With Oregon’s defense under a new defensive coordinator for the first time in the Dan Lanning era, I was curious to compare Oregon’s defensive starters this year to their starters when UCLA played against the Ducks in 2024 and even what their starters looked like last season. Under Tosh Lupoi in 2024, the Ducks were inclined to use a DE/OLB. During the 2025 regular season, they only started a DE/OLB twice. Instead, they started their Star defensive back.
Of course, the term “Star” as a defensive position comes from Nick Saban. Saban had been Bill Belichick’s defensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns. Apparently, Belichick wanted an “S” name for the team’s defensive back who would replace the Sam outside linebacker when the Browns went to a nickel defense. Lupoi, of course, spent five seasons on Saban’s staff at Alabama.
So, based on Oregon’s starters so far, the Ducks will play a 3-3-5 as their base defense, though you could almost call it a 2-4-5 defense. Regardless of what you actually call it, the bottom line is this: Oregon will have five defensive backs on the field along with six guys up front between the defensive line and the linebackers.
Let’s look at Oregon’s defensive starters.
Defensive Line
Senior A’mauri Washington has started every game the Ducks have played since the start of last season as one of the team’s defensive tackles. This season, he’s made 11 tackles and broken up one pass.
Redshirt senior Bear Alexander will be the other starting defensive tackle. He’s started every game since the fourth game of last year and he is tied with three guys for fourth on the team in tackles with 17 including 2.5 TFLs and two sacks. He also has a quarterback hurry.
The Ducks’ third defensive lineman is on the team’s list of starters as a defensive end, but Matayo Uiagalelei is listed on the roster as an outside linebacker. So, while he isn’t listed as a DE/OLB on the list of starters, it’s safe to assume he’s playing a hybrid position as an edge rusher, but that’s why you could almost consider him as a linebacker and, technically, change the defensive alignment from a 3-3-5 to a 2-4-5.
Linebackers
Redshirt senior Devon Jackson will be one of the starting inside linebackers. He is tied for the team lead in tackles with 23 including a TFL. Jackson also has an interception, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hurry this year.
The other starting inside linebacker will be senior Jerry Mixon. He is tied for fourth in tackles with 17 including 1.5 TFLs. Mixon has also broken up two passes.
Oregon’s starting outside linebacker will be senior Teitum Tuioti. Presumably, I would expect him to line up on the opposite side from Uiagalelei, rather than the same side. Tuioti is third on the team with 18 tackles including 2 TFLs and a sack. He leads the Ducks with six quarterback hurries.
Secondary
Moving to the secondary, Koi Perich will be one of the starting safeties. Perich is tied with Jackson for the team lead in tackles with 23. He also has an interception and a pass breakup.
Normally, Aaron Flowers would join Perich, but he was downgradeed to out in today’s availability report update. Expect Peyton Woodyard and Jett Washington to split the snaps as Oregon’s second safety. Woodyard has nine tackles to Washington’s three. While Woodyard has two breakups, Washington leads the Ducks with two interceptions and he also has a forced fumble.
Junior Ify Obidegwu will start at one corner. He’s made seven tackles and broken up five passes.
Sophomore Brandon Finney, Jr. will probably be on the field for UCLA’s first offensive play. The only question is what position he will be playing at the time. While he started Oregon’s first two games at corner, he was the starting Star against Portland State and Southern Cal. Finney is the third Duck defender with 17 tackles including 2.5 TFLs and two sacks to go along with a quarterback hurry.
If Finney starts at corner, look for Carl Williams IV to return as the Star. In two games this season, Williams has made eight tackles. He’s missed the last two games with an injury, but is not on this week’s availability report. So, he may be ready to return.
If Williams still isn’t ready then sophomore Na’eem Offord will likely start at corner again. Offord has made nine tackles this year and broken up three passes.
Analysis
Much like the Bruin defense, I expect UCLA’s offense to be prepared to play tomorrow. Not only did Dean Kennedy show off his halftime adjustments last year against Oregon’s defense in the CFP, but he called plays well against various defenses which have employed some variation of nickel.
UCLA’s running game has matched up well against those defenses.
Combine that with UCLA’s higher talent level compared to last year’s James Madison team and I have to think the Bruins may be poised for their first road win against the Ducks since 2004.
Go Bruins!!!
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