Can T.J. Harden make an impact against Boise State’s very good rushing defense? (Photo Credit: Don Liebig/uclabruins.com)
Tonight, the Bruins face the Boise State Broncos in the third LA Bowl. The Broncos won the Mountain West Conference and have won three straight under new head coach Spencer Danielson.
Both teams are dealing with roster issues caused by players leaving earlier in the Transfer Portal, but more importantly, UCLA has lost every game they have played against teams whose rush defense is ranked in the Top 50 nationally. The Broncos’ rush defense is ranked 29th nationally.
Can the Bruin offense find a way to get their first win against a Top 50 rush defense?
Here are the Keys to the Game for the Bruins tonight:
Keys to the Game
1. Stop Ashton Jeanty
The Bruins have the best run defense in the nation. Boise State’s offense features All-American Ashton Jeanty as their primary running back in an offense which runs the ball almost 60% of the time. UCLA needs to stop Jeanty tonight in order to win.
2. Run the Ball Effectively
UCLA has not beaten any team they’ve played which featured a rushing defense in the Top 50 nationally. The Bruins will need to find a way to run the ball well if they want to beat the Broncos.
3. Win the Turnover Battle
With Boise State starting a true freshman quarterback, the defense should have opportunities to turn the ball over. Winning the turnover battle will go along way to a Bruin win.
Listen to the Game With TMB!
Today’s game is on ABC with Dave Flemming and Brock Osweiler 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 tonight’s game instead of Flemming and Osweiler on ABC.
Join your fellow Bruins discussing today’s bowl game in the comments section below, but before you get there, here’s how to watch the 2023 LA Bowl:
2023 LA Bowl
Opponents: UCLA Football (7-5, 4-5) vs. Boise State Broncos (8-5, 6-2)
Series Record: UCLA leads, 1-0.
When: 4:30 pm PT, Saturday, December 16, 2023
Where: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Live TV: ABC with Dave Flemming, Brock Osweiler and Kayla Burton
Radio/Audio: AM570 in Los Angeles with Josh Lewin, Matt Stevens and Wayne Cook National Broadcast: ESPN Radio with Mike Couzens and Tom Ramsey Satellite Radio: SiriusXM Ch. 84 (UCLA Call)
Rebroadcast (All times PT): Sunday, 12/17 at 1:00 pm on ESPN2 Monday, 12/17 at 4:00 pm on ESPNU
Go Bruins!!!
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Have to say I think next year is going to be a true disaster. The ‘recruiting’ is terrible this year. We’re 60-something in recruiting with no 4 or 5 stars
What we have found out/been reminding of so far in this bowl game: 1. UCLA was the worst performing offense in the redzone in all of college football this season. 2. UCLA was one of the most penalized teams in all of college football this season. I have to conclude both are largely due to coaching.
U! clap clap clap!
C clap clap clap!
L clap clap clap!
A clap clap clap!
A clap clap clap!
Sold out because none of the top level seats were for sell.
Thanks for confirming!
Schlee, starts?
Looks like it
With so many players opting out of meaningless bowl games nowadays, you wonder if these games will continue
ikr, the transfer portal and the NFL have devastated bowl games. BSU has a QB that is like the 4th string.
Hi fellow Bruins, Last football game of the season. Expecting we finish with a whimper, not a bang unfortunately
glad we exceeded your expectations
Hope this goes better than the basketball game
No Steele?
Nope
Is he leaving?
I think so
injured
Good evening, Bruin Mama. Go Bruins!
Schlee + Harden for a first down for our start.
Of course let's pass! That was close.
Have to say I think next year is going to be a true disaster. The ‘recruiting’ is terrible this year. We’re 60-something in recruiting with no 4 or 5 stars
A near INT and pick 6.
If Garbers can’t go, I’d like to see a little Justyn Martin.
Why not right?
Whiff on that tackle
Murphy with a late hit, what are the odds
doesn't anyone know why Garbers isn't playing?
Nothing mentioned that I heard. Maybe someone else knows.
Maybe he’s tired of getting clobbered
All these stats spouted by the announcers are meaningless with so many players opting out of the game
Yep
Pass defense is too casual.
Not filled with hope in this one.
Really feel like this is mostly going to be a preview of how much we’ll suck next year
I dread it honestly. Uninspiring play and so many on the coaching staff are gone except the one that matters.
Yep, and a real talent drain I’m afraid
I know.
Boise FG starts the bleeding.
Can we offer him a scholarship?
Yes please!
Can he hit an upright?
Not sure, but I think he just hit a longer fg than the longest we’ve made
OK, let's keep dwelling on the pathetic.
Fina is still a penalty machine
Loya with a catchable ball and we are punting
Yep, that should have been something.
Schlee is in but no RPO or rushes. Trying to avoid injury? No backups available?
I have no idea what we’re doing at the QB position. But then again, neither does Chip
ABC using UCLA announcers?
Fleming and Osweiler are PAC12 crew
he sounds so much like Matt Stevens
He really does
Broncos want it more
So obvious right?
Swiss cheese.
Should have been TFL. Missing Latu a lot
Ah good, we are back to pathetic arm-tackling. Our speciality!
Welcome to the Shit Show Bowl.
Our specialty.
Announcers just used the term “inspired football” about Boise. Huh I wonder what that is?
Does anyone know if Garbers has another year of eligibility?
Pretty sure he does
Oh well.
Listing the many mysteries: 1. Yankoff continue to be the return guy.
That’s been a total head scratcher from day 1
‘Chip Kelly’s offense has been quiet so far’. - is he talking about the game, season, or since Chip arrived in Westwood?
Wow that was perfectly said!
You said it Jeffro!
Nice run, Colin. Now let's pass some more.
Your wish is his command.
Yep, stick to the passing game. Thanks for 50 yards, Colin.
Happy for Schlee. Glad he has a chance to show something
Thank you, Colin! TD Bruins!
Can we please make the extra point?
Good to get the TD, but says something that we can only score in the red zone with some made up improv, not a designed play
Tackling is really bad today
A tackle for a loss finally. Boise was marching down the field.
Muasau will be missed
Truly
Defense is softer than my sofa. Guy ran for 15 yards to get the first down.
Our defense looks slow.
Yes, it can happen if you're the UCLA Bruins.
Just terrible
Looks like found our 2022 defense.
I was just thinking the same thing
Hate to keep harping on it, but I think this is our 2024 defense
Well there's the portal.... where (if we don't get a good DC) we will attract players with potential and they will not achieve it.
Bend....and bend.... and bend.... and bend some more..... and then bend.... but don't break.
Wow, TJ that was close!
Undisciplined play. So consistent there.
Would be nice if we addressed the kicking game before next season
What we have found out/been reminding of so far in this bowl game: 1. UCLA was the worst performing offense in the redzone in all of college football this season. 2. UCLA was one of the most penalized teams in all of college football this season. I have to conclude both are largely due to coaching.
Facts and Chip will be 0-3 in bowl games.
Yeah, but to give them credit, they’ve been without a Head Coach for 6 years. Highest paid OC in the game tho
Yeah, but our run defense as #2 in the nation. We're #2! We're #2!
Yes, we’re a #2