News Summary
UCLA’s football team suffered a heavy defeat against Utah in their season opener, with a score of 43-10. Despite adding new talent, including a quarterback known for his playoff experience, the Bruins struggled to gain traction in the game. With a sparse crowd at the Rose Bowl, the team faces ongoing challenges in reviving fan interest and performance on the field. Coach Deshaun Foster emphasized the need for improvement while examining the team’s connection with the local community as attendance continues to decline.
Pasadena, California
UCLA’s football season opener on August 30 ended in a disappointing 43-10 defeat to Utah, marking a challenging start for the Bruins as they continue to struggle in attracting fans and turning around their recent performance woes. The match, held at the Rose Bowl, was witnessed by a sparse crowd of only 35,032 spectators, significantly bolstered by a notable number of visiting Utah fans.
Despite the addition of College Football Playoff-experienced quarterback Nico Iamaleava and new offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri, expectations were not met as UCLA faced a fast-paced and efficient Utah team. Iamaleava, who was brought in to raise hopes and generate excitement for the season, completed just 11 of 22 passes for 136 yards, his lowest passing total for a regular-season game as a starting quarterback. He recorded a completion percentage of 50%, marking the worst performance of his career in regular-season play, with multiple overthrown passes putting additional pressure on an already struggling offense.
Under duress from Utah’s defense, Iamaleava faced relentless pressure, getting sacked four times during the match. In addition to his difficulties in the passing game, he also led the Bruins in rushing, amassing only 47 yards on 13 carries. The Bruins struggled overall to establish a strong rushing game, averaging just 86.6 rushing yards per game in 2024, placing them among the bottom teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Coach Deshaun Foster acknowledged the need for the team to improve in protecting their quarterback and emphasized the importance of Iamaleava’s perseverance and motivational presence for his teammates. Despite the optimism stemming from recruiting efforts and the preseason hype surrounding the program, the loss further dampened expectations for the Bruins and raised questions about their ability to restore the historic prestige of the Rose Bowl, which has seen declining attendance and enthusiastic turnouts in recent years.
Utah’s quarterback, Devon Dampier, orchestrated an effective performance, guiding his team to a total of 492 offensive yards and achieving an impressive third-down conversion rate of 14-for-16. The Utes maintained possession for more than 37 minutes, limiting UCLA’s opportunities to gain any traction or build momentum throughout the game.
The atmosphere at the Rose Bowl, once renowned for hosting exciting college football events, felt desecrated by the lack of excitement and the almost lifeless crowd at Thursday’s game. In stark contrast, former Bruin Joey Aguilar, who transferred to Tennessee, made a notable debut for his new team, throwing for 247 yards and three touchdowns in a victory over Syracuse, showcasing the potential talent UCLA could have retained.
UCLA’s struggles extend beyond the field as the franchise faces ongoing challenges in reconnecting with the local community and reigniting interest in the football program. The recent trend of placing tarps in the endzones to cover empty seats only serves to highlight the diminishing allure of Bruins football as the university grapples with the task of rebuilding its brand and reinstating pride in a once-prestigious athletic program.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on UCLA to see if they can reverse their misfortunes and reignite the passion of their fanbase, while the team must find ways to improve on their performance and deliver results that will fill the Rose Bowl once again.
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Additional Resources
- Pasadena Now
- Wikipedia: Rose Bowl
- Fox News
- Google Search: Rufus Du Sol
- ABC7 News
- Google News: Rose Bowl concert 2025
- Variety
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Rose Bowl
Author: STAFF HERE HOLLYWOOD
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