UCLA’s interim head coach Tim Skipper spoke this week about not wanting to be a one-hit wonder after the Bruins’ stunning upset win over the Penn State Nittany Lions. Skipper and the Bruins got a second hit on Saturday by knocking off the Michigan State Spartans 38-13 and moving above .500 in Big Ten Conference play.
Shocking turn of fortunes for the Bruins
After losing their conference opener to Northwestern, nobody was expecting the Bruins to rip off consecutive wins, but UCLA has absolutely earned it on the field, looking like a completely new team under Skipper, offensive play caller Jerry Neuheisel, and senior defensive analyst Kevin Coyle.
The offense suddenly has juice, the defense is now stout, and the rest of their opponents will have to view UCLA with more respect after the team was getting blown out by Mountain West Conference teams earlier this season.
UCLA’s defense joined the party on Saturday
The Bruins’ defense couldn’t get off the field early in the season but on Saturday the UCLA defense controlled the game, forcing four different turnovers on downs and forcing a turnover. Neuheisel was carried off the field after last week’s win and Coyle was deserving of the same treatment for Saturday’s win.
Limiting penalties and forcing inefficiency
UCLA’s defensive backs were too handsy earlier in the season but the new coaching staff has reined that in and we’ve gotten great contests from Bruin cornerbacks, limiting opponents’ passing attacks. Michigan State totaled just 253 yards and they weren’t efficient yards either, averaging 3.5 yards per carry and 4.74 yards per passing attempt.
Nico Iamaleava didn’t have to be Superman
Iamaleava had a modest performance on Saturday, going 16-24 with three touchdowns but the UCLA rushing attack totaled 213 yards on the ground, with Iamaleava only having five carries for nine yards in the game before turning over the reins to second-string QB Luke Duncan to close out the ballgame.
Putting slow starts behind them
UCLA fell behind 7-0 in the first quarter but then the Bruins were able to outscore the Spartans 38-6 the rest of the way, as UCLA was able to put together their second-straight impressive win as underdogs. UCLA was once 0-4 but that team feels like a distant memory at this point.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA had a point to prove and aced its exam at Michigan State
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
