UCLA Stuns No. 13 Oregon 17-15, Reaching 5-0
By @sharedot · · 7 pages
- Theater
- College Football
- Ucla Bruins
- Oregon Ducks
- Upset
CBS Sports reports No. 21 UCLA stunned No. 13 Oregon 17-15 on Saturday, as seven Ducks turnovers buried Oregon's College Football Playoff hopes.
What Happened in Eugene
According to CBS Sports, No. 21 UCLA stunned No. The Ducks fell to 3-2, 1-1 in the Big Ten. CBS Sports reports Oregon committed seven turnovers and finished with just 210 total yards in what the outlet called a nightmarish offensive performance that cratered the playoff aspirations of the preseason's No. 2 ranked team.
Why the Upset Defies Belief
Yahoo Sports notes the Bruins were pegged to finish 13th in the 18-team Big Ten in the preseason poll, yet entered this game 4-0 for just the 10th time in the past half century. Yahoo Sports also reports Chesney is the first UCLA coach to start his tenure 4-0 since Red Sanders in 1949, and that Dan Lanning compared the Bruins to last year's national champions, Indiana. The Register-Guard had Oregon as an 11 1/2-point favorite with a moneyline of -460, making the result a decisive upset by the markets themselves.
Turnover Fest at Autzen
The game log CBS Sports published is startling: UCLA's Nico Iamaleava left at halftime with a lower-body injury, doubtful to return, after 10-of-17 passing for 162 yards and three turnovers. His replacement, Cal Poly transfer Ty Dieffenbach, threw a 9-yard touchdown to Wayne Knight early in the fourth quarter. Oregon's Dylan Raiola finished 6 of 19 for 43 yards with two interceptions before third-stringer Brock Thomas entered; Thomas hit Evan Stewart for a 44-yard touchdown with 2:16 left to pull Oregon within 17-15.
Lanning's Two-Point Gamble Bites Back
CBS Sports highlights the coaching decision that decided the outcome: when Oregon led 6-3 in the first quarter, Dan Lanning opted to go for two, and the attempt failed. When the Ducks later scored to make it 17-15, they were forced to try the two-point conversion again to tie — and UCLA's defense stuffed Jordon Davison even after a Bruins penalty moved the ball closer. Oregon then got the ball back at its own 5-yard line with 48 seconds left and no timeouts, and Thomas could not conjure a winning drive.
What Comes Next
Per CBS Sports, UCLA — a year removed from a 3-9 season — is now well-positioned to challenge for a College Football Playoff spot, replicating the James Madison-to-big-program formula Chesney brings after going 21-6 with the Dukes, as Yahoo Sports details. The Register-Guard's schedule shows Oregon hosts Nebraska next Saturday, while UCLA's remaining slate includes Wisconsin, Michigan State and a home date with USC. Yahoo Sports notes UCLA's only other remaining Top 25 opponent is USC, with road trips to Minnesota and Michigan.