Oct 19, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; UCLA Bruins linebacker Kain Medrano (20) celebrates during the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

UCLA has uphill climb in bid to ‘keep building’ vs. Nebraska

UCLA is carrying some momentum for the first time in its inaugural Big Ten Conference season.

The Bruins will look to ride that steam into Saturday afternoon’s game against Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb.

UCLA (2-5, 1-4) posted a season high in points and notched its first-ever league win as a Big Ten member with a 35-32 victory at Rutgers on Oct. 19. The victory, highlighted by Ethan Garbers completing 32 of 38 passes for 383 yards and four touchdowns, sent the Bruins into their bye week on a high note.

“We’ve got to keep building on each week,” offensive lineman Garrett DiGiorgio said. “We’re starting to gain confidence (along the offensive line), and I think it became a personal matter of … we’re tired of letting (the quarterback) get hit.”

UCLA has allowed 20 sacks this season. Keeping the defense away from the quarterback is still a work-in-progress for the Bruins, who yielded three sacks to Rutgers.

Nebraska (5-3, 2-3), which has 23 sacks for the season, will look to leverage its pass-rush and get back on the winning track amid a two-game losing streak.

Since running to a 5-1 start, the Cornhuskers absorbed an ugly 56-7 loss at then-No. 16 Indiana on Oct. 19. They regrouped to give preseason Big Ten favorite Ohio State a tough game last week before dropping a 21-17 decision to the No. 4 Buckeyes.

Last Saturday’s loss was closer to Nebraska’s style, however. The Cornhuskers have thrived when setting the tone defensively, limiting opponents to an average of 7.4 points per game in their wins.

Teams have averaged 36 points a game in Nebraska’s three losses, with Ohio State’s 21 falling on the low end.

“The standard was set even higher on Saturday (vs. Ohio State),” Huskers defensive lineman Ty Robinson said at Tuesday’s press conference. “What’s great is that everyone now gets to see that standard, and everyone knows what it practices during the week in practice.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 12, 2024; Pasadena, California, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer (16) stiff arms UCLA Bruins defensive lineman Siale Taupaki (92) during the second quarter at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

Max Brosmer’s TD pass late in 4th rallies Minnesota past UCLA

Max Brosmer threw a go-ahead, 4-yard touchdown pass to Darius Taylor with 27 seconds to go, and visiting Minnesota held on for a 21-17 win over UCLA in a Big Ten Conference matchup on Saturday night.

Taylor also scored a rushing touchdown for Minnesota (4-3, 2-2), which earned a victory at the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1962. Brosmer completed 26 of 37 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns.

Ethan Garbers completed 25 of 36 passes for 293 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions for UCLA (1-5, 0-4). J.Michael Sturdivant was the Garbers’ top target with seven catches for 107 yards and a touchdown.

The Golden Gophers trailed 17-14 when they got the ball at their 39-yard line with 2:20 remaining. Brosmer guided a seven-play, 61-yard scoring drive that culminated with a quick pass to Taylor as he found an opening and sprinted untouched into the end zone.

The Bruins tried a Hail Mary pass as time expired, but Garbers’ desperate heave was picked off in front of the goal line by Golden Gophers defensive back Koi Perich.

UCLA established a 10-0 lead at the half.

Keegan Jones put the Bruins on the scoreboard with a 1-yard rushing touchdown with 8:49 to go in the first quarter. He took a snap in the wildcat formation and followed some big blockers on his way to the end zone for his first touchdown this season.

Mateen Bhaghani added a 34-yard field goal as time expired at the end of the half.

Minnesota pulled within 10-7 when Brosmer connected with Elijah Spencer for a 12-yard touchdown with 10:33 to go in the third quarter. Spencer caught the ball near the Bruins’ 5-yard line and scampered along the left sideline for the score.

Taylor put the Golden Gophers on top 14-10 with 7:16 left in the third quarter. He took a handoff and shoved past the goal line for his sixth rushing touchdown of the season.

UCLA grabbed a 17-14 lead on a 42-yard touchdown pass from Garbers to Sturdivant with 6:54 remaining. Sturdivant got a couple of steps behind the Golden Gophers’ secondary and caught a pass in stride.

