Many longtime Bruin fans feared rivalries built after 95 years in the Pac-12 would vanish once UCLA moved to the Big Ten.

However, the now-separated conference’s longstanding matchups have proven the test of time.

UCLA is amid a seven-game stretch exclusively facing former Pac-12 conference foes, taking two of three from Washington last weekend before falling to Oregon State in a nonconference midweek affair.

Now, following a nine-game homestand where it went 6-3, No. 10 UCLA baseball (28-8, 12-3 Big Ten) will begin a three-game series at PK Park on Friday against No. 16 Oregon (25-10, 12-6). The matchup against the Ducks marks the first ranked conference opponent for the Bruins, who are 0-2 against top-25 teams this season.

UCLA has won two of its last three trips to Oregon – and has a chance at securing its 10th straight weekend win to open the 2025 campaign – but lost last year’s series against the Ducks at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Amid what might be their worst stretch thus far, the Bruins have gone 3-3 over their past six games, most recently losing 7-1 to No. 6 Oregon State on Tuesday.

“(Tuesday’s game) is a good primer heading into Oregon,” said coach John Savage. “They’re going to be every bit as intense as Oregon State.”

The contest was the first time in 16 games that the Bruins were limited to one or fewer runs. Despite Tuesday’s offensive struggles, UCLA has outscored opponents 73-45 over its last nine games – an effort led by sophomore shortstop Roch Cholowsky’s .522 OBP during that stretch and sophomore left fielder Dean West’s 12-game hit streak.

“We have confidence, even after losses, to bounce back,” said sophomore second baseman Grant Gray. “We never really overthink anything. We just need to move on to the next game and the next challenge.”

Oregon has won four of its five Big Ten series this year and most recently defeated Georgetown 12-1 on Monday. The Ducks return to their home field, where they own a .750 winning percentage this season, for the first time since April 6.

Oregon was picked to finish first in the Big Ten in a preseason poll of the conference’s 17 head coaches but currently sits in third, 1.5 games behind first-place UCLA, meaning the Ducks could surpass the Bruins this weekend.

Outfielder Mason Neville contributes to an Oregon offense that has tallied a conference-leading .536 slugging percentage. The Las Vegas local has emerged as one of Division I baseball’s most prolific power bats, clubbing 17 long balls this season – the second most in the country.

On the bump for the Ducks, southpaw Ian Umlandt leads the Big Ten with a 1.51 ERA across 35.2 innings of work. Likely to come out of the bullpen against the Bruins, Umlandt most recently punched out six in a seven-inning midweek start Tuesday.

For UCLA, freshman right-hander Wylan Moss, who pitched five innings of two-run baseball in the series opener against Washington, will likely take the mound for his third consecutive Friday start. Junior right-hander Michael Barnett, whose seven wins are tied for third-most victories in the country, seems poised to take the mound for Saturday’s contest. Lined up for his 10th-straight Sunday start, sophomore right-hander Landon Stump seems on track to take the mound to close out the weekend.

“We’re looking to bounce back this weekend against a good opponent,” said redshirt junior right-hander James Hepp, who made his season debut Tuesday. “We’re just excited to get to the next game and we’re looking forward to Friday.”