UCLA nearly blows 20-point lead before beating Nebraska
LINCOLN, Neb. — As the ball sailed through the air, his team’s fate hanging in the balance, Kaylin Moore seemed bound to be an observer to destiny.
The UCLA cornerback appeared to be standing behind the play as teammate Bryan Addison and Nebraska slot receiver Jacory Barney Jr. jostled for the pass that could put the Cornhuskers on the verge of a stunning comeback.
Once down by 20 points, Nebraska was driving on UCLA’s side of the field in the final minute Saturday evening at Memorial Stadium. A touchdown could tie the score or give the Cornhuskers an unlikely victory with a two-point conversion.
Moore made sure neither was a possibility.
Two UCLA players combine to force interception, seal win
UCLA 27, Nebraska 20, end of the fourth quarter
Nebraska started on its 19.
Heinrich Haarberg ran for two yards. Haarberg tossed an incomplete pass. Haarberg was sakced for a three-yard loss. After a Nebraska timeout, facing fourth-and-11, Haarberg passed to Isaiah Neyor for 24 yards and a first down.
Haarberg tossed back-to-back incomplete passes. On third-and-10 at the Nebraska 42 with 1:29 left, Haarberg ran for 10 yards. The play then was reviewed 1:21 left to see if Haarberg stepped out short of the first down. The first down call was upheld.
On first down at the UCLA 48, Haarberg’s passed across the middle was broken up. On second down with 1:16 left, Haarberg passed to Thomas Fidone II for eight yards Emmett Johnson then ran for six yards and a first down with 49 seconds left.
On first down at the UCLA 34, Haarberg passed to Thomas for five yards. Nebraska was called for illegal touching and the play erased.
On the next play, Haarberg’s pass was broken up and caught by Kaylin Moore before it hit the turf to complete a wild interception.
UCLA took over and ran out the clock to seal a win.
UCLA goes three-and-out at critical point in fourth quarter
UCLA 27, Nebraska 20, 2:22 left in the fourth quarter
UCLA started on its 25.
T.J. Harden ran for one yard. Jalen Berger ran for eight yards. Berger ran for no gain and Nebraska called timeout with 2:28 left.
UCLA punted to the Nebraska 19.
Nebraska cuts UCLA’s lead
UCLA 27, Nebraska 20, 3:57 left in the fourth quarter
Nebraska started on its 47.
Jacory Barney Jr. ran for 8 yards. Dylan Raiola tossed an incomplete pass. Dante Dowdell ran for four yards.
On first down at the UCLA 41, Raiola tossed an incomplete pass. Raiola then passed to Emmett Johnson for seven yards. Johnson ran for five yards. Raiola passed to Isaiah Neyor for 20 yards.
On first-and-goal at the UCLA 9, Raiola tossed an incomplete pass. Jaylen Lloyd then ran for five yards. Raiola ran for six yards and was injured on the play. Heinrich Haaberg ran for one yard. On fourth-and-three at the UCLA 2, UCLA was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty. On first-and-goal at the UCLA 1, Dowdell ran for no gain. Johnson then ran for no gain. On third-and-one, Dowdell finally punched the ball into the end zone. Nebraska missed the extra point.
Penalty thwarts another UCLA drive
UCLA 27, Nebraska 14, 9:58 left in the fourth quarter
UCLA started on its 15 and was immediately called for a false start.
T.J. Harden rushed for four yards and another four yards. Ethan Garbers tossed an incomplete pass and UCLA was forced to punt to the Nebraska 47.
UCLA defense get a stop early in the fourth quarter
UCLA 27, Nebraska 14, 11:31 left in the fourth quarter
Nebraska started on its 20.
Dylan Raiola ran for four yards. Emmett Johnson then rushed for five yards. Dante Dowdell ran for three yards and the first down.
Raiola was under pressure and passed to Isaiah Neyor for 37 yards, moving the ball to the UCLA 31 as time expired in the third quarter.
Raoila tossed to Jahmal Banks for 11 yards. Raiola passed to Dowdell for six yards. Dowdell ran for two yards and then another two yards.
On first-and-goal at the UCLA 10, Dowdell ran for five yards. Raiola then tossed an incomplete pass intended for Banks on the right side of the end zone. On third-and-goal at the UCLA 5, Raiola tried to evade pressure and eventually had his pass broken up. Nebraska called timeout and Raiola was sacked for a 10-yard loss by Carson Schwesinger.
UCLA drive stalls
UCLA 20, Nebraska 14, 2:13 left in the third quarter
Keegan Jones returned the kickoff 17 yards to the UCLA 21.
