Despite losing record, UCLA could qualify for a bowl game with win over Cal

UCLA qualifying for a bowl game would be a four-step process with one vital prerequisite.

“First of all,” Bruins Coach Jim Mora said Monday, “we have to beat Cal.”

A victory over the Golden Bears on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley would give UCLA a 5-7 record, potentially putting it in play for a sixth consecutive bowl appearance.

The Bruins would need there to be a shortage of teams with .500 or better records to fill the 80 slots of the 40 bowl games, not including the national championship. Nebraska, San Jose State and Minnesota all advanced to bowl games last season with 5-7 records because of unexpected vacancies.

A third requirement would be for UCLA’s Academic Progress Rate scores to meet or exceed those of the other candidates vying to fill bowl openings. That’s the metric the NCAA uses to reward eligible teams with the extra game. The Bruins’ APR of 972 for the 2014-15 academic year is comparable to those that helped the three teams with losing records gain bowl entry last season.

Finally, there’s the matter of whether the Bruins would want to play in a bowl game with a losing record at the risk of diminishing their brand. Mora sounded as if he would be in favor of another game but said he needed to confer with UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero before commenting publicly.

“I like to play football,” Mora said, “but I also respect our athletic director and would not want to say anything dogmatic without discussing it first with him.”

There would be a handful of benefits to playing in a bowl game. UCLA (4-7 overall, 2-6 in Pac-12 Conference play) would get to reward its players amid a disappointing season. The extra game would also lead to bonus practices for a team trying to develop young players for next season.

“We’d have a chance to go out on that field and create competition in practice, we’d have a chance to create some periods where we could work in some of the guys who are redshirting as freshmen and really get them good, quality repetitions as we get ready to go into winter and then spring,” Mora said.

Nebraska showed how momentum could be generated by the additional work. The Cornhuskers defeated the Bruins in the Foster Farms Bowl last season, a prelude to a strong 2016 in which they’ve gone 9-2.

San Jose State and Minnesota also won their bowl games last season, diminishing some of the criticism that teams with losing records shouldn’t be allowed to keep playing.

“They play hard because they’re not really supposed to be there because they don’t have the six wins,” UCLA linebacker Jayon Brown said, “but when they’re coming in, they’re coming in hard and you better be ready.”

A fine line

Some footage of UCLA’s 36-14 loss to USC wasn’t as painful to watch as expected. It involved the play of the Bruins’ offensive line.

“They did move some people off the line; we didn’t give up any sacks,” Mora said.

Mora praised the efforts of a short-handed group that was missing tackle Kolton Miller and guard Kenny Lacy because of injuries. The coach said tackle Andre James “took a step forward,” tackle Conor McDermott played well, guard Najee Toran “fought his tail off” while playing with a pinched nerve in his neck and guard Poasi Moala “came in and did some good things” and “made progress.”

“There’s never a perfect game,” Mora said, noting quarterback Mike Fafaul faced some pressure, “but that’s a group that played well.”

Lacy is expected to return from an ankle injury and play against Cal, Mora said.

Quick hits

Mora said fullback Ainuu Taua was also playing defensive end in certain rushing situations to provide bulk along the line. Taua and Cameron Griffin are no longer exclusively fullbacks because the Bruins have not used as many heavy offensive sets featuring two tight ends and a fullback since the early part of the season. … Mora said receiver Kenneth Walker III, who did not make a catch in either of the last two games after returning from a concussion, has been hampered by an ankle injury. … Tight end Nate Iese (knee) is expected to play against Cal after sitting out against USC, Mora said.

ben.bolch@latimes.com

Twitter: @latbbolch