The UCLA Bruins delivered a commanding performance on the road, securing a 27-20 victory against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in a sold-out Memorial Stadium. In front of 87,453 passionate fans in Lincoln, Nebraska, the Bruins showcased a robust defense and an efficient offense to claim their second consecutive road win. For fans wondering where to watch UCLA Bruins football highlights from this game, or looking ahead to future matchups, this recap provides a comprehensive look at how UCLA secured this hard-fought victory.
The game was punctuated by two pivotal interceptions that bookended the second half. Kain Medrano ignited the third quarter with a spectacular pick-six on the very first play after halftime. Later, with just 29 seconds remaining and Nebraska threatening to tie, Kaylin Moore intercepted a pass on the UCLA 13-yard line, sealing the Bruins’ win. UCLA’s defense was a dominant force throughout the game, consistently thwarting the Huskers, including stopping them on two crucial fourth-down attempts in the second half. The Bruins’ defensive line was relentless, sacking Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola four times, with Carson Schwesinger contributing one sack on a critical fourth down play in the fourth quarter. Schwesinger led the defensive effort with an impressive 13 tackles.
“The team started strong and played an excellent first half,” commented UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster. He acknowledged some second-half challenges, noting, “We experienced a slight stall in the second half, partly due to penalties. Discipline is key for us, and we need to eliminate those penalties as they extended Nebraska’s drives and kept them in the game.” Despite these setbacks, Coach Foster praised his team’s resilience: “This team consistently demonstrates its resilience. They are fighters, and they proved that again today against a very good Nebraska team that Coach Rhule has instilled with a no-quit attitude. We are thrilled to leave here with a victory in such a challenging environment.”
Offensively, quarterback Ethan Garbers was instrumental in UCLA’s success. He completed 17 of 25 passes for 219 yards and threw two touchdown passes. Garbers also showcased his mobility, leading the Bruins in rushing with 56 yards. Collectively, UCLA’s ground game amassed a season-high 139 rushing yards, adding another dimension to their offensive attack.
UCLA established an early lead, scoring on their opening drive for the third game in a row. Mateen Bhaghani converted a 25-yard field goal to put the Bruins on the scoreboard first, concluding a 14-play, eight-minute drive that stalled at the Nebraska seven-yard line. Nebraska’s offense struggled to respond in their opening drive, managing only two yards and going three-and-out after Jay Toia sacked quarterback Dylan Raiola on third down.
Building on their early momentum, the Bruins orchestrated another extended drive on their second possession. This time, they marched 85 yards in 11 plays, culminating in a 10-yard touchdown reception by Jalen Berger from Garbers. UCLA extended their lead to 10-0.
Nebraska, however, found an answer. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against UCLA gave the Huskers a crucial second chance after what would have been a fourth down. Capitalizing on this opportunity, Raiola connected with Jacory Barney Jr. on a 40-yard pass, moving Nebraska into the red zone. Dante Dowdell then punched it in for a four-yard touchdown run, narrowing the Bruins’ lead to 10-7.
Momentum appeared to be shifting towards Nebraska, but Ethan Garbers quickly swung it back in UCLA’s favor with a dynamic 57-yard run on third and 9, taking the ball down to the Nebraska 17-yard line. This season-long run for any Bruin player set up another field goal by Bhaghani, this time from 26 yards, pushing UCLA’s lead to 13-7. UCLA’s defense then regained control, forcing three-and-out on Nebraska’s subsequent two drives, ensuring the Bruins carried a 13-7 advantage into halftime.
“Setting the tone was crucial for this game,” Garbers emphasized after the victory. “I spoke with Coach Foster earlier in the week and requested to receive the ball first if we won the coin toss. That’s exactly what happened. We drove down the field on that opening drive. While we settled for a field goal instead of a touchdown, it was important to establish our intent early. We aimed to come out aggressively and make a statement, and I believe we accomplished that today.”
The second half commenced with Medrano’s game-changing pick-six, extending UCLA’s lead to 20-7. Nebraska attempted to respond on their next drive, facing a 4th and 3 on UCLA’s 41-yard line. However, Jay Toia pressured Raiola into a hurried pass that was broken up by Bryan Addison. UCLA then capitalized on the turnover in just three plays, as Garbers connected with Kwazi Gilmer for a 48-yard touchdown pass, further increasing the Bruins’ lead to 27-7.
“(Gilmer) is exceptional,” Garbers praised the young receiver. “For an 18-year-old, his maturity and football intelligence are remarkable. He’s quickly becoming a player I can trust implicitly. When the ball is in the air, I have complete confidence that Kwazi will come down with it. He’s an excellent route runner, and his best attribute is his consistent speed and fast play.”
Another unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against UCLA provided Nebraska with an opening. Just three minutes later, Raiola connected with Isaiah Neyor for an eight-yard touchdown pass, reducing the deficit to 27-14. Nebraska continued to press, mounting a long drive and reaching 4th and goal on the UCLA 5-yard line. Carson Schwesinger delivered another clutch play, sacking Raiola to force a turnover on downs.
After forcing UCLA to punt from their own 18-yard line, Nebraska launched another drive into the red zone. Raiola rushed to the two-yard line on second and goal but was injured on the play and forced to leave the game. His replacement, Heinrich Haarberg, was stopped on third and goal. However, yet another unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against UCLA gifted Nebraska a first down. Three plays later, Dowdell scored on a one-yard touchdown run, making it a one-possession game at 27-20 after the Huskers missed the extra point.
With just under four minutes remaining, the UCLA offense took the field, aiming to control the clock. However, they were unable to secure a first down and punted on 4th and 1 from their own 34-yard line, turning the ball back over to Nebraska on their own 19-yard line with 2:22 left. The Huskers converted a critical 4th and 11 and drove down to the UCLA 34-yard line with 36 seconds remaining. But Kaylin Moore intercepted Haarberg’s pass intended for Barney in the end zone, after Bryan Addison initially broke up the play. The ball deflected off Barney’s leg and into the air, allowing Moore to make a diving catch and secure the victory for UCLA.
While this game has concluded, fans eager to follow the Bruins can look forward to their next home game. UCLA will host Iowa at the Rose Bowl on Homecoming, Friday, November 8th at 6 pm PT. For viewers wondering where to watch UCLA Bruins football going forward, that game will be broadcast live on FOX, offering another opportunity to witness the Bruins in action. For those looking back at this exciting win against Nebraska and wondering Where To Watch Ucla Bruins Football Vs Nebraska Cornhuskers Football highlights, sports networks and online platforms are your best bet for replays and condensed game footage.
