Tag: UCLA

Nov 30, 2024; Pasadena, California, USA; Fresno State Bulldogs running back Bryson Donelson (26) catches a pass as UCLA Bruins linebacker Joseph Vaughn (30) moves in during the second quarter during the second quarter at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

UCLA closes season with win over Fresno State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Ethan Garbers passed for 289 yards and a touchdown to lead UCLA to a 20-13 win against visiting Fresno State in a nonconference game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Saturday afternoon.

Garbers completed 26-of-40 passes without an interception for the third straight game.

Moliki Matavao was Garbers’ top target, catching eight passes for 120 yards for UCLA (5-7) in its season finale.

Mikey Keene completed 30-of-43 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown for Fresno State (6-6), which led 10-6 at the half.

The Bruins retook the lead on their first drive of the second half.

Garbers connected with Matavao on a 35-yard strike to the Fresno State 5 and T.J. Harden ran into the end zone on the next play to give UCLA a 13-10 lead.

UCLA drove inside the Fresno State 10 on its second possession of the second half, but Garbers threw incomplete on 4th-and-1.

A roughing-the-passer penalty on the Bulldogs on a third-down incompletion gave the Bruins a first down at the Fresno State 29, and the Bruins finished off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Garbers to J.Michael Sturdivant, stretching the lead to 20-10 with 1:38 left in the game.

Dylan Lynch booted his second field goal of the game for the Bulldogs, a 42-yarder with 31 seconds left, to trim the lead to 20-13, but the Bruins recovered the ensuing on-sides kick to secure the win.

Three false start penalties helped stall UCLA’s opening drive near midfield.

The Bruins had 1st-and-goal at the 9-yard line on their second drive, but had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Mateen Bhaghani, giving UCLA a 3-0 lead with 4:36 left in the opening quarter.

UCLA outgained the Bulldogs 117-15 in the first quarter, but only held a 3-0 lead.

Jalen Moss fumbled a punt return early in the second quarter and UCLA recovered at the Bulldogs’ 12-yard line, but the Bruins had to settle for another field goal, a 40-yarder by Bhaghani that extended the lead to 6-0 with 12:51 left in the half.

Fresno State then strung together a 14-play, 76-yard scoring drive, taking a 7-6 lead on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Keene to Raylen Sharpe with 7:29 remaining in the first half.

Lynch booted a 48-yard field goal as the first half expired to extend the lead to 10-6 at the break.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins wide receiver Titus Mokiao-Atimalala (2) tries to run past USC Trojans cornerback Jacobe Covington (14) and safety Anthony Beavers Jr. (15) during the first quarter at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

USC wins defensive battle, ends UCLA’s bowl hopes

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jayden Maiava’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Kobi Lane midway through the fourth quarter proved the game-winning score for Southern California, which escaped a defensive tussle with rival and host UCLA 19-13 on Saturday in Pasadena, Calif.

USC (6-5, 4-5 Big Ten) went the game’s first 53:05 without scoring a touchdown against a stout UCLA defensive effort. Each of the Trojans’ three scores in the first half came on Michael Lantz field goals of 19, 23 and 22 yards.

USC’s touchdown came at an opportune time. After the Trojans’ first three possessions of the second half produced 17 total yards, they got a boost when a punt by UCLA’s Brody Richter went only 25 yards to set USC up at the Bruins’ 49-yard line.

On the second play of the possession, the Trojans ignited their stagnant offense with some trickery. Makai Lemon took a lateral pass from Maiava then found a streaking Kyron Hudson down the sideline for 39 yards to the UCLA 4.

That led to Maiava’s throw to Lane, who made a spectacular, toe-drag reception to stay in-bounds under pressure.

Mason Cobb came up big for USC on the defensive end, holding quarterback Ethan Garbers to no gain on a fourth-and-1 sneak attempt.

Another field goal by Lantz, this one covering 30 yards, gave USC a six-point cushion that forced UCLA to try to move the ball 75 yards in just over two minues.

The Bruins (4-7, 3-6) had four straight pass attempts go incomplete, ending UCLA’s bowl-game aspirations in the process.

