The Eye Test: UCLA Puts on an Underdog Clinic in Upset of Penn State

If you were looking for a blueprint for upsetting a top-end team, look no further than this game.

Nico Iamaleava (Photo credit: uclabruins.com)

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We interrupt the usual doom-and-gloom to bring you breaking* news:

UCLA won a football game!

To say UCLA’s victory over Penn State this past Saturday was surprising is an understatement; the Bruins were 24.5-point underdogs heading into the game. The Bruins had not led for a single minute this year, had already fired their head coach, and had watched both the defensive and offensive coordinators leave since that firing. Heck, UCLA was turning to a new offensive playcaller on the Tuesday before playing a defense that had held Oregon to three points at the half and 17 points in regulation just the week prior.

And yet.

UCLA had not led a game at any point this season, a byproduct of the slow starts that had terrorized this team so far; against Penn State, they never trailed. The Bruins dominated this game from the first snap, constantly getting big play after big play from their highly-touted quarterback en route to the 42-37 upset win. UCLA got its first win over an AP top-10 team since 2010, and made history by becoming the first team since 1985 to beat an AP top-10 team despite being 0-4 or worse. It is one of the biggest UCLA victories in a long time, made even bigger by how improbable it felt beforehand.

In light of that, the Eye Test is going back to being a breakdown of the game, but I want to put this here at the top that the win does not change the current situation. Tim Skipper has done an impressive job changing the culture of the team in a few weeks, but that does not mean he should be given the head coach position next season. Ditto Jerry Neuheisel, who called a great game but had the benefit of surprise going against a mentally weak Penn State squad still reeling from their loss to Oregon. If they are to remain at UCLA next season, it should be solely at the discretion of whoever the new coach is.

And, most importantly, Martin Jarmond should not be allowed to make that new coaching hire. The man spent most of the week dodging people, including missing both the Hall of Fame dinner and the Chancellor’s Tailgate this weekend, but making time to be front and center in the locker room video celebrating the victory. That UCLA continues to let a trademark narcissist parade around in his current capacity should be unacceptable, and you should continue your (respectful) calls and letters to the Chancellor’s office. Try to write something original as well.

Anyway, let’s get into the game itself.

Offense

Quarterback: A

That’s what the money is for.

Nico Iamaleava had perhaps his best collegiate game here, looking every bit the master of the moment for UCLA. On its face, going 17-24 for 166 yards and two touchdowns through the air is a good day, but not what you would expect from someone engineering a major upset. But then you turn to his rushing stats - in which Nico ran 16 times for 128 yards and three touchdowns - and you start to recognize just how in his bag Iamaleava was in this game. Nico hit throws at multiple levels, including a few pretty deep balls, which had been a problem for him for most of his collegiate career. And the UCLA coaching staff got Iamaleava to understand that if his first two options weren’t there, then running was the best solution, as his athleticism and size were more than enough to make Penn State’s defenders miss and gain the necessary yardage to move the sticks. Most importantly, Iamaleava managed to avoid the big mistakes; even the two sacks he took in the third quarter were smart in that he did not force a throw that was not there.

Every time UCLA needed a play, Iamaleava was there. I don’t think you can point to a bigger one than the 3rd and 7 play with 6:10 remaining in the third quarter. Penn State had just blocked a punt for a touchdown and had all the momentum, and UCLA needed something just to gather itself. Nico took the snap, surveyed the field for a second, and then started his run, breaking multiple open-field tackles en route to a 52-yard run, completely flipping the field position and getting UCLA back mentally. UCLA would score a touchdown three plays later. I don’t give out A+ grades just out of habit built by my day job, but this would absolutely have qualified as one.

Running Backs: B+

This was the best performance from the running back room this season, which I assume was partly due to limiting the amount of touches Jalen Berger got in favor of more carries for Anthony Woods and Jaivian Thomas. Woods and Thomas are both faster, twitchier runners, which gave them an advantage against the wildly inconsistent Penn State linebackers. The backs also held up well in pass protection, getting key blocks at different times to either provide Iamaleava the time necessary to make a pass or open a running lane. Woods had a bad moment on the 3rd and 1 near the end of regulation that could have iced the game, which is what knocked this grade down a peg.

