UCLA takes down Oregon: Bruins get breakthrough win over stumbling Ducks

UCLA starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava left the game at halftime due to a lower-body injury, and the Bruins turned to Cal Poly transfer Ty Dieffenbach to help them reach the finish line. Dieffenbach hit star running back Wayne Knight for a 9-yard touchdown with 13:31 remaining in the fourth quarter to put the Bruins ahead 17-6. Losing its starting quarterback was one of several things that went wrong for UCLA.

The Bruins committed three turnovers, including a catastrophic Iamaleava fumble on UCLA's 1-yard line that led to an early Oregon touchdown. UCLA also produced just 10 points on four red-zone trips and committed three turnovers of its own. The Bruins converted just 4 of 16 third-down attempts and failed on their only fourth-down try.

If The Bruins had played anything resembling a clean game, they could have emptied out Autzen Stadium in the third quarter. Until things got weird in the fourth quarter, the Bruins were dominating.

With Oregon starting quarterback Dante Moore on the mend from a Week 4 concussion, Nebraska transfer Dylan Raiola started and turned in a horrendous effort that gave the Ducks little chance against a UCLA team that easily could have won more convincingly. Raiola completed 6 of 19 passes for 43 yards and two interceptions, and he also had a fumble. After completing his first three passes, Raiola completed just three of his next 16 attempts before he was finally pulled after the Ducks' final possession of the third quarter.

Fourth-year reserve Brock Thomas entered cold off the bench and helped lead Oregon back into the game by completing 11 of 15 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown. Had Ducks coach Dan Lanning made the switch earlier, it could have saved Oregon's day. But the Ducks continued to roll with Raiola until the fourth quarter when their backs were against the wall.

The messy performance from Raiola underscored how desperately the Ducks need Moore back, and it muddied the program's future outlook at the position. The plan was always for Raiola to succeed Moore as Oregon's starter next season. But after Raiola's abysmal performance against UCLA, the Ducks need to rethink their strategy at the position.

— The Bruins beat a ranked team on the road for the first time since 2019
— This was UCLA's highest-ranked AP road win since 2010
— UCLA forced 5+ turnovers in back-to-back games for the first time in 30 years.
— Bob Chesney is the first UCLA coach to ever start his tenure 5-0
— Oregon committed seven turnovers for the first time since 2004

Oregon's hopes of reaching the College Football Playoff aren't dead yet. But they are dwindling. The CBS Sports CFP Forecaster gives the Ducks a 19.9% chance of making the playoff. Making it would require running the table and going 7-0 down the stretch against a schedule that includes a road game against Ohio State on Nov. 7.

With the win, UCLA is up to a 33.2% chance of reaching the CFP. The Bruins would likely struggle to make it as a two-loss team because of their lackluster strength of schedule. But at 5-0, they can take at least one loss and still be in decent shape. The Bruins are projected to be favored in all seven of their remaining games.

UCLA's cinderella start continued with a statement victory on Saturday, as the No. 21 Bruins stunned No. 13 Oregon 17-15 to reach 5-0 (3-0 Big Ten) under first-year coach Bob Chesney. The Ducks (3-2, 1-1) committed seven turnovers while struggling through a nightmarish offensive performance that cratered the College Football Playoff aspirations of the preseason's No. 2 ranked team.

At the end of a forgettable afternoon, the Ducks still had a chance to win it after getting the football back at their own 5-yard line with 48 seconds remaining. With third-string quarterback Brock Thomas in the game and no timeouts, Oregon couldn't conjure any game-winning magic.

Thomas found Evan Stewart for a 44-yard touchdown with 2:16 remaining to bring Oregon with 17-15. But UCLA stuffed the Ducks' 2-point conversion attempt, bringing a peculiar earlier decision into focus.

When Oregon scored to go ahead 6-3 in the first quarter, Ducks coach Dan Lanning opted to go for two. The attempt failed. With 52 minutes of football remaining, it seemed relatively inconsequential in the moment. However, the decision came back to bite Oregon in the end.

A year after going 3-9, the Bruins are well-positioned to challenge for a spot in the CFP while Oregon is left to salvage the wreckage of a season gone off the rails by mid-October.

UCLA punted the football back to Oregon with just under a minute remaining and the Bruins clinging to a 17-15 lead. Oregon has the football at its own 5-yard line and is out of timeouts with an inexperienced third-string quarterback in the game. But it's remarkable the Ducks are in this position after committing six turnovers and totaling just 210 total yards to this point. Can Brock Thomas do something legendary? Buckle up.

2:16 4Q: UCLA 17, Oregon 15

Brock Thomas hit Evan Stewart for a 44-yard touchdown pass, but the 2-point attempt failed. Oregon still has two timeouts and the automatic two-minute timeout. But if the Ducks can't create some magic here to overcome a 17-15 deficit, Dan Lanning will have to answer for why he attempted a 2-point conversion in the first quarter. That decision left Oregon with no choice but to attempt a 2-point conversion with the game on the line, and UCLA's defense was ready for it, stuffing Jordon Davison even after a penalty on the Bruins moved the football closer to the end zone.

