UCLA pulls off a stunning win over USC, but is it enough to save Chip Kelly’s job?
Highlights from UCLA’s 38-20 win over USC at the Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.
The game started under a thicket of silver and gray clouds. It ended even more ominously for the home team.
As USC players trudged sullenly toward the tunnel at the Coliseum, their UCLA counterparts sprinted across the field to reclaim the Victory Bell painted in red.
The celebratory tour made its next stop in a corner of the stadium overflowing with jubilant Bruins fans who chanted a vulgar two-word sendoff for fellow rivals headed to the Big Ten.
The revelry was just getting started.
UCLA runs out the clock on a rout of USC
UCLA 38, USC 20, final
UCLA started on its 11.
T.J. Harden ran for three yards and Carson Steele ran for another four. On third-and-three, Steele ran for nine yards to the UCLA 27.
After a one-yard gain, the Bruins ran out the clock.
USC could not overcome two fumbles, one interception and two turnovers on downs when the team failed to convert on fourth down.
USC scores, but UCLA still holds commanding lead
UCLA 38, USC 20, with 3:52 left in the fourth quarter
USC started on its 20.
Caleb Williams passed to Brenden Rice for nine yards. On second-and-one, Williams handed off to MarShawn Lloyd for a loss of one yard. On third-and-two, Williams evaded pressure to pass to Zachariah Branch for a gain of 22.
Williams passed underhanded for a two-yard gain. USC gained another two yards on a run and Williams lined up for a pass that was high and incomplete. UCLA was called for pass interference on fourth down.
On first down at the UCLA 26, Williams passed to Mario Williams for four yards. On second-and-six, Williams’ pass to the end zone was incomplete. On third-and-six, Williams was sacked for an eight-yard loss. USC called timeout. On fourth-and-six, Caleb Williams passed to Tahj Washington for 23 yards, moving the ball to the UCLA 7. Austin Jones then rushed for a seven-yard touchdown.
Denis Lynch hit the extra-point attempt.
UCLA pulls away with another touchdown drive
UCLA 38, USC 13, with 9:06 left in the fourth quarter
UCLA started on the USC 38.
Ethan Garbers tossed an incomplete pass. T.J. Harden ran for three yards before Garbers passed to Logan Loya for four yards and converted on fourth down for a six-yard gain.
On first down at the USC 25, Carson Steele ran for six yards and another yard before Garbers passed to Loya for a four-yard gain.
On first down at the USC 14, Harden ran for a one-yard loss. Garbers tossed an incomplete pass and before he delivered a 11-yard touchdown pass.
UCLA hit the extra-point attempt to extend its commanding lead at the Coliseum.
USC turns the ball over on downs as the spiral continues
UCLA 31, USC 13, with 14:16 left in the fourth quarter
On third-and-five, Caleb Williams’ passed to Duce Robinson was behind him, but Robinson managed to catch it for a three-yard gain. On fourth-and-two at the USC 37, Williams passed to Tahj Washington who gained one yard on the play.
It is USC’s second turnover on downs during the game.
USC driving as time expires in third quarter dominated by UCLA
UCLA 31, USC 13, end of third quarter
USC started on its 25.
Caleb Williams tossed the ball incomplete across the middle of the field. On second-and-10, Williams looked to pass, but the receiver, Tahj Washington, fell down and a penalty flag flew. UCLA was called for pass interference.
On first down at the USC 29, Austin Jones rushed for no gain. On second down, Williams evaded pressure from Laiatu Latu and he passed to Lake McRee for five yards.
Time expired in third quarter, which UCLA dominated, outscoring USC 17-3.
UCLA counters USC field goal with a field goal
UCLA 31, USC 13, 1:21 left in the third quarter
UCLA returned the USC kickoff to the Bruins’ 16.
T.J. Harden ran for a short gain before breaking through the USC defense for a 59-yard gain.
On first down at the USC 21, Harden ran for no gain before Ethan Garbers tossed an incomplete pass to the end zone. On third-and-10, Carson Steele ran for four yards.
UCLA kicker Blake Glessner shook off a missed field goal earlier in the game and hit a 35-yard field goal to extend the Bruins’ lead.
USC settles for a field goal in response to two UCLA touchdowns
UCLA 28, USC 13, 3:51 left in the third quarter
UCLA kicked off from its 20 due to the unsportsmanlike penalty and Zachariah Branch ran it back to the UCLA 47.
Caleb Williams passed to Lake McRee for 12 yards to the UCLA 35. Williams handed off to MarShawn Lloyd for a six-yard gain. On second-and-four at the Bruins’ 29, Williams passed to Ja’Kobi Lane for 16 yards, but he was called for offensive pass interference. On second-and-19 on the UCLA 44, Williams runs backward and then side to side until he was tackled after a two-yard gain. On third-and-17, Williams passed to Duce Robinson for a 10-yard gain. On fourth-and-seven, passed to Brenden Rice for 24 yards on a back-should throw.
On first down at the UCLA 8, Lloyd ran for three yards. On second-and-goal at the UCLA 5, Laiatu Latu was unlocked and sacked Williams for a loss of seven. On third-and-goal at the UCLA 12, Williams was sacked again by Latu for a loss of five.
On fourth-and-goal at the UCLA 17, Denis Lynch hit the 34-yard field goal.
UCLA forces a fumble, scoops and scores
UCLA 28, USC 10, 9:29 left in the third quarter
Zachariah Branch returned UCLA’s kickoff 20 yards to the USC 20, but the Trojans were called for a block in the back.
USC started on its 7.
MarShawn Lloyd ran to the left and tried to cut back to avoid a tackle when Jaylin Davies forced the ball to pop out. Alex Johnson scooped up the ball at the USC 11 and ran it in for a touchdown. The Bruins were called for unsportsmanlike conduct after the score and the penalty will be assessed on the kickoff.
UCLA hit the extra point to take a commanding lead.
Ethan Garbers throws touchdown pass under pressure to extend lead
UCLA 21, USC 10, 9:45 left in the third quarter
USC kicked off and it landed out of bounds.
UCLA started on its 35.
T.J. Harden rushed for six yards to the left side after the Bruins did some shifting on the line before the snap. On second-and-four, Harden rushed for two yards. On third-and-two, Harden plowed ahead and jumped over a potential tackler for a seven-yard gain.
On first down at the 50, Ethan Garbers faked a handoff and passed to Logan Loya on the left for a five-yard gain. Carson Steele then ran for one yard. On third-and-four, Garbers passed to Loya for 13 yards.
On first down at the USC 31, Garber’s pass to Loya was high and fell incomplete. On second-and-10, Garbers faked a handoff and threw a jump pass as he was about to get sacked. Harden caught it for a nine-yards gain. On third-and-short, Harden rushed for two yards.
On first down at the USC 20, USC’s Mason Cobb ripped the ball away from Harden after he rushed for three yards. Refs ruled Harden was down before the strip. On second-and-seven, Garbers’ pass to Loya in the back of the end zone sailed high out of bounds. On third-and-seven, Garbers passed to Loya on his right for an 11-yard gain.
On first-and-goal at the USC 7, the Trojans burned a timeout. UCLA handed off to Steele and he was tackled by Solomon Byrd for a one-yard loss. On second down, Garbers tossed an incomplete pass to the end zone after nearly fumbling a snap he wasn’t expecting. On third-and-goal at the USC 7, Garbers got ridof the ball was he was tackled and connected with Harden for a 7-yard touchdown.
The Bruins hit the extra point to extend their lead.
UCLA lets clock run out in second quarter
UCLA 14, USC 10, end of second quarter
USC kicked off the ball and UCLA did not return it. The Bruins then took a knee to run out the clock.
Both teams have made mistakes and missed opportunities during the first half.
Denis Lynch redeems himself, hits a field goal
UCLA 14, USC 10, two seconds left in the second quarter
USC started on its 32.
Caleb Williams passed to Austin Jones for a three-yard gain. On second-and-seven, Williams passed to MarShawn Lloyd for an 11-yard gain.
On first down, Williams’ pass to Brenden Rice was incomplete. On second-and-10, Williams delayed until he found MarShawn Lloyd for a 33-yard gain with 22 seconds left.
Williams spiked the ball to stop the clock.
On second-and-10 at the UCLA 21 with seconds left, UCLA as called offside. On second-and-five, Williams passed to Ja’Kobi Lane for a five-yard gain. Williams spike the ball again was sacked for a loss of six on second down.
On third-and-16 with five seconds left, Denis Lynch lined up for a field goal but UCLA called timeout. Lynch lined up again for a 34-yard attempt and hit it with two seconds left in the second quarter.
UCLA quickly punts
UCLA 14, USC 7, 57 seconds left in the second quarter
UCLA started on its 20.
Ethan Garbers passed to Logan Loya for 13 yards, but the Bruins were called for having an ineligible player downfield. On first-and-15 at the UCLA 15, T.J. Harden rushed for five yards. On second-and-10, Garbers passed to Logan Loya for a seven-yard gain. On third-and-three, Garbers was sacked for a four-yard loss.
UCLA punted and the ball sailed out of bounds at the USC 42, but the Trojans were called for holding and got the ball at the 32 instead.
USC ends long drive with missed field goal
UCLA 14, USC 7, 1:37 left in the second quarter
USC started at its 14.
Caleb Williams passed to Brenden Rice for 15 yards. Williams then was forced out of the pocket and his next pass was out of bounds and incomplete. On second-and-10, Williams spun out of a sure sack and lobbed the ball out of bounds. On third-and-10, at the USC 29, Williams passed to Rice for 14 yards.
On first down at the USC 43, MarShawn Lloyd rushed for two yards. Williams then lobbed a short pass to Lloyd, who broke several tackles for a 31-yard gain.
On first down at the UCLA 24, Lloyd ran up the middle for five yards. On second-and-five, Williams faked a handoff and passed to Zacariah Branch for a 13-yard gain along the left sideline.
On first-and-goal at the UCLA 6, Branch rushed for no gain. UCLA then called timeout. On second-and-goal, Williams faked a handoff and shoveled a pass to Rice for a two-yard loss. The Bruins burned another timeout. On third-and-goal at the UCLA 8, Williams passed to the middle of the end zone and the ball sailed high out of bounds.
Denis Lynch missed the 25-yard field goal attempt. Both teams have now missed field goals.
Everybody punts
UCLA 14, USC 7, 5:04 left in the second quarter
UCLA starts on its 35. Ethan Gabers’ pass to Kyle Ford was broken out. T.J. Harden then rushed for one yard. On third-and-nine, Garber’s pass up the left sideline was broken up and nearly intercepted.
UCLA punted and the Bruins downed the ball at the USC 14.
UCLA forces USC to go three-and-out
UCLA 14, USC 7, 5:57 left in the second quarter
USC starts on its 20.
MarShawn Lloyd rushed for one yard and a three-yard loss before Caleb Williams escaped a collapsing pocket for a two-yard gain.
USC punted Logan Loya called for a fair catch at the UCLA 35.
UCLA misses field goal to close promising drive
UCLA 14, USC 7, 7:46 left in the second quarter
UCLA returned USC’s kickoff 22 yards to the Bruins’ 31-yard line.
Ethan Garbers passed to Ryan Cragun for a three-yard gain. T.J. Harden rushed for two yards. On third-and-five, Garbers passed to Logan Loya for a six-yard gain to the UCLA 42.
On first down, Harden was dropped for a one-yard loss. Keegan Jones then rushed for no gain. On third-and-11, Garbers had time in the pocket to find Cragun for a 12-yard gain and a first down.
On first down at the USC 47, Garbers passed to Loya for a four-yard gain. Garbers passed to J.Michael Sturdivant for a 10-yard gain.
On first down at the USC 33, Gabers was sacked for a seven-yard loss. On second-and-17. Garbers handed off to Harden, who erased the deficit with a 19-yard gain.
There was a break while USC’s Bryson Shaw was treated for an injury on the field.
On first down at the USC 21, Keegan Jones rushed for four yards. On second-and-six, Garbers was sacked for no gain as he tried to leave the collapsing pocket. On third-and-six at the USC 17, Garbers tossed an incomplete pass intended for Loya.
On fourth-and-six at the USC 17, Blake Glessner attempted a 36-yard field goal that bounced off the upright and fell back to the field for no points.
Both teams have showed off their deficiencies so far this game and UCLA holds onto its seven-point lead.
Caleb Williams touchdown pass slashes UCLA lead
UCLA 14, USC 7, 14:01 left in the second quarter
USC opened the second quarter facing third-and-one at the USC 24.
Caleb Williams rushed for two yards.
On first down at the USC 26, Williams’ pass to Tahj Washington was incomplete. Williams tossed another incomplete pass on second down and play was stopped while athletic trainers treated Jay Toia for an injury.
After the break, Williams looked deep up field on the left side and connected with Brenden Rice for a 74-yard touchdown.
Denis Lynch hit the extra point to trim UCLA’s lead.
The second quarter is off to a much better start for USC after UCLA dominated the first period.
Pictures: Key plays from the first quarter
USC offense is driving as time expires in first quarter
UCLA 14, USC 0, 1:04 left in the first quarter
USC started on its 1.
Caleb Williams passed to Duce Robinson for a 14-yard gain. Williams then passed to Tahj Washington for nine yards. On second-and-one at the USC 24, Austin Jones rushed for no gain as time expired in the first quarter.
It was a brutal opening period for USC even though the defense forced two punts.
USC defense gets stop after Caleb Williams turnover
UCLA 14, USC 0, 1:04 left in the first quarter
UCLA started on its 45 after the interception.
Carson Steele rushed for three yards, Ethan Garbers pass to Steele was incomplete and Garbers’ pass to J.Michael Sturdivant was incomplete.
The Bruins punted and the ball was downed at the USC 1.
Caleb Williams tosses interception as Trojans continue to spiral
UCLA 14, USC 0, 1:49 left in the first quarter
USC started at its 25.
Caleb Williams passed to Tahj Washington for no gain. Williams passed to MarShawn Lloyd, but USC was the called for holding. On second-and-20, Williams looked to pass deep on the left side of the field and the pass was intercepted by Devin Kirkwood at the USC 45.
UCLA defense forces a turnover and the offense scores
UCLA 14, USC 0, 2:46 left in the first quarter
USC started on its 10.
The Trojans were called for a false start. On first-and-15, Caleb Williams passed to Zachariah Branch for a six-yard gain. On second-and-nine, Williams passed to Branch for an eight-yard gain. UCLA’s defense ripped away the ball as Branch fell backward while being tackled at the USC 19. UCLA recovered the ball at the USC 19.
After a review, refs confirmed it was a USC fumble.
UCLA took over on the Trojans’ 19.
Ethan Garbers faked a handoff and tried to pass over the top to end zone, but it was incomplete. Garbers looked for another pass on second down, but he ducked out of the pocket and moved up the middle for five yards. On third-and-five at the USC 14, Garbers faked a handoff and passed to Hudson Habermehl wide open on the right side for a 14-yard touchdown.
The Bruins hit the extra point to extend their early lead.
USC defense gets its first stop
UCLA 7, USC 0, 4:21 left in the first quarter
UCLA starts on its 27 after the punt was not returned.
T.J. Harden carried the ball for 12 yards and then gained another three yards on the next play. On second-and-seven, Ethan Garbers rushed for six yards. Harden then rushed for six yards and the firt down.
On first down at the USC 46, Carson Steele rushed for 19 yards to the USC 27. Steele ran for no gain on the next play and UCLA was called for a false start on the next snap, bringing up second-and-15 at the USC 32, Garbers’ pass was incomplete and on third down Garbers was sacked for a six-yard loss.
On fourth-and-21 at the USC 38, Will Powers punted 28 yards to the USC 10, where Zachariah Branch called for the fair catch.
USC punts quickly after costly false start penalty
UCLA 7, USC 0, 7:31 left in the first quarter
USC started on its 25 after the UCLA kickoff was not returned.
Caleb Williams pass attempt to Tahj Washington was incomplete. On second down, Williams passed to Brenden Rice for a five-yard gain. USC was called for a false start. On third-and-10, Williams was under heavy pressure before lobbing the ball to tight end Lake McRee for a five-yard gain.
Eddie Czaplicki punted the ball 43 yards and Logan Loya signaled for a fair catch at the UCLA 27.
UCLA quickly scores after USC’s turnover on downs
UCLA 7, USC 0, with 9:15 left in the first quarter
UCLA started on the USC 48 after the Trojans failed to convert on fourth down.
Ethan Garbers started at quarterback and rushed up the middle for 15 yards.
T.J. Harden then rushed for four yards before Garbers completed a pass to Moliki Matavao for a 16-yard gain.
On first down at the USC 6, Harden rushed for three yards. Carson Steele then rushed for two yards and Harden punched the ball in for the one-yard touchdown.
Blake Glessner hit the extra point and the decision to go for it on fourth down at midfield proved costly.
USC fails to convert on fourth down during opening drive
USC 0, UCLA 0, 12:26 left in the first quarter
USC started on its 25.
Caleb Williams passed to Tahj Washington for a 15-yard gain.
Williams then passed to Brenden Rice for an eight-yard gain, but Rice fumbled at the USC 48-yard line. Rice recovered the ball at the USC 48 and the play was reviewed by officials and the call Rice recovered the ball was upheld.
On second-and-two, Austin Jones rushed for a one-yard loss.On third-and-three, Williams passed to Zacharaiah Branch for two yards. And on fourth-and-one, UCLA’s defense stuffed Austin Jones for a one-yard loss as he tried to go up the middle.
And we’re off ...
UCLA won the coin toss and deferred.
The Bruins kicked off and there was a touchback.
Ethan Garbers slated to start at QB vs. USC
Ethan Garbers will start at quarterback for UCLA during today’s rivalry game at the Coliseum. The junior was taking snaps from No. 1 center Duke Clemens during warm-ups.
Garbers was injured during the fourth quarter against Arizona and was available last week on an “emergency” basis, but didn’t play against Arizona State.
Defensive lineman Gary Smith III is out against the Trojans.
Starting OL Jarrett Kingston out for USC against UCLA
USC starting right tackle Jarrett Kingston is not available for Saturday’s rivalry game against UCLA’s formidable defensive front. UCLA’s top edge rusher Laiatu Latu will instead match up against Michael Tarquin, who started at right tackle for the first seven games before he was benched after USC gave up six sacks against Notre Dame.
The Trojans will get back several key players on defense, including linebacker Eric Gentry and nickle Jaylin Smith, who both missed last week’s game against Oregon. Gentry was lined up with the No. 2 defense at inside linebacker during warm-ups while senior Shane Lee was in the starting group. Cornerback Jacobe Covington was also dressed for warm-ups and could be slated for his first game since suffering an undisclosed injury against Arizona.
To give UCLA football any shot at relevancy in the Big Ten, Chip Kelly must go
When the celebrated Chip Kelly was hired as the UCLA coach, school officials bragged that the forlorn football program had finally gotten it right.
