UCLA uses potent defense and explosive run game to beat Iowa, extend its win streak
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 holds on to beat Iowa
UCLA 20, Iowa 17, end of game
UCLA starts on its 41.
Ethan Garbers ran for five yards. T.J. Harden ran for 14 yards to the Iowa 40.
Garbers faked a handoff and ran for three yards to the Iowa 37. Iowa called timeout with 2:17 remaining on the clock. On second-and-seven, Harden ran for a loss of one yard. Iowa called its final timeout to stop the clock with 2:11 left. On third-and-eight, Garbers passed to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for nine yards and the first down.
After the two-minute timeout, Harden ran for 15 yards to the Iowa 14.
With 1:11 left, UCLA kneeled on multiple snaps to run out the clock.
UCLA defense forces Iowa to punt
UCLA 20, Iowa 17, 3:53 left in the fourth quarter
Iowa started on its 25.
Kamari Moulton ran for four yards. Jackson Stratton tossed an incomplete pass. Stratton tossed another incomplete pass. On fourth-and-six from the Iowa 29, the Hawkeyes punted to the UCLA 41.
UCLA takes lead on field goal
UCLA 20, Iowa 17, 4:49 left in the fourth quarter
UCLA started on its 35 after the kickoff.
Keegan Jones ran for two yards. Ethan Garbers passed to T.J. Harden for seven yards. On third-and-one, UCLa called timeout to avoid the play clock expiring.
On third-and-one with 10:12 left in the fourth quarter, Garbers tossed to Harden for a gain of 16 yards to the 50-yard line.
Harden ran for a loss of one yard. On second-and-11, Garbers passed to Jack Pedersen for six yards. On third-and-five, Garbers passed to Kwazi Gilmer for six yards and a first down. Gilmer was pushed back and the whistle stopping the play was blown before he let go of the ball and UCLA retained possession.
Keegan Jones ran for two yards. Garbers passed to Gilmer for 20 yards, moving the ball to the Iowa 17.
Jones ran for 12 yards to the Iowa 5 with 5:48 left.
Garbers faked a pass and handed off to Harden, who was dropped for a loss of four yards. On second-and-goal at the UCLA 9, Garbers’ pass was deflected and fell incomplete. On third-and-goal, Garbers was pressured by an unblocked defender and he threw it away.
Mateen Bhaghani hit a 27-yard field goal to complete the drive.
Iowa scores after drive was extended by UCLA penalty
UCLA 17, Iowa 17, 11:27 left in the fourth quarter
Iowa started on its 39.
Backup Jackson Stratton took over at quarterback for the Hawkeyes.
Kaleb Johnson ran for two yards. Johnson then ran for 15 yards to the UCLA 44.
Johnson ran for a loss of two yards, with Oluwafemi Oladejo getting the stop. Johnson ran for three yards. A flag was thrown and Iowa was called for holding on the play. On second-and-22 at the Iowa 44, Stratton passed to Jacob Gill for three yards. On third-and-19, Stratton looked to pass before running for 14 yards.
Drew Stevens hit a 57-yard field goal, but UCLA was called for stepping on an Iowa player while trying t block the field goal and Iowa accepted a first down rather than points.
Johnson ran for one yard to the UCLA 23 as time expired in the third quarter. Johnson ran for on yard. Stratton passed to Jacob Gill for 10 yards and a first down.
Stratton looked to pass and the throw as blocked by Oladejo, falling incomplete. On second-and-10 at the UCLA 12, Johnson ran for a loss of four yards after a tackle by Kain Medrano. On third-and-14 at the UCLA 16, Stratton passed to Gil for 15 yards.
On first-and-goal at the UCLA 1, Johnson ran for no gain. On second-and-goal at the UCLA 1, Kamari Moulton ran for a one-yard touchdown. Iowa hit the extra point.
UCLA misses a long field goal as drive stalls
UCLA 17, Iowa 10, 4:02 left in the third quarter
UCLA started on its 31.
T.J. Harden ran for two yards. Ethan Garbers passed to Logan Loya for 12 yards.
