IT'S GAME DAY! UCLA (3-1) @ Oregon State (2-2)

You can hear the game live in the Salem-area on 1490 KBZY AM, and in the Portland-metro area on 860 KPAM AM.

Photo courtesy: OSU Athletics

CORVALLIS, Ore. - The 2007 Pac-10 Conference home opener for Oregon State (2-2, 0-1) features the UCLA Bruins (3-1, 2-0) first visit to Corvallis since the 2002 season. Kickoff is set for 3:41 p.m.

The Bruins enter Saturday averaging 44.5 points per game in Pac-10 action (vs. Stanford & Washington) and have a conference-best five-game league winning streak.

The Beavers have won three straight at home in Pac-10 action and five straight at Reser Stadium overall.

OSU-UCLA GAME ALERT:

Fans attending this Saturday’s Pac-10 Conference home opener at Reser Stadium will notice a new gate configuration at the northwest corner of the facility.

Formerly identified as gates 9-11 in that area, it will now be named Gate D. Gate D will appear on all tickets from this point on.

The new configuration will feature three search gates and two express gates. Fans will now access these gates from the plaza area in front of the Valley Football Center.

“We’re making the change mainly for two reasons,” John Cheney, assistant athletic director for facilities, said. “Previously fans were lining up in the drive-lane and that we considered a safety concern. Secondly, the old configuration did not allow for efficient flow of fans to the gates.”

The new gates will also improve the exterior appearance of the stadium in that area.

IT’S BEEN A WHILE

The last time UCLA played at Reser Stadium the Bruins won a shootout 43-35 on Oct. 5, 2002 in front of 36,529 (13th straight sellout).

Here are some facts from that last visit:

* OSU record-setting QB Derek Anderson was making his sixth career start.

* Dennis Erickson was in his final season as head coach of OSU.

* Reser Stadium’s capacity was 35,362 -- now 45,674.

* OSU’s starting lineup featured future NFL players (including NFL preseason games) Steven Jackson, Derek Anderson, Doug Nienhuis, Tim Euhus, Dwan Edwards, Bill Swancutt, Richard Seigler, Eric Manning, Nick Barnett, Terrell Roberts and Dennis Weathersby.

* 2005-06 OSU QB starter Matt Moore was on the traveling roster for UCLA.

A STREAK TO BE BROKEN

UCLA has a longer win streak against OSU than any other Pac-10 program at four games -- which also is the Bruins’ longest win streak vs. a Pac-10 foe.

OSU’s last win over UCLA was at the Rose Bowl in a memorable 2000 game 44-38.

Overall, UCLA has a 38-13-4 advantage and was the only team to beat OSU in a nine-game season-ending stretch last season, 25-7 at the Rose Bowl.

GROUNDLESS

Oregon State enters the game second in the nation for rush defense, allowing a meager 29.5 yards per game, trailing the 26.8 allowed on average by LSU.

Only four teams that have played four games have held teams to under 200 yards net rushing -- in addition to OSU and LSU are Oklahoma and Boston College.

UCLA averages 216 yards per game on the ground, 24th in the nation.

Here is a closer look at OSU’s rushing defense:

vs. Utah -- 30 att, 18 net yds

vs. Cincinnati -- 33 att, 30 net yds

vs. Idaho St. -- 28 att, 35 net yds

vs. Arizona St. -- 36 att, 35 net yds

QUARTERBACKS BEWARE

Oregon State has sacked quarterbacks 14 times for a total of 111 yards (1st in Pac-10/9th in NCAA), while UCLA has 13 for 100 yards.

The Beavers have also registered 32 tackles for loss for 168 yards -- the yardage ranks eighth in the nation.

OSU and UCLA lead the Pac-10 for total defense, each allowing 289 yards per game.

RADIO

You can hear the game live in the Salem-area on 1490 KBZY AM, and in the Portland-metro area on 860 KPAM AM.

Source: OSU Athletics

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