Utah Utes at UCLA Bruins Game Thread

Both teams are looking to improve after mediocre results last season.

UCLA’s season hopes may depend on the arm of Bruin quarterback Nico Iamaleava. (Photo Credit: uclabruins.com)

---

Tonight, college football returns to the Rose Bowl for the first time in almost eight months when the UCLA Bruins host their former Pac-12 South rival — the Utah Utes.

This game will be a good test for the Bruins. Utah was a model of excellence when they were in the Pac-12 with UCLA. In fact, the Utes really seemed to have the Bruins number throughout that era. Utah won 8 of the 12 meetings between the teams since 2011 and six of the last seven.

Now, to be sure, Utah is coming of one of the most disappointing seasons they have had in the Kyle Whittingham era. The Utes finished last year with a 5-7 record, just like UCLA did.

So, both teams have a lot to prove tonight. Both teams replaced their offensive coordinators after last season while they have both fielded tough defenses. But only one of them can come away with a win and feel good about the start of the 2025. The other will come away from tonight’s game with more questions than answers.

Let’s look at the keys to tonight’s Game.

Keys to the Game

1. Start the Season Right

During the Chip Kelly Era, Chip was fond of saying that the team wanted to go 1-0 this week. That’s especially important for the first game of the season. A win tonight will help patient Bruin fans continue to be patient while a loss will be a cause for concern among the Bruin faithful.

2. Play With Discipline

Last year, we heard that Coach DeShaun Foster’s “Three Pillars” are “Discipline, Respect and Enthusiasm." Yet, far too often the team did not play with that first pillar. If the team can play with discipline, it will be a good indicator that the players are buying into Foster’s philosophy and that he may be building what every Bruin has wanted for a long time.

3. Contain Devon Dampier

While the Bruins’ fortunes tonight may hinge on how well the offense performs when UCLA has the ball, especially compared to last season, the outcome of the game will largely depend on the team’s ability to contain Devon Dampier.

If the Bruins can successfully contain Utah quarterback Devon Dampier, it will decrease the pressure on the offense to put up big numbers in order to win the game. If they cannot contain Dampier and he throws and runs all over the field, it may be a very long night.

Listen to the Game With TMB!

Today’s game is on Fox with Connor Onion and Mark Helfrich 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 tonight’s game:

UCLA Football (0-0)

• Opponent: Utah Utes (0-0)

• Series Record: UCLA leads 12-9

• When: 8:00 pm PT, Saturday, August 30, 2025

• Where: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA

• Live TV: FOX with Connor Onion and Mark Helfrich

• Live Stream: FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports app

• Radio/Audio:
  KABC-AM 790 in Los Angeles with Josh Lewin, Matt Stevens and Wayne Cook
  Satellite Radio: SiriusXM Ch. 83 (UCLA Call)

  Online: UCLABruins.com

• Live Stats: UCLA StatBroadcast

• Game Notes:
  UCLA
  Utah

• Rebroadcast (All times PT):
  Sunday, 8/31 at 4:00 am on FS1
  Sunday, 8/31 at 4:00 pm on FS2

  Tuesday, 9/2 at 8:00 pm on FS1

  Wednesday, 9/3 at 11:00 pm on FS2
  

Go Bruins!!!

---

Thanks again for supporting The Mighty Bruin. Your paid subscriptions make this site possible. Questions, comments, story ideas, angry missives and more can be sent to to @TheMightyBruin on Twitter.