UCLA defeats Maryland in a last-minute thriller for its third straight victory

Tim Skipper took a deep breath. What else could he do?

His quarterback had just clutched his right knee and needed assistance to make it off the field with a little more than two minutes left in a taut game in which his team appeared on the verge of losing its magic touch. Skipper had been in enough of these situations to know that sometimes injuries that look scary turn out just fine, so the UCLA interim coach inhaled and waited for the medical staff to render a verdict.

Once Skipper saw Nico Iamaleava starting to walk around the Rose Bowl sideline, his facial expression no longer transfixed in a grimace, the coach figured a team in need of a late break might get one.

“I was like, man, we have a shot here, we have a shot,” Skipper said. “And then they cleared him and I was like, all right, let’s go.”

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UCLA 20, Maryland 17 — FINAL

Mateen Bhaghani kicked a 23-yard field goal as time expired after Anthony Frias II bashed his way to a 35-yard gain on the game’s penultimate play to lift UCLA to it’s third consecutive win in a thriller at the Rose Bowl.

Nico Iamaleava, who had to be helped off the field on the Bruins’ previous possession, returned to help orchestrate the final drive.

UCLA improved to 3-4 overall and 3-1 in Big Ten play.

Maryland (4-3, 1-3) has lost after giving up fourth-quarter leads in its last three games.

🏈 Maryland 17, UCLA 17 — 40 seconds left in fourth quarter

Jalil Farooq caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from Malik Washington, and Sean O’Haire made the extra point to tie the game in the final minute of the fourth quarter.

The play before the touchdown, UCLA was called for holding to give the Terrapins a first down.

A 28-yard scramble by Washington helped fuel the nine-play, 67-yard drive.

UCLA has two timeouts left and Nico Iamaleava will return to the game for UCLA.

🏈 UCLA 17, Maryland 10 — 1:57 left in the fourth quarter

Mateen Bhaghani kicked a 42-yard field goal to extend UCLA’s lead, but quarterback Nico Iamaleava had to be helped off the field after sustaining an apparent knee injury.

On third down, Iamaleava was hit by Maryland defensive lineman Sidney Stewart as he threw away the ball. Iamaleava clutched his right knee immediately and appeared to be in pain as trainers came to his aid.

Iamaleava had to be helped off the field, but he was putting some pressure on both legs as he walked off.

Maryland has two timeouts left; UCLA three.

🏈 UCLA 14, Maryland 10 — 2:11 left in the fourth quarter

UCLA defensive back Scooter Jackson intercepted a pass that bounced off the hands of Maryland wide receiver Kaleb Webb to give UCLA the ball at the Maryland 20.

Both teams each have three timeouts left.

🏈 UCLA 14, Maryland 10 — 3:33 left in the fourth quarter

Mikey Matthews caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Nico Iamaleava to put UCLA back into the lead late in the fourth quarter.

The nine-play, 80-yard drive was UCLA’s best of the game and was the result of UCLA converting on a critical fourth down.

Kwazi Gilmer caught a rocket over the middle from Nico Iamaleava for 16 yards on fourth and 10 to keep the drive alive. In addition, Maryland defensive back Jalen Huskey made helmet-to-helmet contact with Gilmer on the play and was ejected for targeting, resulting in a 15-yard penalty that put the ball on the Maryland 20.

On the first play of the possession, Matthews made a 14-yard reception.

🏈 Maryland 10, UCLA 7 — 7:39 left in the fourth quarter

UCLA’s Mateen Bhaghani missed a 56-yard field-goal attempt to keep it a three-point game in the fourth quarter.

Bhaghani’s kick went wide left, capping a eight-play, 51-yard possession that was fueled by a Titus Mokiao-Atimalala 20-yard catch and a 17-yard reception by Kwazi Gilmer.

Maryland will take over at its 38-yard line. Both teams have three timeouts left.

🏈 Maryland 10, UCLA 7 — 12:25 left in the fourth quarter

Turnovers continue to hurt UCLA’s chances of retaking the lead.

Nico Iamaleava lost the ball on a fumble when Maryland defensive lineman Sidney Stewart knocked it loose before the UCLA quarterback made a forward throwing motion (call was upheld on review). DD Holmes pounced on the loose ball at the Maryland 47.

The play came just after Iamaleava scrambled 20 yards for a first down.

Before that, UCLA was the victim of a botched call by officials who flagged Kwazi Gilmer for a block in the back to erase a big Jalen Berger run even though Gilmer never made contact with a Maryland player.

🏈 Maryland 10, UCLA 7 — End of the third quarter

Maryland freshman defensive lineman Sidney Stewart sacked Nico Iamaleava on third down to force another UCLA punt.

Coming off a pick-six, UCLA started the possession strong when Titus Mokiao-Atimalala caught a 34-yard pass.

But a costly holding penalty on Courtland Ford erased a first-down completion to Mokiao-Atimalala and forced a third-and-long situation that ended with Stewart’s sack.

🏈 Maryland 10, UCLA 7 — 4:40 left in the third quarter

Maryland cornerback Jamare Glasker intercepted a Nico Iamaleava pass intended for Kwazi Gilmer and returned the ball eight yards to put the Terrapins into the lead.

Glasker made a perfect read on the play and jumped in front of Gilmer to make the pick. It was Iamaleava’s second interception of the game.

The errant throw came just two plays after UCLA forced a turnover on downs against Maryland by breaking up a pass in the end zone.

🏈 UCLA 7, Maryland 3 — 5:16 left in the third quarter

UCLA cornerback Andre Jordan Jr. broke up a pass intended for Dorian Fleming in the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the two to keep the Bruins in the lead.

Jordan nearly picked off Malik Washington’s pass, getting one hand on the ball as he leaped up inside Fleming.

The clutch play came after Maryland capitalized on a 41-yard reception by DeJuan Williams to get into the red zone.

🏈 UCLA 7, Maryland 3 — 12:03 left in the third quarter

The UCLA defense held Maryland to its fourth three-and-out of the game to start the second half, with Malik Washington failing to find receiver Shaleak Knotts on third down.

UCLA, however, couldn’t capitalize. After Rico Flores Jr. caught a 10-yard pass for a first down, the Bruins’ first possession of the third quarter sputtered at their 35 and led to another punt.

🏈 UCLA 7, Maryland 3 — HALFTIME

UCLA kept Maryland’s hurry-up offense in check during the final minute of the first half to maintain their lead heading into halftime.

Malik Washington threw a Hail Mary into the end zone that was batted down as time expired.

It’s been a defensive battle since the start. UCLA has 147 total yards and Maryland has 155.

Nico Iamaleava completed eight of 12 passes for 51 yards, with an interception. Washington is 11 for 22 with 98 yards.

Maryland will get the ball to open the second half.

🏈 UCLA 7, Maryland 3 — 56 seconds left in the second quarter

Nico Iamaleava was picked off by Maryland’s Jalen Huskey at the Maryland 25-yard line to end a six-play, 43-yard UCLA drive.

Earlier in the possession, Maryland linebacker Trey Reddick was ejected for targeting on a hit on UCLA wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer following an 18-yard completion.

The UCLA possession came after a Maryland turnover. DeJuan Williams fumbled after being hit by Isaiah Chisom, and JonJon Vaughns pounced on the ball at the UCLA 34.

The turnover happened one play after Williams broke through to the second level on a 23-yard run.

🏈 UCLA 7, Maryland 3 — 5:20 left in the second quarter

UCLA’s fifth possession went nowhere. Maryland defensive tackle Nashir Taylor sacked Nico Iamaleava on third down, forcing UCLA to punt from its end zone. At least they got a 61-yard punt out of Will Karoll.

UCLA’s defense continues to make plays. Cole Martin delivered a big hit on wide receiver Octavian Smith Jr. for no gain on a catch, and tight coverage by cornerback Rodrick Pleasant helped prevent Malik Washington from connecting with Shaleak Knotts on third down.

🏈 UCLA 7, Maryland 3 — 8:46 left in the second quarter

Following UCLA’s touchdown, the Bruins’ defense held Maryland to a three-and-out on the Terrapins’ third possession.

UCLA didn’t fare any better on its ensuing possession, with a Courtland Ford holding penalty wiping out a first-down run for Nico Iamaleava and leading to another Bruins punt.

Iamaleava has completed seven of nine passes for 33 yards so far.

🏈 UCLA 7, Maryland 3 — 12:07 left in the second quarter

Anthony Frias II scored on a 55-yard touchdown run to put the Bruins ahead early in the second quarter.

Frias broke through the middle and found daylight, sprinting through a last-gasp tackle attempt by defensive back Braydon Lee.

The run capped a quick, four-play, 71-yard drive that included Nico Iamaleava connecting on a nine-yard pass to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for nine yards.

🏈 Maryland 3, UCLA 0 — 14:11 left in the second quarter

Sean O’Haire kicked a 24-yard field goal to give Maryland the lead after the Bruins managed to stop the Terrapins at the goal line.

The 18-play, 88-yard drive made it all the way to the UCLA two-yard line. Cole Martin and Rodrick Pleasant then hit Maryland running back DeJuan Williams for a three-yard loss on second down. Maryland quarterback Malik Washington then failed to find Shaleak Knotts in the end zone, with Andre Jordan in tight coverage.

Knotts caught passes of 16 and 32 yards to fuel the drive.

🏈 Maryland 0, UCLA 0 — 7:29 left in the first quarter

On UCLA’s second possession, the Bruins moved to midfield with a pair of third-down conversions before sputtering.

Mateen Bhaghani was going to attempt a 55-yard field goal before a five-yard delay of game penalty on UCLA convinced interim coach Tim Skipper to punt instead.

UCLA running back Jalen Berger has 16 yards on three carries and Nico Iamaleava has completed four of six passes for 17 yards.

🏈 Maryland 0, UCLA 0 — 12:06 left in the first quarter

UCLA went three-and-out on its opening possession after the Terrapins collapsed on Nico Iamaleava as he tried to shoot up the middle on third down.

The Bruins did much of the same on Maryland’s ensuing possession. UCLA cornerback Rodrick Pleasant nearly picked off a Malik Washington pass intended for Shaleak Knotts on third down to force a three-and-out.

Fox College Football tweeted that “The Jerry Neuheisel Era has begun with the Bruins.”

ESPN personality Pat McAfee added to the chorus of adoration for UCLA’s new playcaller, tweeting that Neuheisel “just might be a football wizard.”

Other media and sports betting sites tweeting about the Bruins’ turnaround from 0-4 to darlings of the college football world prominently featured pictures of the blond-haired assistant coach.

It was enough to prompt the sports media website Awful Announcing to ask: “Does anyone know that Tim Skipper is actually UCLA’s interim head coach, not Jerry Neuheisel?”

UCLA had nearly rinsed all of the stain off its horrible start to the football season Saturday when the spin cycle commenced in the press box.

Late in the third quarter, with the Bruins pummeling Michigan State and well on the way to a second consecutive impressive victory, athletic director Martin Jarmond approached me at my seat inside Spartan Stadium.

The visit had a dual purpose. Jarmond wanted to take credit for the team’s turnaround under its new coaching staff and also plead for more positive coverage, saying a recent article I had written about his leadership was one-sided even though he had not read it. Jarmond asked me to be fair and balanced, saying there were many others I did not speak with who were supportive of the work he had done in his more than five years on the job.

They’re calling their favorite audible again.

One quarterback guru contacts the other, asking for help in creating a dynamic offense.

The answer is always yes. The results say as much about Jerry Neuheisel and Noel Mazzone’s devotion to one another as they do about their ability to mass-produce yards and points for UCLA.

“No matter what happens,” Neuheisel said in an interview with The Times, “as long as you’re around him you have a smile on your face.”

EAST LANSING, Mich. — The sheet of paper greeted every UCLA player as he stepped into his row and took his seat on the team plane.

On it, in large block letters, was printed six words and a challenge from their interim coach: “ARE YOU A ONE-HIT WONDER?”

A week after upsetting Penn State, the Bruins answered emphatically.

Hell, no!

These guys had another triumph in them. A big one.

In an encore that was every bit the success of its smash debut under a makeshift coaching staff, UCLA continued its stunning transformation from winless team to … Big Ten powerhouse? College Football Playoff contender? Sports comeback story of the year?

Historians looking back at UCLA’s 2025 football season will peg the Penn State game as the Bruins’ first victory.

In ways both large and small, they will be wrong.

When Tim Skipper first took over the team a month ago, he placed a new opponent on the schedule: the locker room. The interim coach showed players pictures of how it should look, including the lockers and the surrounding floor.

They scrubbed the place and it’s been spotless ever since. Sort of like the Bruins’ play starting with that Penn State game.