The UCLA Bruins‘ first-ever Big Ten Conference game turned into a nightmare as the Bruins were soundly beaten by Indiana, 42-13, in front of 47,811 fans at the Rose Bowl. Despite a late rally attempt, UCLA’s offense sputtered, while the defense failed to contain Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who led the Hoosiers to a dominant win with 307 passing yards and four touchdowns.
UCLA Bruins Defensive Struggles Set the Tone
From the opening drive, UCLA’s defense found itself on its heels. Indiana quickly jumped ahead with a methodical 75-yard drive, capped by a three-yard touchdown pass from Rourke to Miles Cross. The Bruins’ secondary played soft man coverage, allowing the Hoosiers to pick up chunk yardage. This theme continued throughout the game, as Indiana capitalized on the UCLA Bruins’ inability to pressure Rourke consistently with a four-man rush.
Linebacker Kain Medrano was a bright spot on defense, recording a career-high three tackles for loss, but it wasn’t enough to slow down Indiana. Medrano also led the Bruins with nine total tackles (eight solo), providing some much-needed grit amid a defense that struggled to get off the field on third downs.
“We just didn’t execute,” Medrano said post-game. “We’ve got to do better in those key situations. Third down was a killer for us tonight, and that’s something we have to fix moving forward.”
Ethan Garbers And The Offense Struggle To Find Rhythm
Offensively, UCLA was unable to get much going early. Ethan Garbers, who completed 14 of 23 passes for 137 yards, struggled under pressure from Indiana’s defense. The Hoosiers sacked Garbers multiple times, and he often held onto the ball too long, waiting for plays to develop. A first-quarter fumble deep in UCLA’s own territory allowed Indiana to capitalize quickly and extend their lead to 14-0.
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“We had a bunch of self-inflicted wounds tonight,” Garbers admitted. “We didn’t execute the way we needed to, and that showed.”
There were some bright spots for UCLA’s offense, particularly in the running game. TJ Harden scored UCLA’s first touchdown on a one-yard run late in the second quarter, capping off a 78-yard drive. Harden also contributed a 24-yard catch early in the third quarter, nearly matching his career-long reception.
However, the Bruins remained heavily pass-oriented, and Indiana’s defense consistently thwarted the UCLA Bruins’ attempts to establish a rhythm.
Indiana’s Commanding Performance
Indiana, meanwhile, was clicking on all cylinders. Rourke had a near-flawless performance, completing 25 of 33 passes and spreading the ball to multiple receivers, including Ke’Shawn Williams and Omar Cooper Jr., who each caught touchdowns. Indiana’s ability to mix in motion and NFL-style route concepts kept UCLA off balance all night.
The Hoosiers dominated on third downs, converting 9 of 12, and efficiently used cheat motion and wide receiver sets to exploit UCLA’s defensive coverages. Indiana’s offensive line was stellar, allowing zero sacks, and their rushing attack led by Justice Ellison helped chew the clock and keep the Bruins’ defense on the field.
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Bright Spots And Learning Opportunities
Despite the lopsided score, UCLA head coach Deshaun Foster found some positives in the team’s fight, particularly in the second half.
“We’ve got guys who didn’t quit, and I’m proud of that,” Foster said. “But we have to improve across the board. This isn’t the standard we’re looking for, and we’ll get back to work this week.”
Newly transferred running back Jalen Berger and several other players made their debuts in Bruin uniforms, adding depth that could be vital as the season progresses. But for now, the Bruins need to shore up their execution on both sides of the ball.
The UCLA Bruins face No. 16 LSU next week, where they’ll need to address their offensive struggles and tighten up defensively if they hope to bounce back from this tough start to their Big Ten journey.