Two things can be true at once. The 2025 UCLA Bruins are a terrible football team but they also very well could be 2-2 right now. I know, I know, it sounds hard to believe but Northwestern, New Mexico and UNLV have all given the Bruins opportunities to snag wins and each time UCLA has squandered the opportunity.
On Saturday against Northwestern, Nico Iamaleava and the offense had two chances to tie the game trailing by just three points. On their first chance, UCLA went three-and-out and punted out of their own end zone. Their second attempt was just as bad, wasting time with check down passes, taking sacks and committing penalties that had clock run-offs in a situation where every second was valuable to the Bruins.
Somehow having chances, but blowing them
Despite how awful of a product UCLA football has put out on the field this season, it’s been a one possession ball game in the fourth quarter in every game besides the opener against Utah. Iamaleava threw an interception to dash their hopes against UNLV, the Bruins’ offense couldn’t keep up against New Mexico and then they left empty-handed with their two chances against Northwestern.
First-half failures
UCLA has been outscored 33-0 in first quarters this season, and it hasn’t been much better in the second quarters, with UCLA being outscored 44-20 in second periods. They’ve fared much better in second halves, being outscored by just 37-48 after halftime this season, with that total being mostly carried by Utah outscoring UCLA 20-3 in the first half in Week 1.
Delaying the inevitable
Saturday’s loss felt inevitable, as they blocked the field goal, went down the field and Kwazi Gilmer found the end zone, but the outcome was never in doubt. This UCLA team is inept and even when given opportunities, the Bruins are just incapable of taking advantage.
0-12 is a real possibility
UCLA lost to Northwestern, probably the most beatable Big Ten team on the 2025 schedule. Given that reality, where will a single win come from? It’s hard to find a good answer.
Preseason national title contender is up next — wheeeee!
On the bright side, UCLA won’t have to worry about coming close and losing in agonizingly narrow fashion next week, with Penn State sure to put the game out of reach before reaching the fourth quarter.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Good teams find ways to win, but the UCLA Bruins just keep losing
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
