UCLA used an impressive defensive performance to earn its first win over Oregon at Autzen Stadium since 2004.
In a game that featured the two top scoring offenses in the Big Ten, it was UCLA’s defense that stole the show in its 17-15 win over No. 13 Oregon Saturday at Autzen Stadium.
No. 21 UCLA (5-0, 3-0) forced 7 turnovers on a day when neither team’s starting quarterback finished the game. It was UCLA’s first win at Oregon since 2004 and the Bruins snapped a five-game losing streak against the Ducks.
UCLA starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava left the game late in the first half due to a leg injury. Oregon signal caller Dylan Raiola was benched in the second half after completing just 6 of 19 passes for 43 yards with 2 interceptions.
Oregon had not had a turnover in its first four games of the season entering Saturday. The 7 takeaways for UCLA are its most in a game since Nov. 8, 2003.
Tao Johnson and Ta’Shawn James had interceptions and five different Bruins recovered fumbles: Jalen Woods, Dante Lovett, Anthony Sacca, Amier Washington and Tyson Ford.
“I thought we did a really good job of frustrating the quarterback,” UCLA coach Bob Chesney said. “You guys asked the question, they haven’t thrown an interception or had a turnover all year. I think we walked out of here today with seven of them, and I think that’s a pretty big deal for what we are able to do. We just played physical; we played tough. I thought our front did a good job. I thought our coverage did a good job.”
UCLA Defense Comes Up Clutch Against Oregon
UCLA’s defense also stopped two 2-point conversion attempts by Oregon, including one that could have tied the game with just over 2 minutes remaining in the game. After a 44-yard touchdown pass from Brock Thomas to Evan Stewart, Oregon lined up for a game-tying 2-point attempt.
The Bruins were called for a facemask on the first attempt and Oregon got another chance from inside the 2-yard line. Oregon attempted a run up the middle but Sahir West made a tackle short of the goal line with a lot of help from UCLA’s defensive line.
Offensively, Iamaleava struggled prior to leaving the game with an injury. Iamaleava threw 2 interceptions and had a fumble.
Chesney turned to Agoura High School alum and senior Ty Dieffenbach at quarterback rather than Madden Iamaleava who had been the first quarterback off the bench through UCLA’s first four games.
Dieffenbach did enough to win the game and threw a touchdown pass to Wayne Knight early in the fourth quarter. He completed 3 of 6 passes for 43 yards and didn’t turn the ball over.
“We are really on a week-to-week basis here, right? And this week we felt like we had to run a little bit more with the quarterback possibly, and that’s where I felt Ty had a really nice week and that put us in that spot,” Chesney said. “This is just one of those things that I’m sure if Madden would’ve went in there, he would have done a phenomenal job as well. But I thought Ty was the guy we decided on at this moment based on the previous week of practice. I thought he did a really good job.”
Ty Dieffenbach Steps Up For UCLA vs. Oregon
Dieffenbach played in 11 games for Cal Poly last season and started nine of them. He did not play in his first two seasons at Pittsburgh prior to transferring to Cal Poly and Saturday was his first appearance for the Bruins.
“Every week is a battle between me and Madden for the two-spot, and I mean both of us were executing in practice, but today they felt to go with me. When I heard that I was just tunnel vision, just ready to go execute,” Dieffenbach said. “I was just ready. I’ve been waiting for this moment. Chesney says the light’s going to shine on somebody, you’re going to be exposed, you’re going to be revealed, and I just kind of had that mentality today.”
The win was historic for UCLA, a program that has lacked success against ranked teams in recent years. It was the first time ever UCLA had beaten a ranked Oregon team in Eugene.
It was UCLA’s first win over a ranked team on the road since it beat Washington State in 2019. The win was also UCLA’s first road win over a team ranked in the AP top-15 since it beat Arizona State in 2014.
Dominant Defense For UCLA in Oregon
The Bruins held Oregon to just 2.7 yards per carry Saturday and no rusher had over 50 yards. Prior to Thomas’ long touchdown pass to Stewart on Oregon’s final drive of the game, UCLA held Oregon to 4.42 passing yards per attempt.
UCLA mixed man and zone coverages frequently and was able to often drop seven players into coverage because the defensive line was getting pressure with just four rushers. Sacca was the only UCLA player to record a sack, but the Bruins were in the backfield regularly and forcing Raiola in particular to make quick throws he did not want to make.
“I think we didn’t have to bring a whole lot more than the four. At times we did, obviously, to just keep increasing pressure. But I thought our defensive ends, our defensive line did a great job getting home and getting around this quarterback,” Chesney said. “I do like the game plan we had going in. I think it was really good, obviously, and it worked against a lot of things, but when you don’t have to blitz and put yourself at too much risk because you’re winning at the D line, that’s a big deal, and that’s what we did today.”
Late-Down Success Key For UCLA
Another big reason for UCLA’s success was getting off of the field on late downs. The Bruins held Oregon to just 1-for-12 on third downs and the Ducks failed to convert their first 11 third downs. UCLA has held its opponents 2-for-27 on third down over the last two games.
The 5 fumbles recovered by UCLA were its most in a game since 1998 against USC.
Woods led UCLA’s defense with 9 tackles and had a career-high 2 tackles for a loss. The Bruins as a team had 7 tackles for a loss for 21 yards.
James’ interception was his fourth of the season which leads the Big Ten. Johnson’s interception was the fourth of his career but his first at UCLA.
Bob Chesney Redemption
The last time Chesney left Autzen Stadium, it was when his James Madison team was eliminated by the Ducks in the first round of the 2025 playoffs last season.
Chesney, along with several of the JMU players he brought with him to UCLA, celebrated on the field after the win for a bit rather than hurrying to the locker room.
“You know, we were here last year, they ended our season and sent us home,” Chesney said. “And I think I just wanted to take a second and just feel it and just see it one more time before I walked off the field.”
The win was historic for Chesney, who became the first coach in UCLA history to begin his tenure with a 5-0 record. Chesney has also won 15 consecutive regular season games dating back to last season at James Madison.
This is the fifth time UCLA has been 5-0 and the first time since 2022. Chesney downplayed the significance of UCLA being 5-0.
“It doesn’t matter. Now we got to get better, and how we get better? We go back and we look at these things we got to fix,” Chesney said. “There is a lot of football left to be played, so it doesn’t matter. Get better is ultimately always the message when we turn the corner but not just yet. We’ll wait for tomorrow for that.”
Knight Keeps Rolling For The Bruins
Wayne Knight scored both of UCLA’s touchdowns Saturday, one rushing and one receiving. The rushing touchdown was the 10th of the season for Knight and his 11 touchdowns are tied for the most in the FBS.
The James Madison transfer has rushed for a touchdown in each of his five games this season. He is the first Bruin to rush for a touchdown in each of his first five games of the season since Maurice Jones-Drew in 2005.
“I knew the guys up front were going to do their job and I trust them wholeheartedly,” Knight said. “I’m pressing, I’m pressing, I’m pressing and something was going to show. Just got to be ready for that moment. I think I’m always prepared for that moment.”
Knight ran for 104 yards and it was his eighth career-game with over 100 yards rushing. He has rushed for over 100 yards in three consecutive games for the Bruins which is a career first for Knight.
