About last night: Links to recap UCLA’s 28-23 loss to USC

UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen passes against the USC Trojans during the second half of an NCAA college football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017. USC Trojans won 28-23. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

UCLA was a 16-point underdog against No. 11 USC, and lost by five, but left at least nine easy points on the field in its 28-23 loss to the Trojans on Saturday at the Coliseum.

The Bruins (5-6, 3-5 Pac-12) lost their third straight game to USC and it cost head coach Jim Mora his job as UCLA announced his firing on Sunday morning.

Offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch will take over as interim head coach as the Bruins have a chance to secure bowl eligibility on Nov. 24 at the Rose Bowl against California.

Here are links to wrap up Mora’s final game with the Bruins:

*No full “about last night” review this week. There are a few other things to take care of this Sunday after all.

Photos: UCLA loses third straight rivalry game with USC

Click the photo above (or HERE) to see photos of UCLA’s 28-23 rivalry loss to USC on Saturday at the L.A. Coliseum.

Above, clockwise from top left: Jim Mora leads UCLA out of the tunnel; Josh Rosen and Jordan Lasley celebrate a touchdown; Sam Darnold celebrates the win; Theo Howard catches a pass against USC’s Ajene Harris. (All photos by Keith Birmingham/SCNG)

UCLA Game GIFs: Fan reaction to UCLA’s 28-23 loss to USC

UCLA outgained USC and gave up a season-low in rushing yards, but still left the L.A. Coliseum on Saturday night with a 28-23 loss, their third straight in the rivalry series.

Here’s how fans reacted to the loss:

Continue reading “UCLA Game GIFs: Fan reaction to UCLA’s 28-23 loss to USC” »

UCLA game day links: Rivalry time

Josh Rosen (left) and Sam Darnold will face off for the first time Saturday when UCLA and USC renew their rivalry at the L.A. Coliseum. (Photos by Keith Birmingham/SCNG)

The second UCLA officially wrapped up its win against Arizona State last week, the focus shifted to Saturday’s rivalry game.

“Beat ‘SC! Beat ‘SC!” the crowd chanted at the Rose Bowl as the Bruins walked off the field.

UCLA will try to break a two-game losing skid against USC on Saturday at 5 p.m. and has it first chance of the year to secure bowl eligibility.

The game is on ABC with radio on AM 1150 or AM 570.

Links to all your necessary pregame reading:

Weekly Q&A: USC answers

UCLA walk-on Sam Handler tries to prevent the USC marching band from stabbing logo at midfield in 2014. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/SCNG)

Brett Hundley was 3-0 against USC based mainly on his running ability. Is Sam Darnold a bigger threat to UCLA than Ronald Jones? Does UCLA play the beef on defense to counter Jones with more playing time for Lokeni Tailoa and Mossi Johnson over Jaleel Wadood or do we want a faster lineup to defend Sam Darnold? Pick your poison?

UCLA has a lot of difficult decisions to make on defense because it really does seem like a “pick your poison” type of game. But this week, Rick Wade and Tom Bradley said they’re going to gamble on Sam Darnold. The defensive end and the defensive coordinator both said the key in this game (and any game) is to stop the run and force the team into a passing situation. So that’s what the Bruins will try to do.

I think Ronald Jones is probably the bigger threat to the Bruins. It was his 60-yard touchdown run on third-and-1 in the second half that signaled the beginning of the end of UCLA in last year’s game at the Rose Bowl. His opportunities could be huge facing a defense as bad as UCLA’s.

I like the physicality with which Mossi Johnson plays, but if Jaleel Wadood is healthy, I expect them to go back to him. For Wadood’s mistakes, the coaching staff still trusts him. I don’t expect them to put Lokeni Toailoa in on defense much, if at all, because his playing time forces Kenny Young out of the middle linebacker spot. We’ve gone over that already here. Continue reading “Weekly Q&A: USC answers” »