It will be no easy feat to follow up Week 7. It goes without saying that we must move on and look forward to what’s to come. The college football season will begin another chapter in the wonderful 2022 season. We’ll call it Week 8. And we’ll cast two red-hot teams as our stars for this story — UCLA and Oregon. Autzen Stadium will be the backdrop. I’m beginning to really like the sound of this… it’s our Week 8 Power Five Game of the Week.

The Mighty Bruins of UCLA check in at 6-0 and boast a shiny No. 9 ranking. The Bruins were lackluster in non-conference play as they took down Bowling Green and Alabama State then needed a miracle to beat South Alabama. Ever since the Bruins suffered that near-loss experience, they have been red hot. UCLA has collected Pac-12 wins over Colorado, a trendy Washington squad, and a popular Utah team.

The Ducks of Oregon waddle into this contest with a 5-1 record and are showing off a slick No. 10 ranking. After getting eviscerated by Georgia, the Ducks have been able to bounce back in a massive way. Oregon took out all of its anger on Eastern Washington then proceeded to dominate BYU. On Sept. 24, the Ducks completed a remarkable comeback to slay Washington State in Pullman and followed that up with relatively easy wins over Stanford and Arizona.

Oregon has won the previous three matchups in this series and survived scares against feisty Bruins teams in 2020 and 2021. Since 2008, Oregon owns a 9-1 record against UCLA, which features some dominant victories from Chip Kelly-led Oregon squads. 

Liam’s Keys to the Game:

UCLA: Making Bo Nix Uncomfortable

The UCLA defense did an extraordinary job against Michael Penix Jr. of Washington, who came into that game scorching hot. Bo Nix has been mad impressive since the season opener. He’s having fun as he’s thrown for 1,353 yards and boasts a 73.8% completion rate in the last five games. Add in the fact that Bo has a 12-to-1 TD-to-INT ratio and all is good. Nix has also been extremely effective on the ground as he’s scampered for 8.3 YPC and eight tuddies on the year. It’s critical that UCLA DC Bill McGovern sends out exotic looks and trusts his experienced unit. I’m identifying twin edge rushers Gabriel and Grayson Murphy as pivotal pieces in this match. I think those two will need to have their presence felt in a big way by getting after Nix often. Then the UCLA secondary has some ballers in Stephan Blaylock, Mo Osling III, and the young Devin Kirkwood. They’ll be tested, but can they rise to the occasion?

Oregon: Getting UCLA into Third-and-Long

We’ve seen UCLA’s offense carve up defenses in recent weeks, and it’s been doing it with relative ease. One big reason why is the stellar offensive line play that has set the edge at a high level in addition to creating significant gaps for Zach Charbonnet to run through. Charbonnet has run for 7.1 YPC this season and has seen plenty of success on early downs. The Oregon defense has the personnel to compete; just look at Noah Sewell, Brandon Dorlus, Justin Flowe, and DJ Johnson. These are four studs that will be sniffing out plays and looking to keep the Bruins well behind the sticks. While Dorian Thompson-Robinson has been slinging the rock at a prolific rate in 2022, you still obviously want to get him in less than ideal spots on third down. If Oregon can create these situations and get off the field on third down, this should result in victory. 

Dylan’s Keys to the Game:

UCLA: Utilize the Perimeter Passing Game

Georgia gashed Oregon’s defense in Week 1 on the outside. Stetson Bennett hardly threw down the field and he still racked up 368 yards against the Ducks. Dan Lanning’s and Tosh Lupoi’s defense has been exponentially better defending the perimeter, but there are still some lapses, especially on third downs. UCLA has plenty of speedy weapons that can create problems for a rather young Oregon secondary.

Oregon: Establish the Run Early

The Ducks and Bruins have the two best rushing defenses in the Pac-12, each allowing fewer than 100 yards per game. This is partially because each team has held significant leads in several games, but both units are still strong. The Ducks’ duo of Bucky Irving and Noah Whittington, despite each being in their first year with the program, have been a dynamic replacement for Travis Dye and CJ Verdell. They both average north of 6.5 yards per carry, but UCLA’s front will often stack the box with eight or nine defenders on plays where the opposing quarterback is under center. To combat this, perhaps Oregon can break out its “jumbo package” — a formation with true freshman tackle Josh Conerly Jr. coming in as an extra offensive lineman along with a 13 personnel — earlier than in third-and-short and goal-line situations. This package was used frequently in Oregon’s wins over BYU and Arizona to outmatch the other team’s defensive fronts and prove that the Ducks are more physical in the trenches.

Liam’s Players to Watch:

UCLA CB Devin Kirkwood — The 6-foot-3 corner for UCLA is a DAWG! Devin Kirkwood is just a true sophomore, and while he flies under the radar, it’s evident that he’ll be playing on Sundays. Kirkwood has tallied four PBUs this season and is playing very sound football. He’s got exceptional footwork and is super sticky in man coverage. I believe Kirkwood will force a turnover in this game. Heck, just sharpie in an interception for the kid. I really do think Kirkwood will be taking full advantage of the spotlight this game has to offer. This is a business opportunity for the young stud.

Oregon OL T.J. Bass — The 6-foot-4, 325-pound beast is primed to make some money on Saturday. He’ll be playing in the NFL next season but the question remains — what round will  T.J. Bass be drafted in? Well, a strong performance against UCLA on this stage should be able to turn enough heads and leave a great lasting impression to the scouts watching. Bass is a versatile piece on the line that has seen reps at guard and tackle. The former Butte College star has showcased an elite skillset that consists of graceful footwork and vigorous power. He does an excellent job with hand placement as well. Bass will be a key in this game for the Ducks, and it’ll be a sign into his bright future which consists of a nice payday in the spring.

Dylan’s Players to Watch:

UCLA LB Laiatu Latu — Latu is an athletic freak that can line up anywhere on the defensive front seven and will dominate no matter where he is. The Washington transfer was forced into medical retirement in Seattle is now tied for second in the country with 6.5 sacks and also has a team-high seven tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. If he blitzes from the middle of the field, chances are he will blow up the play in a split second. But he’s mostly lined up on the edge and should give T.J. Bass and Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu — two future NFL players — quite the challenge.

Oregon WR Troy Franklin — Oregon’s wide receiver room was loaded with talent last year but came nowhere close to meeting its expectations. These young Ducks receivers, headlined by sophomore Troy Franklin, have emerged in Kenny Dillingham’s offense. Dillingham promised a scheme that would create one-on-one situations for their playmakers, and that’s exactly what we’ve seen so far. Franklin is one of the most improved players in the conference, already more than doubling his yards total from last year. There’s no pass that seems to be too difficult for him. Look for the 6-foot-3 budding star to match up with fellow 6-foot-3 budding star Devin Kirkwood.

Liam’s Score Prediction:

This feels like the year UCLA puts it all together. After years of disappointment and failing to meet expectations. This might just be the team that gets over the hump. Not so fast my friend. I’ll take Oregon in a wild 44-42 overtime thriller. The ominous cloud hangs over UCLA once again whilst a rainbow shines over Autzen.

Dylan’s Score Prediction:

This is going to be an absolute rock show between two explosive offenses and two talented defenses. Chip Kelly has yet to defeat his former employer as the head man in Westwood, and I think that will continue this weekend. But as these matchups always seem to play out, UCLA will give Oregon its best shot and compete until the end. Oregon 38, UCLA 34.