Oregon defensive lineman Taki Taimani exits UCLA game in fourth quarter

Oregon defensive lineman Taki Taimani was helped off the field with the assistance of trainers with just over nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game against UCLA. He was in visible pain as he was walking with a limp to the sideline. Oregon won the game pretty handily with a 45-30 advantage. The UCLA defense was not able to find an answer for Bo Nix and the Oregon offensive attack all game long.

Taimani transferred to Oregon from the Washington Huskies this offseason. In the 2021 season with Washington, he ranked seventh on the team with 43 tackles. He also ranked third among interior defensive lineman in the Pac-12 in tackles. Coming into Saturday’s game, the UCLA defense had only allowed 99 rushing yards per game. Oregon rolled up 261 rushing yards against the Bruins.

Oregon quarterback Bo Nix played as good as he possibly could have on Saturday afternoon

Oregon quarterback Bo Nix put together the best game of his career thus far, completing 22 of his 28 attempts for 283 passing yards, while tossing five touchdowns (tied for a career high) and no interceptions. On the ground, he also had eight carries for 51 rushing yards. It was a big-time performance from Nix in the biggest game of the season thus far for the Ducks. He joined CJ Stroud of Ohio State, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, and Will Rogers of Mississippi State as the only quarterbacks with multiple games with five passing touchdowns this season. The critical win puts Oregon in the driver’s seat for the Pac-12 championship game. The Ducks also got a superb performance from receiver Troy Franklin, who hauled in eight catches for 132 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

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The momentum of Saturday’s game completely swung in the Ducks’ favor after head coach Dan Lanning decided to boldly kick an onside kick in the second quarter. The gamble paid off handsomely as Oregon drove the football down the field and scored a touchdown, giving them a comfortable 24-10 lead that they would not relinquish the rest of the way.

The bright spots for UCLA were running back Zach Charbonnet and receiver Jake Bobo. Charbonnet rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown. Bobo hauled in eight catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. Bobo hauled in some really impressive grabs and showed why he continues generate buzz among NFL scouts this season.