Oregon is getting the football back at its own 43-yard line trailing by only eight points with over three minutes remaining. Can Brock Thomas become an unlikely hero. Of note: a failed 2-point conversion attempt in the first quarter by Oregon could loom large. If the Ducks are able to score a touchdown — and that's a big if — then they'll need a 2-point conversion.

5:16 4Q: UCLA 17, Oregon 9

Brock Thomas hit Dakorien Moore for a 36-yard gain, accounting for 23.5% of Oregon's offensive output and leading to a 26-yard field goal to make it a one-possession game. A facemask penalty on third down by UCLA gave that Oregon series life and helped leave the door cracked just a bit longer a Ducks team in desperation mode.

Oregon's offensive nightmare just continued with Brock Thomas in at quarterback for Dylan Raiola. After finally reaching UCLA territory for the first time in the second half, Thomas fumbled on a fourth-and-1 play on a botched exchanged with the center, returning the football to UCLA and extinguishing what little hope may have existed that the Ducks would find a way back into this game.

Finally, after 3+ quarters of horrendous quarterback play from Dylan Raiola, it appears Dan Lanning has seen enough. Third-string quarterback Brock Thomas is entering the game after Raiola's second interception and third turnover. If Raiola's day is done — and there's no reason it shouldn't be — his final stat line will be 6 of 19 for 43 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.

Early 4Q: UCLA 17, Oregon 6

Wayne Knight just scored on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Ty Dieffenbach to give UCLA what appears to be an insurmountable two-possession lead. The shifty James Madison transfer is up to 83 yards on 18 carries and has three receptions for 12 yards and a TD. A hush has fallen over Autzen Stadium as Oregon's CFP hopes are fading in a maelstrom of mistakes.

Horrible Dylan Raiola interception

End 3Q: UCLA 10, Oregon 6

Dylan Raiola's first start for Oregon has devolved into an absolute disaster. He just lofted a fly ball off his back foot into double coverage deep in his own territory. Tao Johnson easily drifted underneath it and picked it off to establish UCLA in great field position yet again. The combined total of turnovers in this game is up to eight, with five of those belonging to the Ducks.

Late 3Q: UCLA 10, Oregon 6

UCLA has been better in every facet of this game but is turning into a broken record with the missed opportunities. The Bruins are 1 for 3 in the red zone, and that one score was a 21-yard field goal after they couldn't score on a first-and-goal. The latest miscue was a turnover on downs from the 2-yard line when Wayne Knight was stuffed on a fourth-down attempt. Throw in three turnovers — including one that led to Oregon's only points — and it's absolutely maddening from the UCLA perspective that Oregon is still in this game. It could easily be 31-0 or something in that neighborhood. Oh, and don't forget a blocked field goal.

Oregon just committed its fourth turnover of the game as Evan Stewart fumbled after catching a pass from Dylan Raiola. The Ducks actually picked up their fourth first down of the game on that possession before yet another catastrophic miscue.

CBS Sports sideline reporter Jenny Dell clarified that Nico Iamaleava's exit from this game is "due to injury." She reported that he is doubtful to return.

After UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava got banged up with a lower-body injury late in the second half, the Bruins are going with Cal Poly transfer Ty Dieffenbach to start the second half. Dieffenbach spelled Iamaleava for one play before Iamaleava briefly returned and threw an interception. Iamaleava is 10 of 17 for 162 yards but has committed three turnovers. It's not entirely clear whether this call is exclusively related to injury, but it appears to be a factor.

Dieffenbach began his career at Pitt, spending two seasons as a reserve with the Panthers. At Cal Poly last season, he completed 92 of 162 passes (57%) for 1,305 yards, nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. He's 6-foot-6 but is also mobile, having registered 321 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns at the FCS level in 2025.

Dylan Raiola missed on two pass attempts. He's now 5 of 17 for 36 yards with an interception and a fumble. At this point, if you're Dan Lanning, you need to consider going to third-string Brock Thomas or operating exclusively out of the wildcat. Oregon's longest play came with Jordon Davison operating out of the wildcat. Of course, Davison fumbled on the next play when the Ducks tried to stick with it. But when you're averaging 1.9 yards per play, nothing should be off the table.

Oregon's next quarterbacks after Dylan Raiola are Brock Thomas and Akili Smith Jr. With no timetable set for starting quarterback Dante Moore's return from a concussion, the Ducks may need to consider trying one of them in the second half. Not only has Dylan Raiola been ineffective, his three turnovers have wrought havoc on the Ducks' efforts to get anything going offensively. Thomas is a former three-star prospect who has completed 15 of 21 passes over four years in the program as a reserve.