Harden ran up the middle for no gain. On second-and-10 at the UCLA 45, Garbers passed to Loya for 19 yards.
On first down at the Iowa 36, Garbers threw the ball away out of bounds. Harden ran for no gain and UCLA was called for holding on the play. On second-and-20 at the Iowa 46, Keegan Jones ran for three yards. On third-and-17, Garbers passed to Jones for five yards.
Mateen Bhaghani missed a 57-yard field goal attempt.
Another turnover!
UCLA 17, Iowa 10, 8:37 left in the third quarter
Iowa started on its 39.
Kamari Moulton ran for two yards. Brendan Sullivan passed to Jacob Gill for 19 yards.
Sullivan ran for two yards. Sullivan ran again despite the Hawkeyes’ lack of quarterback depth for a gain of one yard. On third-and-seven, Sullivan tried to evade UCLA pressure and tossed an interception. The ball was picked off by Carson Schwesinger. It was his second interception of the game.
UCLA takes over at its 31-yard line.
It is the sixth turnover of the game, with both quarterbacks tossing two interceptions.
UCLA offense goes three-and-out
UCLA 17, Iowa 10, 11:06 left in the third quarter
UCLA started on its 16.
T.J. Harden ran for two yards. Ethan Garbers passed to Keegan Jones for one yard. Garbers’ deep pass intended for Logan Loya was just out of reach and fell incomplete.
UCLA punted and Kaden Wetjen reutnred it 13 yards to the Iowa 39.
UCLA keeps the pressure on, forces Iowa to open third quarter with a punt
UCLA 17, Iowa 10, 12:48 left in the third quarter
Iowa started on its 25 after the kickoff.
Kaleb Johnson ran for five yards. Johnson then ran for no gain. Brendan Sullivan was flushed out of the pocket and tried to run for hte first down, but he was hit hard on the sideline by Jalen Woods after gaining four yards.
Sullivan walked gingerly to the Iowa bench.
The Hawkeyes called timeout because they had too many men on the field ad then punted to the UCLA 16.
UCLA defense shuts down Iowa’s final drive of the second quarter
UCLA 17, Iowa 10, end of the second quarter
UCLA was called for illegal equipment for having two players wearing the same jersey number on the kickoff return. Bruins coach DeShaun Foster contested the call, but it was not overturned.
Iowa started at its 28.
Brendan Sullivan was sacked for a loss of two yards. Kaleb Johnson rushed for 10 yards to the Iowa 38 and the Hawkeyes called a timeout. Johnson ran for nine yards, moving the ball to the Iowa 47.
The Hawkeyes called timeout.
Sullivan ran for three yards to the 50-yard line and Iowa called its final timeout with four seconds left.
UCLA then called a timeout.
The Bruins’ secondary dropped close to the end zone. Sullivan passed to Seth Anderson, who gained 30 yard sbefore he was tackled at the UCLA 20 as time expired.
UCLA escaped a rough first half with a lead despite three turnovers.
Ethan Garbers hits Logan Loya for go-ahead-touchdown
UCLA 17, Iowa 10, 55 seconds left in the second quarter
UCLA started on its 44 after the Iowa punt.
Keegan Jones ran for 11 yards, capped by a leap over a defender.
Jones ran for five yards, moving the ball to the Iowa 40. Ethan Garbers threw the ball away under pressure. On third-and-five, Garbers passed to Logan Loya for 11 yards.
On first down at the Iowa 29 with 1:06 left, Garbers passed to Loya, who was hit and pushed forward five more yards for a 29-yard touchdown.
The play was reviewed and confirmed.
UCLA hit the extra point.
UCLA forces Iowa to go three-and-out after turnover
Iowa 10, UCLA 10, 1:51 left in the second quarter
Iowa started on its 25 after the Ethan Garbers fumble.
Kaleb Johnson ran for one yard. Johnson ran for one yard. On third-and-eight, Brendan Sullivan was sacked for a loss of three yards by Oluwafemi Oladejo.
Iowa punted.
Ethan Garbers turns the ball over again in the red zone
Iowa 10, UCLA 10, 3:27 left in the second quarter
UCLA started on the Iowa 41 after forcing the Hawkeyes turnover.
