Rasshan the probable starter

LAS VEGAS -- UCLA interim Coach DeWayne Walker said it was likely Osaar Rasshan would start at quarterback against Brigham Young in the Las Vegas Bowl today, though he held out hope that Ben Olson’s injured left knee would show enough improvement so he can play.

“We’re going to take it to the end, but I would say if we were playing the game today, Osaar would be in there,” Walker said at Friday’s news conference. “But we’ll take it through tomorrow. I want to give Ben all the time he needs.’

Olson has practiced little this week since he “tweaked” his knee Monday. He first injured the knee against Notre Dame on Oct. 6. He has played only three quarters over two games since.

Rasshan, a sophomore, made his first collegiate start against Arizona State on Nov. 10 and played the first half against Oregon on Nov. 24. He completed 17 of 44 passes in five games.

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The Bruins beat the Cougars, 27-17, on Sept. 8 at the Rose Bowl, but gained only 236 total yards. Olson, who was healthy in that game, completed 13 of 28 passes for 126 yards and had one pass intercepted.

UCLA will play without leading rusher Kahlil Bell and wide receiver Marcus Everett this time. Against the Cougars, Bell had 79 of the Bruins’ 110 yards rushing and Everett led the team with five receptions for 66 yards.

“We’re a little different team than we were then,” UCLA offensive coordinator Jay Norvell said.

In its last two games, UCLA had only 220 yards against Oregon and 178 against USC.

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Bruins receiver Brandon Breazell has had to talk about the least favorite moment of his collegiate career this week. Breazell was flattened by teammate Logan Paulsen in the September game against BYU. The two were chasing down Kayle Buchanan, who had intercepted a pass.

Breazell suffered a concussion and lost three teeth. He also had to undergo several root canals, yet he can put a positive spin on the incident.

“I was glad he was out there hitting,” Breazell said of Paulsen. “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Breazell had to relive the moment this week.

“We were watching film of that game and Coach Walker put that play up there, showing us friendly fire,” Breazell said. “He said we have to come with Logan’s mentality and just hit. That’s what Logan was doing. I love that guy.”

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UCLA lost its first game against BYU, 37-35, in 1983, but has won the last seven. . . . UCLA officials said defensive end Nikola Dragovic was sent home from Las Vegas on Friday, as he did not complete the necessary six units to remain eligible. Dragovic sat out the last six games because of a sports hernia.

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chris.foster@latimes.com

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KEYS TO THE GAME

Brigham Young (10-2, 8-0, first in Mountain West)

vs. UCLA (6-6, 5-4, fifth in Pac-10)

When: Tonight, 5. TV: ESPN. Radio: 570.

1 Must Have A Hall Pass: The Bruins sacked BYU quarterback Max Hall four times, intercepted one of his passes and forced him to fumble once Sept. 8. Yet, he finished with 391 yards passing and threw two touchdown passes and nearly rallied the Cougars in the 27-17 loss. A similar performance should alter the outcome.

2 A Big O for the Bruins: Be it Osaar Rasshan or Ben Olson, UCLA needs a quarterback who will move the ball to give the Bruins defense some down time on the sidelines. But Brigham Young’s defense has improved dramatically since its sieve-like performance against Tulsa in Week 3.

3 By Any Means Necessary: Hey, it’s a bowl game. Whatever tricks and gimmicks these teams have come up with the last few weeks might have a dramatic effect on the game.

-- Chris Foster