News Summary
UCLA clinched a thrilling 20-17 victory against Maryland with a last-second field goal by Mateen Bhaghani. The win marked UCLA’s third consecutive triumph, improving their record to 3-4 overall. Key performances included quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s 221 passing yards and a critical touchdown pass late in the game. Maryland, once undefeated, faced their third straight defeat. The game featured crucial momentum shifts, defensive plays, and highlighted the need for improvement from Maryland’s coaching staff as both teams gear up for upcoming matches.
UCLA Secures Last-Minute Victory Over Maryland
Los Angeles, CA – UCLA triumphed over Maryland with a nail-biting 20-17 victory, thanks to a 23-yard field goal from Mateen Bhaghani that sealed the win with just two seconds remaining in the game. The victory represents UCLA’s third consecutive win, catapulting their record to 3-4 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten. Meanwhile, Maryland’s record falls to 4-3 overall, marking their third straight loss after a promising start to the season at 4-0.
Throughout the game, UCLA showed resilience, especially in the final minutes. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava passed for 221 yards and led three pivotal scoring drives late in the game, despite grappling with an apparent knee injury. Iamaleava’s key play was a 14-yard touchdown pass to Mikey Matthews with 3:33 left, temporarily giving UCLA the lead. Prior to that touchdown, Bhaghani extended UCLA’s lead with a field goal following an interception by Scooter Jackson, bringing the score to 17-10.
In a dramatic twist, Maryland’s Malik Washington responded by directing a late drive that resulted in an 8-yard touchdown pass to Jalil Farooq, tying the game at 17-17 with just 40 seconds remaining. However, the Bruins quickly executed a 68-yard drive in just 31 seconds, allowing Bhaghani to kick the game-winning field goal.
The game began slowly for UCLA, as they struggled with nine consecutive drives without scoring before their late rally. UCLA’s defense played a crucial role in keeping Maryland’s offense at bay, limiting them to no touchdowns until the final minute of the game. Conversely, Maryland’s defense was formidable throughout, highlighted by a third-quarter interception returned for a touchdown by Jamare Glasker.
UCLA found the end zone first, with Anthony Frias executing a 55-yard touchdown run, finishing the game with a remarkable 97 rushing yards on just four carries. Maryland faced additional challenges during the match, suffering key player ejections, including linebacker Trey Reddick and safety Jalen Huskey, both sidelined for targeting offenses.
UCLA interim coach Tim Skipper emphasized the importance of his team’s belief and confidence, which helped them pull through in the nail-biting finale. On the other side of the field, Maryland’s coach Mike Locksley expressed frustration in his team’s inability to hold onto leads in recent games, signaling a pressing need for improvement in closing out matches going forward.
Looking ahead, Maryland will enter a bye week before gearing up for a home game against Indiana on November 1. Meanwhile, UCLA will aim to build on their recent success as they prepare for an away game against Indiana next Saturday.
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Additional Resources
- Testudo Times
- Baltimore Sun
- Sports Illustrated
- ESPN
- UCLA Bruins
- Wikipedia: College Football
- Google Search: UCLA vs Maryland football 2025
- Google Scholar: College Football Analysis
- Encyclopedia Britannica: College Football
- Google News: UCLA vs Maryland Football
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