The UCLA Bruins fell to the USC Trojans on Saturday night 19-13, losing to their biggest rival at the Rose Bowl. Dropping to 4-7 on the season, the Bruins are no longer eligible for a bowl game in the 2024 college football season.
Despite a strong performance by Bruins’ quarterback Ethan Garbers, who finished with 265 yards on 20-29 passing and a touchdown, the UCLA’s offense failed to convert at critical junctures and let the game slip away.
In Saturday night’s performance, the Bruins were an abysmal 3-11 on third down and 0-3 on fourth down, with playcalling and execution proving to be the deciding factor.
On the most crucial play of the contest, trailing 16-13 with just under five minutes remaining from their own 34-yard line, head coach DeShaun Foster opted to keep the offense on the field to extend the Bruins drive.
Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy drew up a quarterback sneak for Ethan Garbers, who was stuffed at the line of scrimmage, turning the ball over to the Trojans and effectively ending the game.
Though the Bruins were competitive with the Trojans all night, UCLA was a dollar short and a day too late in all three phases. Scoreless in the fourth quarter, UCLA could not rise to the occasion in the game’s biggest moments.
Saturday’s loss marked the beginning of the end of the Bruins’ first season in the Big Ten and another example of how far the team still has to go. The Bruins look to regroup and reset for their final game next week against Fresno State.