The No. 8 Oregon Ducks defeated the UCLA Bruins 34-13 in their first-ever Big Ten conference game. The 4-0 Ducks remain undefeated as they continue to find ways to improve.

“Addicted to growth,” Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel said after the game on the FOX broadcast. “Continue to get better. I like the way we continue to ‘go to the doctor’ as we say. We find ways to get better and we have the right mindset about it. I appreciate that from the boys. Most importantly, find ways to win. I can’t beat it.”

The win against the Bruins was about one thing for the Ducks: taking care of business, playing at their level and leaving no doubt.

Oregon has made its expectations and goals very clear: win a national championship. After a somewhat disappointing start to the 2024 season despite finding ways to win, the Ducks knew they had to be better to have a chance to keep winning.

Against rival Oregon State, we saw the Ducks get back on track after a close second half to pull away and earn a convincing road victory. It was the first time we saw this Oregon team look like the ball club coming into the season getting national title predictions from the likes of Nick Saban.

Against UCLA, keeping the train moving with that new momentum was paramount. Oregon was headed to the Rose Bowl, but against a 1-2 UCLA team, a double-digit loss came against the LSU Tigers. While the Bruins play hard and show a lot of grit, they are less talented than the Boise State club that brought Oregon to the brink.

“Things that need to be cleaned up, but more importantly, finding ways to win. I’m proud of my guys. Keep responding. More importantly, coming together as a team.” said Gabriel.

The Ducks came out in the first half and lit the field on fire. Offensively, it was probably the best half of the season so far. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel went 22/28 passing for 228 yards and two touchdowns. Gabriel also added 23 rushing yards. The once-maligned offensive line continued to look better, keeping Gabriel clean for the most part. The big boys also kept the running game effective at 4.8 yards per attempt.

The defense also did its part, holding the UCLA offense to 3 points. The Ducks defense held the Bruins to 54 yards and seven rushing yards, while also getting four tackles for loss, three sacks and an interception. The special thing about this half was how effortlessly the Ducks dominated. It looked like an elite football team.

Then a sequence happened at the end of the half that turned the game around. Dillon Gabriel threw an interception to Bryan Addison, a former Duck, and it was returned 96 yards for a touchdown. What was almost a 35-3 halftime lead became a 28-10 halftime lead. The Bruins then responded by winning the third quarter 3-0 and entering the fourth quarter with a 28-13 deficit and opportunities with the ball.

The Ducks eventually responded by getting stops and turnovers to thwart UCLA’s comeback hopes. The Ducks offense mounted a scoring drive to put the game out of reach at 34-13 as UCLA proved unable to answer quickly all night. Even that score only went up briefly because they missed the extra point attempt.

What should have been a dominant performance became a struggle when it didn’t need to be. The defense played 60 minutes. The offensive and special teams must also participate in a full game.

A win is a win. A victory on the road is even sweeter. A road conference win feels even better. As the Ducks continue to win while learning, they will eventually have to play a 60-minute ball game. They can’t make the same mistakes when they get into Big Ten play and better teams line up against them. Leaving the door open with premature plays and penalties is a bad habit to develop. It will catch up with them when it matters most.

The next two opponents are the Michigan State Spartans and Ohio State Buckeyes. The miscommunication, turnover and bad decisions will have to be tightened up. Coach Dan Lanning knows that better than anyone. The goal is not to peak at the end of September, but to be the best team in the country in January.

To give themselves the chance to get this far, they will have to continue to improve.