Receivers: A

I thought the receivers had a tremendous game. Kwazi Gilmer continues to prove he’s a player the next coaching staff needs to prioritize, making an excellent individual effort to score the opening touchdown and showing great concentration in bringing down a deep ball between two defenders that set up UCLA’s third touchdown. Titus Moliki-Atimalala was similarly nails on the short routes, and Rico Flores had a good game now that he’s healthy. In addition, I loved the blocking from this group, as they were actively engaged in that phase and helped turn many of UCLA’s smaller runs into bigger gains with their downfield blocking.

Offensive Line: B-

Look, if you wanted to grade the offensive line based on what they produced in this game compared to the four games prior, especially given the opposing talent level, and feel this grade should be an A, I would not begrudge you. As it is, I think the offensive line had a good game for what they were asked to do, which was not much.

UCLA shifted to more of the N-Zone system (more on that in a bit), which has the benefit of simplifying the scheme for the offensive line. No complex pulling or gap blocking schemes to be had; instead, it’s a simple zone scheme where you go and hit the guy who happens to come into your zone. The offensive line definitely benefited from how easy it was to understand this change, and how different it was from what they had put on tape in the game’s prior, so Penn State was not able to scout UCLA’s scheme effectively.

Run game blocking became especially effective as a result; UCLA’s linemen simply had to move forward and push the defender backwards, letting the running backs do the rest. Pass protection was worse, but credit to the offensive line for using Penn State’s momentum against them multiple times, which feels like Andy Kwon saw something on film and decided to implement it. I’d go so far as to say this was Courtland Ford’s best game as an offensive lineman, as he did a good job neutralizing Dani Dennis-Sutton for the most part.

Overall: A

I’m not letting perfect be the enemy of good here. The UCLA offense looked prepared for the game for the first time all season, and got a superhuman performance from their well-compensated quarterback. It was exactly the performance Nico Iamaleava needed this season, and exactly the performance UCLA needed in this moment. Hard not to just give the A here, and so I’m not going to overthink it.

Defense

Run Defense: C-

Pass Defense: A-

Overall: B-

Let’s start with a basic observation: Was the UCLA defense good in this game? No, not really. But was it more opportunistic and made more plays than we’ve seen in the past? Absolutely.

I don’t want to take too much away from the UCLA defense here, but they were definitely aided by some very lackluster coaching by Penn State. I was baffled by how little Penn State ran the ball, even though it was working for them; the fact that Kaytron Allen only got nine touches on the day, despite being Penn State’s best offensive player, is but one of the many fireable offenses James Franklin had on the day. Drew Allar was fine for Penn State, but he made several questionable decisions, and I thought the sack he took near the end of the 1st half on a 4th and 2 was one of the more bizarre plays of the afternoon. I do not blame him for the failed 4th down attempt near the end of the game, as that was more a schematic breakdown than anything else (why the tight end, who was there to block for the option run, was so far away from the offensive line that he allowed two defenders to run through untouched to blow up the play I will never know), but at this point I’m willing to say he’s a fine quarterback but not one who can win you a game when it matters.

UCLA did not do anything revolutionary defensively compared to the first four games; instead, they got plenty of improved play in the secondary and more simplified roles for the front seven. I’ll go with the secondary first because they were tremendous and only had one real breakdown on Penn State’s first touchdown of the second half. In general, the secondary had great coverage and was making clean open-field tackles, which had been a problem for them before this game. Roderick Pleasant was still great, but UCLA got good play from other guys like Key Lawrence, which helped set the tone. Even plays where Penn State scored, like on the fade to Kyron Hudson late in the 4th quarter, UCLA was in a good defensive position, and Hudson just made a play.