Maiava finished with 221 yards on 19-of-35 passing in his second start for USC. Hudson caught six passes for 79 yards, and Woody Marks rushed for 76 yards on 18 carries.

Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Braylan Shelby and Nate Clifton all produced sacks to punctuate the Trojans’ stout defensive effort. The 13 points USC surrendered on Saturday were the Trojans’ fewest in a conference game since a 56-10 blowout of former Pac-12 counterpart Stanford last September.

Garbers went 20-of-29 passing for 265 yards and threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Moliki Matavao in the third quarter to give UCLA a 10-9 lead. The Bruins’ other points came on field goals of 51 and 29 yards by Mateen Bhaghani.

–Field Level Media

Nov 15, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Will Rogers (7) passes the ball against the UCLA Bruins during the first half at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Washington uses late-game surge to pull away from UCLA

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jonah Coleman rushed for a game-high 95 yards and two touchdowns, surpassing 1,000 yards for the season, as Washington became bowl eligible with a 31-19 victory against UCLA in a Big Ten Conference game Friday night in Seattle.

Will Rogers and Demond Williams Jr. each threw a touchdown pass for the Huskies (6-5, 4-4). Williams’ 1-yard pass to tight end Decker DeGraaf with 5:44 remaining gave the Huskies a 24-13 lead and Coleman scored on a 2-yard run with 1:54 left.

Quarterback Ethan Garbers, who started his career at Washington, was 27-of-44 for 267 yards and two touchdowns for the Bruins (4-6, 3-5), whose three-game winning streak ended. Garbers threw a 2-yard TD pass to Moliki Matavao with nine seconds remaining to cap the scoring.

Rogers was pulled after throwing interceptions on the Huskies’ first two possessions of the second half.

The Bruins pulled within 14-13 on Mateen Bhaghani’s 40-yard field goal with 11:20 left in the third. The drive was set up by Devin Kirkwood’s interception of a tipped pass.

UCLA’s Kain Medrano picked off a pass at midfield on the Huskies’ next possession and returned it to the 39. On first-and-10 from the UW 27, Garbers hit Jack Pedersen with a pass but he fumbled when hit by Khmori House and UW teammate Kamren Fabiculanan recovered.

Williams drove the Huskies into field-goal range and Grady Gross made a 41-yarder with 3:16 left in the quarter to extend the lead to 17-13.

Williams was 7-of-8 passing for 67 yards and added 31 yards on six rushes.

Coleman opened the scoring on a 15-yard run with 3:51 left in the first quarter. The Bruins answered when Bhaghani made a 28-yarder with 13:38 left in the half to make it 7-3.

Washington extended its lead to 14-3 on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Rogers to tight end Keleki Latu with 3:46 remaining in the second. It appeared the drive had ended when Rogers’ pass was picked off at the goal line by UCLA’s Bryan Addison, but Oluwafemi Oladejo was called for roughing the passer, giving the Huskies a first down.

Garbers drove UCLA down the field and threw a 1-yard TD pass to Kwazi Gilmer with 51 seconds left to cut the Huskies’ lead to 14-10 at the half.

–Field Level Media

Nov 9, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Jedd Fisch looks on from the sideline during the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Washington bids to ride black-out to victory vs. UCLA

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From a white-out to a black-out.

After suffering a 35-6 loss to then-No. 6 Penn State last Saturday in the Nittany Lions’ annual white-out game in University Park, Pa., Washington will return home for its own black-out night when they take on UCLA (4-5 overall, 3-4 Big Ten) on Friday in Seattle.

The usually purple-clad Huskies (5-5, 3-4) instead will don black uniforms, and fans are also encouraged to wear black.

“Some great uniforms coming out,” Washington coach Jedd Fisch said. “So excited about that.”

The Huskies this season have played in a black-out at Rutgers (Sept. 27), a stripe-out at Iowa (Oct. 12) and a red-out at Indiana (Oct. 26) before last Saturday’s white-out.

They lost all of those games, although they are 5-0 at Husky Stadium.

Washington likely needs to defeat UCLA to become bowl eligible as its last game of the regular season is Nov. 30 at No. 1 Oregon.

The Huskies have had a short turnaround after not getting back to Seattle until 5 a.m. Sunday following their game at Penn State.

“Short week, a little bit of a cram session,” Fisch said. “But as I told the staff, ‘Sleep Saturday.’”

Quarterback Will Rogers is expected to start against UCLA after getting benched at halftime last weekend for Demond Williams Jr.

“Will was a victim of circumstances, a little bit,” Fisch said. “He was 10-for-13 in the first half, just we weren’t able to get anything going.”

The Bruins have won three in a row, including a 20-17 decision against visiting Iowa last Friday. They have games remaining against rival Southern California and Fresno State as they try to qualify for a bowl game.

The win over the Hawkeyes was UCLA’s first in four tries at the Rose Bowl this season.

“I didn’t want to make too big of a deal about us being back home, but we kind of treated this game like a road game,” Bruins coach Deshaun Foster said. “I just think my guys, they came out and they earned the right to win. Just in how they practiced (last) week and I think as long as we continue to do that, this team can really just take off.”

UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers started his collegiate career at Washington in 2020 — he was named the Huskies’ offensive scout squad MVP — before transferring to Westwood the next year.

–Field Level Media

Nov 8, 2024; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins linebacker Kain Medrano (20) strips the ball from Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Brendan Sullivan (1) giving the Bruins possession in the first half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

UCLA regroups after slow start to edge Iowa

Posted on | by Field Level Media

UCLA overcame a 10-point deficit and three first-half turnovers to beat Iowa 20-17 on Friday in Pasadena, Calif., for the Bruins’ third straight win.

UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers went 21-of-34 passing for 204 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, each of which ended the Bruins’ first two possessions of the game.

Logan Loya had five receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown and T.J. Harden ran for 125 yards on 20 carries in the victory.

Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson, who entered the game second in the nation in rushing yardage, managed just 49 yards on 18 carries. Hawkeyes receiver Jacob Gill caught six passes for 138 yards in the loss.

Zach Lutmer picked off Garbers’ pass with 13:30 left in the first quarter, setting up Johnson’s 2-yard touchdown to give the Hawkeyes a 7-0 lead.

Garbers’ next interception halted the Bruins’ 13-play, 72-yard drive. Iowa again capitalized on the turnover, going 74 yards on seven plays and taking a 10-0 lead on Drew Stevens’ 24-yard field goal.

The Bruins (4-5, 3-4 Big Ten) regrouped, holding Iowa scoreless on its next six possessions. Garbers settled in to lead UCLA on three scoring drives before halftime.

Mateen Bhaghani kicked a 57-yard field goal with 11:41 left in the second quarter to cut the Bruins’ deficit to 10-3.

After the first of Carson Schwesinger’s two interceptions, Garbers capped a six-play, 45-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala to tie the score. Garbers gave the Bruins a 17-10 lead just before halftime when he threw a 29-yard TD to Loya with 55 seconds left.

Iowa (6-4, 4-3) tied the score at 17-17 when Kamari Moulton scored from 1 yard with 11:27 left in the fourth quarter. On the ensuing possession, Bhaghani capped a 13-play, 66-yard drive with a 27-yard field goal to give UCLA a 20-17 lead with 4:49 left.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz watches his team warm up before the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Positive trends usher UCLA, Iowa into Friday night Rose Bowl meeting

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UCLA returns to Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena on Friday for the first time in almost a month riding the momentum of its first winning streak in 2024 with Iowa visiting for a Big Ten Conference matchup.

The Bruins (3-5, 2-4 Big Ten) bookended their Oct. 26 bye with road wins over Rutgers (35-32) and Nebraska (27-20). Quarterback Ethan Garbers’ improved passing was a common denominator.

He threw six touchdowns without an interception, bouncing back from a start in which he threw picks in each of the first five games and multiple interceptions in three of the five.

“He’s thrown the ball well, efficiently getting the ball to a lot of people, including the [running] backs,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said of Garbers on Tuesday.

Five UCLA pass-catchers have at least 15 receptions, with running back T.J. Harden’s 27 leading the way. Three of Logan Loya’s 20 catches went for touchdowns, and eight Bruins have caught for scores in total.

