Familiar problems haunt UCLA during loss at Washington as bowl path gets tougher
SEATTLE — Having gained some late-season swagger, the version of UCLA that olled into this chilly, wind-swept stadium had a throwback feel.
It resembled the team that struggled so mightily a few months ago
Quarterback Ethan Garbers constantly was running from relentless pressure. The Bruins couldn’t run the ball. They forced turnovers but couldn’t do much with them. They hurt themselves with penalties. And their defense gave up too many big plays.
Washington runs out the clock on a win
Washington 31, UCLA 19, end of game
The Huskies returned the kickoff one yard to the Washington 19 and then took a knee to run out the clock on their win, clinching bowl eligibility.
UCLA scores a late touchdown
Washington 31, UCLA 19, nine seconds left in the fourth quarter
Logan Loya returned the kickoff 12 yards to the UCLA 20.
Ethan Garbers passed to Moliki Matavao for seven yards. Garbers passed to Kwazi Gilmer for seven yards.
Garbers passed to Keegan Jones for four yards. Garbers ran for 15 yards. Garbers ran for two yards. Garbers’ deep pass was broken up. On third-and-eight with 55 seconds left, Garbers passed to T.J. Harden for 25 yards.
Garbers’ pass into the end zone fell incomplete. On second down at the Washington 10 with 35 seconds left, Garbers throws the ball out of bounds. On third down with 25 inches, Garbers passed to Harden for 18 yards.
On first-and-goal at the Washington 2 with 17 seconds left, Garbers’ pass was incomplete. On second down with 13 seconds left, Garbers passed to Matavao for a two-yard touchdown.
UCLA went for a two-point conversion. Garbers’ pass was incomplete and a flag was thrown for illegal shift. The penalty was declined.
Washington tacks on another touchdown
Washington 31, UCLA 13, 1:54 left in the fourth quarter
Washington started on the UCLA 23.
Jonah Coleman ran for three yards. Colemna ran another four yards. Washington ran down the clock and called timeout with 2:12 remaining. On third-and-three, Demond Williams Jr. ran for three yards and triggered the two-minute timeout. A review determined Williams actually ran for two yards. On fourth-and-inches, Demond tossed an incomplete pass and UCLA was called for pass interference in the end zone.
The ball moved to the UCLA 2. Coleman then ran for a tow-yard touchdown. Washington hit the extra point.
Ethan Garbers sacked on fourth down, ending hopes of a UCLA rally
Washington 24, UCLA 13, 3:32 left in the fourth quarter
UCLA started on its 35.
Ethan Garbers tossed an incomplete pass before connecting with J.Michael Sturdivant for six yards. Garbers passed to Keepgan Jones for three yards. Garbers ran for one yard, converting on fourth down with a nudge from the offensive line.
On first down at the UCLA 45, Garbers tossed an incomplete pass. UCLA was called for false start. On second-and-15, Garbers passed to Moliki Matavao for five yards. Garbers was then sacked for a loss of 10 yards. UCLA called timeout before facing fourth-and-20 at the Bruins’ 35.
Garbers was sacked for a loss of 12 yards and the Bruins turned the ball over on downs.
Washington extends its lead with time running down in the fourth quarter
Washington 24, UCLA 13, 5:44 left in the fourth quarter
Washington started on its 26 after the missed UCLA field goal.
Demond Williams Jr. passed to Denzel Boston for 32 yards.
Jonah Coleman ran for three yards. Williams ran for 12 yards.
Williams ran for six yards. Coleman ran for 14 yards.
On first-and-goal at the UCLA 7, Coleman ran for three yards. He ran for another three yards. On third-and-goal at the UCLA 1, Williams passed to Decker DeGraaf for a one-yard touchdown. Washington hit the extra point.
UCLA misses long field goal, still trails Washington by four
Washington 17, UCLA 13, 10:58 left in the fourth quarter
UCLA started on its 25.
