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Oregon Football: 3 implications of impressive road win over UCLA

By Connor Muldowney

Oct 23, 2021; Pasadena, California, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Anthony Brown (13) celebrates with offensive lineman George Moore (77), wide receiver Mycah Pittman (4) and wide receiver Johnny Johnson III after scoring on a 43-yard touchdown run against the UCLA Bruins in the second half at Rose Bowl. Oregon defeated UCLA 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2021; Pasadena, California, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Anthony Brown (13) celebrates with offensive lineman George Moore (77), wide receiver Mycah Pittman (4) and wide receiver Johnny Johnson III after scoring on a 43-yard touchdown run against the UCLA Bruins in the second half at Rose Bowl. Oregon defeated UCLA 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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If you’re like me, you viewed Saturday’s Oregon football game at UCLA as the last major hurdle between the Ducks and a Pac-12 North title.

The Ducks were 5-1 on the season and needed to get by a rising Bruins team, led by Chip Kelly, before seeing a rather favorable stretch to end the season with just two teams boasting a winning record through eight weeks.

Oregon found a way to win despite a 14-0 deficit early on as the Ducks scored 34 of the next 37 points to take a commanding 34-17 lead before winning 34-31.

Let’s talk implications of the Ducks’ big win.

3. Kayvon Thibodeaux is unstoppable when healthy

How good is Kayvon Thibodeaux? Well, he’s darn near unstoppable when he’s healthy and playing a complete game and UCLA found that out the hard way.

Before the game, I predicted Thibodeaux would finish with three sacks and he did just that. OK, so he was only credited with two, but that’s because two of his sacks (which were pretty much all him) were listed as half-sacks. He finished with two sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss, nine tackles, and a QB hurry on Saturday, proving he’s the nation’s top player.

There’s a reason Thibodeaux is considered the No. 1 NFL draft prospect and it’s because he cannot be stopped when he’s at full strength. And I honestly don’t even think he’s 100 percent, but he’s still putting up ridiculous numbers.

Since returning from his Week 1 injury, Thibodeaux has 20 tackles and three sacks in three games — and that’s with him missing the first half of the Cal game because of a targeting call against Arizona.

Not too shabby.

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