Penn State Nittany Lions at UCLA Bruins Game Thread
Can Jerry Neuheisel fix UCLA's comatose offense?
For years, we’ve talked about “trap games.” For anyone who is uninitiated, a trap game, frequently played the week before a more important game, is a game that your team should win, but somehow, finds a way to lose. Maybe they were looking past the current team to next week. Maybe they underestimated their opponent. Maybe they were just outplayed on a given Saturday.
Believe me, UCLA has been on the wrong side of many a trap game over the years.
But, now, with the Bruins potentially looking at their first winless season in 101 years, they could become the opponent which gets overlooked.
Next week, Penn State plays Northwestern. As we saw last week, the Wildcats aren’t exactly a powerhouse. I’d be more comfortable calling this a trap game for the Nittany Lions if they had Ohio State or even Michigan next week.
Could they pull off the upset? It’s possible, just not likely. What can the Bruins do to try to win today’s game? Here are the Keys to the Game for the Bruins.
Keys to the Game
1. Score Touchdowns
Last week, my first key to the game was “Score early.” UCLA didn’t, and the Bruins lost. But, given the sad state of the Bruin offense and the fact that Penn State’s defense is one of the best in the nation, I’m removing the second half of that key for this week. After all, the Bruins can’t win if they can’t score.
But I’m also adding touchdowns to this one because, while Mateen Bhaghani has been money in the bank, UCLA’s inability to get into the end zone has cost them several times in the Bruins’ four losses. Hopefully, the Bruins can re-capture some of the magic we saw when Jerry Neuheisel led UCLA to victory over Texas at Jerry’s World back in 2014.
2. Get the Defense Off the Field
One of the biggest problems UCLA had last week was the defense’s inability to get off the field. Sure, they did a semi-decent job in the second half in keeping the Wildcats off the scoreboard, but the long Northwestern drives in both halves ate up precious clock and kept UCLA from finding the end zone at the end of both halves.
3. Flip the Script
Catch Penn State looking past the Bruins. Make it a trap game for them. Play the spoiler. With Southern Cal hosting this year, this game is the Bruins’ biggest home game this season. And, just in case you aren’t sure, UCLA raised parking prices from the usual $38 to $48 for today’s game. There certainly won’t be a bigger crowd at the Rose Bowl until January unless there’s a concert between now and then, even if most of them are rooting for the Nittany Lions.
UCLA needs to play like it’s the biggest game of the year. This is the closest they will get to a bowl game at home this season. Flip the script and turn the College Football Playoff upside down by handing Penn State what would likely be a disqualifying loss.
BONUS: Next Man Up?
I’m adding one more than usual today.
Admittedly, this isn’t so much of a key to the game as a key to the postgame. After all, does anyone in their right mind think the Bruins could pull off an upset today?
Since UCLA lost to New Mexico, the Bruins have parted ways with their head coach, defensive coordinator and offensive coordinator. With UCLA a 25.5-point underdog, who will lose his job if the Bruins find themselves still winless on Sunday? Most of us probably have an idea of who should be next, but the real question is “How many more losses will it take?”
Listen to the Game With TMB!
Today’s game is on CBS with Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson and Jenny Dell calling the game. If you would rather listen Josh Lewin and Matt Stevens call today’s game, you can listen to the game online while chatting in the TMB game thread. Just right click on the link and open it in another tab so you can have it playing while you chat in the comments below. That way, you can listen to Josh Lewin, Matt Stevens and Wayne Cook call today’s game.
Join your fellow Bruins discussing today’s game in the comments section below, but before you get there, here’s how to watch today’s game:
UCLA Football (0-4)
Opponent: Penn State Nittany Lions (3-1)
Series Record: UCLA leads, 4-3
When: 12:30 pm PT, Saturday, October 4, 2025
Where: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
Live TV: CBS with Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson, and Jenny Dell
Live Stream: CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports and Paramount+ app
Radio/Audio:
KABC-AM 790 in Los Angeles with Josh Lewin, Matt Stevens and Wayne Cook
Satellite Radio: Sirius Ch. 161 and XM Ch. 201 (UCLA Call)Online: UCLABruins.com
Live Stats: UCLA StatBroadcast
Game Notes:
UCLA
Penn StateRebroadcast (All times PT):
Sunday, 10/5 at 8:00 pm on BTN (B1G Football in 60)Monday, 10/6 at 4:00 am on BTN (B1G Football in 60)
Monday, 10/6 at 3:00 pm on CBS Sports Network
Monday, 10/6 at 10:00 pm on CBS Sports Network
Tuesday, 10/7 at 12:00 am on BTN (B1G Football in 60)
Tuesday, 10/7 at 7:00 am on BTN (B1G Football in 60)
Tuesday, 10/7 at 10:00 pm on BTN (B1G Football in 60)
Go Bruins!!!
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