Ethan Garbers tossed an incomplete pass. Garbers passed to T.J. Harden for nine yards. On third-and-one Harden ran for three yards.
UCLA lost Michael Carmody to an injury, its second offensive lineman to get injured during the game. The Bruins’ unit was already depleted and is relying on its fourth-string left tackle during the second half.
Harden ran for a one-yard loss. UCLA was called for a false start on the next play. On second-and-16, Garbers passed to Harden for 19 yards.
On first down at the 50-yard line, Keegan Jones ran for no gain. UCLA completed a pass, but the third quarter clock expired right before the snap. T.J. Harden ran for seven yards to start the fourth quarter. On third-and-three, Garbers absorbed a hit while running for four yards and a first down.
Garbers passed to Jack Pedersen for 11 yards.
UCLA was called for a false start, making it first-and-15 at the Washington 34. Garbers passed to Kwazi Gilmer under pressure and he was tackled for no gain. On second-and-15, Garbers spun away from a tackle for eight yards. On third-and-seven, Garbers’ pass intended for Logan Loya was tipped and nearly intercepted before falling incomplete.
Mateen Bhaghani missed a 44-yard field goal attempt, and Washington maintained its four-point lead.
UCLA limits Washington to field goal after turnover
Washington 17, UCLA 13, 3:16 left in the third quarter
Washington started on its 20 after the UCLA fumble.
Demond Williams Jr. ran for 16 yards.
Williams passed to Giles Jackson for six yards. Jonah Coleman ran for 10 yards.
Williams passed to Keleki Latu for 10 yards.
Coleman ran for four yards. On second-and-six at the UCLA 34, Coleman ran for six more yards.
Coleman ran for one yard before a player injury triggered a timeout with 4:54 left in the third quarter. Williams passed to Jackson for no gain. Both teams were called for unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on the play and the penalities offset. On third-and-nine, Williams ran for four yards.
On fourth-and-five at the UCLA 23, Grady Gross hit a 41-yard field goal.
UCLA fumbles chance to take the lead
Washington 14, UCLA 13, 8:12 left in the third quarter
UCLA stared at the Washington 39.
Ethan Garbers tossed an incomplete pass. Garbers then passed to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for seven yards. On third-and-three at the Washington 32, Garbers passed to Logan Loya for five yards.
Garbers passed to Jack Pedersen for seven yards, but he fumbled as he fell to the turf and Washington recovered at its 20-yard line.
Kain Medrano snags UCLA’s second interception
Washington 14, UCLA 13, 9:51 left in the third quarter
Washington started on its 33.
Will Rogers passed to Adam Mohammed for 12 yards.
Mohammed ran for one yard. Rogers’ pass across the middle was intercepted by Kain Medrano was returned 11 yards to the Washington 39.
UCLA’s sideline was warned for excessive celebration after the pick.
Washington limits UCLA to field goal after interception
Washington 14, UCLA 13, 11:20 left in the third quarter
UCLA started on the Washington 25 after snagging an interception.
T.J. Harden ran for seven yards. T.J. Harden ran for no gain. On third-and-three, Ethan Garbers was sacked for a loss of four yards. On fourth-and-seven, Mateen Bhaghani hit a 40-yard field goal to trim Washington’s lead.
Washington tosses an interception to end the first drive of the third quarter
Washington 14, UCLA 10, 13:33 left in the third quarter
Washington started on its 25.
Jonah Coleman ran for one yard. Will Rogers passed to Giles Jackson for a four-yard loss. Rogers’ pass was broken up by Kain Medrano and intercepted by Devin Kirkwood. He returned it for nine yards to the Washington 25.
And we’re back ...
Washington 14, UCLA 10, 15:00 left in the third quarter
Washington received the kickoff and started on its 25 after a touchback.
Washington mishandles a kickoff return and runs out the first half clock
Washington 14, UCLA 10, end of first half
Washington mishandled the kickoff return and started on its 1-yard line.
