Oregon's playoff hopes take a hit after UCLA loss as Nebraska heads to Eugene

Oregon's playoff hopes have taken a serious hit. The Ducks lost 17-15 at home to UCLA in Week 6, and that second loss leaves them with very little room for error before Nebraska comes to Autzen Stadium on Saturday night.

USA TODAY Sports put Oregon among the biggest fallers in its weekly risers-and-fallers list. The outlet said the Ducks can still reach the College Football Playoff but will probably need to win the rest of their regular-season games. That stretch includes a Nov. 7 trip to Ohio State.

Oregon started the season as one of the top national title contenders after a run to the CFP semifinals last year, according to the report. It is now 3-2, with losses to Oklahoma State and UCLA.

The loss to UCLA was a low-scoring game, and the Ducks' passing attack was the main problem. USA TODAY Sports reported that quarterback Dylan Raiola completed 6 of 19 passes for 43 yards, threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. Third-string quarterback Brock Thomas replaced him. The outlet called it one of the worst games by a Power Four quarterback in recent memory.

UCLA made the riser side of the list. The Bruins are 5-0 under first-year coach Bob Chesney, who took James Madison to the playoff last season. They won in Eugene even though starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava suffered what has been reported as a season-ending knee injury. Backup Ty Dieffenbach came in during the second half and threw a 9-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter for a 17-6 lead. Oregon got within two points but never caught up.

That result changes the Big Ten race. UCLA is the unbeaten team now, and Oregon is trying to keep its season alive.

Nebraska next

The Ducks host Nebraska on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 11 p.m. EDT on Fox. The Cornhuskers arrive at 5-1. Oregon is 3-2 and will be under pressure all night, because one more loss would almost certainly end its playoff chances. A win would keep its path to the CFP intact ahead of the November trip to Columbus.

The market still has Oregon on top. The Ducks are favored at -251 on Novig, one of the venues listing the game. The best sportsbook price on Oregon is -275 at FanDuel. The spread is Oregon -7.5 and the total is 52.5. You can find full pricing on the Nebraska at Oregon odds page.

The quarterback position is the biggest question for Oregon this week. After Raiola's benching against UCLA, Oregon has not said publicly who will start against Nebraska, and the answer will shape how much the Ducks can trust their offense in a game they need to win.