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In Big Ten debut, No. 8 Oregon faces ex-Pac-12 rival UCLA

Syndication: The Register GuardOregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel throws out a pass during warm ups as the Oregon State Beavers host the Oregon Ducks Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024 at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Ore.

Despite not playing last weekend, Oregon moved up a spot to No. 8 in the AP Top 25 poll as it prepares for its Big Ten Conference debut at UCLA on Saturday.

Oregon (3-0) has won four in a row and 10 of its last 11 games against former Pac-12 rival UCLA (1-2, 0-1). The Ducks are 15-3 against the Bruins since 2000.

“I’m glad to be back playing football,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said Monday. “I’m excited, obviously, for our first Big Ten matchup. Getting the opportunity to travel to the Rose Bowl, always an iconic place to play, and certainly a team that we’re excited to go out there and play against.”

After two close home games against heavy underdogs, the Ducks found their explosiveness on offense on Sept. 14 when they trounced in-state rival Oregon State on the road, 49-14. The Ducks racked up 546 yards of total offense in one of the most lopsided wins in a rivalry that began in 1894.

Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel leads the nation with an 84 percent completion percentage and is the only FBS quarterback above 80 percent. A threat to run, Gabriel has 16,865 total yards in his career and needs 135 to join Case Keenum as the only players in NCAA history to reach 17,000.

“That means more time for us to prepare, more time for us to get ready. We’re excited about the challenge and what that provides,” Lanning said of the 8 p.m. local time kickoff.

“Sometimes bye week can be a lull for teams. I thought our guys have attacked it with the proper approach of finding ways to continue to improve and get better. We talk about having a player-led team. I think that’s really shown up for our guys over the last several weeks, and it’s certainly shown up throughout the season so far.”

UCLA is 1-2 under first-year head coach and former Bruins star running back DeShaun Foster. One of those losses came at home in their Big Ten opener against Indiana, and last Saturday, the Bruins fell at then-No. 16 LSU 34-17.

The Bruins’ only win came at Hawaii, 16-13 in the opener. UCLA is in the middle of a three-game stretch against ranked opponents, including a road game against No. 9 Penn State on Oct. 5.

Ethan Garbers threw for a career-high 281 yards with two touchdowns against LSU. But UCLA has been dominated in many offensive statistical categories, including red-zone touchdowns. The Bruins have touchdowns on just 3 of 9 trips inside the opposing 20-yard line, while opponents are 8 of 12.

Opponents have 11 total touchdowns against UCLA, while the Bruins have just four.

“There’s no moral victories in football. We’ve got to get better,” Foster said. “We’ve just got to find ways to shorten this game and keep them off the field and play our kind of ball.”

–Field Level Media

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Braves put closer Raisel Iglesias on IL, Robert Suarez to close

MLB: Miami Marlins at Atlanta BravesApr 15, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Raisel Iglesias (26) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at Truist Park. All players are wearing number 42 today in honor of Jackie Robinson. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Braves placed closer Raisel Iglesias on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with discomfort in his right (throwing) shoulder.

Iglesias has said he’s felt the discomfort since sleeping on his shoulder wrong Friday night. But the Braves conducted an MRI that found no structural damage.

“There’s some inflammation there,” Braves manager Walt Weiss told reporters. “We feel like we’re getting out in front of this thing a little bit.”

Iglesias, 36, has amassed a 42-55 record, 258 saves and a 2.86 ERA in his 12 major league seasons, including four-plus years in Atlanta. He was off to a perfect start to the season, with five saves and no runs allowed over eight games (8 2/3 innings). He’s tossed 11 strikeouts to only one walk.

While Iglesias is sidelined, Robert Suarez will take over closing duties. Suarez led the National League with 40 saves while serving as the San Diego Padres’ closer last season; then he signed a three-year, $45 million deal to join the Braves and their bullpen.

The right-handed Suarez has gone 2-0 with one save and an 0.93 ERA for Atlanta in 10 appearances, used mostly as a setup man. He was an All-Star in 2024 and 2025 for the Padres.