Jonah Coleman ran for two yards. On second-and-seven at the Washington 3, UCLA called time out to stop the clock at 39 seconds. Will Rogers passed to Giles Jackson for five yards. On third-and-two at the Washington 8, UCLA called timeout to stop the clock with 36 seconds left. Coleman ran for five yards and a first down.
Washington called a timeout with 32 seconds left.
On first down at the Washington 13, Rogers passed laterally to Jackson, who stumbled.
Washington then ran out the clock to end the first half. The Huskies will get the ball to open the second half.
Ethan Garbers leads his first touchdown drive of the night
Washington 14, UCLA 10, 49 seconds left in the second quarter
UCLA started on its 35 after the kickoff.
Ethan Garbers passed to Keegan Jones for nine yards. Garbers then ran for three yards.
Garbers passed to T.J. Harden for four yards and the two-minute timeout was triggered. Garbers’ deep pass to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala was incomplete but Washington was called for pass interference on the play.
On first down at the Washington 39, Garbers passed to Harden for four yards. Garbers tossed an incomplete pass as he was hit by an unblocked Washington pass rusher. On third-and-six at the Washington 35, he passed to Mokiao-Atimalala for 21 yards.
On first down at the Washington 14, Garbers’ pass was incomplete. The Huskies called timeout with 1:25 left on the clock. Garbers passed to Moliki Matavao for five yards. The Bruins called timeout with 1:13 on the clock. On third-and-five at the Washington 9, Garbers avoided a sack and dove forward for eight yards.
Play was stopped as an injured Washington player was treated on the field.
On first-and-goal at the Washington one-yard with 1:03 left, Garbers passed to Kwazi Gilmer for a one-yard touchdown. UCLA hit the extra point.
Washington scores after penalty erases interception
Washington 14, UCLA 3, 3:46 left in the second quarter
Washington started on its 31-yard line after the turnover.
Will Rogers passed to Denzel Boston for 15 yards.
Rogers tossed an incomplete pass. Rogers passed to Giles Jackson for 11 yards.
Rogers passed to Jackson for 16 yards.
Rogers pass was incomplete. Jonah Coleman ran fo 12 yards. On first down at the UCLA 15, Rogers’ pass was intercepted by Bryan Addison in the end zone, but Oladejo Oluwafemi was called for roughing the passer.
On first-and-goal at the UCLA 7, Coleman ran for a one-yard loss. Rogers then tossed an incomplete pass. On third-and-goal at the UCLA 8, Rogers passed to Keleki Latu for an eight-yard touchdown. The Huskies hit the extra point.
UCLA turns the ball over in the red zone
Washington 7, UCLA 3, 7:10 left in the second quarter
UCLA took over on Washington’s 44 after a fourth down stop.
T.J. Harden ran for one yard. Harden ran for another yard. On third-and-eight, Ethan Garbers ran to his left for 10 yards.
Garbers passed to Moliki Matavao for 14 yards.
Keegan Jones ran for one yard. A Washington player was hurt on the play, triggering a timeout. Garbers tossed an incomplete pass. On third-and-nine at the Washington 17, Garbers was sacked for a loss of 14 yards and stripped of the ball.
Washington’s Russell Davis II recovered the ball at the Huskies’ 31-yard line.
UCLA stuffs Washington on fourth down
Washington 7, UCLA 3, 10:45 left in the second quarter
Washington started on its 25 after the kickoff.
Will Rogers passed to Jeremiah Hunter for eight yards. Jonah Coleman ran for three yards.
Rogers was sacked by Bruin Luke Schuermann for a loss of nine yards. On second-and-19, Rogers passed to Giles Jackson for 11 yards. On third-and-eight, Demond Williams passed to Jeremiah Hunter for eight yards. UCLA pushed for a review and video showed Hunter’s knee was down before the first down marker.
On fourth-and-one, Dama Mohammed was dropped for a loss of one yard by Oluwafemi Oladejo.
UCLA took over on Washington’s 44.
