Oregon's No. 13 Ducks will host unbeaten No. 21 UCLA on Saturday afternoon at Autzen Stadium with the spotlight on how they adapt without starting quarterback Dante Moore, sidelined by a concussion sustained in their recent win over USC. Moore returned to practice this week but is unlikely to play, leaving Dylan Raiola, a Nebraska transfer, to steer Oregon’s offense.
The Ducks, now 3-1, come off a 41-27 victory against USC where Raiola completed 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns after Moore left the game early due to a late hit that caused his concussion. Raiola’s performance showed comfort with Oregon’s offense and offered the team a confident second option at quarterback. This could ease any urgency to rush Moore back onto the field for the high-stakes game against the Bruins.
UCLA arrives in Eugene with a perfect 4-0 record under first-year head coach Bob Chesney, having dominated their Week 4 opponent Maryland 54-3 on the road. The Bruins’ run game ranks fourth nationally, averaging 281.5 yards per game. Their standout rusher, Wayne Knight, transferred from James Madison and has rushed for nine touchdowns, tying him for third nationally. Knight also exceeded 100 yards in each of UCLA’s first two Big Ten games. Oregon is familiar with Knight’s style, having faced him last season in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal where he ran for 110 yards on 17 carries. This year, Knight has stronger support around him.
While the Bruins have impressed with their ground attack, they have yet to face a team ranked in the top 60 of the CBS Sports 138, and three of their four opponents rank outside the top 100 in run defense. Oregon currently ranks 38th in run defense, presenting a tougher test for UCLA’s rushing offense. Questions remain about UCLA’s passing game, which has not shown the ability to erase deficits against top-tier teams like Oregon.
This matchup carries College Football Playoff implications for both teams. Oregon’s early season loss to Oklahoma State put their postseason hopes in doubt. Aside from UCLA, Oregon’s only remaining ranked opponent is Ohio State on November 7. CBS Sports’ College Football Forecaster gives Oregon a 51.1% chance to make the 12-team CFP field with a win over UCLA, dropping sharply to 19.6% with a loss. UCLA’s CFP chances stand at 33.3% if they beat Oregon but fall to 8.3% with defeat.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on CBS, with streaming available on CBSSports.com, the CBS Sports App, and Paramount+ Premium. The intensity of the matchup will test whether UCLA’s rushing attack can break through a stronger Oregon defense and if the Ducks can maintain their offensive momentum without Moore. The outcome will reverberate through the college football landscape and shape postseason projections heading deeper into the season.
According to CBS.