I know a lot of folks are nervous about us playing UCLA next weekend, but I'm not for 3 reasons:

1. UCLA is good, but not as scary as some think. They have had the easiest schedule in the B1G so far. Cal is probably the worst team in the ACC, SDSU may be the worst team in the PAC12, Maryland and Purdue are the worst teams in the B1G. Granted, some of that observation is UCLA making the look bad in one of their 4 games, but still.

2. We play at home likely in some more traditional fall weather.

3. We've had our bye week to assess and implement the most significant changes we'll be able to make all season.

4. Lanning's defense is built to contain running QBs like Lameava

Obviously UCLA is on their bye week,is already comfortable that most things are working, and is therefore simply focusing for 2 straight weeks on beating us at our weaknesses. But I don't think that trumps the 3 points above.

I'm looking for us to beat the two touchdown spread and seeing some notable changes in players and execution.

Couldn't agree more. Ducks will be healthy and UCLA's just not that good. Moore or not the Ducks are not losing at home to UCLA.

Chesney and his tag-a-long group of coaches/players probably have some extra incentive, but we’ve already once seen his playbook and inclinations full bore. So, as long as Dan has now got our defense’s full attention and can keep it, we match up pretty good.

My only concern in this game is defensive scheme. I hope Oregon is smart enough to keep 5-6 in the box consistently to combat their strong run game. They need to make Nico try and beat them.

I'm probably a little more cautious about UCLA than you are, although I agree with the basic premise that Oregon should win this game.

The schedule is definitely the biggest reason to pump the brakes on UCLA hype. They haven't really been tested by an elite team yet. But I also don't think we can completely dismiss what they've done simply because the competition hasn't been great. They aren't barely beating those teams. They're averaging almost 45 points a game, nearly 500 yards of offense, and over 280 rushing yards. Going to Maryland and winning 54-3 got my attention regardless of how good Maryland is.

I also don't think the bye is quite as much of an advantage as it appears because UCLA has had the same two weeks to prepare. Oregon gets time to diagnose what went wrong against Oklahoma State and USC, but UCLA also gets two weeks to study those exact problems and figure out how to attack them.

Where I agree most is the matchup with Nico. Philosophically, Lanning's defense should be well equipped to deal with a mobile quarterback, and Oregon has actually been pretty good against the run so far. But UCLA worries me because it isn't just Nico scrambling around. Wayne Knight and that entire rushing attack force you to account for multiple threats, and that's where eye discipline, tackling and assignment football become huge. Given some of the defensive breakdowns we've already seen this year, I'm not ready to assume that part takes care of itself.

Autzen absolutely matters, and I expect Oregon to win. I'm just not sure I'm at the point where I'd call UCLA harmless because of its schedule. To me this is almost a perfect measuring-stick game. If Oregon comes out of the bye, cleans up the defensive issues and beats a 4-0 UCLA team convincingly, I'll feel a whole lot better about where this team is headed.

Go Ducks! 🦆

It's a home game, but Chesney's Bruins are rolling, and the Oregon D has been suspect, especially against the run in Stillwater.

From what I've seen, this is a much more difficult opponent than an underachieving SC team.

Oregon is the toughest opponent left on the Bruins' schedule. Chesney's JMU squad never stopped competing in the 2025 first-round playoff game. The UCLA D is better than the G6 D Chesney brought to Eugene.

Will Oregon cover the -12.5? Not if the team that had a close call against Boise State and the team that played in Stillwater show up.

Like Boise and OK State, this is a team, not a collection of unfocused 4- and 5-star guys who could have lost to a UW team with one player who is a threat on offense.

I think Oregon will show all the doubters who they are on Saturday. USC awakened the beast and UCLA is in trouble.

Can't wait to see it. It will be glorious

The Fighting Chesneys came into Autzen last year riding a twelve game winning streak and found themselves down 34-6 at halftime. This game should go however the Ducks decide it should go. If they play with their food, they could be in trouble. If they come to take care of business, they should take care of business.

It's an exciting game, our backs are against the wall for basically the rest of the season, UCLA is a very good team, I think the amount of hype is just about right for what they have done, it isn't overblown like Mississippi St. was.

I expect both teams to come out with a lot of fire, and I think Duck fans have been picked up by the game last week, I know for myself, I'm no longer worrying about a national title, more looking for effort, how clean we play, how do we improve, more the little things than the big picture.

3 hours ago, Jon Joseph said:

It's a home game, but Chesney's Bruins are rolling, and the Oregon D has been suspect, especially against the run in Stillwater.

From what I've seen, this is a much more difficult opponent than an underachieving SC team.

Oregon is the toughest opponent left on the Bruins' schedule. Chesney's JMU squad never stopped competing in the 2025 first-round playoff game. The UCLA D is better than the G6 D Chesney brought to Eugene.

Will Oregon cover the -12.5? Not if the team that had a close call against Boise State and the team that played in Stillwater show up.

Like Boise and OK State, this is a team, not a collection of unfocused 4- and 5-star guys who could have lost to a UW team with one player who is a threat on offense.

I have to disagree with you on this one John. We took USC's best swing (Moore of a sucker punch), they didn't look like the same team against UW or Rutgers. Geoff Schwartz noticed this too. USC may have lost their mojo after the loss which will take the shine off our win much like what happened frequently last year after we beat teams.

Not trying to be a homer, it's just what the eye test is telling me.

I'm sure we will get UCLA's best effort to, but their ceiling is still lower than USC's hence the spread differential between the two games.

Interesting. Very possible, but no one at USC should be packing it in at 4-1 (or now 5-1).

9-3 for USC considering their schedule has Oregon, Ohio State, and Indiana, would seem well within expectations. 1-2 in those three games had to be the reasonable goal (and is still out there for them).

USC beating UW means they have a good shot at 8-4, which will have them in the top 25 (which keeps it a top 25 win for Oregon).

It will be interesting to see how UW responds. This friday night with Iowa coming to town looms large. If they drop that one, 5-7 definitely seems firmly on the table.

Edited 16 hours ago16 hr by AnotherOD

We don't know how good UCLA is this year. This feels like Indiana coming in last year and I didn't have two worries about the Hoosiers. Not equating UCLA's progress with Indiana from last year, but we better treat this game just as serious.

UCLA has not had to put much of anything on film for us. They will have some wrinkles along with a veteran QB who could make life very difficult for our defense.

If I'm UCLA looking at this game, there is no Ohio St. or Indiana on my schedule. If I shock the college football world with a win in Eugene, there is nothing that stops me from believing we can run the table to an unbeaten regular season.

However, they have not been remotely tested yet and have not had to make adjustments. School is back in full swing now for Oregon, so I hope those who are able to attend at Autzen bring their A game. Go Ducks!

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by mikethehiker

I gotta believe our Ducks play better each week. I believe in our coaches and players.

But, I do have 2 concerns:

1. How does Dylan respond as the starter. His poise last week was truly amazing having to step up in backup ( though it was almost a full game). Will his 1st start in front of a full Autzen crowd be any different.

2. We are rolling out a new hyped up uniform. I'm superstitious about those games. We have had a few major flops in these games. Can we overcome the hype.

4 hours ago, mikethehiker said:

We don't know how good UCLA is this year. This feels like Indiana coming in last year and I didn't have two worries about the Hoosiers. Not equating UCLA's progress with Indiana from last year, but we better treat this game just as serious.

Comparing the two it helps to remember the season before their natty, Indiana finished 10th in the final rankings, and lost only to Ohio State in the regular season and to Norte Dame in the play-offs (the two teams in the final).