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers wide receiver Donielle Hayes (18) celebrates his teams win after the game against the USC Trojans at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Minnesota looks to avoid letdown in encounter vs. skidding UCLA

Minnesota is coming off one of its biggest victories in years after it knocked off then-No. 11 Southern California a week ago in Minneapolis.

Now, the challenge for Minnesota (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) will be to avoid a letdown after a big win. The Golden Gophers will visit UCLA (1-4, 0-3) on Saturday evening in their first meeting since 1978.

Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said he was proud of his players for toppling USC on a night he called “electric,” but that the mood had shifted from festive to focused.

The Golden Gophers’ 24-17 victory followed back-to-back losses against Iowa and then-No. 12 Michigan. The team did not quit, Fleck said, which gave him hope going forward.

“We play in a very, very competitive league where every week is going to be a dogfight,” Fleck said. “We’ve been close on a lot of games, and those (losses) sometimes can take a team and turn them into a downward spiral. This team’s never done that. They just continue to come back and work throughout the week.”

The next test will come on the road against the Bruins, who hope to snap a four-game losing streak. UCLA is coming off setbacks to three straight ranked opponents — 34-17 against then-No. 16 LSU, 34-13 vs. then-No. 8 Oregon, and 27-11 against then-No. 7 Penn State last week.

First-year Bruins coach DeShaun Foster said his team showed flashes of positive play, particularly against Penn State, but it needed to execute on a more consistent basis.

“We’re just trying to put together a full game,” Foster said, “and hopefully it will be this week that we do that.”

Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer has passed for 1,263 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions for the season. Top running back Darius Taylor has 402 yards and five touchdowns on 73 carries.

UCLA is led by quarterback Ethan Garbers, who has passed for 808 yards and three touchdowns, with six interceptions. T.J. Harden leads the team with 151 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) runs with the ball during the second quarter against the UCLA Bruins at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

QB Drew Aller, No. 7 Penn State handle UCLA

Drew Allar passed for a touchdown and ran for another, and No. 7 Penn State cruised to a 27-11 win over visiting UCLA on Saturday in State College, Pa.

The Nittany Lions (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten Conference) started slow offensively for the second consecutive week of league play. But after almost 25 minutes of a scoreless stalemate, Allar broke through with a goal-line touchdown carry in the second quarter.

His score capped a 16-play, 82-yard drive that consumed 8:36. Penn State tacked on another touchdown just before halftime. Allar connected with Tyler Warren on a 5-yard TD catch with 20 seconds on the clock.

The Nittany Lions’ score answered Mateen Bhaghani’s 25-yard field goal that got UCLA (1-4, 0-3) on the board with a drive of eight plays and 75 yards in 2:31.

The floodgates opened from there. Ryan Barker’s field goals of 25 and 40 yards bookended a goal-line touchdown carry from Kaytron Allen to cap a 58-yard drive.

Allen’s 78 yards paced Penn State on the ground, though the rest of the Nittany Lions combined for just seven rushing yards. Allar’s 237 yards on 17-of-24 passing buoyed the offense.

He completed three straight passes of 24, 12 and 25 yards on the pivotal touchdown drive before intermission, hitting three different receivers: Liam Clifford, Julian Fleming and Harrison Wallace.

Clifford caught three passes for 107 yards in the win.

Penn State’s defense, meanwhile, held UCLA to just 260 yards of offense. Nittany Lion tacklers got into the backfield for seven hits for loss, contributing to Penn State limiting UCLA to 93 yards on 29 carries, a 3.2 average.

The Bruins did not cross into Nittany Lions territory on their first three possessions of the second half. Their fourth drive stalled on downs in the red zone.

UCLA quarterback Justyn Martin, making his first college start in place of an injured Ethan Garbers, went 22-of-30 passing for 167 yards and threw a 1-yard touchdown to Logan Loya in the final 16 seconds.

T.J. Harden caught five passes for 59 yards. Keegan Jones led the Bruins with 38 yards rushing on five carries, with Jalen Berger matching that total on nine attempts.

–Field Level Media

Louisiana State University safety Major Burns (8) and linebacker Greg Penn III (18) react after sacking South Carolina quarterback Robby Ashford (1) during the fourth quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. Saturday, September 14, 2024.

