Dillon Gabriel throws three touchdowns as No. 8 Oregon beats UCLA 34-13 in its first Big Ten game

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Dan Lanning didn’t want to dwell on the historic significance of Oregon winning its first Big Ten game Saturday night.

That can come at another time. Instead, the Ducks coach wanted to talk about quarterback Dillon Gabriel and his team delivering another strong performance on both sides of the ball.

Gabriel threw three touchdown passes and moved up in the NCAA record books while the defense did not allow an offensive touchdown as eighth-ranked Oregon posted a 34-13 victory over UCLA in the Rose Bowl.

“It was a complete game in a lot of ways,” Lanning said. “Dillon continues to prove he is an accomplished quarterback. He managed well to use his feet when the first answer wasn’t there and move on to the next look. The defense played its best game yet. After the first series we figured out their rhythm and knew what they were going to do.”

Tez Johnson had 11 receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns as the Ducks (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) picked up their 12th win in their last 13 meetings against the Bruins.

Jordan James added 103 yards rushing and a touchdown on 20 carries.

Oregon took control in the first half as it scored on its first five possessions. After UCLA scored a field goal on its first drive to make it 7-3, the Ducks’ defense forced a turnover and three straight three-and-outs on the next four series and held the Bruins to minus-8 yards in the second quarter.

All of this results in the Ducks being undefeated after four games for the second straight season and in third place since 2015.

UCLA (1-3, 0-2) has suffered three straight losses in DeShaun Foster’s first season as coach. It’s the first time since 1963 that the Bruins haven’t scored at least 20 points in any of their first four games.

“Just like I told them, there aren’t many words that can change that. It’s our actions. Actions speak louder than words,” Foster said. “We need to change our approach on the field and hopefully this will fix some issues.”

Gabriel – who completed 31 of 41 passes for 280 yards – became the fourth Football Bowl Subdivision player to reach 16,000 yards passing in his career and tied for third with 134 touchdown passes.

The sixth-grader has racked up 16,059 yards in 54 games at three different schools. He played parts of three seasons at UCF before transferring to Oklahoma, where he played in 2022 and 2023. Gabriel chose to play his senior year at Oregon because the Hawaii native wanted to play closer to home.

“I trust the guys. When you get the ball into the hands of the playmakers, they make plays,” said Gabriel. “The trust and belief is there, but more importantly the boys are elite with what they have done.”

Gabriel’s best pass came midway through the second quarter when he scored the ball Johnson for a 52-yard touchdown to make it 25-3. Johnson broke through UCLA’s coverage, caught the ball at the 10 and went untouched into the end zone.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Johnson made a 12-yard grab near the back of the end zone to make it 34-13. It’s the second time this season and sixth time in his career that the senior has recorded double-digit catches.

“I see confidence, poise and trust in his teammates,” Johnson said. “When you have a quarterback like that back there, it makes it comfortable as a receiver to call every play.”

Gabriel’s other touchdown pass came on Oregon’s first possession of the Big Ten game, when Traeshon Johnson’s reception for 11 yards capped an 11-play, 75-yard streak.

Gabriel’s only mistake came late in the second quarter when Bryan Addison had a 96-yard pick six to put the Bruins up 28-10 at halftime. It was the first interception-return TD for Addison, who began his career at Oregon.

Bruins quarterback Ethan Garbers was 12 of 20 for 118 yards and two interceptions. The senior was sacked four times and left the game in the fourth quarter with an apparent ankle injury.

“If you know Ethan, you know he fought to stay out there. “So if there’s a player that’s begging to stay out there and he wants to keep playing, we’ll let him play,” Foster said.

The takeaway food

Oregon: While most of the attention is focused on the offense, the defense continues to be strong. The Ducks have sacked opposing quarterbacks 11 times and are allowing just 154.8 yards per game.

UCLA: The Bruins offense under first-year coordinator Eric Bieniemy has gone six quarters since it last reached the end zone.

Impact on the survey

Oregon is expected to move up at least one spot after sixth-seeded Mississippi’s loss to Kentucky.

Next

Oregon: Welcomes Michigan State on Friday night in the Ducks’ first Big Ten home game.

UCLA: Travel to ninth-ranked Penn State for a 9 a.m. PDT start on Saturday.

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