UCLA comes up empty-handed on its second possession <\/p>\n
\ud83c\udfc8 Maryland 0, UCLA 0 \u2014 7:29 left in the first quarter<\/p>\n
On UCLA\u2019s second possession, the Bruins moved to midfield with a pair of third-down conversions before sputtering.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
UCLA running back Jalen Berger has 16 yards on three carries and Nico Iamaleava has completed four of six passes for 17 yards.<\/p>\n
UCLA and Maryland start strong on defense <\/p>\n
\ud83c\udfc8 Maryland 0, UCLA 0 \u2014 12:06 left in the first quarter<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The Bruins did much of the same on Maryland\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u2018I love what I\u2019m doing\u2019: UCLA\u2019s Tim Skipper focused on winning, not taking credit <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
UCLA coach Tim Skipper cheers on his players during an upset victory over Penn State at the Rose Bowl on Oct. 4.<\/p>\n
(Gina Ferazzi \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n
Fox College Football tweeted that \u201cThe Jerry Neuheisel Era has begun with the Bruins.\u201d<\/p>\n
ESPN personality Pat McAfee added to the chorus of adoration for UCLA\u2019s new playcaller, tweeting that Neuheisel \u201cjust might be a football wizard.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other media and sports betting sites tweeting about the Bruins\u2019 turnaround from 0-4 to darlings of the college football world prominently featured pictures of the blond-haired assistant coach.<\/p>\n
It was enough to prompt the sports media website Awful Announcing to ask: \u201cDoes anyone know that Tim Skipper<\/a> is actually UCLA\u2019s interim head coach, not Jerry Neuheisel<\/a>?\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018One of the coolest things.\u2019 Jerry Neuheisel and Noel Mazzone reunite to jumpstart UCLA <\/p>\n UCLA offensive analyst Noel Mazzone greets Jerry Neuheisel, former Bruins quarterback and interim offensive coordinator, on the field before the Bruins\u2019 game against Michigan State Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in East Lansing, Mich.<\/p>\n (UCLA Athletics)<\/p>\n They\u2019re calling their favorite audible again.<\/p>\n One quarterback guru contacts the other, asking for help in creating a dynamic offense.<\/p>\n The answer is always yes. The results say as much about Jerry Neuheisel<\/a> and Noel Mazzone\u2019s<\/a> devotion to one another as they do about their ability to mass-produce yards and points for UCLA.<\/p>\n \u201cNo matter what happens,\u201d Neuheisel said in an interview with The Times, \u201cas long as you\u2019re around him you have a smile on your face.\u201d<\/p>\n UCLA proved it\u2019s no one-hit wonder with rout of Michigan State <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n (Raj Mehta \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n EAST LANSING, Mich.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0The sheet of paper greeted every UCLA<\/a> player as he stepped into his row and took his seat on the team plane.<\/p>\n On it, in large block letters, was printed six words and a challenge from their interim coach: \u201cARE YOU A ONE-HIT WONDER?\u201d<\/p>\n A week after upsetting Penn State<\/a>, the Bruins answered emphatically.<\/p>\n Hell, no!<\/p>\n These guys had another triumph in them. A big one.<\/p>\n 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 \u2026 Big Ten powerhouse? College Football Playoff contender? Sports comeback story of the year?<\/p>\n Can UCLA maintain its new \u2018standard?\u2019 Five things to watch versus Maryland <\/p>\n UCLA is pushing to meet its new standard and extend its win streak when the Bruins host Maryland Saturday.<\/p>\n (Gina Ferazzi\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Historians looking back at UCLA\u2019s 2025 football season will peg the Penn State game<\/a> as the Bruins\u2019 first victory.<\/p>\n In ways both large and small, they will be wrong.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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