The prevailing storyline entering Saturday’s game between the Ducks and Bruins is obvious: UCLA head coach Chip Kelly returns to Eugene for the first time to face the program he helped elevate to highest levels of college football.

It’s a day that has been highly anticipated for Duck fans everywhere, but particularly by those who have lived and breathed Oregon football over the decades and have watched the program transform from a hyper local interest to a full-blown blue chip name that commands annual intrigue on a national level.

Beginning with his arrival at Oregon prior to the 2007 season and ending with his departure following the 2012 campaign, Kelly’s tenure as both a Duck assistant and head coach spanned a golden era in the program’s history. And though Rich Brooks and Mike Bellotti’s turns as head coaches at Oregon were absolutely critical in laying the foundation to the Ducks’ success in the modern era, Kelly capitalized on that progress better than anyone could have imagined.

Now at UCLA, Kelly is in the midst of a reclamation project that has gotten off to a rocky start, though has shown signs of improvement of late. Meanwhile, in Eugene, the Ducks are still looking to recapture the magic of the Kelly era with Mario Cristobal at the helm. 

With both programs seeking a much needed victory this week, WFOD offers up its UCLA primer…

UCLA Bruins

2018 record: 2-6 overall, 2-3 in conference
Last game: 41-10 loss vs. No. 23 Utah
Ranking: Unranked
All-time record vs. Oregon: 40-28
When and where to watch: Saturday, Nov. 3 at 4:30 p.m. (Pacific), FOX

Items of note:

• The Ducks have won five straight against the Bruins in Eugene, averaging 42.4 points in those victories
• This season, Oregon is averaging 43.2 points per game at Autzen Stadium and has scored a touchdown in 18 of 20 quarters at home. Away from home, the Ducks are averaging 25.7 points per game.
• Oregon’s six-game winning streak versus UCLA came to an end last year in Pasadena
• The Ducks and Bruins are tied for first in the Pac-12 in turnovers forced

Five UCLA names you should know:

5. Adarius Pickett (DB)

The Bruins may not be stoutest group on the defensive side of the ball, but redshirt senior defensive Adarius Pickett is undoubtedly the unit’s most productive player, in addition to being its spiritual leader. A former four-star recruit coming out of high school, Pickett has been a mainstay on the UCLA defense since 2015. After finishing second on the team in tackles (85) a season ago, the 5-foot-11, 198-pound Pickett is among the Pac-12’s leader in tackles this season, currently ranking fifth in the conference with 84. In fact, he’s one of only five players in the Pac-12 averaging more than 10 tackles per game.

4. JJ Molson (K)

Despite Kelly’s reputation as an offensive wizard, the Bruins are the Pac-12’s worst team in both scoring offense (21.3) and total offense (346.1). That, however, hasn’t stopped junior kicker JJ Molson from performing as one of the conference’s best kickers this season. A descendant of John Molson, the founder of North America’s oldest brewery in 1786, the Montreal, Quebec, Canada native has been arguably UCLA’s greatest source of offense this season. After ranking third in the conference in field goal accuracy a year ago (17-of-21, 81%), Molson ranks as the Pac-12’s second-most accurate kicker entering Saturday’s game, having converted 10-of-12 field goal attempts (83.3%).

3. Keisean Lucier-South (LB)

In the absence of one UCLA’s most physically gifted defenders in Jaelan Phillips (out for the season with a concussion), redshirt junior linebacker Keisean Lucier-South has elevated his play to the level of a team leader. Formerly a defensive end, Lucier-South made the transition to linebacker last season and is finally seeing his production take off. Standing 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, Lucier-South is a terror off the edge. Through eight games, Lucier-South currently leads the Bruins in sacks (4.0) and is one six defenders in the Pac-12 with 10 or more tackles for loss this season (10.5). Against an Oregon offensive line which has struggled since Penei Sewell was sidelined with an ankle injury, Lucier-South could be in for a big day.

2. Caleb Wilson (TE)

In a conference chock full of talented pass catchers at the tight end position, UCLA’s Caleb Wilson is one of the best the Pac-12 has to offer. At 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, Wilson is essentially a receiver in a tight end’s body, possessing the ability to stretch the field for a UCLA offense that is woefully thin on playmakers. Though he’s only found the end zone once this season, Wilson is heavily targeted by UCLA’s quarterbacks, as he leads the Bruins in receiving yards with 479. His 34 receptions are tied for the team lead with wide receiver Theo Howard and rank second in the Pac-12 amongst tight ends behind Stanford’s Kaden Smith (36). It’s worth noting that the Ducks have struggled mightily against top flight tight ends this season, a weakness Wilson and the Bruins will no doubt look to exploit on Saturday.

1. Joshua Kelley (RB)

He may not have come into the season with a flashy highlight reel or big-time expectations, but redshirt junior running back Joshua Kelley is quickly emerging as one of the top rushers in the Pac-12. Since conference play began, Kelley is averaging 126.4 yards per game and has scored all six of his touchdowns. In fact, Kelley’s lowest rushing output against a Pac-12 opponent came last week versus Utah – the top conference’s top rushing defense – which surrendered 90 yards and a touchdown to Kelley. The only other player to have a more prolific performance against the Utes was Washington’s Myles Gaskin (143 yards). With the Oregon defense reeling a bit over the last few games, Saturday could produce a banner performance for the 5-foot-11, 204-pound Lancaster (Calif.) native.