This post was updated Oct 12 at 10:05 p.m.
The Bruins last traveled to Corvallis for a conference football game Nov. 7, 2015.
They shut out the Beavers 41-0 that day.
Eight seasons later, both programs are set to play their final Pac-12 matchup.
While one program was among the first to announce its departure from the Pac-12, the other has an undecided future following the yearlong saga of other schools leaving the conference.
On Saturday, however, all eyes will turn to the gridiron.
No. 18 UCLA football (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12) will play its second straight contest against a program left behind by conference realignment when it squares off against No. 15 Oregon State (5-1, 2-1) at Reser Stadium.
After his team’s win against No. 19 Washington State – the only other program left in the Pac-12 after this season – coach Chip Kelly expressed his discontent with both the Cougars and Beavers having uncertain futures.
“There’s a lot of really smart people in college athletics, but if we let those two schools not end up in a Power Five, then shame on us,” Kelly said. “That’s just not right.”
Two days later, Kelly moved to praise Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith.
“Jonathan has done an unbelievable job up there,” Kelly said. “His signature’s all over that program, and I’m really impressed with what he took over and where he took it.”
The Beavers are coming off their third 10-win season in program history, with Smith receiving Pac-12 Co-Head Coach of the Year and Region 5 Coach of the Year honors from the American Football Coaches Association for his success.
Smith has turned Oregon State into a team that excels at running the football.
The Beavers finished 24th in rushing yards per game in 2022 and have increased their status to 15th in the nation thus far in 2023.
The addition of DJ Uiagalelei through the transfer portal has added a new dimension to Oregon State’s rushing attack, with the dual-threat quarterback having five rushing touchdowns through six games.
Kelly compared the 252-pound quarterback to a former NFL MVP when discussing the challenges he presents.
“He’s a Cam Newton-type guy,” Kelly said. “It’s going to take more than one guy … he’s a gang-tackle type of quarterback because of his size.”
While freshman quarterback Dante Moore does not possess a similar threat with his legs, UCLA has also been a top-25 rushing offense. The Bruins rank 21st in rushing yards per game thus far, averaging 200.2 yards on the ground per contest.
On the flip side, UCLA’s passing offense has found more success than Oregon State’s at the beginning of the campaign. The Bruins rank 44th in passing yards per contest, while the Beavers rank 64th.
Redshirt sophomore Moliki Matavao attributed part of UCLA’s passing success, particularly with tight ends such as himself, to its constant threat on the ground.
“It’s also just how dominant we are in the run game,” Matavao said. “You see us (tight ends) in there – ‘Oh it’s run, oh no, it’s pass now’ – it just opens up a lot being versatile in both the run and pass game.”
Saturday’s matchup also features two formidable defenses, as both units rank in the top 35 in the country in points allowed per game. The Bruins and Beavers also both possess top-15 defenses against the run.
With strong running offenses and defenses set to collide in Corvallis, redshirt senior linebacker Darius Muasau believes that is where Saturday’s battle will be decided.
“When an offense is able to run against a defense, it hurts them inside,” Muasau said. “Just being able to stop the run and make them one-dimensional is really going to determine whether we win or lose this game.”
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