News Summary
In a stunning upset, UCLA secured its first win of the season by defeating No. 7 Penn State 42-37 at the Rose Bowl. The Bruins, under interim head coach Tim Skipper, dominated the first half and showcased impressive offensive efficiency with significant contributions from quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Despite a strong second-half effort from Penn State, head coach James Franklin noted fundamental mistakes led to the loss, highlighting challenges for both teams as they navigate the remainder of the season.
Pasadena, California – UCLA achieved its first win of the season by defeating No. 7 Penn State 42-37 at the Rose Bowl, marking one of the most significant upsets in the 2025 college football season. The Bruins, under the leadership of interim head coach Tim Skipper and his interim coordinators, Kevin Coyle and Jerry Neuheisel, stunned the heavily favored Nittany Lions, who entered the game with a spread of more than 20 points.
UCLA dominated the first half, leading 27-7 at halftime, a remarkable turnaround for a team that had struggled in its first four games, scoring only 57 points combined. The Bruins’ offense exploded against Penn State, racking up 280 rushing yards as quarterback Nico Iamaleava showcased his skills, contributing 128 yards along with five total touchdowns (three rushing, two passing).
Penn State, which had recently faced a close loss against No. 2 Oregon, aimed to bounce back but found themselves in a tough situation, especially without starting linebacker Tony Rojas due to injury. Despite a valiant effort that saw them score 30 points in the second half, the Nittany Lions were unable to secure a comeback victory.
UCLA’s performance was particularly noteworthy as they converted 10 of 16 third-down opportunities, illustrating their offensive efficiency throughout the game. Penn State’s defense, on the other hand, struggled significantly, failing to contain Iamaleava and underperforming as their defensive line allowed 281 rushing yards without generating much pressure.
Head coach James Franklin recognized the defeat as a disappointment for his team, noting uncharacteristic mistakes and a lack of energy at the beginning of the game. He acknowledged that these issues contributed to the loss and emphasized the need for team unity in light of external pressures following the setback.
Despite the disappointment, Penn State’s quarterback, Drew Allar, remained optimistic about the team’s chances for a College Football Playoff spot, believing that they could still be in contention despite the two losses earlier in the season. However, the defeat marked only the fifth instance since 1936 where a team with a record of 0-4 or worse managed to defeat a top-10 ranked team. The last occurrence of such an upset took place in 1985 when UTEP defeated No. 7 BYU.
This victory for UCLA is a significant milestone, considering their previous ranking of 134th in scoring. The triumph not only represents a turnaround for the Bruins but also indicates the potential for drastic improvement in the remainder of the season under their interim coaching staff. As the autumn college football season progresses, both teams will be looking to regroup and course-correct as they aim for fulfilling their respective objectives in the coming weeks.
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Additional Resources
- ESPN: Best Trolls of Week 6 College Football
- Wikipedia: UCLA Bruins Football
- PSU Collegian: 3 Takeaways from Penn State’s Loss Against UCLA
- Google Search: UCLA Football 2025
- SI: UCLA Upsets Penn State
- Google Scholar: UCLA vs Penn State 2025
- New York Times: UCLA vs Penn State Score
- Encyclopedia Britannica: College Football
- Daily Bruin: UCLA Football Upsets Penn State
- Google News: UCLA Football News
Author: STAFF HERE BEVERLY HILLS WRITER
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