No. 16 LSU vows self-scout, improvement against UCLA

No. 16 LSU and UCLA had problems in their conference openers last week.

The Tigers gave up touchdown runs of 75 and 66 yards and allowed a blocked punt. They trailed by 17 points to South Carolina before a rally to escape with a 36-33 victory.

LSU (2-1) faces UCLA (1-1) in Baton Rouge, La., on Saturday, one week after the Bruins made their debut as a member of the Big Ten in a 42-13 drubbing at Indiana.

Tigers coach Brian Kelly said he was pleased with his team’s resiliency in coming back, but admitted it has a lot of work to do.

“The reality of it is it’s hard to win on the road,” Kelly said. “And given the fact that we made a lot of mistakes, we still found a way to win that football game. That’s incredible resolve and resilience amidst your group.”

Kelly said he and his staff will continue to evaluate scheme and personnel for potential changes.

“I’m not saying we’re making wholesale changes,” Kelly said. “The big takeaway is when you’re making mistakes, are you putting your guys in the right position? Do you have the right guys there? And are you preparing them for those scenarios? Do we need to do things differently, relative to particular schemes?”

The Tigers opened the season against another Big Ten newcomer from Los Angeles, losing to USC, 27-20, in Las Vegas. They also had a more difficult time than expected in its home opener, leading FCS opponent Nicholls just 23-21 in the third quarter before scoring the final 21 points of the game.

“This is a lot about us and how we clean up the things we need to clean up to be a better football team playing now against a Big 10 opponent,” Kelly said. “As we’ve seen, everyone’s going to play their best against LSU.”

The Bruins will play marquee games against new conference opponents such as Penn State, Nebraska and Iowa, but it was a long-time Big Ten school known for its basketball program that handed UCLA its worst loss in a home opener since 2010.

“I just told them to keep that feeling that you had as soon as the game was over,” UCLA coach DeShaun Foster said Monday. “Bottle it up and have it out here every day this week and find a way to just not have that feeling.”

The Bruins, who struggled to a 16-13 victory at Hawaii in their season opener, is averaging just 14.5 points while struggling to run the ball with any consistency, averaging just 83.5 yards.

“The run game’s going to be fixed,” Foster said.

Foster added that he has “the right type of kids” to make the necessary improvement.

“We’ve got a big game this week on the road, so we can’t just hang our heads low about last game,” running back T.J. Harden said. “We just have to move on. It’s still early in the season, we still have a chance to redeem ourselves and move forward.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 6, 2024; Bloomington, Indiana, USA;  Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Kurtis Rourke (9) looks to pass the ball  in the second quarter against the Western Illinois Leathernecks at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

In Big Ten debut, UCLA out to contain Indiana’s offense

For the first time in school history, UCLA plays a conference game in a league other than any of the iterations of the Pac-12 when it welcomes Indiana to Pasadena, Calif., in both teams’ Big Ten Conference opener on Saturday.

UCLA (1-0) has been idle since escaping its visit to Hawaii with a 16-13 win on Aug. 31. The victory made for a shaky first impression of the offense under first-year coach DeShaun Foster, with the Bruins failing to score a touchdown on four red-zone opportunities.

However, the defense limited Hawaii to 1.8 yards per rush and the Bruins racked up five sacks.

UCLA needs a similar defensive effort to slow what has been an explosive Indiana offense through its first two games.

Indiana (2-0) pays its first visit to Pasadena since playing in the 1968 Rose Bowl. The Hoosiers have never faced UCLA.

“The Rose Bowl has a lot of tradition,” Hoosiers first-year coach Curt Cignetti said. “For me and the team, it’s more of a business trip. Whether we’re playing in the Rose Bowl or a parking lot, it’s all the same.”

Indiana has yet to play on the road this season. Through two home games, the Hoosiers have been dominant.

Indiana has allowed 10 total points, steamrolling nonconference opponents FIU 31-7 and FCS counterpart Western Illinois 77-3. The 74-point deconstruction of the Leathernecks last Friday did not quite reach the program record for margin of victory, which came in a 76-0 win over Franklin College in 1901.

The Hoosiers did, however, eclipse the school record for points scored in that 1901 contest.