For the front seven, the coaching staff seemed to change their approach. Instead of having that group diagnose the play in real time, the coaching staff had them fit into gaps and get upfield as quickly as possible. It was a gamble, to be sure, but one that seemed borne out of both a good scout of Penn State’s offense and an understanding that the team has some decent players that lack the processing ability that former linebackers like Carson Schwesinger had to read a blocking scheme and fill a gap in real time. The second half featured more busts than was ideal, but it did result in the Bruins finishing with six tackles for loss, which is more than they had in the entire non-conference slate combined (this also made me realize that UCLA made this shift last week against Northwestern, but the improved secondary play helped fix things on the back end).

Football is a game of duality, and two things are true here. UCLA played its best defensive game of the season, and Penn State made a bunch of strange decisions. Sometimes that’s all you need to pull off an upset.

Special Teams

Overall: B+

On the one hand, Mateen Bhaghani hit a 54-yard field goal, and I can’t even blame him for missing the 56-yarder. In addition, the surprise onside kick was well-executed and showed great attention to detail. Finally, Will Karoll nailed that safety at the end of the game, taking plenty of time off the clock before calmly stepping out of bounds at the last possible second.

On the other hand, that punt block by Penn State doesn’t happen if the punt team takes its blocking seriously, as the Penn State defenders were able to run in more-or-less unblocked. UCLA got most of the margin calls right to pull off the upset, but this was a bad one.

Coaching

Offensive Gameplan: A

I’m on record as stating that much of what Tino Sunseri was trying to do on offense was sound; he just lacked the personnel to execute it properly and never adjusted to that fact.

Enter Jerry Neuheisel.

A lot of what Neuheisel did last Saturday involved simplifying the offense, creating easy, quick routes in the passing game, and basic blocking schemes for the offensive line. Neuheisel turned to his old offensive coordinator, Noel Mazzone, for help in implementing these changes, and a lot of what we saw reflected those old N-Zone offenses during the Brett Hundley era, where UCLA showed a healthy dose of inside zone, read options, and quick routes. This was not the fully-implemented N-Zone - there wasn’t much of a downfield passing game to speak of, for example, and the screen game was seemingly missing - but given what Penn State was showing defensively with their soft shell coverages, it was all that was truly required.

For the record, I would consider this more of a scouting win than a playcalling win for Neuheisel. UCLA clearly recognized the best path to attacking Penn State on the outside, and they clearly drilled it into Nico that he could beat the Nittany Lion defenders with his legs, which made all the difference. But so many of the drive-extending plays were a result of Nico playing outside of the script, running for first downs when the first few options could not get open, and the protection broke down. That 52-yard run that ripped momentum away from Penn State and back to UCLA wasn’t a designed playcall but rather a result of good preparation. Give Jerry and the offensive staff credit in that regard.

But it’s also why I caution against anointing Jerry the next savior of UCLA football. Making a judgment on the future based on one game against a sleepwalking opponent has killed UCLA in the past (see also: Dewayne Walker, Chip Kelly), and while Jerry did an impressive job here, he also does not have a track record beyond that game. There is a part of me that wants to see Jerry move on from UCLA after this season, if only so he can grow more as a coach and get more experience in programs that are more functional than the one he has experienced for the past few years. If Neuheisel is the Prince That Was Promised, then he can return at a later date and prove the prophecy correct; the next coaching staff should not be handcuffed into keeping coaches from the previous administration.

Defensive Gameplan: B+

Honestly, if you told me before this game that UCLA held Penn State to only 28 offensive points and fewer than 400 yards, I would consider that a huge win. Just like with the offense, the success of the defense had as much to do with scouting as it did any particular playcall; the game-sealing 4th down stop looked very much like a play UCLA had scouted and knew was coming, for example. Like I mentioned in the Defense section, the group is also playing better in general, thanks to a change in approach, focusing less on diagnosing plays and more on getting upfield as quickly as possible. UCLA lacks talent on defense, so gambling is always going to be the smartest strategy if your ultimate goal is to win games.

