The UCLA football team will play under the stars Saturday against an electric Oregon offense when kickoff commences at 8 p.m. at the Rose Bowl.
“I don’t think it’s much different,” Bruins linebacker Kain Medrano said of the late kickoff. “It’s either you wake up, touch your toes and play some football or you get to sleep and watch some more film.”
UCLA is focused on No. 8 Oregon, an opponent it hasn’t faced since 2022 and hasn’t beaten since 2017. Both teams have the chance to pick up their first win as members of the Big Ten Conference.
Though no games were as late as 8 p.m., the Bruins (1-2 overall, 0-1 Big Ten) went 2-2 in four 7:30 p.m. kickoffs last season. Their won their season opener against Coastal Carolina at the Rose Bowl, where they got blown out in their regular-season finale against Cal. On the road, they beat Stanford and lost to Arizona.
“It’s very disrespectful,” Bruins head coach DeShaun Foster joked. “I’m just kidding. We’ll play at any time, really, so I’m not worried about that. But the Rose Bowl should be rocking at eight o’clock.”
The Ducks (3-0, 0-0) may have an edge after dark. They are 4-0 in games that begin at 7 p.m. or later under head coach Dan Lanning, who took over in December 2021. They have won 12 consecutive games that began after 7 p.m.
The good news fort UCLA is students are back on campus for the fall semester, which means the student section that’s been built behind the opposing team’s bench could fill up more than it did for UCLA’s home opener against Indiana, which drew an overall attendance of 47,811.
The Bruins played in front of a crowd of 59,962 the last time they faced the Ducks in Eugene in 2022 and Foster says he’s seen little change in how the Ducks play since then.
“Other than their uniforms, no,” he said. “They have different people at different positions, but it’s very similar.”
Oregon is making its Big Ten debut, two weeks UCLA lost its conference opener to Indiana and followed up with another loss to SEC opponent LSU last weekend. Saturday’s matchup could be an indicator of the Bruins’ future success in the Big Ten, regardless of the kickoff time.
“I’m a superstitious guy, so I’ll kind of do like the same routine,” Bruins tight end Jack Pedersen said. “A little hot tub, foam roll, but I don’t think it changes too much. You just shift everything back a few hours and you just get ready, put your cleats on, put your helmet on and go play.”
When Oregon has the ball
The heart and soul of the Ducks’ offense is senior quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who almost ended up at UCLA. He is the only FBS quarterback with a completion percentage of 80% or better and is putting the ball in receivers’ hands at an 84% clip. His 304.7 passing yards per game rank 11th in the country.
His top targets are tight end Terrance Ferguson, who needs two touchdown catches to break the program record for touchdowns by a tight end, and wide receiver Tez Johnson, who has hauled in 93 receptions for 1,169 yards and eight touchdowns in his last 12 games.
UCLA this season has given up 297 passing yards and 387 yards of total offense per game. Its pass rush took another hit when Foster announced that starting defensive lineman Keanu Williams will be out for the rest of the season due to injury.
When UCLA has the ball
The Bruins’ passing game has shown growth in its first three games and quarterback Ethan Garbers recorded a career-high 281 yards last week against LSU.
Receiver Titus Mokaio-Atimalala was out for that game and Foster did not disclose if the redshirt junior will be available for Saturday’s game. Sophomore Rico Flores Jr. leads UCLA with 160 receiving yards and freshman receiver Kwazi Kilmer is starting to make a name for himself.
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UCLA will look to improve on its third-down conversion rate against an Oregon defense that gives up an average of 164.67 passing yards and 133.7 rushing yards per game. The Bruins are converting on 33.3% of third downs.
Outside linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei, a St. John Bosco alumnus, leads Oregon with two sacks. Inside linebacker Bryce Boettcher is the team’s leading tackler with 25 total tackles.
No. 8 Oregon (3-0 overall, 0-0 Big Ten) at UCLA (1-2, 0-1)
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Rose Bowl
TV/Radio: FOX/AM1150
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