Go Joe Bruin continues the early previews of UCLA football’s 2018 schedule and this one is going to be wild as Chip Kelly returns to face his old team, the Oregon Ducks.
All eyes will be on the Oregon and UCLA football teams on October 21. Not just because two up-and-coming Pac-12 teams will clash, but because the Ducks’ old coach, Chip Kelly, is now the Bruins’ new coach.
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How will Kelly’s new program do in a stadium that will be filled with loud (and possibly rabid) fans? But beyond that, how will Oregon and their new coach, Mario Cristobal, perform against Kelly?
Could this be the start of a whole new rivalry?
UCLA Football Early 2018 Schedule Previews
Cincinnati | Oklahoma | Fresno St | Colorado | Washington | Cal | Arizona | Utah
Oregon Ducks
Head Coach: Mario Cristobal | Overall Record 0-0
2017 Record: 7-6, 4-5
2017-18 Bowl Game: Las Vegas Bowl – Loss to Boise State, 38-28
What: UCLA Bruins vs. Oregon Ducks
Where: Autzen Stadium
When: Saturday, October 21
Since Kelly left Oregon, the Ducks have been a bit bi-polar. They continued their winning ways for the next three years but then fell into oblivion for a season. Former coach Mark Helfrich took Oregon back to the Rose Bowl and National Championship Game in 2014, but two years later, went 4-8, prompting his termination.
The Ducks are also on their third coach since Kelly left. After Helfrich, Willie Taggart took over, but he was there for a cup of coffee as is now heading the Florida State football program. Because of that, Oregon promoted co-offensive coordinator Mario Cristobal which seemed like the smart thing to do, especially since he had four seasons working under the master, Nick Saban.
Oregon’s Five-Year Win Trend
- 2017 – ★★★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆ 7-6
- 2016 – ★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ 4-8
- 2015 – ★★★★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ 9-4
- 2014 – ★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆☆ 13-2
- 2013 – ★★★★★★★★★★★☆☆ 11-2
But will this latest edition of Oregon football bring the results that Kelly brought? They are definitely moving away from Kelly’s style as the Ducks seem to be flocking from a spread to a pro-style offense. Aside from that, there are several things that are lining up quite nicely for the Ducks, but they need to be aware because there are a lot of things that are lining up for the Bruins.
With that in mind, let us take a look at the late October contest between these two teams in transition.