San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
NIX SHINES AS DUCKS DOWN KELLY’S BRUINS
No. 10 Oregon 45, No. 9 UCLA 30
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 45-30 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 victory extended Oregon’s winning streak at Autzen Stadium to 23 games, matching a school record. It is the third-best active home streak in the nation. The Ducks (6-1, 4-0) 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 ninegame 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 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,” Thompson-robinson said. “When you don’t meet those expectations, obviously it hurts. I think it will fuel us stronger than ever.”
The Ducks went up 10-3 early in the second quarter on Nix’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Terrance Ferguson. UCLA answered with Thompson-robinson’s 36yard scoring pass to Keegan Jones.
Franklin caught a 51-yard scoring pass from Nix to put the Ducks back in front. Oregon recovered an onside kick and went on to extend its lead with Jordan James’ 2yard touchdown carry.
Stanford 15, Arizona State 14: Joshua Karty kicked five field goals, lifting host Stanford to a comefrom-behind win over Arizona State. Karty’s five field goals tied the all-time, single-game record for the Cardinal, who snapped a schoolrecord 10-game conference losing streak. Stanford had not won a game against a Pac-12 opponent since it beat Oregon 31-24 on Oct. 2, 2021.
Oregon State 42, Colorado 9: Damien Martinez ran for a career-high 178 yards and three touchdowns, and Oregon State’s defense turned in another strong performance in a victory over visiting Colorado. The Beavers have won three straight games and are bowl eligible for the second year in a row after ending a sevenyear bowl hiatus last season.
Washington at California: Late