It’s the time of year when no one is allowed to wear red around the UCLA football facilities. Three letters are forbidden from being spoken and a different type of energy is requested of the scout team.
It’s the 94th rendition of UCLA-USC rivalry week, and the Bruins have the chance to be the first of the two teams to win at home since 2019 when they host the Trojans at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Rose Bowl.
USC (5-5 overall, 3-5 Big Ten) hasn’t won a road game this season.
“This is going on my sixth SC and UCLA game,” Bruins offensive lineman Josh Carlin told reporters Wednesday. “Every year it’s special. Even in the offseason I was like, ‘I can’t wait for the SC game.’ It doesn’t get less exciting every year that I play.”
UCLA is looking for its fifth win of the season and second at the Rose Bowl. DeShaun Foster has the opportunity to get his first rivalry win as a head coach after previously achieving wins as an assistant coach and a player.
Foster told reporters he’s keeping a level head throughout the game week, but will likely let his feelings flow during the pregame speech.
“I’m pretty sure my emotions are going to get the best of me,” Foster said. “It’s going to be really from the heart and genuine just because of how much this game means to me and I just know that if I do come in there with a speech, it’s not going to go how I want it to go.”
UCLA alumni like Anthony Barr and Skip Hicks came on their own time during the week to motivate the team. The alumni incentive added to the emotions UCLA (4-6, 3-5) is feeling after a 31-19 road loss to Washington.
“Same situation as it was after (the Minnesota loss),” Foster said. “Guys came in irritated, upset a little bit with how we finished the game. We rattled off a three-game win streak after that. I’m hoping it’s going to be the same energy on Saturday.”
Quarterback Ethan Garbers completed 27 out of a season-high 44 passing attempts in last Friday night’s game against the Huskies. It’ll be the redshirt senior’s second time being on the field against USC after throwing for 155 yards and three touchdowns in the Bruins’ 38-20 victory over the Trojans last season at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Garbers has emphasized that winning this game is critical to not just the rivalry, but to securing bowl eligibility. It’s also a prime opportunity to make an impression on the 700 recruits that will be in attendance for the game.
“UCLA needs to keep the Cali recruits in Cali,” Carlin said. “That’s one of the biggest things and I think every coach continues to work on that. And no better way to go out there and for us to dominate the game – saying that UCLA is here to stay in the Big Ten.”
When USC has the ball
The Trojans made a late-season change at quarterback and started redshirt sophomore Jayden Maiava last week against Nebraska. He completed 25 of 35 passes for 259 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. There is little film available of him playing for USC, but UCLA has been able to study film from when he was at UNLV.
Running back Woody Marks had 19 touches for 146 yards in USC’s 28-20 win over Nebraska and its No. 12-ranked rushing defense. He’ll go up against a UCLA rushing defense that is No. 7 in the NCAA and allows 100.6 yards per game. Bruins linebacker Carson Schwesinger continues to lead the Big Ten Conference and is No. 5 nationally in total tackles with 109 (10.9 per game).
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When UCLA has the ball
Garbers has had four consecutive multi-touchdown games and has thrown 10 touchdowns since an Oct. 19 win at Rutgers. There are questions surrounding who will be protecting him as the offensive line continues to deal with injuries. Foster did not confirm if left tackle Niki Prongos will play Saturday, which means redshirt junior Yutaka Mahe could be playing in his second career game.
USC’s defense, led by former UCLA defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, has given up 20 points or more in every game except for one this season. Twelve Trojans have recorded at least half a sack – and Garbers is sacked an average of 2.8 times per game.
USC (5-5 overall, 3-5 Big Ten) at UCLA (4-6, 3-5)
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Rose Bowl
TV/radio: NBC (Ch. 4)/AM 570