Jalen Berger ran for nine yards and then another five yards.
Ethan Garbers tossed an incomplete pass before connecting with Moliki Matavao for 22 yards.
Garbers tossed an incomplete pass. T.J. Harden ran for one yard. On third-and-nine, Garbers tossed an another incomplete pass. On fourth-and-nine at the Nebraska 42, UCLA was called for a false start.
UCLA then punted. The ball reached the end zone before the Bruins could stop it and triggered a touchback.
Nebraska mounts quick touchdown drive
UCLA 27, Nebraska 14, 5:23 left in the third quarter
Nebraska started on its 25 after a touchback.
Dylan Raiola passed to Thomas Fidone II for five yards. Raiola passed to Jacory Barney Jr. for four yards. Dante Dowdell then rushed for 14 yards.
Dowdell carried the ball again for a one-yard loss. On second down, UCLA was called for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Raiola passed to Barney for 27 yards. Raiola passed to Fidone for three yards. And Raiola pased to Isaiah Neyor for an eight-yard touchdown. Nebraska hit the extra point.
Ethan Garbers tosses a deep touchdown pass
UCLA 27, Nebraska 7, 8:21 left in the third quarter
UCLA started on its 42.
Ethan Garbers was sacked for a loss of eight yards. T.J. Harden then ran for 18 yards to the Nebraska 48.
Garbers passed to Kwazi Gilmer for a 48-yard touchdown. The Bruins hit the extra point.
UCLA stuffs Nebraska on fourth down
UCLA 20, Nebraska 7, 10:08 left in the third quarter
Nebraska started on its 25 after a touchback.
Rahmir Johnson ran for four yards. He ran again for 11 yards. Dante Dowdell then ran for seven yards, four yards and three yards on the next three carries.
On second-and-seven at the UCLA 46, Emmett Johnson ran for two yards. Dylan Raiola passed to Jahmal Banks for three yards. On fourth-and-two at the UCLA 41, Raiola tossed an incomplete pass and the Nebraska turned the ball over on downs.
Kain Medrano delivers a pick six for the Bruins
UCLA 20, Nebraska 7, 14:50 left in the third quarter
Nebraska started on its 25.
Dylan Raiola’s pass was intercepted by Kain Medrano and returned for 38-yard touchdown. UCLA hit the extra point.
And we’re back ...
UCLA 13, Nebraska 7, 15:00 left in the third quarter
UCLA kicked off and there was a touchback. Nebraska will start on its 25.
Nebraska runs out second quarter clock
UCLA 13, Nebraska 7, end of second quarter
Nebraska started on its 14.
Dylan Raiola was sacked for an eight-yard loss. Rahmir Johnson ran for 12 yards and time expired in the first quarter.
Another UCLA drive fizzles
UCLA 13, Nebraska 7, 1:15 left in the second quarter
UCLA started on its 26.
Ethan Garbers tossed an incomplete pass. Garbers passed to Moliki Matavao for 15 yards.
Garbers passed to Kwazi Gilmer for 15 yards.
Garbers was ten sacked fo ra four-yard loss. He passed to Moliku Matavao for six yards and UCLA called a timeout.
On third-and-eight at the Nebraska 47, Garbers tossed an incomplete pass.
UCLA punted to the Nebraska 14.
UCLA forces another Nebraska punt
UCLA 13, Nebraska 7, 2:32 left in the second quarter
Nebraska started on its 33.
Emmett Johnson ran for four yards and then one yard. Dylan Raiola tossed an incomplete pass and Nebraska punted. Logan Loya returned the punt 16 yards to the Bruins’ 26.
UCLA quickly punts
UCLA 13, Nebraska 7, 4:21 left in the second quarter
UCLA started on its 24.
Keegan Jones ran for three yards. Jones then ran for a two-yard loss. On third-and-nine, UCLA was called for a false start. On third-and-14 at the UCLA 20, Garbers’ pass was incomplete.
UCLA punted to the Nebraska 33.
UCLA forces Nebraska to go three-and-out
UCLA 13, Nebraska 7, 6:02 left in the second quarter
Nebraska started on its 25 after the touchback.
Dylan Raiola passes to Thomas Fidone II for no gain. Raiola’s next passes were incomplete. And fourth-and-10 at the Nebraska 25, the Cornhuskers punted to the UCLA 24.
Long Ethan Garbers run sets up UCLA field goal
UCLA 13, Nebraska 7, 6:52 left in the second quarter
UCLA started on its 25.
T.J. Harden ran for one yard. Ethan Garbers tossed an incomplete pass. Garbers then ran for 57 yards.
