Longtime Pac-12 Convention counterparts meet beneath the Huge Ten banner on Saturday when UCLA welcomes Washington to Pasadena, Calif. for the 78th all-time matchup between the packages.
Washington (7-3, 4-3 Huge Ten) makes its first go to to Rose Bowl Stadium since September 2022, enjoying the primary of two regular-season-ending matchups in opposition to former Pac-12 opponents. A Thanksgiving weekend residence date in opposition to rival Oregon looms on Nov. 29.
With the chance to play spoiler in opposition to the School Soccer Playoff hopeful Geese nonetheless to come back, the Huskies look to keep away from a letdown this week in opposition to the sputtering Bruins (3-7, 3-4).
“I am simply enthusiastic about going again on the market and enjoying that sport in that stadium,” mentioned Washington coach Jedd Fisch, who was beforehand offensive coordinator at UCLA in 2017 and changed Jim Mora as interim coach to shut out that season.
“We now have talked to our group about what it is wish to play in that stadium and the way cool it’s to tug up in that parking zone.”
Since successful three straight shortly after the firing of head coach DeShaun Foster, UCLA has backslid with three consecutive losses. Sandwiching a 28-21 defeat at residence in opposition to Nebraska on Nov. 8 have been blowout losses on the street in opposition to the nation’s prime two ranked groups, Indiana and Ohio State.
“We’re centered on ending the season proper,” interim coach Tim Skipper mentioned on Monday. “… All people is aware of you are measured once you’re coping with adversity.”
In its final 4 video games, together with a 20-17 win over Maryland, UCLA has averaged simply 14.3 factors per sport. Compounding the Bruins’ challenges is the continued uncertainty of quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s availability.
He sustained a concussion within the loss to Nebraska, which sidelined him in final Saturday’s 48-10 loss to Ohio State. Luke Duncan made the beginning in opposition to the Buckeyes, going 16-of-23 passing for 154 yards with an 18-yard landing throw to Kwazi Gilmer.
The run sport supplied little assist, nonetheless, with UCLA totaling simply 68 yards on the bottom.
Iamaleava was labeled as day-to-day by Skipper early this week.
In the meantime, Washington’s offense has ridden a curler coaster in latest weeks, scoring simply seven and 10 factors in losses to Michigan and Wisconsin however placing up 42 and 49 factors in wins over Illinois and Purdue.
Quarterback Demond Williams Jr. mixed for six landing passes within the two wins, whereas ending with only one landing cross and 4 interceptions in these two losses.
–Subject Degree Media