It was quite the initial stamp for Cignetti to put on the program. Coming from James Madison, where he oversaw a successful transition from FCS national championship contention to an 11-win finish in its second FBS campaign, Cignetti dramatically overhauled the Hoosiers’ roster.

Among the experienced Indiana players who have UCLA’s attention is quarterback Kurtis Rourke, a transfer from Ohio University. Rourke was the MAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 and is 30-of-41 passing for 448 yards with three touchdowns this season.

–Field Level Media

Jul 29, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; A detailed view of UCLA Bruins helmet during Pac-12 Media Day at Novo Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

UCLA names former RB DeShaun Foster head coach

UCLA named former Bruins running back DeShaun Foster as the program’s 19th head coach on Monday.

Foster, 44, replaces Chip Kelly, who departed last week to become the offensive coordinator at Ohio State.

Foster has 11 years of coaching experience following a six-season playing career in the NFL from 2003-08.

He has spent the past 10 seasons at his alma mater, including the past seven as running backs coach. He was the Bruins’ associate head coach in 2023.

“This is a dream come true,” Foster said. “I always envisioned being a Bruin ever since I was young, and now being the head coach at my alma mater is such a surreal feeling, and I’m grateful for this opportunity. The foundation of this program will be built on discipline, respect and enthusiasm. These are phenomenal young men, and I’m excited to hit the ground running.”

Foster played at UCLA from 1998-2001, rushing for 3,194 yards and 44 touchdowns and earning second-team All-American honors as a senior.

Drafted in the second round by Carolina in 2002, he rushed for 3,570 yards and 11 touchdowns in 79 games (42 starts) with the Panthers (2003-07) and San Francisco 49ers (2008).

“While undergoing a comprehensive search for our new head coach, DeShaun resonated from the start and throughout the whole process,” UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond said. “We are looking for a coach with integrity, energy and passion; someone who is a great teacher, who develops young men, is a great recruiter and fully embraces the NIL landscape to help our student-athletes. DeShaun checks all of those boxes and then some. He is a leader of men and a true Bruin. I am excited to partner with him as we usher UCLA Football into an exciting new era.”

Foster takes over a program that finished 8-5 last season under Kelly, including 4-5 in the Pac-12. The Bruins move into the Big Ten Conference in 2024.

–Field Level Media

Nov 25, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Chip Kelly watches from the sidelines in the fourth quarter against the California Golden Bears at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Chip Kelly departs UCLA after 6 seasons

UCLA’s debut in the Big Ten Conference next season also will come with a new head coach after Chip Kelly informed Bruins players Friday that he is leaving the program and the university later announced his departure.

Reports also indicate that Kelly is leaving UCLA after six seasons to become the offensive coordinator at Ohio State under head coach Ryan Day, a longtime friend. Kelly was the offensive coordinator at New Hampshire when Day was the quarterback there from 1998-2001.

“I want to sincerely thank Chip for his service to UCLA Football and our student-athletes across the past six seasons and wish the best to him and his wife Jill moving forward,” UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond said in a news release Friday.

Unlike Kelly’s time as the head coach at Oregon, when he went 46-7 from 2009-12, Kelly’s tenure at UCLA was far less impressive. Kelly’s Bruins teams went 35-34 and the team played in just two bowl games, winning the LA Bowl in December, 35-22 over Boise State.

While Kelly was on the hot seat over his mediocre results, the UCLA athletic department gave the coach a vote of confidence just after Thanksgiving, complimenting Kelly’s strong culture.

Kelly also has NFL experience, leaving Oregon to become the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 2013-15 and the San Francisco 49ers in 2016. Day was Kelly’s quarterbacks coach at San Francisco.

UCLA is not scheduled to face Ohio State in its inaugural run next season in the Big Ten, but the teams are set to face each other in 2025 at Columbus, Ohio.

UCLA is moving to the Big Ten along with rival Southern California. Pac-12 powers Washington and Oregon also are leaving for the Big Ten.

–Field Level Media

USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) talks with USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley during the first half of the game against No. 6 Oregon Ducks on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.

Rivals UCLA, USC stumble into final Pac-12 showdown

Los Angeles rivals UCLA and host Southern California meet Saturday in the 93rd installment of their annual series.