–Field Level Media

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Orlando City want attack to catch up to defense vs. Charlotte

MLS: CF Montreal at Orlando CityMar 14, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City midfielder Martin Ojeda (10) shoots on goal during the second half against the CF Montreal at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Orlando City will be hoping for a much-needed attacking breakthrough on Wednesday night when they host a Charlotte FC side in search of a second consecutive away victory.

Orlando (1-6-1, 4 points) has been one of Major League Soccer’s most disappointing teams this season, costing former manager Oscar Pareja his job last month.

But there is some evidence that maybe the Lions have at least righted the ship defensively. After conceding 23 times in their first six games, interim manager Martin Perelman’s group has allowed only two goals in the last three fixtures across all competitions.

“I think we organize the team. It never is enough, always (important) to improve things,” Perelman said. “We are in that part. Last details. But yes, the structure is there. In the offensive side as well, we are working. Hopefully we can get the shape we want, that we are used to. Because in this club we have been scoring a lot for the last two years.”

So far, though, the attacking end remains pretty dire. After Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic combined for 28 MLS goals a season ago, they only have two apiece for a team with six goals total.

Pasalic also missed last week’s 1-0 home loss to Houston on Saturday night with a leg injury.

Charlotte (4-2-2, 14 points) makes the journey south following a 2-1 victory at New York City FC on Saturday, one that came despite holding a season-low 36% possession.

Defender Tim Ream exited that match at halftime and will miss roughly a week with an adductor strain, Charlotte manager Dean Smith said.

Idan Toklomati scored early in the second half and Kerwin Vargas added a goal late before NYCFC pulled one back in second-half stoppage time. And Charlotte created a similar number of chances to NYCFC despite having less of the ball.

Smith hopes the performance sets the tone for upcoming travels, with Charlotte to play its next three league games away after five of its first eight came at home.

“There’s not plenty of away games we’ve played so far, such is the fixture list,” Smith said. “We didn’t start on the road well, but we showed loads of characteristics that I liked on Saturday. And we need to continue to do that in the next three away games as well.”

–Field Level Media

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Union bring challenged offense north to face streaking Toronto FC

MLS: Austin FC at Toronto FCApr 18, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto FC midfielder Malik Henry (78) attempts to control the ball against Austin FC during the second half at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images

Toronto FC will aim to extend their unbeaten streak to seven matches when the Philadelphia Union visit on Wednesday.

Toronto (3-2-3, 12 points) is 3-0-3 in its last six outings. Wednesday marks the sixth date of Toronto FC’s nine-match homestand, and the club is unbeaten (4-0-8) in its last 12 home matches dating back to last season.

Despite the good results, midfielder Malik Henry felt his team left victories on the table.

“Some of the draws we’ve had, we feel like we definitely could have won those games, which makes it a bit more disappointing,” Henry told TFC Republic. “We just have to take the points and then continue to move forward with it.”

Walker Zimmerman is expected to be available Wednesday, in a boost to an injury-depleted back line. Zimmerman missed Toronto’s last two matches with a calf injury.

Toronto FC’s offense has been both varied and efficient. Eight Toronto players have at least one goal this season, and the team’s 51.5% accurate shooting percentage is the best in MLS.

The Union are at the other end of the attacking spectrum, with a 27.1% AS percentage that ranks second-last in the league.

Philadelphia (1-6-1, 4 points) has recorded only six goals in eight regular-season matches, ahead of only four-goal D.C. United in MLS.

The lack of offense contributed to the Union’s season-opening six-game losing streak, and goals remain at a premium even as Philadelphia has gone 1-0-1 in its last two matches. The Union outshot D.C. United 17-6 on Saturday and held D.C. without a shot on target, yet still had to settle for a 0-0 draw.

Philadelphia coach Bradley Carnell felt that returning to the striker pairing of Bruno Damiani and Ezekiel Alladoh can help unlock the Union’s offense.

“We have tried a lot of different combinations (at forward) and now we go back-to-back with the same,” Carnell said. “Every day we get together with Eze and Bruno working together, it’s … one day more advanced and developed.”

–Field Level Media

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