Overall: A

Tim Skipper deserves immense credit for turning around a terrible locker room culture left behind by Deshaun Foster and instilling a positive belief in this team. UCLA doesn’t win this game if Foster is the head coach, and they don’t win if the focus from the last few weeks was still present. There was this fear that the firing of Foster, combined with the fact that UCLA had only played three games so far in the season, would lead to a mass exodus of players entering the transfer portal, but that hasn’t happened. In fact, the opposite happened, as the team has rallied together over the past few weeks. Nothing signifies that more than the crucial 4th down stop at the end of the game. As the defense started to run towards the bench to celebrate, do you know who two of the first guys were to greet them? Anthony Woods and Nico Iamaleava. Same with Isaiah Chisom, who had a solid day but was not on the field for that crucial play. No one cared about personal glory; it was all about trying to get a team win.

You also have to give credit to Skipper for making every in-game call correctly. The surprise onside kick was exactly the kind of move you have to pull if you’re looking for an upset against a more talented opponent, and they were able to steal an extra possession that was essentially the difference in this game. If it failed, it’s not a big deal; UCLA’s defense got a few stops on the day, but generally, 25 yards of field position was not going to make-or-break the Penn State offense. You can say the same thing about the safety at the end of the game, as the Bruins calmly executed exactly what they needed to do.

And maybe this is just because they were playing against James Franklin, Time Fraud Extraordinaire, but Skipper and his team were masterful at working the clock. UCLA killed off over seven minutes at the start of the game before Penn State could even touch the ball, and then followed that up with an eight-minute drive that constantly kept the Penn State defense guessing. At the beginning of the game, having these long drives, combined with UCLA’s defense getting a few crucial early stops, allowed not just for better offensive flow but prevented Penn State’s defensive coaching staff from having the opportunity to diagnose what was happening and how they could defensively counteract what UCLA was doing; I don’t think it was a coincidence that UCLA’s two worst drives of the game came after halftime. Similarly, late in the game, the Bruins killed off 12 minutes of game time on their two touchdown drives, severely limiting Penn State's opportunities to get back into the game.

Much like with Neuheisel, I have to caution against anointing Skipper as the next head coach after one game, though at least in this instance, I don’t think the calls are as loud. Still, you have to credit him and his staff for rallying the team for one of the biggest upsets of the past few years.

Trend

Trending: Up? Maybe?

My bucket of cold water here is that it is hard to take too much from this game because I am unsure how much of the result was sustainable, especially given how uninterested Penn State was in playing a game of football. There’s a nagging in the back of my head that this is similar to the Southern Cal game in 2023, when UCLA beat a clearly checked-out Trojans squad, leading to Martin Jarmond to prioritize stability over doing his job.

Still, it’s hard to ignore the positives. For one: UCLA isn’t going winless in 2025, which was a very real threat after the loss to Northwestern the week prior. In fact, the way UCLA played means that a few more potential wins are on the table, with Michigan State and Maryland in the next few weeks giving the team a chance to build some momentum if they continue this level of play. I don’t think bowl eligibility is on the table - UCLA dug too big a hole at the start and can only afford to lose two more games the rest of the way - but producing watchable football would go a long way towards getting the Bruin faithful more invested in the program.

Final Composite

Offense grade: A (4.0)

Defense grade: B- (2.7)

Special Teams grade: B+ (3.3)

Coaching grade: A (4.0)

Trending: Up?

Final grade for Penn State Nittany Lions: A- (3.54)

And here is how the grades have looked this season:

Utah Utes: D- (0.6)

UNLV Rebels: D- (0.6)

New Mexico Lobos: F (0.0)

Northwestern Wildcats: F (0.0)

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On some level, UCLA is still going to be playing out the string the rest of the season as it waits for the end of November when it can hire a coach. There’s a lot of groundwork that will be laid in the months to come (especially regarding the fate of Martin Jarmond), but the on-field product is not the primary concern.

Still, for at least one brief moment, UCLA was the talk of the college football world for all the right reasons. Even in our worst seasons, there’s something to hang your hat on.

Go Bruins!

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