UCLA hits field goal, trims Washington lead
Washington 7, UCLA 3, 13:38 left in the second quarter
UCLA started on its 25 after the kickoff.
T.J. Harden ran for 11 yards.
Harden ran for a loss of one yard. Ethan Garbers passed to Anthony Frias II for 18 yards.
UCLA was called for a false start. On first-and-15 at the Bruins’ 48, Garbers passed to Moliki Matavao for 27 yards.
Garbers’ pass to the end zone sailed too far out and fell incomplete. Kwazi Gilmer ran for eight yards. On third-and-two, Harden ran for three yards to the Washington 14 as time expired in the first quarter.
J.Michael Sturdivant ran for five yards. Harden ran fo ra yard. And on third-and-six at the Washington 10 Garbers tossed an incomplete pass.
Offensive lineman Jaylan Jeffers was injured on the play, stopping competition while he was treated by medical staff. He eventually was driven off the field via cart.
Mateen Bhaghani closed the UCLA drive with a 28-yard field goal.
Poor punt sets up Washington touchdown
Washington 7, UCLA 0, 3:51 left in the first quarter
Washington started on the UCLA 36 after a shanked punt.
Jonah Coleman ran for three yards. Will Rogers passed to Cameron Davis for 18 yards. And Coleman closed te drive by running for a 15-yard touchdown.
UCLA was called for being offside during the extra point. The Huskies hit the extra point after the penalty.
UCLA continues to struggle moving the ball
UCLA 0, Washington 0, 5:14 left in the first quarter
UCLA started on its 18-yard line.
Keegan Jones ran for two yard and then another yard before Ethan Garbers was sacked for a loss of two yards. Brody Richter shanked another punt, booting the ball 17 yards to the UCLA 36.
UCLA defense bends before forcing another punt
UCLA 0, Washington 0, 7:26 left in the first quarter
Washington started on its 29.
Will Rogers passed to Jonah Coleman for 10 yards.
Rogers passed to Keleki Latu for 11 yards.
Rogers tossed a deep incomplete pass. Coleman ran for one yard. On third-and-nine, Rogers’ pass was tipped and fell incomplete.
Washington punted to the UCLA 18.
UCLA drive thwarted by a penalty
UCLA 0, Washington 0, 9:28 left in the first quarter
UCLA started on its 13-yard line.
Ethan Garbers tossed an incomplete pass. T.J. Harden ran for two yards. On third-and-eight, Garbers evaded a sack and passed to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for 20 yards.
Harden ran for one yard. Garber’s pass was behind his reciver and fell incomplete. On third-and-nine, Garbers evaded a sack and passed to Moliki Matavao for 33 yards.
Matavao was called for stepping out of bounds before making the catch, prompting officials to call a penalty for illegal touching. The play was reviewed and stood as called.
On fourth down, UCLA punted just 25 yards to the Washington 39. A penalty flag was thrown. The Huskies were called for holding and lost 10 yards. Washington’s drive will start on its 29.
UCLA forces Washington to go three-and-out
UCLA 0, Washington 0, 11:59 left in the first quarter
Will Rogers passed to Decker DeGraaf for seven yards. Jonah Coleman ran for one yard. On third-and-two, Rogers tossed an incomplete pass.
Washington punted and UCLA took a fair catch at its 13-yard line.
UCLA goes three-and-out on opening drive
UCLA 0, Washington 0, 13:25 left in the first quarter
UCLA started on its 35-yard line.
Ethan Garbers’ first pass was deflected and fell incomplete. Garbers then passed to Moliki Matavao for eight yards. On third-and-two, Garbers was sacked for a loss of seven yards.
UCLA punted and Washington returned the kick 13 yards to the Huskies’ 37-yard line.
And we’re off ...
UCLA 0, Washington 0, 15:00 left in the first quarter
UCLA won the coin toss and received the opening kickoff. The Bruins took a fair catch and will start on their 35-yard line.
From zero stars to leading Big Ten in tackles: The rise of UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger
Often it’s his awareness in the seconds before the snap that has turned Carson Schwesinger from zero-star prospect to hero of the UCLA defense.