T.J. Harden ran for two yards. Ethan Garbers passed to Kwazi Gilmer for six yards. On third-and-two, UCLA was called for a false start. On third-and-seven, Garbers’ pass intended for Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, but Iowa was called for holding to give the Bruins a first down.
On first down at the Iowa 28, Harden ran for five yards. Garbers passed to laterally to Harden, who ran for nine yards and a first down at the Iowa 14.
Harden ran for five yards.
Garbers ran toward the end zone and penalty flags were thrown. Iowa stripped the ball at the goal line and recovered for a touchback. The penalty was for an illegal UCLA shift and Iowa declined the penalty, taking over possession and thwarting a UCLA scoring drive.
It was Garbers’ second turnover in the red zone.
UCLA’s Kain Medrano rips the ball away for another Iowa turnover
Iowa 10, UCLA 10, 7:14 left in the second quarter
UCLA kicked the ball out of bounds and Iowa started on its 35.
Kaleb Johnson ran for a loss of one yard. Brendan Sullivan tossed an incomplete pass broken up by Ale Kaho. On third-and-11, Sullivan was hit as he delivered to Dayton Howard for 12 yards and a first down.
Sullivan faked a handoff and ran with the ball before UCLA’s Kain Medrano ripped the ball away and returned it to the Iowa 41.
UCLA scores quickly after interception
Iowa 10, UCLA 10, 8:05 left in the second quarter
UCLA started on the Iowa 45 after the interception.
T.J. Harden ran for 29 yards. He ran for another yard. Jalen Berger ran for 10 yards to the Iowa 5.
On first-and-goal at the Iowa 5, Berger ran for no gain. Harden ran for three yards. On third-and-goal at the Iowa, Garbers passe to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for a two-yard touchdown. UCLA hit the extra point.
UCLA defense gets a big interception
Iowa 10, UCLA 3, 11:28 left in the second quarter
Iowa started on its 25.
Brendan Sullivan tossed a deep pass that was intercepted by UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger, who returned it 18 yards.
UCLA was called for a personal penalty on the return.
UCLA hits a long field goal
Iowa 10, UCLA 3, 11:41 left in the second quarter
UCLA started on its 25 after the kickoff.
Jalen Berger ran for eight yards. Berger then ran for three yards and a first down.
Time expired at the end of the first quarter.
UCLA opened the second quarter facing first down its 36-yard line. Berger ran for five yards. Ethan Garbers tossed an incomplete pass. And Garbers found Bryce Pierre for a nine-yard gain.
On first down at the 50, Keegan Jones ran for three yards. T.J. Harden then rushed for eight yards.
Garbers tossed an incomplete pass that nearly was intercepted. On second-and-10 at the Iowa 39, Garbers threw the ball out of bounds. On third-and-10, Gabers tossed an incomplete pass.
Mateen Bhaghani hit a 57-yard field goal to trim the Iowa lead.
UCLA defense limits Iowa to a field goal after interception
Iowa 10, UCLA 0, 55 seconds left in the first quarter
Iowa started on its 20 after intercepting an Ethan Garbers pass in the Hawkeyes’ end zone.
Brendan Sullivan was sacked for a loss of six yards. Sullivan then passed to Jacob Gill for 59 yards.
Kaleb Rush ran for 13 yards, moving the ball to the UCLA 14.
Sullivan passed to Seth Anderson for five yards. Kaleb Rush ran for a loss of a yard. On third-and-six, Sullivan ran for four yards. On fourth-and-two, Drew Stevens hit a 24-yard field goal.
Ethan Garbers tosses brutal interception in Iowa’s end zone
Iowa 7, UCLA 0, 4:49 left in the first quarter
UCLA started on its 25.
T.J. Harden ran for three yards. Ethan Garbers passed to Keegan Jones for a loss of three yards. And on third-and-10, Garbers passed to Logan Loya for 23 yards.
UCLA was called for false start. On first-and-15, Harden ran for 10 yards. He then rank for another 14 yards and a first down.