“I firmly believe that his passion for the game and his innovative approach to coaching student-athletes make him the perfect fit for our program,” said then-athletic director Dan Guerrero.
“ ‘Champions Made Here’ is more than just a mantra at UCLA, and I’m confident that Chip will lead UCLA football back to competing for championships.”
Six years later, it is obvious that UCLA football has once again gotten it all wrong.
There is no passion. There is no innovation. There is no fit.
Lincoln Riley’s past taught him to be patient while rebuilding USC football program
The toughest year of Lincoln Riley’s otherwise charmed coaching life felt, in a lot of ways, painfully similar to this one. It was 2011, his second season as East Carolina’s offensive coordinator and nothing seemed to be going his or the Pirates’ way.
Injuries struck early. Each week seemed to bring a new bad break. Frustrations snowballed. East Carolina lost four of five games to start the season, then finished by losing three of four to miss a bowl game for the first time in six years.
It wasn’t the way Riley envisioned the second year of his tenure as an offensive wunderkind. He was just 28, the youngest coordinator in college football at the time. Since joining Mike Leach’s Texas Tech staff in 2003 as a student assistant, Riley had never finished below .500 as a football coach.
Chip Kelly focused ‘on what you can control’ as speculation about job status heats up
The coach walked onto UCLA’s practice field, just days before the big rivalry game, and sidestepped questions about his fate.
“The noise, I don’t control,” he said. “My focus is my players and their well-being and teaching them how to move through adversity.”
The coach insisted he had not heard any call for his job.
“I don’t know that there is,” he said. “I’ve not read one article, I’ve not been on the website, I don’t listen to the radio, I don’t watch TV, so I would not have a clue what’s going on outside these walls. If there’s speculation, I don’t know about it.”
The coach said his players were the only thing that mattered.
Is Caleb Williams about to play his last game for USC? The Trojans’ star QB won’t say
Caleb Williams slowly shook his head. He shrugged his shoulders one at a time. He cocked his eyebrow in thought. The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback didn’t know how he would want fans to remember him if Saturday’s game is indeed goodbye.
“I honestly haven’t thought of anything like that,” Williams said.
As Williams wrestled with the disappointment of another championship-less season in college, the potential end of his short but thrilling, two-year USC career apparently snuck up on him. Projected as the No. 1 overall pick, the draft-eligible junior may play his final game at the Coliseum — or his last game in a USC jersey — on Saturday against UCLA.
The Curse of Cade? How one play may have led to 25 years of misery for UCLA football
One play remained. Rivalry revelry was assured.
UCLA was bludgeoning USC at the Rose Bowl a quarter of a century ago.
Ahead by three scores, taking a knee or running up the middle would have been the humane thing to do, even against those terrible Trojans.
Cade McNown leaned into the huddle and relayed the play. As the clock ticked below 20 seconds, the Bruins quarterback stepped behind center and took the snap. He faked a pitch and took off in the other direction, no one there to protect him.
It was a naked bootleg, and a timeless kick in the rear.
“I mean, I still f— hate Cade McNown,” former USC fullback Petros Papadakis said this week with a hearty laugh.
For Chip Kelly and Lincoln Riley, what are the stakes heading into UCLA-USC game?
By the final weeks of UCLA’s 1980 season, Terry Donahue was well aware of the whispers about his future. The Bruins coach had yet to beat USC in his tenure, losing four times in four tries, and in the crosstown rivalry, that just wasn’t cutting it. His fifth attempt, Donahue figured, would be a referendum on his place as UCLA’s coach.
“The word on the street was if I didn’t win the game, I was out,” the longtime Bruins coach told The Times in 2011.
Donahue, who died in 2021, never had to find out if the rumors were true. He beat the Trojans in 1980, kept his job and went to become the winningest coach in Bruins history. His successors at UCLA wouldn’t be quite so fortunate.