UCLA suffers stunning blowout loss to New Mexico at Rose Bowl

Once scheduled for a Saturday, UCLA’s final nonconference game was quietly pushed up a day last spring to provide a bigger spotlight for the Bruins.

It revealed perhaps the biggest embarrassment of the early college football season.

There’s no other way to spin it for UCLA after a third consecutive loss during what was supposed to be the soft part of the schedule raised a frightening prospect: Will the Bruins win a game this season?

They didn’t look capable of beating a quality high school team after dropping a second consecutive game to a Mountain West Conference opponent.

New Mexico 35, UCLA 10, end of game

UCLA starts on its 25 after the touchback.

Anthony Woods ran for five yards. Woods then ran for three yards.

New Mexico defeated a Power Four school for the first time since 2008.

New Mexico 35, UCLA 10, 36 seconds left in the fourth quarter

New Mexico started on its 26. Damon Bankston ran for one yard before UCLA called timeout. Bankston then ran for 54 yards before stepping out of bounds.

Bankston ran for four yards. D.J. McKinney then ran for four yards and another four yards.

On first-and-goal at the UCLA 7, McKinney ran for four yards to the UCLA 3. McKinney then ran for a three-yard touchdown.

New Mexico hit the extra point to close out its victory.

New Mexico 28, UCLA 10, 3:58 left in the fourth quarter

UCLA started on its 25 after the touchback.

Nico Iamaleava passed to Anthony Woods for eight yards. Iamaleava passed to Woods again for three yards and six yards. Iamaleava passed to Jack Pedersen for two yards. Jaivian Thomas ran for three yards. Iamaleava passed to Thomas for 11 yards. Iamaleava passed to Thomas for eight yards. Iamaleava passed to Hudson Habermehl for no gain.

Iamaleava tossed the ball across the middle, the ball was tipped by Jaxton Eck and Tavian Combs intercepted it. Combs returned it for 12 yards. The play was reviewed for potential targeting on receiver Jalen Saint Paul, but officials determined there was no penalty.

New Mexico 21, UCLA 10, 9:13 left in the fourth quarter

UCLA starts on is 35 after the touchback.

Nico Iamaleava passed to Kwazi Gilmer for 11 yards. UCLA was then called for a false start after Gilmer was not set before the snap. Iamaleava’s pass up the middle after a bad snap was broken up and nearly intercepted by Drew Speech.

Iamaleava tossed the ball up the middle toward Mikey Matthews, but the pass was broken up.

Iamaleava passed to Anthony Woods for 11 yards.

On fourth-and-four, Iamaleava tossed an incomplete pass and New Mexico took over on its 38. Officials reviewed the play and determined New Mexico did not target Iamaleava on a hit at the end of the play.

New Mexico 21, UCLA 10, 10:42 left in the fourth quarter

With New Mexico facing third-and-three at the UCLA 32, D.J. McKinney ran for two yards. On fourth-and-one, McKinney ran for two yards to the UCLA 28.

McKinney ran for two yards. Layne passed to Dorian Thomas for 11 yards. After two handoffs, McKinney ran for nine yards. Damon Bankston ran for four yards to the UCLA 2. Bankston ran for a two-yard touchdown.

New Mexico hit the extra point to extend its lead.

New Mexico 14, UCLA 10, end of third quarter

New Mexico starts on its 25.

Jack Layne tossed a deep incomplete pass.

D.J. McKinney ran for 11 yards. Damon Bankston then ran for five yards. Bankston then ran for 20 yards. Bankston carried the ball again, gaining two yards. Layne passed to Deshaun Buchanan for five yards.

With New Mexico facing third-and-three at the UCLA 32, time expired in the third quarter.

New Mexico 14, UCLA 10, 3:34 left in the third quarter

UCLA started on its 3 after the Bruins’ defense forced its first turnover of the season.