On first down at the Iowa 33, Garbers tossed an incomplete pass. Garbers then passed to Jalen Berger for three yards. On third-and-seven, Garbers passed to Berger, who fought for a 10-yard gain.
On first down at the Iowa 20, Garbers tossed a pass Keegan Jones dropped along the sideline. Berger ran for four yards. Play stopped while UCLA lineman Niki Prongos was treated for an injury. On third-and-six, UCLA was called for a flase start. On third-and-11, Garbers passed to Bryce Pierre across the middle for 16 yards.
On first-and-goal at the Iowa 5, Harden ran for two yards. Garber was hit as he was throwing the ball away and Iowa intercepted the ball in its end zone. The play was reviewed.
UCLA was on the verge of matching Iowa’s touchdown and instead left the red zone with no points.
Iowa quickly scores after UCLA interception
Iowa 7, UCLA 0, 11:44 left in the first quarter
Iowa started at UCLA’s 41-yard line after the interception.
Kaleb Johnson ran for a loss of three yards. Johnson ran for no gain again, but UCLA was called for holding. On first down at the Bruins’ 34, Brendan Sullivan passed to Jacob Gill for 32 yards.
On first-and-goal at the UCLA 2, Johnson pushed for a two-yard touchdown.
It didn’t take Iowa long to capitalize on Ethan Garbers’ interception.
Ethan Garbers tosses an interception on opening drive
UCLA 0, Iowa 0, 13:30 left in the first quarter
UCLA started on its 25.
Ethan Garbers passed to Keegan Jones for four yards. Garbers then tossed an incomplete pass and the Bruins were called for offensive pass interference. On second-and-20, Garbers scrambled out of a collapsing pocket for six yards. On third-and-14, Garbers evaded a sack and then tossed an interception.
Iowa took over at UCLA’s 41.
And we’re off ...
UCLA 0, Iowa 0, 15:00 left in the first quarter
Iowa won the toss and deferred.
UCLA received the opening kickoff and took a knee in the end zone.
How a surprising corps of receivers helped UCLA’s Ethan Garbers thrive
This doesn’t match the job description.
UCLA’s running backs have done most of their running after making catches.
T.J. Harden and Keegan Jones have both logged more receiving yards than rushing yards. Their touchdown total through the air has equaled theirs on the ground. Their longest receiving play of the season has gone for more than twice the yardage of their longest rushing play.
Carter Shaw never got to play for his dad at Stanford, only impress him at UCLA
Lingering on the field after the game ended, everything that just unfolded swirling in his head, UCLA wide receiver Carter Shaw received instant analysis from a football savant and one of the top coaches in Pac-12 history.
You know, his dad.
David Shaw told his son to focus on what he did well against Louisiana State, the highlight reverse that he ran and the routes that he won against big-time cornerbacks, even if only one pass that fell incomplete came his way.
Even as a freshman, wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer has become UCLA’s go-to guy
A recount might be in order.
Kwazi Gilmer is certainly outperforming his player rating on EA Sports College Football ‘25.
“Definitely high 80s now,” the UCLA freshman wide receiver said Tuesday of where his rating should stand now on the video game, “but I mean, that’ll come soon.”
‘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.
Can UCLA get its first home win under DeShaun Foster? Five things to watch vs. Iowa
DeShaun Foster notched his first coaching and road wins simultaneously, UCLA surviving the heat and a special teams meltdown to beat Hawaii.
His first winning streak came courtesy of back-to-back triumphs over Rutgers and Nebraska as part of a brutal travel schedule in which the Bruins will log an estimated 22,048 miles.
One first that would involve only a short bus ride has maddeningly eluded him. The Bruins have not won a game at the stadium their coach has called home for more than a quarter of a century, going 0-3 this season.
UCLA vs. Iowa: How to watch the game, plus betting odds
UCLA (3-5) will try to win its third consecutive game when it faces Iowa (6-3) at the Rose Bowl on Friday at 6 p.m. PST. The game will air Fox and will be available on 570 AM in the Los Angeles area.
Here are the betting odds for Saturday’s game between the Bruins and Iowa:
