UCLA defeats Oregon 17-15 in tightly contested Pac-12 matchup
UCLA rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Oregon 17-15, overcoming an early deficit despite Oregon playing without quarterback Dante Moore.
UCLA secured a 17-15 victory over Oregon on Saturday in a Pac-12 game that featured multiple lead changes and strong defensive performances from both sides. Oregon entered the contest ranked No. 13 with a 3-1 record, while UCLA was unbeaten at 4-0 and ranked No. 21. The Ducks were without starting quarterback Dante Moore, who was sidelined with a concussion and traumatic brain injury, prompting true freshman Dylan Raiola to make his first start.
UCLA opened the scoring with a field goal after a short drive that stalled at the one-yard line. Oregon responded quickly, recovering a fumble at the Oregon one-yard line and scoring on the next play to take a 6-3 lead. The first half remained low-scoring, with both defenses forcing punts and a blocked field-goal attempt by UCLA keeping the score at 10-6 in favor of the Bruins at halftime.
The second half saw UCLA extend its lead to 17-6 following a sustained drive that ended with a touchdown. Oregon answered with a 2-point conversion to narrow the gap to 17-15. Late in the fourth quarter, UCLA managed a short punt that gave Oregon favorable field position, but the Ducks were unable to convert, and the Bruins ran out the clock to preserve the win.
Statistically, Oregon’s offense struggled, recording negative yards per play and limited first downs, while its defense continued to perform well, registering multiple sacks and a blocked field goal. UCLA’s offense capitalized on turnovers and key special-team plays to secure the victory.