregon Problem Fans Will Love
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The bigger concern is the quarterback situation, because Oregons path forward is far less clear than it was a few weeks ago. Dante Moores status remains uncertain after the concussion issue, and Dylan Raiolas first start did not provide much relief against UCLA, leaving the Ducks searching for answers while running back Jordon Davison continues to score without yet breaking through for a 100-yard rushing game this season. [Read more 🡒]