UCLA football’s rivalry week may have passed, but Saturday afternoon’s game against Fresno State has a history of its own.
The two teams will be meeting for the 11th time, but the Bulldogs have beaten the Bruins four times in a row and have three straight wins at the Rose Bowl dating back to 2018.
“They’re a blue-collar type, play hard all around,” DeShaun Foster told reporters on Wednesday. “Whenever you play Fresno, you’re gonna always get a hard-nosed team that’s gonna play hard. We’re just gonna make sure that we match their intensity when we get into that stadium.”
UCLA (4-7, 3-6 Big Ten) is coming off a 19-13 loss to USC while Fresno State (6-5, 4-3 Mountain West) secured bowl eligibility with a 28-22 win over Colorado State to close out its Mountain West slate.
Both teams feature first-year head coaches in Foster and Fresno State’s Tim Skipper. The two played against each other in college. Tim’s older brother, Kelly, was Foster’s position coach at UCLA and his father, Jim, was his running back coach in the NFL.
“I’m like an honorary Skipper,” Foster said. “I’ve been in that family for a long time. It’s just awesome that he’s in the same position I am, being a head coach at his alma mater. I know he bleeds red. Just fired up for this opportunity to coach against him.”
UCLA quickly had to overcome a lackluster performance against USC, which included three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties just before halftime. The loss eliminated the Bruins from bowl contention, but there is still plenty to play for.
For players with NFL potential like Butkus Award finalist Carson Schwesinger and edge rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo, it’s an opportunity to gain some valuable film.
“Monday morning we came out here and had meetings and things like that and just made a decision (to move on from USC),” Oladejo said. “It is what it is. It was an unfortunate loss. Gotta move on, gotta keep fighting and have to keep going.”
The game is also a chance for walk-ons and underclassmen to prove their value for coming seasons before Foster meets with each individual player roughly a week after the season ends to help decide what the future holds for them.
“There’s a few guys that we might want to see what they can do,” Foster said. “The young guys, you gotta get them ready for this game. Seniors, let’s play hard and let’s try to get some reps. But Fresno State is not going to be easy. They’re not going out easily.”
When Fresno State has the ball
Fresno State senior receiver Mac Dalena brings plenty of experience since appearing in every single game of his college career (57) and Mikey Keene has started at quarterback in every game this season and has thrown for 1,673 yards with a completion percentage of 70.57%. Freshman running back Bryson Donelson ran for 140 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries against Colorado State last week.
UCLA’s run defense continues to be the centerpiece of the team and ranks seventh in college football at 99.3 yards allowed per game. Carson Schwesinger has one last chance to campaign for the Butkus Award or a spot in the NFL and his 79 solo tackles lead all college football players. This game could also be a chance to audition younger talent to fill holes that will be left by players like defensive lineman Jay Toia, edge Oluwafemi Oladejo and linebacker Kain Medrano.
When UCLA has the ball
Quarterback Ethan Garbers will play in his last college football game and has thrown for a touchdown in six straight games while also throwing no interceptions in that timespan. Freshman Kwazi Gilmer could see his value rise after making multiple catches in all but one game he’s played in this season. Running back T.J. Harden rushed for 99 yards last week against USC — his second-highest rushing total of the season.
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Linebacker Malachi Langley brings experience to Fresno State’s defense and has played in 57 straight games. The linebacking corps has stayed healthy throughout this season behind Langley’s 71 tackles and Tuasivi Normura’s 90 tackles. The defense gives up 145.1 rushing yards and 209.27 passing yards per game.
Fresno State (6-5, 4-3 Mountain West) at UCLA (4-7, 3-6 Big Ten)
When: Saturday, 12:30
Where: Rose Bowl
TV/radio: Big Ten Network/570 AM