UCLA vs. California: Bruins will focus on quarterback, and the run

UCLA plays California on Thursday at the Rose Bowl in what could be a changing of the guard moment among the UC system’s most prominent football teams. The Bears come into the game ranked 20th in the Associated Press media poll. The Bruins, who are 0 for October, are unranked. Times staff writer Chris Foster examines the game’s matchups and story lines:

Déjà vu?

UCLA would like history to repeat itself.

A year ago, the Bruins bounced back from back-to-back losses in October with consecutive wins over California and Colorado. They play Cal Thursday and Colorado at the Rose Bowl on Oct. 31.

However, the two victories last season were hard-earned. UCLA needed an interception by Marcus Rios with 56 seconds remaining to preserve a 36-34 win over Cal. Against Colorado, the Bruins defense, backed up to its own 18-yard line, limited Colorado to a game-tying field goal with two minutes left, enabling UCLA to win in overtime, 40-37.

It remains to be seen whether the Bruins’ injury-ravaged defense is capable of game-saving moments this season.

The key against California’s offense, UCLA coaches say, is putting pressure on quarterback Jared Goff. The Bruins have only nine sacks this season, five of which came in one game.

The game plan against Goff, Coach Jim Mora said, is to “make him throw into tight windows. You’ve got to contain him. You’ve got to hold up in coverage. You’ve got to stop the run to get him in some third-and-long situations.”

Not just Goff

Goff is the focal point, but the Bruins have issues against the run. And the Bears are not one dimensional.

Khalfani Muhammad has rushed for 374 yards and averages 8.7 yards per carry.

What the Bruins have to do is limit the damage. Their defense has allowed 14 gains of 25 yards or more in the last three games.

“Our big problem has been giving up the big play,” defensive coordinator Tom Bradley said. “Teams are going to nick you. They are going to move the ball. You don’t want to give up those explosive plays.”

Rosen relief

California averages 40.2 points per game and has shown an ability to win close games against Texas (45-44), Washington (30-24) and Washington State (34-28).

UCLA’s best chance may be to play scoreboard-tag (touchdown, you’re it). Josh Rosen, UCLA’s freshman quarterback, has put points on the board the last two games, though the passing game was allowed to go to work against Arizona State only after the Sun Devils took a 29-10 lead in the second half.

Against Stanford, Rosen was unleashed earlier. UCLA’s first six plays were passes, and Rosen had a 70-yard touchdown throw to Darren Andrews in the first quarter that momentarily kept the Bruins in the game. He finished 325 yards passing and three touchdowns, though two came against Stanford reserves in the fourth quarter.

Cal has intercepted 12 passes, tied for fifth nationally.

Not so rose-y

UCLA has had trouble at the Rose Bowl since Mora has been coach, with a 9-6 record at home in Pac-12 play since 2012.

Pac-12 teams are 12-8 on the road in conference play this season, but Cal has lost six of its last seven games in Pasadena.

Injury report

The Bruins will be without backup running back Nate Starks, who has a head injury. They will also likely be without tackle Conor McDermott (knee), who usually protects Rosen’s blind side, and linebacker Deon Hollins (knee), the defense’s best player on the edge.

Chris.foster@latimes.com