Five takeaways from Oregon defeat

Oregon’s Bryan Addison, right, breaks up a pass play in the end zone intended for UCLA’s Jake Bobo, left, during the first half on Saturday in Eugene, Ore. (Chris Pietsch / Associated Press)

It may not have been the granddaddy of crushing losses for an unbeaten UCLA football team, but it certainly earned a spot on the family tree of disappointment.

Over the last quarter century, the “Hurricane Bowl” against Miami in 1998 stands alone among soul-sucking defeats. Edgerrin James busting off one long run after another and the Brad Melsby phantom fumble will always occupy the darkest of Bruins’ nightmares after the team bungled a chance to appear in the first Bowl Championship Series title game.

Other cry-till-you-laugh losses that ended hopes of unbeaten seasons followed.

UCLA won its first six games in 2001, rising to No. 4 in the national rankings, before falling to Stanford and going 7-4.

UCLA started 8-0 in 2005, earning a No. 7 ranking, before a desert disaster against Arizona preceded an eventual appearance in the Sun Bowl.

UCLA posted five consecutive victories to open 2013, rising to No. 9, before a loss to Stanford was compounded the following week by a loss to Oregon.

The current Bruins are headed to the Rose Bowl, but don’t get too excited, it’s just for a home game against Stanford next weekend. Hopes of playing in the Rose Bowl game for the first time since Jan. 1, 1999, took a small but possibly inconsequential hit Saturday during No. 9 UCLA’s 45-30 loss to No. 10 Oregon at Autzen Stadium.

Whether the defeat becomes a fender scuff or a permanent paint stain depends on what happens from here. Here are five takeaways from the defeat that dropped the Bruins to No. 12 in the Associated Press poll:

Everything remains in reach

UCLA coach Chip Kelly, left, and Oregon coach Dan Lanning meet at midfield after…

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Author : LA Times

Publish date : 2022-10-23 19:19:19

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