Oregon on the brink, UCLA on the rise in surprising October in Big Ten

Oregon’s $40 million roster hasn’t completed the first half of the season, but the Ducks are on the brink of playoff elimination after a 17-15 loss to UCLA that witnesses — either in person or watching on TV — won’t soon forget. The secret to UCLA’s success? Being slightly less inept than the Ducks, who converted 1 of 13 third downs and committed one-two-three-four-five-six-SEVEN turnovers. (Two interceptions plus five fumbles equals abysmal execution.) Oregon was as bad offensively against the Bruins as it was inept defensively in the Week 2 defeat at Oklahoma State.