On first down at the Nebraska 17, Garbers ran for one yard. Garbers then passed to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for eight yards. On third-and-one at the Nebraska 8, Jalen Berger ran for no gain.
UCLA called timeout. After the huddle Mateen Bhaghani hit a 26-yard field goal.
UCLA penalty extends Nebraska’s first scoring drive
UCLA 10, Nebraska 7, 10:02 left in the second quarter
Nebraska started on its 25 after the touchback.
Dylan Raiola tossed three incomplete passes, but UCLA was called for unsportsmanlike conduct on third down and extended the Bruins’ drive.
Dante Dowdell ran for one yard. Raiola passed to Jacory Barney Jr. for 40 yards.
Dowdell ran for two yards and then six yards before rumbling for a four-yard touchdown. Nebraska hit the extra point.
Ethan Garbers leads UCLA touchdown drive
UCLA 10, Nebraska 0, 13:47 left in the second quarter
UCLA started on its 15.
Ethan Garbers passed to Titus Atimalala-Mokiao for 12 yards. T.J. Harden ran for three yards. Garbers passed to Harden for three yards. On third-and-four, Garbers runs for nine yards.
Garbers passed Logan Loya for two yards. Keegan Jones ran for one yard. On third-and-seven, Garbers passed to Loya for 17 yards.
On first down at the Nebraska, Jalen Berger ran for one yard and time expired in the first quarter. Jones ran for seven yards. Garbers then passed to J.Michael Sturdivant for 12 yards, moving the ball to the Nebraska 20. Nebraska was called for a face mask penalty on the play, advancing the ball to its 10-yard line.
Garbers passed to Berger for a 10-yard touchdown. Mateen Bhaghani hit the extra point, extending UCLA’s lead.
UCLA forces Nebraska to quickly punt
UCLA 3, Nebraska 0, 5:24 left in the first quarter
Nebraska returned the kickoff 18 yards to its 19-yard line.
Dante Dowell ran for four yards. Dylan Raiola tossed an incomplete pass. Raiola was sacked for a loss of two yards. And Nebraska punted to the UCLA 15.
Long UCLA opening drive ends with field goal
UCLA 3, Nebraska 0, 7:00 left in the first quarter
UCLA started on its 25.
T.J. Harden ran for four yards. Ethan Garbers passed to Moliki Matavao for nine yards and a first down.
Harden ran for a yard and Garbers passed to Bryce Pierre for seven yards. Garbers then passed to J.Michel Sturdivant for seven yards.
Garbers passed to Jalen Berger for one yard. Berger then ran for no gain. Garbers then passed to Kwazi Gilmer for a 25-yard gain.
Keegan Jones ran for nine yards to the Nebraska 12. UCLA was then called for a false start on second-and-one.
Harden rushed for nine yards and then zero yards. On second-and-goal at the Nebraska 8, Garbers tossed an incomplete pass. On third-and-eight, Garbers ran for no gain.
Mateen Bhaghani hit a 25-yard field goal to close out the drive.
And we’re off ...
UCLA 0, Nebraska 0, start of first quarter
UCLA won the coin toss and will start on its 25 after a touchback.
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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.
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.
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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.
That’s just life for a Bruins running back in 2024, though they don’t seem to mind, almost considering it a perk of their responsibilities.
Tony White out to beat his alma mater: UCLA vs. Nebraska five things to watch
Tony White could have easily been coaching from UCLA’s sideline on Saturday instead of standing across the field.
Nebraska’s defensive coordinator was among the candidates for the job opening that went to DeShaun Foster, a teammate of White’s for three seasons when the latter was a Bruins linebacker.
One of those pushing for White’s candidacy was Nebraska coach Matt Rhule, who has his own UCLA connection. Rhule was the Bruins’ defensive line coach during the 2000 season, when both White and Foster were on the team.
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Just a few days ago, it didn’t take much imagination to picture UCLA finishing 2-10 or 1-11.
Now one doesn’t need Penn & Teller to conjure visions of a bowl game.
A massive recalibration seemed in order after the Bruins posted their first Big Ten victory Saturday and their remaining opponents appeared increasingly vulnerable.
Nebraska gave up 56 points during a loss to Indiana and must face Ohio State on the road next weekend before UCLA goes to Lincoln on Nov. 2.
UCLA vs. Nebraska: How to watch the game, plus betting odds
UCLA (2-5) will try to piece together its first winning streak of the season Saturday when it faces Nebraska (5-2) at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., at 12:30 p.m. PDT. The game will air on the Big Ten Network 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 Scarlet Knights:
