UCLA kept its hopes alive for making a bowl game by beating Iowa 20-17 in Pasadena. The Bruins (4-5, 3-4 Big Ten) have now won three games in a row, getting closer to being eligible for a bowl game.
Turning the Season Around
“Our season turned around after the Minnesota loss,” said head coach DeShaun Foster, who earned his first Rose Bowl win as UCLA’s coach. “I always knew we had the talent; we just had to take it one step at a time. This is where we are now.”
Running Game Shines
Running back T.J. Harden led UCLA’s rushing attack with 125 yards on 20 carries. He, along with Jalen Berger and Keegan Jones, outperformed Iowa’s highly ranked rushing offense. UCLA finished with 211 rushing yards, while Iowa only managed 93.
“It feels great, especially knowing we’re improving each week,” Harden said. “We’re heading in the right direction.”
Defense Makes the Difference
Even though UCLA had nine penalties for 84 yards and three turnovers, their defense and running game made the difference. Iowa (6-4, 4-3) tied the game in the fourth quarter with a one-yard touchdown from Kamari Moulton, but UCLA took the lead back with a 27-yard field goal by Mateen Bhaghani with 4:59 left. A big defensive stop with 4:04 remaining allowed the Bruins to run out the clock.
UCLA’s defense also shut down Iowa’s star running back, Kaleb Johnson, holding him to just 49 yards on 18 carries—far below his average of 142.1 yards per game. UCLA’s defense kept the pressure on Iowa, with Carson Schwesinger recording two interceptions and Kain Medrano forcing a fumble.
“We knew this week would be a challenge, and we were ready,” Schwesinger said. “The whole defense and the coaches put together a great plan.”
Garbers’ Resilience
Quarterback Ethan Garbers had a tough start, throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble early, but he rebounded in the second quarter with two touchdown passes. He threw a two-yard pass to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala and a 29-yard pass to Logan Loya to help UCLA take a 17-10 lead at halftime.
Moving Forward
UCLA’s hard work and improved play have put them on the path to making a bowl game. With momentum on their side, the Bruins’ goal is to keep getting better as the season comes to an end.