Oregon Ducks Have Massive Trap Game After Bye Week

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After a dramatic Week 4 victory over the USC Trojans, the Oregon Ducks finally enter a much-needed bye week.

The impressive win over a longtime rival did have plenty of implications for the program moving forward into the regular season, as star quarterback Dante Moore suffered a gut-wrenching concussion on Saturday afternoon. Luckily for head coach Dan Lanning and his squad, backup quarterback Dylan Raiola stepped up for the Ducks, finishing with 289 passing yards and two touchdowns while completing 19 of 25 pass attempts.

Now, Oregon gets a week to reset before fully submerging themselves into their Big 10 Conference schedule. However, the UCLA Bruins will be waiting for the Ducks after the bye week and could pose a real threat in Week 6.

Potential Trap Game Against UCLA

The Bruins have been quietly putting together a terrific 2026 campaign thus far that has seen the program reach the AP Top 25 following the conclusion of Week 4.Led by former five-star high school quarterback Nico Iamaleava, UCLA holds a 4-0 record heading into next week’s contest, with victories over the Cal Golden Bears in Week 1 and the Maryland Terrapins in Week 4. Iamaleava and the offense continue to be one of the main catalysts for the Bruins this year, as the unit ranks third in average points scored per game in the Big 10 Conference (44.5).

Unfortunately, there is one massive advantage that UCLA’s offense has over Oregon’s defense that could lead to potential trouble for Lanning and his squad next week.

One of the main focal points of attack for the Bruins this season has been its lethal run game. Senior Wayne Knight has been one of the best running backs in the nation this season, tallying 445 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 49 carries. Outside of Knight, the program also has two additional veteran backs: Anthony Woods and Jaivian Thomas, who have combined for 424 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 64 attempts.

As the leaders in rushing yards per game within the Big 10 Conference through four weeks (281.5 rushing yards per game), the Bruins’ offensive style could lead to trouble for Lanning’s defense next Saturday.

At the beginning of the regular season, Oregon’s defense struggled to stop opposing teams’ run games. In Week 2, the Oklahoma State Cowboys recorded 237 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 40 attempts for an average of 5.9 yards per carry. Quarterback Drew Mestemaker played a key role in the Cowboys’ rushing attack, accounting for 109 of the rushing yards.

The combination of UCLA’s stellar run game between its three-headed running back core and Iamaleava, and the program also coming off a bye week, will be one of the biggest storylines heading into Week 6.

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