Meeting for just the second time as Big Ten foes, the Oregon Ducks and UCLA Bruins have a long track record on the field together. Although not seen as traditional rivals, the Ducks and Bruins often competed at the top of the Pac-12, and on Saturday, they will meet once again as two of the top teams in the Big Ten so far this season.
UCLA is a new team this season, led by new head coach Bob Chesney, who worked the transfer portal hard in the offseason to bring talent with him from James Madison and from other programs across the country. His efforts have paid off so far this season, leading to an undefeated start.
Oregon has owned UCLA recently in this series and is a favorite on Saturday once again, but with questions surrounding the availability
of star quarterback Dante Moore and Dylan Raiola potentially making his first start with the Ducks, there are plenty of unknowns for the 74th meeting between the teams.
The Bruins hold a 40-33 edge in the series over the Ducks, and Oregon is 18-16 when facing UCLA in Eugene. However, the Ducks have been nearly unstoppable since the turn of the century, rising as one of the top programs in the country. Saturday offers UCLA an opportunity not only to make a statement to the rest of the country with a win, but to reclaim West Coast bragging rights.
Let's take a look back at how the Ducks and Bruins have matched up over the years.
Early Meetings
Oregon and UCLA first faced off way back in 1928 in a game that was actually played in the LA Memorial Coliseum, not the infamous Rose Bowl. The Ducks, then known as the Webfoots, cruised to a 26-6 victory to begin the series in which they won the first four games.
The Bruins earned their first win over Oregon in 1932 in a game that was played in Portland. Oregon, however, won the following two games and ultimately led the series 6-1 early on. Those games included three shutouts by Oregon's defense, and UCLA never scored more than six points in any of Oregon's wins.
Then, the tide began to turn in the late 1930s, as UCLA owned the series for decades.
Los Angeles Rules
UCLA won three straight from 1935 to 1937, twice winning in blowout fashion. From 1935 until 1999, the Bruins beat the Ducks 36 times, while Oregon won just 11 games. UCLA built two winning streaks of at least seven games over Oregon, as the Ducks struggled to score and keep up.
In 1954, the Bruins blasted the Ducks 41-0 in Los Angeles en route to winning the program's only national title. From 1950 to 1956, the Ducks didn't score a single point against the Bruins, losing all six games in shutout fashion, and only one of those games took place in Eugene. It was a dark era for Oregon football.
One of Oregon's most historic comebacks in program history came against UCLA in 1970. Trailing 41-20 with just five minutes to go, former Oregon quarterback and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Fouts led the Ducks on a furious rally, scoring three touchdowns to win 41-40. The Ducks picked up a few wins in the 80s and 90s as the program started to build up again.
UCLA emerged victorious in a memorable overtime thriller against the Ducks in 1998, winning 41-38 to keep their national championship hopes alive. Akili Smith scored four touchdowns to help Oregon overcome an early 24-7 deficit, but UCLA quarterback Cade McNown battled through an illness to force overtime. After the Bruins held Oregon scoreless, UCLA kicker Chris Sailer made up for his miss at the end of regulation by nailing a 24-yard field goal to win the game in walk-off fashion.
Ducks Soar in 2000s
After the calendar flipped into a new century, the Oregon program rose to national prominence, and they were no longer in the shadow of the Los Angeles schools. Since 2000, the Ducks are 16-3 against UCLA. Oregon won four in a row to begin the new era in the series, including narrow one-point victories in 2001 and 2002.
Things really took a turn in 2010, when Chip Kelly led the Ducks to a 60-13 victory at home over UCLA, which still stands as the largest margin of victory for the Ducks in the series. Darron Thomas tossed three touchdowns as the Ducks went on to appear in the national championship game.
The following season, Oregon and UCLA met again at Autzen Stadium, but this time with the first Pac-12 Championship on the line. Oregon won the game, 49-31, as Thomas again tossed three touchdowns, while LaMichael James rushed for 219 yards and three touchdowns and was named MVP of the game. UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel was fired days before the game, but was still allowed to coach the game.
Since that game, UCLA has beaten Oregon just once. The Ducks have won each of the last five games in the series, the last two of which came with Dan Lanning leading the program. Both games were won by multiple scores, but UCLA has shown the ability to keep games close in Autzen Stadium.
UCLA has not won a game in Eugene since 2004, as Oregon has captured the last eight matchups in Autzen Stadium with an average margin of victory of nearly 19 points.
Winning In Style
For one reason or another, the Ducks typically make a fashion statement when they play the Bruins. In Oregon's last three home games against UCLA, the Ducks have worn special uniforms that have not been seen since. In 2021, the Ducks also debuted the divisive "Eggshell" look on the road.
On Saturday, Oregon will debut the "Origin of Speed" uniform set, which is meant to honor Oregon's roots in track and field and is the final installment in the "Generation O" uniform set, which began in 2024. The Ducks will wear the black and neon green uniforms on Saturday afternoon, and if Oregon continues to follow its fashionable trend, it could be a big win for the Ducks on the field.
Oregon has won the last five matchups against UCLA and debuted a new uniform in four of the games, with the most recent game in 2024 being the lone exception. Here is a look at Oregon's recent uniform track record against UCLA.
- 2026: TBD in Eugene (Origin of Speed)
- 2022: 45-30 win in Eugene (Breast Cancer Awareness)
- 2021: 34-31 win in Los Angeles (Eggshell debut)
- 2020: 38-35 win in Eugene (Ohana)
- 2018: 42-21 win in Eugene (Nike Jumpman)
Oregon has scored 39.8 points per game while wearing special uniforms in the series and won by an average of 10.5 points. The Ducks likely will score plenty again this weekend, regardless of who is at quarterback. If history is to repeat itself, the Ducks are in good position to don the new uniforms and leave them with a positive memory, while winning their sixth straight against the Bruins.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon eyes continued dominance over UCLA in modern series history
