About last night: A review of UCLA’s 44-37 win over Arizona State

UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) runs for a touchdown against against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the first half of a NCAA college football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

Josh Rosen came to the sideline and took off his helmet. Blood was smeared all over his face.

A face mask penalty during the fourth quarter against Arizona State on Saturday was one of the few major hits on Rosen as the junior returned from a one-game absence and led the Bruins to a 44-37 win over the Sun Devils. ASU, the No. 8 team in the country in sacks, didn’t record a sack against UCLA as Rosen completed 25 of 45 passes for 381 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

The Bruins (5-5, 3-4 Pac-12) notched a critical victory, sustaining their bowl hopes with two regular-season games left. By improving to 5-0 at home this year, UCLA needs only one win out of next week’s rivalry game at USC and Nov. 24’s regular-season finale at the Rose Bowl against California to secure bowl eligibility.

Links to wrap up the game:

An in-depth review of the game:  Continue reading “About last night: A review of UCLA’s 44-37 win over Arizona State” »

UCLA Game GIFs: Fan reaction to UCLA’s 44-37 win over Arizona State

UCLA extended its home-winning streak to five games with a critical 44-37 win over Arizona State on Saturday. Josh Rosen and Jordan Lasley returned to boost the UCLA offense as the quarterback was 25-for-45 passing with 381 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and Lasley, who was suspended for the past three games, caught seven passes for 162 yards and a touchdown.

Here is how fans reacted to the win:

Continue reading “UCLA Game GIFs: Fan reaction to UCLA’s 44-37 win over Arizona State” »

UCLA football game day links: Hanging by a thread

UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen (3) throws against Washington in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

UCLA needs this one.

The Bruins (4-5, 2-4 Pac-12) can’t afford any slip-ups at home for the rest of the year, needing two wins in the final three weeks of the regular season to secure bowl eligibility. They’re undefeated at home, but Arizona State doesn’t look like the other struggling teams that have entered the Rose Bowl this year. The four teams UCLA has faced at home this season have a combined 18-20 record. ASU (5-4, 4-2 Pac-12) is coming off a comeback win in which it rushed for 381 yards.

Quarterback Josh Rosen is expected to return, giving the struggling UCLA offense a boost after losing its leading receiver last week.

The game starts at 6:30 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks.

Links to your pregame reading:

Weekly Q&A: Arizona State

UCLA has a critical home game against Arizona State on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. as a loss will almost certainly erase any hopes for bowl eligibility with its rivalry game against USC waiting next weekend. If you have questions about UCLA football, leave them below — or shoot me an email at thnguyen(at)scng(dot)com — and I’ll post answers THURSDAY.

First look: UCLA vs. Arizona State

Arizona State quarterback Manny Wilkins and receiver N’Keal Harry celebrate a touchdown against Colorado (AP Photo/Matt York)

UCLA (4-5, 2-4 Pac-12) vs. Arizona State (5-4, 4-2 Pac-12)
Saturday, Nov. 11 | 6:30 p.m. PT | Rose Bowl
TV: Pac-12 Networks
Radio: AM 1150 or AM 570

Scouting report

Arizona State has won three of its past four games and relied on different strengths during each victory. The Sun Devils sacked Washington quarterback Jake Browning five times in their 13-7 win over Washington on Oct. 14, then picked off Utah’s Tyler Huntley four times the following week to win 30-10 in Salt Lake City. After a 48-17 loss to USC, ASU bounced back with a 41-30 victory over Colorado last Saturday in which it rushed for 381 yards to come back from a 10-point deficit entering the fourth quarter.

The sudden burst of rushing offense is out of the ordinary for the Sun Devils, who average just 150.2 rushing yards per game and 3.6 yards per carry. Running back Demario Richard leads the team with 71 rushing yards per game, which ranks 10th in the Pac-12.

As has become a staple under head coach Todd Graham, the Sun Devils are one of the best teams in the Pac-12 in sacks with 30 in nine games, which ranks second behind USC’s 34 in 10 games. For its exotic pressures, ASU trades pass defense as the secondary is 11th in the conference in pass defensive efficiency.

ASU is the least penalized team in the Pac-12 with 35.7 penalty yards per game. Continue reading “First look: UCLA vs. Arizona State” »