“We’re still working with the run game,” Bruins coach DeShaun Foster said during his Tuesday media availability. “We’re able to hit runs in certain situations that we need them.”

But UCLA ranks last in the nation in rushing offense at 73.9 yards per game. The Bruins face a traditionally sturdy defense ranked 18th in the nation allowing 106.3 rushing yards per game.

Linebacker Jay Higgins, whose 94 tackles rank fourth among all FBS players, leads the stout Hawkeyes.

Iowa (6-3, 4-2) enters the Rose Bowl for the first time since facing Stanford in the 2016 Rose Bowl Game. The Hawkeyes are on their own two-game winning streak, bouncing back from a 32-20 loss at Michigan State on Oct. 19 with 40-14 and 42-10 blowouts of Northwestern and Wisconsin.

With the romps the last two weeks, Iowa improved to 5-1 at Carver-Hawkeye Stadium with an average margin of victory of 27.8 points per game. Road games have been another story for the Hawkeyes.

Since routing Minnesota in Minneapolis on Sept. 21, 31-14, Iowa is 0-2 in road games with a pair of double-digit-point losses. Before the 12-point setback at Michigan State, the Hawkeyes dropped a 35-7 decision at Ohio State.

This week is an especially unique road trip for Iowa, going to the West Coast on a short turnaround. Ferentz noted in his time at Maine in the early 1990s, the Black Bears made a 10-hour bus trip to play Rutgers.

Compared to that, he said, the flight to Los Angeles is a breeze. “The weather will probably be a little better, too,” he quipped.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Ethan Garbers (4) throws as he is hit by Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive lineman Jimari Butler (10) during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

UCLA shows off sturdy defense again in win at Nebraska

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Ethan Garbers passed for two touchdowns and visiting UCLA’s stout defensive effort peaked with Kaylin Moore’s game-ending interception as the Bruins scored their second straight Big Ten Conference win on the road with a 27-20 defeat of Nebraska, Saturday in Lincoln, Nebraska.

UCLA (3-5, 2-4 Big Ten) got its second standout passing performance from Garbers in as many games. He followed his four-touchdown effort at Rutgers on Oct. 26 with strikes of 10 yards to Jalen Berger and a 48-yarder to Kwazi Gilmer.

Garbers’ touchdown passes bookended a 38-yard pick six for linebacker Kain Medrano of starting Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola.

Railoa went 14-for-27 passing for 177 yards before coming out in the fourth quarter. He was shaken up on a hard tandem hit from UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger and Henry Hasselbeck.

Heinrich Haarberg came on for Railoa to help finish a 13-play, 53-yard drive that culminated in Dante Dowdell’s goal-line touchdown carry. The scoring rush cut a UCLA lead that lingered at two possessions much of the second half to 27-20.

John Hohl’s point-after attempt that would have made it a six-point game misfired, however.

The missed extra-point attempt continued a second half of struggles for the Cornhuskers upon moving into UCLA territory.

Nebraska (5-4, 2-4) crossed onto the Bruins’ side of the 50 on five straight second-half possessions, including the final drive when Moore intercepted Haarberg. Two others ended on fourth-down stops for the UCLA defense.

The Huskers scored on an 8-yard Isaiah Neyor reception from Raiola and the first of Dowdell’s two touchdown runs, a four-yarder in the first half.

Dowdell finished with 61 yards on 17 carries. Neyor caught four passes for a game-high 89 yards. Garbers led UCLA in rushing with 56 yards on six carries. GIlmer had 88 yards to pace the Bruins in receiving and Moliki Matavao caught four passes for 52 yards.

–Field Level Media

Oct 19, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights running back Kyle Monangai (5) fights for yards as UCLA Bruins defensive back Ramon Henderson (11) pursues at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

UCLA snaps five-game losing skid with win over Rutgers

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Ethan Garbers completed 32 of 38 passes for a career-high 383 yards and four touchdowns as UCLA ended a five-game losing streak Saturday with a 35-32 Big Ten victory over Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J.

