Ducks deliver a forgettable performance in loss to UCLA

Underwhelming. Ugly. Unwatchable. 

Choose your preferred descriptor for No. 13 Oregon’s 17-15 loss to No. 21 UCLA, and know this: Oregon’s College Football Playoff hopes are officially on life support, and it’s not trending in a positive direction. 

And really, everyone should be thankful it’s not worse, considering the Ducks and Bruins combined for a staggering 10 turnovers (seriously) Saturday. Seven of those came from Oregon, and it’s a wonder UCLA only managed to turn them into 14 points. 

Surely this is not what donors paid an estimated $50 million for, the reported cost of Oregon’s 2026 roster.

With quarterback Dante Moore still recovering after a nasty hit at USC two weeks ago, Oregon pivoted to junior backup Dylan Raiola, who played well in The Coliseum when he previously stepped in for Moore. That night he completed 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards and two scores, leaning on his prior big-game experience — the Nebraska transfer arrived in Eugene with 22 career starts — to lift Oregon to a win. 

But a repeat performance did not happen Saturday. Not even close. 

Raiola looked inexperienced and overwhelmed, throwing two picks, one in the first half, as the Ducks (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) managed just 56 yards of offense during the first 30 minutes. 

“I was reckless with the ball today, and you can’t win football games like that,” Raiola said. “I thought we were prepared; I thought our coaches prepared us. And we lost.”

Nearly every stat line was abysmal for Oregon, and in a game where the Ducks could never fully get in rhythm, the fact UCLA dominated time of possession (39 minutes to 21) made it all feel worse. 

With Oregon trailing 17-6, Raiola was replaced in the fourth quarter by third-stringer Brock Thomas, a Eugene native, who promptly led the Ducks on their longest drive of the game … only to fumble the snap exchange and record a turnover of his own. 

Yikes.

On Oregon’s postgame radio broadcast coach Dan Lanning described Oregon’s offense as “a little out of control at times,” a nod to the Ducks’ turnover problems. Asked why Raiola wasn’t pulled earlier in the game, Lanning admitted “that’s probably a fair question.” 

The next time he got the ball, Thomas completed a 36-yard pass to Dakorien Moore and took a roughing-the-passer penalty for an additional 15 yards, giving the Ducks a 51-yard gain and moving them to the UCLA 10. But the momentum died quickly, as Oregon settled for a field goal, trimming UCLA’s lead to 17-9.

Now Oregon found itself down eight with 5:11 to play. Not long ago, that deficit would have been easily overcome by a program known for scoring at breakneck speed. But this offense is not one of those from the past, and it doesn’t seem to matter who’s lining up behind center. 

Asked if he’d consider a change with who’s calling offensive plays — Lanning has taken heat for promoting former tight ends coach Drew Mehringer, a young assistant, to offensive coordinator as opposed to hiring an experienced play caller from outside the program — Lanning said “you have to evaluate all options.” 

Thomas connected with Evan Stewart for a 44-yard catch-and-run touchdown with 2:16 to play, and on the ensuing two-point attempt — which would have tied the game — UCLA was called for a facemask penalty, leaving Oregon at the half-yard line to try again. But the Ducks couldn’t convert, as Davison was stopped short of the end zone. 

Oregon got one last shot late. UCLA couldn’t secure a first down to seal the win, punting it away and pinning Oregon on the 5 with 48 seconds to go. Thomas completed three consecutive passes to Messiah Hampton, then an 18-yarder to Dakorien Moore putting the Ducks on their own 37. But the drive ended with — you guessed it — a turnover, and the Bruins celebrated their biggest win of the 2026 season. 

It was UCLA’s first win at Autzen Stadium since 2004, and keeps the Bruins (5-0, 3-0) undefeated. That’s extra impressive considering the Bruins also had to turn to backup quarterback Ty Dieffenbach after starter Nico Iamaleava went down with a left quad injury just before halftime (and in between throwing two picks). 

“At the end of the day, although we did a good job on defense, we didn’t do a great job,” said senior linebacker Teitum Tuioti, who finished with eight tackles. “We didn’t live up to our own expectations. Seventeen points is too much for us; our standard is 13 points or less. So us as a defense has to do better.”

Iamaleava finished 10-of-17 for 162 yards, no touchdowns and three turnovers. Dieffenbach was 3-of-6 for 43 yards and one touchdown. The vaunted Bruins’ ground attack — UCLA came into Eugene averaging 281.5 rushing yards per game, fourth-best in the country — tallied just 136 yards, but it was enough. 

Railoa, meanwhile, went 6-of-19 for 43 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Thomas was 11-of-15 for 156 yards and one touchdown. 

Dante Moore’s status for next week is unknown. The Ducks are scheduled to host unranked Nebraska, which took defending champion Indiana to the brink before losing to the No. 7 Hoosiers.