Both the Trojans (7-4, 5-3 Pac-12 Conference) and Bruins (6-4, 3-4) come into the matchup — the last before each leaves the Pac-12 for the Big Ten Conference — on losing streaks.

USC dropped its second consecutive game last Saturday, 36-27 at Oregon. The Trojans lost the previous week at home to undefeated Washington, 52-42.

“We’ve been … right on the doorstep of getting it done, but haven’t quite been able to get over the hump here in the second half of the season,” USC coach Lincoln Riley said on his radio show Monday. “When you set out big goals and you go for it, every now and then, you’re going to come up short.”

USC is out of contention for the Pac-12 championship heading into its regular-season finale. Defense has plagued the Trojans throughout their turbulent 2023, with opponents scoring at least 34 points in each of the last seven games.

Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch was dismissed before last week’s visit to Oregon, but USC still gave up passing touchdowns of 77 and 84 yards against the Ducks.

UCLA, meanwhile, has struggled on the other side of the ball in consecutive losses of 27-10 at Arizona on Nov. 4 and 17-7 at home last week to Arizona State.

The Bruins had three consecutive possessions deep in Arizona State territory end without producing any points.

Quarterback injuries have impacted UCLA offensively.

Dante Moore did not play against Arizona State, but Bruins coach Chip Kelly said on Monday he is practicing. The freshman is 91-for-75 on the season for 1,344 yards with 10 TDs but has been intercepted seven times.

Fellow Bruins QB Ethan Garbers is 64-for-94 for 786 yards with six touchdowns and three picks, while Collin Schlee has operated primarily as a ball-carrier when he has been under center.

“They all can throw the ball very well, so that’s not a problem,” UCLA wide receiver Logan Loya said. “Sure, maybe the timing’s a little different, you can say the same thing for the quarterbacks about each receiver, too.”

USC quarterback and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, meanwhile, is tied with Oregon’s Bo Nix for the second-most passing touchdowns in the country this season with 29. Williams has also rushed for 11 scores.

–Field Level Media

Oct 28, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Ethan Garbers (4) throws the ball against the Colorado Buffaloes in the first half at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

UCLA, Arizona State meet amid quarterback scrambles

UCLA is bowl eligible, although any chance to make the Pac-12 Conference title game is most likely gone as a result of an anemic offense.

The Bruins (6-3, 3-3) get a chance to regroup after a loss to Arizona last Saturday, and play host to Arizona State (2-7, 1-5) Saturday night at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

UCLA fell behind 14-0 in the first half against Arizona last Saturday despite its elite defense and couldn’t recover. The Bruins trailed by a touchdown going into the fourth quarter then lost 27-10 as quarterbacks Ethan Garbers and Dante Moore both were injured in the defeat. The Bruins turned to Kent State transfer Collin Schlee, who also appeared to be ailing late in the game.

The painful defeat dropped UCLA from the College Football Playoff rankings this week.

Garbers and Moore were limited early in the week but both participated in practice Wednesday, with Garbers reportedly showing a limp following a right foot injury Saturday. Schlee and fellow QB Chase Griffin each took part in all practices this week.

“It’s definitely hard, especially being an offensive lineman,” UCLA center Duke Clemens said, per the Orange County Register. “You kind of put that on yourself. You wish you could keep these guys (quarterbacks) up and things like that, but I guess that’s the nature of the game.”

The Sun Devils know all about injuries. They have had at least 29 players miss time due to injuries in head coach Kenny Dillingham’s first season, which is a major reason for the struggles for the team on the field.

Arizona State had shown signs of improved play with a 15-7 loss at then-No. 5 Washington on Oct. 21, followed by a 38-27 home win over Washington State, the first conference victory of the season. But last Saturday, ASU was crushed 55-3 at then-No. 18 Utah and lost quarterback Trenton Bourguet to a left leg injury early in the game.

Jacob Conover took over, but the Sun Devils managed just 83 yards of total offense.

With Bourguet still ailing mid-week, Conover could get the start against UCLA. He is the fourth quarterback to play for Arizona State this season.

“Some fluke things happen and we’re not getting muscular issues, we’re getting elbows popping out of a joint. It’s unfortunate but it is what it is,” Dillingham told the Arizona Republic.

–Field Level Media