The #8 Oregon Ducks hit the road for their Big 10 opener, taking on the UCLA Bruins in the Rose Bowl. It was also the first viewing of Big 10 After Dark, with an 8pm kick-off scheduled for the West Coast. Pac-12 After Dark was often appointment viewing, with crazy plays, crazy misadventures and wild endings.

Oregon, fresh off a bye week after their battering of the little brother in Corvalis, faced a familiar foe in their former Pac, now Big, conference opponent. UCLA has been bitten badly by the injury bug so far this year, with 19 players unable to participate in the game. The Ducks have 8 players out.

It didn’t take long for the Ducks to settle in, Dillon Gabriel connecting with Traeshon Holden for a 12-yard score to cap off a 12-play, 75-yard opening drive. Oregon wouldn’t even see a 3^rd until they were already in Bruin territory.

UCLA would answer with a 12 play drive of their own, but Oregon’s defense kept the home team out of the end zone and they would settle for a field goal. The Ducks answered two and a half minutes later with their own field goal after their drive in which three consecutive plays went for 1^st downs.

After the kickoff, UCLA QB would give the Ducks great field position when he threw an interception on the second play of the drive, the first of which was negated by a penalty. Oregon would go six plays and take another two and a half minutes to score again, this time on a 2-yard run by Jordan James, due to penalties from both sides.

UCLA would go 3 and out before punting back to the Ducks, who would score in just 3 plays when Gabriel found Tex Johnson for a 52-yard touchdown completion. They would add 2 more with the successful 2pt conversion on a pass from Kenyon Sadiq to Terrance Ferguson.

Another 3-and-out by the Bruins would be due in large part to a sack by Matayo Uiagalelei on 2^i.e and 2. Oregon’s drive would stall at the edge of the red zone and Atticus Sappington would add another field goal to make the score 28-3 in favor of the Ducks.

With the second half winding down, UCLA would go 3-and-out again, giving Oregon a chance to extend the lead before halftime. Unfortunately, Gabriel would be eliminated by former Duck Bryan Addison, who would go 96 yards for pick 6. The score at halftime: 28-10

The second half would see a slow start from both teams, with both teams punting after short drives. UCLA would add a field goal on the second drive of the half to make it a 28-13 game.

Oregon would punt again and a promising UCLA drive would end with a turnover as Tysheem Johnson picked off Ethan Garbers.

The Ducks made it 34-13 after an 11-play, 61-yard drive that took 5:23 off the clock.

UCLA wouldn’t get past midfield on their next drive before kicking it away. Oregon would ice the game with an 11 play drive that milked the final 7 minutes off the clock.

Gabriel finished 31 of 41 for 278 yards with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. Jordan James racked up 103 yards on the ground on 20 carries, while Tez Johnson racked up 121 yards and 2 touchdowns on 11 catches.

Next up

The Ducks return to Autzen for a Friday night game against the Michigan State Spartans.