This morning, the UCLA Bruins head to Piscataway, New Jersey — the birthplace of college football — for their first meeting against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
You might think that the team which played in the first college football game might be a blue blood of the sport. Well, Rutgers football has traditionally been anything but a football blue blood. In fact, they’ve long been a perennial doormat.
How bad has Rutgers been historically? Well, they re-hired Greg Schiano who had brought the team their most success in the last 40 years during his first stint with the team, and now, he has them playing well again.
That could mean another loss for the Bruins, but Rutgers has the same vulnerabilities that Minnesota had. So, if the UCLA coaching staff can avoid last week’s mental mistakes, the Bruins could fly home with a win.
Let’s look at the Keys to the Game.
Keys to the Game
1. Establish the Run and the Short Pass
Last week, UCLA still couldn’t establish a good running game, but instead, the Bruins used the short pass as their de facto running game to move the ball well against the Golden Gophers. Rutgers’ pass defense is also very good while their rush defense is very bad. Look for UCLA to either try to establish the run or turn to the short passing game again to move the ball downfield.
2. Stop the Rutgers Rushing Attack
Rutgers runs the ball almost 60% of the time and running back Kyle Monangai is the team’s primary back. If the Bruins can focus on him, they should be able to keep the rushing attack in check.
3. Time Zone
With another 9 am start in the Eastern Time Zone, UCLA needs to be ready to go early today. It’s a good thing the team typically practices in the morning most practices.
Listen to the Game With TMB!
Today’s game is on FS1 with Guy Haberman and Yogi Roth 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 (1-5, 0-4)
Opponent: Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-2, 1-2)
Series Record: First meeting.
When: 9:00 am PT, Saturday, October 19, 2024
Where: SHI Stadium, Piscataway, NJ
Live TV: FS1 with Guy Haberman, Yogi Roth and Rhett Lewis
Live Stream: FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports app
Radio/Audio: AM 570 in Los Angeles with Josh Lewin, Matt Stevens and Wayne Cook Online: UCLABruins.com
Rebroadcast (All times PT): Sunday, 10/20 at 9:00 pm on BTN (B1G Football in 60) Tuesday, 10/22 at 12:00 am on BTN (B1G Football in 60)
Tuesday, 10/22 at 7:00 pm on FS2
Wednesday, 10/23 at 3:00 am on BTN (B1G Football in 60)
Go Bruins!
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Last week I posted that I was a little optimistic going into the MN game because the only teams we had lost to were ranked teams but that optimism is gone now.
My prediction: UCLA will come out with a great game plan for the first quarter and then once Rutgers start making adjustments, a game that looked very winnable early will slip away from us.
Keegan runs it out... we get a illegal block penalty and start from the 5... Dmitri's blood pressure goes up... we should make it a drinking game at this point
Sure is. I was ready for Martin full time for his higher ceiling and for the sake of development for next year, but Garbers has been great so far today.
Good afternoon, Bruin friends, I see Garbs is QB and appears to be working quickly with the short pass. That's a good sign. I got too much to do today to spend the early afternoon watching with 'all. Go Bruins!
I'll take it
The only part I like about being in the B10 is the earlier starts. This is a *must* win for the Bruins.
P.s. F Chip Kelly
I want to like your p.s. a hundred times.
Last week I posted that I was a little optimistic going into the MN game because the only teams we had lost to were ranked teams but that optimism is gone now.
My prediction: UCLA will come out with a great game plan for the first quarter and then once Rutgers start making adjustments, a game that looked very winnable early will slip away from us.
Reverse jinx? 🤞🏼
This should be a winnable game - I find it hard to imagine we travel 3000 miles for a 9am bodyclock kick and actually do so.
U!
C!!
Morning, Bruin familia! Let's go!!
Let's go, offense!!!
Wonder if Garbers is on a short leash at all.
From everything we've seen, it seems like Foster will play him unless he's injured.
Matavao getting those yards!
Good start so far!
Nice 3rd down conversion
late hit!
touchdown!!!
Loya! TD!!
Great looking drive
Okay, that was a great opening series! Now we need to sustain this throughout the game
For sure! Garbers was sharp. The offense has been ok on script this season. Now can they do it when Rutgers makes some adjustments on the next drive?
Big sack to start!!
geez, what a dime
That was just a great throw and catch
smdh missed tackles again
and that was just terrible coverage
How are we still lining up offsides?? That should have been a focus of practice this week for our D!
lineman jumped the snap
thanks! Hard to work and watch at the same time :-)
lol, Dimitri is not going to love that return.
And he's not wrong.
Great minds think alike! LOL
Sorry, Dimitri, Keegan just took it outta the end zone for terrible field position (again). Plus add penalties, so looks like Dimitri right again!
Quick hitting pass-- just what the doctor ordered
Keegan runs it out... we get a illegal block penalty and start from the 5... Dmitri's blood pressure goes up... we should make it a drinking game at this point
Garbers looking good so far
Sure is. I was ready for Martin full time for his higher ceiling and for the sake of development for next year, but Garbers has been great so far today.
Dare we hope for 60 minutes of Good Garbers?
We dare! :-)
We're either very brave or very insane lol
Good afternoon, Bruin friends, I see Garbs is QB and appears to be working quickly with the short pass. That's a good sign. I got too much to do today to spend the early afternoon watching with 'all. Go Bruins!
Good afternoon (to you, and morning here), kingjim!
Hey, Jim! Glad you made it!
I like the game plan so far. Buncha quick short passes intermixed with run game and the occasional long pass to keep D honest
interesting...
Meh, kinda of a buzzkill but very well executed. Let's go, D.
going for it on 4th and 8?
Pooch kick-- love it!!
Rutgers getting a lot of yards after contact on all their runs.
Good morning beautiful Bruins! We are tied!!!
Late again... the life of a caregiver 🙃
Good morning, Tamara
Hi Greg! So great to see you 💙💛
Good morning, Greg!
Morning, Tamara!
Hi my fren! 💙💛
Howdy, BB!
We started tied.
Nice coverage!
Happy Saturday, Tamara!
Happy Sat Jim! 💙💛
Let's review that spot, please
gonna be hard to overturn call on the field
Knee down short.
Horrible spot.
Ballsy move
Love the balls, love the call!
Learned from not doing it last week in the 4th quarter? I don't mind seeing growth
not at all
Grear job!
Looks like he maintains possession throughout; refs got it right
Agree.
Another dumb penalty
💯
Nice catch and run, Keegan
great minds still at it ;-)
Nice touch by Garbers there
Woo hoo, Keegan!
I've seen more screens today than every other game put together LOL Guess Foster heard us!
Thus team is still playing hard for Ciach Foster. Our coach is learning on the job.
Agree 💯
Happy Saturday, Army, good to see ya!
What a run by Garbers!!!
WOW!!!!!!!
Damn, Garbers with the shake and bake into the end zone!!
Touchdown!!
Did not think he had that in him! Go Garbs!!!
Good golly Garbs!