The UCLA football team is on a roll, having won three Big Ten Conference games in a row and coming off its first win of the season at the Rose Bowl.
The Bruins are back on the road again this week for a Friday night game against Washington, a team that has been unstoppable in its home territory.
The Huskies have won 19 consecutive home games, their longest home win streak in modern school history.
“It’s just rocking,” UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster told reporters of Husky Stadium in Seattle. “A stadium that the fans take pride in. It’s going to be loud, it’s going to be at night, might be cold. It’s a big challenge for us, but we’ve played in some hostile environments this whole season so it shouldn’t be anything that we’re not prepared for.”
The Bruins beat Rutgers and Nebraska on the road before beating Iowa at home and also played in front of massive crowds at Penn State and LSU. The weather forecast, however, is a new challenge.
Friday’s forecast calls for a high temperature of 48 degrees and a low of 39 degrees. The city was under a coastal flood advisory Wednesday but no rain has been predicted for Friday.
“I’m honestly not too concerned about it,” said Bruins kicker Mateen Bhaghani, who hit a 57-yard field goal against Iowa. “I’ve played in some wet conditions last year and we’ve been practicing with wet balls and stuff like that. So feeling confident, feeling good.”
Quarterback Ethan Garbers will get to play his former school for the first time since transferring to UCLA in January 2021. Garbers, now a redshirt senior, didn’t get into a game his freshman year with the Huskies but was recognized as the scout team MVP.
He’s thrown for multiple touchdowns in each of the past three games, including two against Iowa. Garbers has started to use his legs, too, and had a career-long run of 57 yards against Nebraska.
“The goal every week is to win, obviously. But this one might be just a little more sweeter for him,” receiver Logan Loya said. “I think there should be a little chip on your shoulder when it comes to this type of stuff. I want it as bad as he does.”
UCLA has to win two more games in order to become bowl eligible and will host USC and Fresno State after this week’s game in Washington.
“We’re on the rise,” Loya said. “Every week, we’re getting better, getting better, and that’s just because we’re clicking. We knew we could do this. It just took a lot longer than we all expected. But happy that we can finally show what we can do.”
When Washington has the ball
Huskies quarterback Will Rogers averages 234.3 passing yards per game and has thrown 13 touchdowns but has -79 rushing yards. UCLA has the defense to halt Washington’s passing offense with players like edge Oluwafemi Oladejo (10 TFL, 3.5 sacks), but will likely focus on stopping the run first.
The Bruins have the seventh-best run defense in the NCAA and allow 98.1 yards per game on the ground. They’ll face running back Jonah Coleman, who has rushed for 913 yards and seven touchdowns this season and is good at finding openings. Linebackers Carson Schwesinger and Kain Medrano will look to swarm the ball as defensive lineman Jay Toia holds down the defensive front.
When UCLA has the ball
The Bruins’ running backs had a breakout game against Iowa, rushing for 211 yards. T.J. Harden was the first Bruin to record more than 100 rushing yards in a game this season when he logged 125 yards on 20 carries – and Keegan Jones and Jalen Berger contributed to the ground game as well. Injuries may also make the run game the more appealing option.
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Washington will likely force UCLA to run with a defense that is third out of all FBS teams in terms of passing yards allowed and fifth in pass efficiency defense. The Huskies have given up 149.8 yards per game this season. Linebacker Carson Bruener leads the defense with 78 tackles and three interceptions returned for 55 yards in addition to five pass breakups. Sixteen players have recorded at least one pass breakup.
UCLA (4-5 overall, 2-4 Big Ten) at Washington (5-5, 3-4)
When: 6 p.m. Friday
Where: Husky Stadium, Seattle
TV/Radio: FOX (Ch. 11)/AM 570