It worked on Saturday, but the UCLA Bruins are playing with fire by letting teams hang in games until the fourth quarter. It’s now back-to-back weeks that UCLA has pulled away in the fourth but in neither game should it have taken that long.
UCLA's signature move is a fiery fourth quarter
Maybe that’s an indictment of the conditioning of the UCLA team, creating the ability to outlast teams in the fourth but it felt more like incompetence by the Bruins offense through the first three quarters. UCLA allowed all 10 of their points in the fourth but the UCLA offense scored 21 points of their own in the fourth quarter.
Nico Iamaleava hasn't found his groove through the air
Nico Iamaleava had another quiet game through the air, throwing for just 151 yards and coughing up another red zone interception. Iamaleava is still looking for his first passing
touchdown of the season, with UCLA battling injuries at wide receiver, seeing Brian Rowe Jr. and Mikey Matthews go down on Saturday.
Running up the numbers
UCLA’s rushing attack had another good game but it wasn’t all that fruitful until the fourth quarter. Wayne Knight continues to have a nose for the end zone, scoring three more touchdowns against San Diego State. Through two games Knight has rushed in as many touchdowns as the entire 2025 UCLA team.
Iamaleava was a major part of the UCLA rushing attack, rushing 13 times for 57 yards, taking some big hits in the process. Knight led the team with 97 yards on the ground with Jaivian Thomas and Anthony Woods each rushing for 30-or-more yards.
Semaj Morgan steps up for the Bruins
Through the air, Semaj Morgan emerged as a major threat. Not only did Morgan rack up a 25-yard punt return, he led the Bruins with six catches for 73 yards. Rowe was productive too, with five catches for 63 yards.
It's fun but is this sustainable?
If it’s not broken don’t fix it, but UCLA could have had some more breathing room in each of their two wins this season. After three wins in all of last year, going 2-0 is terrific but the Bruins won’t want to make a habit of letting teams hang in ballgames that UCLA has dominated.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA football breaks things open in the fourth quarter yet again
