UCLA’s Football Season Takes a Turn for the Worse
This is bad. There’s no other way to spin it for UCLA after a third consecutive loss during what was supposed to be the soft part of the schedule raised a frightening prospect: Will the Bruins win a game this season? They didn’t look capable of beating a quality high school team after dropping a second consecutive game to a Mountain West Conference opponent.
UCLA’s 35-10 loss to New Mexico on Friday night at the Rose Bowl represented new depths after the Bruins once again looked lost on both sides of the ball. “It’s pretty low right now,” UCLA coach DeShaun Foster acknowledged after stoically walking off the field and later remaining expressionless when he met with reporters. “I’ve been around this program for a long time and it’s just unfortunate, what’s going on right this moment. Just not executing.”
It appears to be a lot more than that for a team that has been outscored by a combined 108-43 margin this season. UCLA coach Deshaun Foster walks off the field after a 35-10 loss to New Mexico at the Rose Bowl on Friday night. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
UCLA’s Performance Raises Concerns
Fans started streaming out of the stands midway through the fourth quarter after New Mexico’s Damon Bankston turned a short pass into a 43-yard touchdown, breaking a couple of tackles along the way. UCLA is not only 0-3 for the first time since 2019, the Bruins have not held a lead this season after falling into another big hole on a night they were 15½-point favorites.
Their defense gave up 6.5 yards per carry against the Lobos (2-1). They were outgained, 450-326, in total yardage. They committed 13 penalties for 116 yards after Foster said reducing penalties would be a priority. “It blows my mind, you know?” Foster said when asked about his discipline message not getting through to his players. “It blows my mind. It’s something I’ve never been around and we’re going to figure it out.”