Half: UCLA 10, Oregon 6

Mercifully for both offenses, the first half has come to an end. Both teams have a litany of issues to clean up on the offensive side of the football after the starting quarterbacks combined for five turnovers. Oregon had yet another fumble not involving its QB. UCLA could be winning by something like 24-0 or better if not for its self-inflicted miscues. In addition to the turnovers, UCLA had a short field goal blocked, and the Bruins failed to score a touchdown on a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line. The Bruins have 241 yards compared to 58 for Oregon. Yet. the Bruins somehow only lead by four.

UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava returned after getting attention from the training staff after getting landed on by a couple of Oregon defenders as the Bruins drove with under a minute remaining in the first half. His first play back was an interception in the end zone. For what it's worth, UCLA's backups are Cal Poly transfer Ty Dieffenbach and Nico's younger brother, Madden Iamaleava, who has attempted one pass this season. Nico has been banged up a few times early this season already. Dieffenbach during the one play Iamaleava missed.

Aside from the 1-yard touchdown set up by a UCLA fumble, Oregon has gone:

Punt
Punt
Punt
Fumble
Fumble
Punt
Punt

The Ducks' longest "drive" is four plays, and they are 0 for 6 on third downs. UCLA's defense is operating with unlimited confidence, and the quick hits available to Oregon against USC two weeks ago have vanished.

Late 2Q: UCLA 10, Oregon 6

After forcing a three-and-out, UCLA quickly reached the red zone behind a couple of 20+ yard completions from Nico Iamaleava. However, the Bruins had to settle for a field goal try, and it was blocked. That was a devastating end to a promising possession and merely the latest missed opportunity for UCLA. Oregon's offense is averaging an abysmal 3.1 yards per play. The Ducks have absolutely nothing offensively. Dylan Raiola looks out of sync. The only rush of any significance came out of the wildcat. 

UCLA 10, Oregon 6

UCLA star Wayne Knight just took one 35 yards to the house as the Bruins cashed in on the Dylan Raiola fumble to retake the lead for the Bruins and send a hush over the Autzen Stadium crowd. With Oregon unable to run the football and Dylan Raiola misfiring on his last six pass attempts, the Ducks are in a horrible position against a Bruins team that is doing some good things on both sides of the football.

Facing a third-and-3 near midfield, Oregon quarterback Dylan Raiola scrambled to his left while looking for a receiver. He was winding up to pass and lost the ball. UCLA recovered. That's two consecutive Oregon possessions that have ended in fumbles as the Bruins' defense is flexing. If not for a catastrophic fumble by UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava, the Ducks wouldn't be on the board. Oregon's offense is all out of sorts.

Dylan Raiola's first pass attempt went for a 16-yard gain. Nico Iamaleava's first pass attempt went for 62. Since then, neither QB has completed a pass for more than eight yards. With neither offense able to establish anything consistent in the conventional running game, this has devolved into a mid-off between two struggling QBs.

In the midst of a steady drive to open the second quarter, Oregon running back Jordon Davison fumbled it away to UCLA. The Ducks had just reached the red zone following a 21-yard Davison pickup out of the wildcat. On the next play, Oregon stayed in the wildcat. But there appeared to be a miscommunication on a read-option. The ball hit the turf and UCLA's Tyson Ford fell on it to negate a great scoring opportunity for the Ducks. Dylan Raiola is not in rhythm. He's missed his last five attempts.

End 1Q: Oregon 6, UCLA 3

UCLA put Oregon on its heels out of the gate with a 62-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage as Nico Iamaleava found Aidan Mizell to quickly silence the Autzen Stadium crowd. UCLA quickly positioned itself with a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line. However, it could not capitalize and ended up settling for a field goal. Then, on the Bruins' second possession, quarterback Nico Iamaleava fumbled while winding up for a pass attempt. The Ducks fell on the football at UCLA's 1-yard line and scored on the next play. It felt as though the Bruins started better than the Ducks, but they still trailed 6-3 seven minutes into the game and are again backed up to start the second quarter.

UCLA and Oregon just traded three-and-outs, bringing some calm to a wonky beginning to this battle of ranked Big Ten foes. Dylan Raiola has misfired on his last three passing attempts, and UCLA's passing game has cooled off since the big chunk gain on the first play from scrimmage. Neither team has established its running game in the early going.

Mid 1Q: Oregon 6, UCLA 3

Backed up against his own goal-line, Nico Iamaleava fumbled before he could release a pass. Oregon's Koi Perch fell on it at the 1-yard line, and Jordon Davison quickly punched it in for a go-ahead Oregon touchdown. The opening two possessions were all UCLA, but all that good was undone in a hurry with a devastating turnover. Nasir Wyatt was the man pressuring Iamaleava, but that was an unforced error. The Ducks went for two and failed.

Will Oregon be able to bully UCLA's defensive front in short-yardage situations? Perhaps not. The Bruins just made a big stand on third-and-3 from near midfield, stopping Jordon Davison for a loss of one and forcing the Ducks to punt. Big win for the UCLA defense after Oregon picked up a quick first down on a 16-yard throw from Dylan Raiola to Dakorien Moore on the boundary.