Scanning the players across the line of scrimmage, he examines body positioning and mannerisms that can provide a tipoff.
Does the offensive tackle place both hands on his thighs? It’s probably going to be a pass.
Does the quarterback lick his hands? He’s probably going to throw the ball.
Chase Griffin wants to show his UCLA teammates the money with NIL venture
According to U.S. Dept. of Education figures, UCLA topped all Big Ten schools by receiving $692 million in donations from 2022-23.
But that zeal for lavishing cash did not carry over to the school’s athletic department, which ranked fourth from the bottom of the conference with just $16 million in donations over the same period.
Like a quarterback calling an audible, Chase Griffin wants to change those financial fortunes for his Bruins teammates.
‘I didn’t want to be bought’: Why Jay Toia returned to lead UCLA’s scrappy defense
A season of monotony has played out with a numbing sameness on the interior of UCLA’s defensive line.
On almost every play, two or three offensive linemen converge on Jay Toia, massive bodies colliding in an attempt to neutralize the Bruins defensive tackle.
Taken in isolation, it might seem like a win for coaches committing nearly 1,000 pounds to counteract an otherwise unstoppable force. Halfway through the season, Toia has tallied just 12 tackles, half a tackle for loss and two quarterback hurries.
Those might seem like meager numbers for a player widely expected to be selected in the NFL draft this spring until you consider the ripple effect.
Mateen Bhaghani kicking his way into UCLA’s football record book
DeShaun Foster acknowledged that both of the game balls he’s been given this season to commemorate coaching firsts could have gone to someone equally worthy.
His kicker.
That’s how valuable Mateen Bhaghani has been in his first season at UCLA.
The transfer from California made a game-winner against Hawaii that represented Foster’s first coaching victory (earning him a game ball from athletic director Martin Jarmond) and converted a career-long 57-yarder against Iowa last Friday to help give Foster his first home victory (and a second game ball from his boss).
Amid revolutionary changes, UCLA extends athletic director Martin Jarmond’s contract
UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond, who shepherded the school’s revolutionary move to the Big Ten Conference amid a time of unprecedented change in college athletics, has received a three-year contract extension through 2029.
Among other achievements, Jarmond helped the Bruins land a new apparel contract with Jordan Brand and Nike after Under Armour abandoned its commitment to a record-setting deal with the school and has positioned UCLA’s 25 varsity sports to compete in the evolving name, image and likeness space with several initiatives.
UCLA leaned on potent defense and explosive run game to beat Iowa
UCLA’s quest to scratch and claw its way to a bowl berth after a slow start to the season continues.
In front of a Rose Bowl crowd split 60-40 between UCLA blue and Iowa black during homecoming, the Bruins left the Hawkeyes black and blue thanks to a potent run game and strong defensive effort.
UCLA (4-5 overall, 3-4 Big Ten) extended its three-game win streak against conference opponents and inched closer to bowl eligibility, defeating Iowa 20-17 in Pasadena. DeShaun Foster celebrated his first win at the Rose Bowl as the Bruins’ coach.
UCLA doesn’t want to go hungry in Seattle: Five things to watch vs. Washington
By the end of their trip to Seattle, UCLA players might feel like playing Nirvana on their headphones while sipping lattes with a bear foam design on top.
Everywhere they’ve gone this season, the Bruins have made themselves at home. There’s no doubt they’ve played their best football on the road. A team with a sub-.500 record has gone 3-2 in away games, with the losses coming against No. 4 Penn State and No. 22 Louisiana State.
They’ll need to be in top form again Friday evening at Husky Stadium.
UCLA vs. Washington: How to watch the game, plus betting odds
UCLA (4-5) will try to win its third fourth game when it faces Washington (5-5) at Husky Stadium in Seattle on Friday at 6 p.m. PST. The game will air on Fox.
Here are the betting odds for Friday’s game between UCLA and Washington:
