UCLA comes up empty-handed on its second possession
🏈 Maryland 0, UCLA 0 — 7:29 left in the first quarter
On UCLA’s second possession, the Bruins moved to midfield with a pair of third-down conversions before sputtering.
Mateen Bhaghani was going to attempt a 55-yard field goal before a five-yard delay of game penalty on UCLA convinced interim coach Tim Skipper to punt instead.
UCLA running back Jalen Berger has 16 yards on three carries and Nico Iamaleava has completed four of six passes for 17 yards.
UCLA and Maryland start strong on defense
🏈 Maryland 0, UCLA 0 — 12:06 left in the first quarter
UCLA went three-and-out on its opening possession after the Terrapins collapsed on Nico Iamaleava as he tried to shoot up the middle on third down.
The Bruins did much of the same on Maryland’s ensuing possession. UCLA cornerback Rodrick Pleasant nearly picked off a Malik Washington pass intended for Shaleak Knotts on third down to force a three-and-out.
‘I love what I’m doing’: UCLA’s Tim Skipper focused on winning, not taking credit
UCLA coach Tim Skipper cheers on his players during an upset victory over Penn State at the Rose Bowl on Oct. 4.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Fox College Football tweeted that “The Jerry Neuheisel Era has begun with the Bruins.”
ESPN personality Pat McAfee added to the chorus of adoration for UCLA’s new playcaller, tweeting that Neuheisel “just might be a football wizard.”
Other media and sports betting sites tweeting about the Bruins’ turnaround from 0-4 to darlings of the college football world prominently featured pictures of the blond-haired assistant coach.
It was enough to prompt the sports media website Awful Announcing to ask: “Does anyone know that Tim Skipper is actually UCLA’s interim head coach, not Jerry Neuheisel?”
‘One of the coolest things.’ Jerry Neuheisel and Noel Mazzone reunite to jumpstart UCLA
UCLA offensive analyst Noel Mazzone greets Jerry Neuheisel, former Bruins quarterback and interim offensive coordinator, on the field before the Bruins’ game against Michigan State Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in East Lansing, Mich.
(UCLA Athletics)
They’re calling their favorite audible again.
One quarterback guru contacts the other, asking for help in creating a dynamic offense.
The answer is always yes. The results say as much about Jerry Neuheisel and Noel Mazzone’s devotion to one another as they do about their ability to mass-produce yards and points for UCLA.
“No matter what happens,” Neuheisel said in an interview with The Times, “as long as you’re around him you have a smile on your face.”
UCLA proved it’s no one-hit wonder with rout of Michigan State
UCLA running back Jalen Berger bursts through the line to score a touchdown against Michigan State in the first half Saturday. Berger scored three times in the rout.
(Raj Mehta / Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, Mich. — The sheet of paper greeted every UCLA player as he stepped into his row and took his seat on the team plane.
On it, in large block letters, was printed six words and a challenge from their interim coach: “ARE YOU A ONE-HIT WONDER?”
A week after upsetting Penn State, the Bruins answered emphatically.
Hell, no!
These guys had another triumph in them. A big one.
In an encore that was every bit the success of its smash debut under a makeshift coaching staff, UCLA continued its stunning transformation from winless team to … Big Ten powerhouse? College Football Playoff contender? Sports comeback story of the year?
Can UCLA maintain its new ‘standard?’ Five things to watch versus Maryland
UCLA is pushing to meet its new standard and extend its win streak when the Bruins host Maryland Saturday.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Historians looking back at UCLA’s 2025 football season will peg the Penn State game as the Bruins’ first victory.
In ways both large and small, they will be wrong.
When Tim Skipper first took over the team a month ago, he placed a new opponent on the schedule: the locker room. The interim coach showed players pictures of how it should look, including the lockers and the surrounding floor.
They scrubbed the place and it’s been spotless ever since. Sort of like the Bruins’ play starting with that Penn State game.