UCLA Football Crushed by #7 Utah, 49-3

Tonight, UCLA Bruins fans saw the return of a team that could do nothing right against the #7 Utah Utes.

Actually, that’s not completely true.

UCLA beat the Utes in time of possession.

The Bruins were also able to move the ball up and down the field pretty easily. But the Utah defense proved to be the definition of “bend but don’t break” defense as each time UCLA got into the Red Zone, the Utes found a way to stop the Bruins.

Except for the opening drive of the game, every time the Bruins marched the ball down into the Utah Red Zone, the Utes found a way to stop UCLA. Or, more accurately, UCLA found a way to shoot themselves in the foot.

The second time UCLA got into the Red Zone, a false start pushed them back and forced a field goal try which was wide right. The third time, it was a Dorian Thompson-Robinson fumble which Utah was able to return for a touchdown.

In the second half, it didn’t get any better as Demetric Felton fumbled on the Utah 4-yard line to end another Bruin drive and that was after Utah gifted the Bruins the ball on 21-yard line following an unsuccessful fake punt.

Meanwhile, the Utes seemed to be able to score at will as three of their four first half drives resulted in touchdowns and their drive to start the second half did the same, which gave them a 35-3 lead.

The Utes also managed to capitalize on the Bruins’ turnovers by scoring touchdowns on three of UCLA’s five turnovers.

Overall, it was an ugly loss for a program that had looked like it may have turned a corner prior to tonight.

The loss ends whatever hope UCLA had of winning the Pac-12 South as that will now be decided between the Utes and Southern Cal over the next two weekends.

The Bruins, who are now 4-6, can still become bowl-eligible by winning their final two games of the season against Southern Cal and UC Berkeley.


Go Bruins.