Garbers tossed TD passes to wide receiver Logan Loya (5 yards), running back T.J. Harden (22 yards) running back Keegan Jones (67 yards) and running back Jalen Berger (9 yards). Garbers also scored on a 49-yard run.

Rutgers received three rushing touchdowns from running back Kyle Monangai, who gained 106 yards on 19 carries. Monangai’s third TD, a 1-yard run, helped Rutgers pull within three points with 1:45 to play, but UCLA recovered the onside kick.

It was 7-7 after one quarter, but the Bruins led 21-10 at halftime and 28-19 through three quarters. It’s the first time UCLA (2-5, 1-4 Big Ten) has scored more than 17 points in a game this season. The Bruins entered the game averaging 14.5 points per contest.

UCLA struck first on Loya’s 5-yard TD catch with 9:03 remaining in the first quarter. Rutgers (4-3, 1-3) answered when quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis snuck into the end zone from a yard away with 4:43 left in the first.

Garbers’ 49-yard TD run broke a 7-7 tie with 2:43 left in the second quarter.

Jai Patel’s 49-yard field goal sliced UCLA’s lead to 14-10 with 1:12 remaining in the second, but Garbers’ 22-yard TD pass to Harden came with 22 seconds left in the half to help stretch UCLA’s lead to 21-10.

Rutgers cut its deficit to 21-16 on Monangai’s 6-yard run with 12:45 left in the third and made it a 21-19 contest on Patel’s 35-yard field goal with 5:41 remaining in the third.

UCLA extended its lead to 28-19 when Jones scored on a 67-yard catch and run with 4:53 to play in the third, and took a 35-19 lead on Berger’s TD catch plus Mateen Bhaghani’s fifth PAT with 12:13 left in the fourth.

Monangai’s second TD came on a 5-yard run with 10:35 to play. UCLA’s lead was 35-25 after Rutgers failed to convert on the two-point-conversion attempt.

Rutgers was without starting defensive ends Wesley Bailey and Aaron Lewis because of injuries.

–Field Level Media

Sep 28, 2024; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach DeShaun Foster during the second quarter against the Oregon Ducks at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

UCLA seeks second-half spark against Rutgers

Posted on | by Field Level Media

UCLA will look to end a five-game losing streak and earn its first Big Ten victory when it visits Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J., on Saturday afternoon.

The Bruins (1-5, 0-4 Big Ten) haven’t won since opening the season with a 16-13 victory at Hawaii and haven’t scored more than 17 points in a game this season. UCLA had a 10-0 lead at halftime of last Saturday’s game against Minnesota, but the Gophers scored on a 4-yard pass play with 27 seconds remaining to pick up a 21-17 victory.

“We’re a one-half team right now,” UCLA coach DeShaun Foster said. “I have to find a way to get these guys to come out and approach the second half like they do in the first half of games.”

Rutgers (4-2, 1-2) began its season with four straight victories but has dropped back-to-back games against Nebraska (14-7 score) and Wisconsin (42-7) since then. The Scarlet Knights surrendered 549 yards of offense vs. Wisconsin, including 309 yards on the ground. The Badgers averaged 6.6 yards per carry.

Meanwhile, Kyle Monangai leads the Rutgers rushing attack with 739 yards and seven touchdowns on 135 carries (5.5 average).

UCLA ranks last among Big Ten teams in average yards per game (272.8) and points per game (14.5). No other team in the conference is averaging fewer than 19 points per contest.

Running back T.J. Harden has gained 166 yards on 55 carries and is UCLA’s leading rusher this season. He also tops the team in receiving with 21 receptions for 204 yards.

“You can be fooled by the record; don’t be,” Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. “When you look they have played a very, very competitive schedule — a really, really tough schedule — and have played and been competitive in each of the games.

“I think they are finding their identity as a team, and they are playing really well. So it’s going to be a huge challenge for us.”

UCLA will face a Rutgers defense that has allowed an average of 369.8 yards per game, which ranks 17th in the 18-team conference.

“I’ve got some resilient dudes,” Foster said. “We’re going to continue to fight, and it’s going to turn around.”

–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

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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