Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Oregon roughs up UCLA
QB Nix shines; No. 10 Ducks hand No. 9 Bruins 1st loss
EUGENE, Ore. — Bo Nix made Oregon’s win over UCLA look nearly effortless. He said it felt that way, too.
Nix threw for 283 yards and five touchdowns and No. 10 Oregon handed No. 9 UCLA its first loss of the season with a 4530 victory Saturday in a highly anticipated showdown for the top of the Pac-12 standings.
“To be honest, when I’m out there it feels like I’m not doing a whole lot because I don’t have to,” Nix said. “I just have to get the ball to the playmakers around me.”
The win extended Oregon’s winning streak at Autzen Stadium to 23 games, matching a school record. It is the thirdbest active home streak in the nation. The Ducks (6-1, 4-0 Pac12) have won six straight since a season-opening loss to Georgia and are the lone remaining undefeated team in Pac-12 conference play.
The loss snapped a nine-game winning streak for the Bruins, who have not won in Eugene since 2004. UCLA (6-1, 3-1) hasn’t defeated the Ducks since 2017.
Nix, a transfer from Auburn, is a mobile threat who has thrown for 17 touchdowns and rushed for eight this season. He completed 21 of 28 passes against the Bruins. His favorite target on Saturday was Troy Franklin, who had eight catches for 132 yards and two scores.
“He’s making great decisions with the ball, he’s not putting the ball in jeopardy,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said about Nix. “He’s playing really smart football, unselfish football. That’s going to lead to opportunities for us to win. If he continues to do that, I think we’ll continue to see success.”
UCLA’S Dorian Thompson-robinson, who was completing nearly 75 percent of his passes going into the game, threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns and an interception. Zach Charbonnet rushed for 151 yards and a score.
Oregon slowed UCLA’S ground game, allowing 186 rushing yards. The Bruins were ranked second in the Pac-12 with an average of 211.5 yards. In contrast, the Ducks piled up 262 rushing yards.
“I came back with expectations being very high for myself as well as this team,” said Thompson-robinson, a Bishop Gorman alum. “When you don’t meet those expectations, obviously it hurts. I think it will fuel us stronger than ever.”