The Pac-12 logo may be off the jerseys of the Bruins and the Ducks, but there is one very important question hovering over tonight’s game. (Photo Credit: Scott Chandler/uclabruins.com)
Tonight’s game is going to be a tough one.
How tough? I’m tempted to say that UCLA may be only two chances to win tonight: slim and none.
But there is actually one more chance.
In fact, it may be only thing that can help the Bruins to upset the #8 team in the nation. Before I go into that, let’s get right into the keys to tonight’s game.
Keys to the Game
1. Stop Dillon Gabriel
If UCLA wants to win today, the Bruins are going to have to find a way to keep Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel from throwing for 300 yards again today. That’s what he’s averaging per game through three games. If the Bruin defense can put pressure on Gabriel and force him to make bad throws and maybe throw a pick or two or seven, it will go a long way towards a Bruin win tonight.
2. Find the Offense
Last week’s game against LSU reminded me of The Waterboy. At the end of the first half, Bruin fans were like, “You can do it!” Unfortunately, in the second half, they has to resort to “We suck again!” as the UCLA offense was shut out after the break.
If UCLA wants to win today, the offense needs to play four full quarters of football, not just one half.
3. #B1GAfterDark?
Let’s be honest here: The expectation for tonight’s game is that it’s likely the Bruins are going to get throttled by the number eight team in the country. That’s what should happen.
But this game does not start until 8 pm PT.
If UCLA and Oregon were still playing in the Pac-12, there’s little doubt that #Pac12AfterDark would be in play tonight. This evening’s game could determine if #Pac12AfterDark has also realigned with the first four teams to announce their departure from the conference. Given that both teams playing tonight are former Pac-12 schools, it seems like the perfect opportunity to prove that the phenomenon has followed the schools to their new conference.
That’s the Million Dollar Question tonight. Did #Pac12AfterDark also realign when the Bruins, the Trojans, the Ducks and the Huskies joined the Big Ten? If so, then the Bruins might have a chance because #B1GAfterDark may just be the only thing that can help the Bruins pull off an upset tonight.
Listen to the Game With TMB!
Today’s game is on FOX with Connor Onion and Mark Helfrich calling the game. If you would rather listen Josh Lewin and Matt Stevens call today’s game, you can listen to the game online while chatting in the TMB game thread. Just right click on the link and open it in another tab so you can have it playing while you chat in the comments below. That way, you can listen to Josh Lewin, Matt Stevens and Wayne Cook call today’s game.
Join your fellow Bruins discussing today’s game in the comments section below, but before you get there, here’s how to watch tonight’s game:
UCLA Football (1-2, 0-1)
Opponent: Oregon Ducks (3-0, 0-0)
Series Record: UCLA leads 40-32,first meeting as Big Ten members.
When: 8:00 pm PT, Saturday, September 28, 2024
Where: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
Live TV: FOX with Connor Onion, Mark Helfrich and Josh Sims
Live Stream: FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports app
Radio/Audio: AM 1150 in Los Angeles with Josh Lewin, Matt Stevens and Wayne Cook Satellite Radio: SiriusXM Ch. 372 (UCLA Call)
Rebroadcast (All times PT): Sunday, 9/29 at 10:00 pm on FS1 Monday, 9/30 at 12:30 pm on FS2
Monday, 9/30 at 3:00 pm on BTN (BIG Football in 60)
Monday, 9/30 at 8:00 pm on FS1
Tuesday, 10/1 at 12:00 am on BTN (BIG Football in 60) Tuesday, 10/1 at 5:00 am on BTN (BIG Football in 60) Wednesday, 10/2 at 12:00 am on FS2
Go Bruins!!!
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Oregon does this all the time. It's their culture as a team and football program and if the opponent is this bad, it's an easy play to run, so why not.
because you can't do that much good and get nothing for it. nothing deflates you more and makes the opponent get revved more than coming out with zeroes. still a game that can be won. can't give up too fast.
This is going to be a long season with all our flaws, but Garbers is a true gamer. Feels like he turns every ounce of his limited talent into production, even while getting zero help from his line or the run game.
yeah, that bothered me as well
Oregon does this all the time. It's their culture as a team and football program and if the opponent is this bad, it's an easy play to run, so why not.
C clap! clap clap!
L clap! clap clap!
A!!
UCLA Fight! Fight! Fight!
Hey, BB good evening! Go Bruins!
Hey, Jim! Hope this game is worth staying up for!
Let’s go!
Good evening,Jeffro!
Good afternoon Jim!
A!!
Ferd got stomped my Clemson
$ UC beat Wisconsin
Here we go men of the West!
I thought SUC came back to win?
they did-- killed them second half
Thanks ,Jeffro, corrected.
Let's go, defense!!
So close
3rd down - let’s get a stop
Sigh
Yuck - too easy
Blew up our Line on that play
Just that play?
LOL
We have a line?
LOLOL
What Line?
Wide open- sigh
The sad thing is we don’t look even close to stopping anybody.
nope
harden is trying but just is getting nothing from the O line
Garber to Gilmer First Down!
Hey, a first down!
See foot. Shoot!
We can’t run & we can barely throw. I expected a little more creativity out of this coaching staff
PI! Never turned around to look
Maybe we can keep running this play where the WR runs in to DB
Do it til it doesn't work!
PI and first down.
And the OLine gets weaker 😭
Gilmer again!
Offense doing reasonably well so far. Getting their first downs helped by Oregon mistakes
Is the mouthpiece mere decoration for Gilmer? haha
Nice YAC by Gilmore!
Game against Oregon will be decided by which team can outscore the other team
Much John. Very Madden. 😂
Great patience by Garbers, going through his reads and letting Matavao get open
1st down at their 15.Garbers was given time.
Oh no, we’re in the red zone
Man, Harden made something out of nothing there. The OLine needs help
Can we give them shields?
When you’re a 24 pt underdog you have to go for it… why we kicking a fg??
SMH
Dorrellian
Cuz it's only 7-0 and we need points on the board
because you can't do that much good and get nothing for it. nothing deflates you more and makes the opponent get revved more than coming out with zeroes. still a game that can be won. can't give up too fast.
4th and 4.... gotta kick FG
No confidence to get 4 yds. Still 3 pts.
This is going to be a long season with all our flaws, but Garbers is a true gamer. Feels like he turns every ounce of his limited talent into production, even while getting zero help from his line or the run game.
Limited talent is right
Oh ya, he's not carrying a team
Missed tackles (sigh)
dang!
Can’t catch a break
Stay in the game? Make your tackles!
Ok, our defense is stinking it up too. Porous.
Interesting fleaflicker! Glad it didn't work!
Only bc the Oregon receiver didnt make a good pass. Their receiver was open
Hence my (short-lived) glee
I wonder if Ducks see it as 4 down territory
guess not
I think Dan Lanning has learned from experience. He's lost a couple games when he kept going for it even choosing 2-pt conversions over PATs.
Dodged a couple there.
There’s almost no pressure on their QB
3 pts feels like a win
good call; def not targeting
71 is still "that" guy
needless mental mistakes!
O sheet!
Very limited skills…
Garbers threw it behind the receiver
Yeah, that was a terrible throw
That was pretty bad. What’s Ethan at now - 3 tds and 5 ints?
I might just be a terrible fan, but there aren’t many options on the bench, are there?
Justyn Martin can’t possibly be worse
Think he's the best we got