Oregon suffered a stunning 17-15 home defeat to UCLA at Autzen Stadium on October 10, 2026, committing seven turnovers and benching quarterback Dylan Raiola. The loss leaves head coach Dan Lanning’s squad grappling with offensive ineptitude, dwindling College Football Playoff hopes, and urgent roster evaluations ahead of a matchup against Nebraska.
Seven turnovers and 73 rushing yards defined a grim afternoon in Eugene as No. 13 Oregon dropped a 17-15 decision to No. 21 UCLA (5-0, 3-0 Big Ten). The Bruins snapped a five-game losing streak against the Ducks and secured their first win at Autzen Stadium since 2004, while outgaining the hosts 345-272. Playing without starting quarterback Dante Moore, who remained sidelined in concussion protocol after getting hurt against USC two weeks prior, Oregon turned to Nebraska transfer Dylan Raiola for his first start. Prior to kickoff, Oregon held a 73.2% probability of making the playoff and a 45.2% chance of advancing to the Big Ten championship game according to Pro Football Network’s College Football Playoff Meter, though those metrics plummeted to 49.3% and 22.6% respectively in the aftermath of the surprise defeat.
The experiment unraveled quickly. Raiola completed just 6-of-19 pass attempts for 43 yards, tossing two interceptions and losing a fumble. His afternoon turned even worse during the second period when another lost fumble directly enabled Wayne Knight to score on a 35-yard touchdown run. The offense went 1-for-12 on third-down conversion attempts and committed six turnovers across nine drives. You can’t turn the ball over,
Raiola said after the game. I was reckless with the ball today, and you can’t win football games like that.
Dylan Raiola Benched for Walk-On Brock Thomas
With the Ducks trailing 17-6 in the fourth quarter, head coach Dan Lanning pulled Raiola in favor of walk-on third-string quarterback Brock Thomas. Thomas, a local product who walked on out of Eugene’s Sheldon High School after previously considering options from Eastern Washington, Northern Arizona, Portland State, Air Force, and Army, injected immediate life into a dormant offense. His father, Aaron Thomas, played receiver for the Ducks from 1985 to 1989. Thomas completed 11 of 15 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown in limited action.
Thomas led a late charge, rallying the team from a 17-6 deficit to a field goal with 5:19 remaining to make it 17-9, before pulling within two points when Thomas hit Evan Stewart from 44 yards out three minutes later. An onside push and a final possession starting from the 12-yard line with 48 seconds remaining yielded only a march near midfield before a last-second effort was turned away to end the game.
“Certainly, after the last turnover we had to put somebody in there that’s going to go have success. Brock went in and operated well. You can always go back and say we should have done that earlier. If you knew that turnover was coming, you would have done that earlier.”
Dan Lanning, Oregon Head Coach, via KVAL
Dan Lanning Faces Tough Questions Amid Dwindling CFP Hopes
Sitting at 3-2 overall and 1-1 within conference play, Oregon’s national championship ambitions have crashed into a massive roadblock, shifting the program from a primary title contender to suddenly facing the very real possibility of missing the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2023. The 15 points scored marked the lowest offensive output at Autzen Stadium since 2017 and the fewest in any game since Lanning’s tenure began in 2022. Questions are mounting regarding the performance of an offensive line unit that continues to struggle to protect and open holes for the running game.
In the locker room, the head coach addressed his players bluntly about character and response.
“We’re fighting an uphill battle now. Again, you can’t look 10 weeks ahead. You have to look at what’s in front of us right now. We don’t control our destiny anymore. It’s not necessarily just up to us, but we do control how we respond.”
Dan Lanning, Oregon Head Coach, via USA Today
Defensive Standouts and the Road Ahead Against Nebraska
While the offense faltered, Oregon’s defense provided the only bright spots by limiting UCLA’s rushing attack to 140 yards—half of its season average—while forcing three turnovers and recording two sacks among seven tackles for loss. During the opening period, junior defensive back Koi Perich pounced on the football after outside linebacker Nasir Wyatt pressured UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava all the way back into his own end zone. Outside linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei added two sacks and six tackles, including two for a loss, while defensive lineman A’mauri Washington blocked a pass in the end zone and defensive teammate Jackson registered seven tackles and a quarterback hurry.
The Ducks return to Autzen Stadium on October 17, 2026, to host Nebraska. Lanning stated that evaluating Dante Moore’s health status—with Moore returning to practice in a limited capacity while remaining in concussion protocol—alongside film and practice reviews will dictate whether Thomas or Raiola takes snaps against the Cornhuskers.
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