UCLA has climbed to 8-0 and No. 5 in the country, putting the Bruins on the brink of essentially locking up a College Football Playoff spot. But college football has a way of punishing anyone who starts looking too far ahead, and Minnesota is exactly the kind of team that can make the night messy fast.
The Golden Gophers nearly knocked off No. 6 Indiana on Saturday, falling 23-16 in overtime in a game the Hoosiers were supposed to handle.
Minnesota had a real shot at a program-changing win before Indiana survived with a 60-yard field goal and, later, a highlight touchdown from receiver Charlie Becker. That kind of danger is nothing new for the Gophers, either.
Earlier this season, they beat Michigan at home for the first time since 1977.
They also own a win over No. 21 Iowa, and the formula for beating them has already been laid out by Mississippi State and Purdue.
Both teams controlled Minnesota by pounding the ball on the ground and draining the clock, then forcing the Gophers into obvious passing downs. That’s where quarterback Drake Lindsey ran into trouble, struggling to stay in the pocket and deliver difficult throws.
Indiana did a decent job containing Lindsey, but its offense fell apart for most of the game. Minnesota’s defense, though, is the part UCLA has to worry about most. Over its last two games, the Gophers have held two ranked opponents to just 33 points combined.
That unit thrives on pressure from four rushers and uses a nickel-based look to make life harder through the air. Every linebacker can hold up in coverage, and the defensive backs are willing to attack the run aggressively - even when that means joining the pass rush.
For UCLA, that makes this the toughest test yet for Ty Dieffenbach in his brief run as the starting quarterback. Minnesota is going to come after him, and the Bruins need to answer by being the aggressor first. Wayne Knight and Anthony Woods have to be central pieces of the plan, and when Dieffenbach throws, the Bruins need quick, in-rhythm passes.
Nevada tried to force a similar kind of game, but UCLA was able to get its linemen moving and ease the burden on Dieffenbach. If the Bruins can’t do that again, their season could take a sharp turn in the wrong direction.
In Other News...
UCLA Just Got An Early Reason To Believe Again
UCLA opened the season with a win over Arizona, and the early signs were encouraging in a way the Bruins have been hoping to see. The victory came with real contributions from across the lineup, including Jaylen Pettys all-around effort and Sergej Macuras steady minutes, giving the Bruins a little more than just an opening-night result to point to as they settle into the year.
Trent Perry was the one who gave the performance its late-game edge, finishing with 21 points and handling the pressure at the line when it mattered most. For a team trying to establish confidence right away, the way UCLA closed out an 84-75 win offered a useful glimpse of what this group can be when its young pieces start to click. [Read more 🡒]
UCLAs Opener Showed Why Mick Cronin Fans Should Be Encouraged
UCLAs season-opening win over Arizona offered an early reminder of what Mick Cronin teams are supposed to look like when the shots are not falling. The Bruins still found a way to handle a dangerous opponent, leaning on physical defense and work on the glass to come away with an 84-75 victory even while shooting below 40 percent overall.
Arizonas Ivan Kharchenkov made sure it was anything but comfortable, pouring in 38 points and keeping the game close deep into the night. But UCLAs effort level never dipped, and that kind of response in a tight opener is the sort of sign Cronin fans have been waiting to see as the Bruins start to settle into the season. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Just Sent An Early Message With Its Arizona Win
UCLA opened its season in Las Vegas by grabbing control early and never really letting Arizona fully settle in, even as the Wildcats made a late push. The Bruins 84-75 win was the kind of opener that can set a tone, with Trent Perry leading the way with 21 points and UCLA showing enough poise to protect its advantage when the game tightened.
Arizona got a huge night from Ivan Kharchenkov, who poured in a career-high 38 points, but it still wasnt enough to erase the hole the Wildcats dug for themselves. For UCLA, the bigger takeaway was less about the final margin than the way it handled a test from a high-profile opponent, an encouraging sign for a team that wanted to make an immediate statement. [Read more 🡒]