Nico Iamaleava’s pass was broken up by Jon Johnson. Anthony Woods ran for three yards. Iamaleava then spiked the football as the play quickly fell apart.

UCLA punted from its end zone.

Michael Buckley muffed the punt and the Bruins recovered on its 40.

Iamaleava passed to Mikey Matthews for 28 yards.

Iamaleava passed to Kwazi Gilmer for six yards. Jaivian Thomas ran for a loss of two yards. UCLA was called for back-to-back false start penalties, the Bruins’ 12th penalty of the game. On third-and-16 at the New Mexico 37, Iamaleava was nearly sacked before he was pushed out of bounds after a gain of four yards.

Mateen Bhaghani hit a 51-yard field goal to trim New Mexico’s lead.

New Mexico 14, UCLA 7, 7:33 left in the third quarter

New Mexico started on its 38 after a UCLA penalty.

Damon Bankston ran for seven yards and then another two yards. New Mexico was called for false start. On third-and-five, Jack Layne ran for no gain but UCLA was called for a face mask penalty.

D.J. McKinney ran for six yards and then another two yards.

On third-and-one at the UCLA 33, New Mexico called timeout. McKinney ran for four yards. Layne then passed for 15 yards. Layne ran for no gain. McKinney ran for seven yards. On third-and-three at UCLA 7, McKinney ran for two yards.

McKinney went for it on fourth down in the red zone for the third time this game. Deshaun Buchanan gained two yards before Key Lawrence forced a fumble at the UCLA 3. Devin Aupiu recovered the ball.

New Mexico 14, UCLA 7, 14:41 left in the third quarter

UCLA started on its 35.

Nico Iamaleava tossed three consecutive incomplete passes.

Bruin Salem Abdul-Wahab was called for holding on the punt and New Mexico got the ball its 38.

New Mexico 14, UCLA 7, end of second quarter

Some unusual time management calls hindered UCLA’s push to turn a stop into a score before time expired in the first half.

New Mexico started on its 24.

Damon Bankston ran for one yard. Jack Layne passed to Dorian Thomas for 20 yards. Bankston then ran for 43 yards to the UCLA 12. Bankston then ran for four yards. D.J. McKinney ran for three yards. On third-and-three, the two-minute timeout was triggered. Bankston ran for two yards. The play call was reviewed and eventually upheld.

On fourth-and-one at UCLA 3, UCLA let New Mexico run 40 seconds run off the clock before the Lobos called timeout without snapping the ball. Layne carried the ball for no gain, turning the ball over to the UCLA offense.

On first down at the UCLA, Anthony Woods ran for no gain. He then ran for nine yards. With 25 seconds left, UCLA called timeout. On third-and-one, Iamaleava ran for nine yards. Iamaleava passed to Hudson Habermehl for five yards.

UCLA called timeout with 11 seconds left.

Iamaleava passed to Kwazi Gilmer for 20 yards.

UCLA called timeout with four seconds left.

Iamaleava passed to Habermehl for five yards. The officials reviewed the play to see whether there was any time left when Habermehl stepped out of bounds.

Officials ruled there is one second left on the game clock.

UCLA was called for a false start. On second-and-nine at the UCLA 47, New Mexico called timeout. Woods ran 33 yards for a first down as time expired.

New Mexico 14, UCLA 7, 5:09 left in second quarter

UCLA started on its 27 after a punt return penalty.

Anthony Woods ran for two yards. Nico Iamaleava scrambled for nine yards. Iamaleava tossed an incomplete pass after a miscommunication with Kwazi Gilmer on his route. Jaivian Thomas ran for seven yards. On third-and-two, Jalen Berger ran for one yard.

On fourth-and-one at the UCLA 30, the Bruins punted.

New Mexico’s Michael Buckley muffed the punt but recovered at the Lobos’ 24.

New Mexico 14, UCLA 7, 7:48 left in second quarter

New Mexico started on its 25 after the touchback.

D.J. McKinney ran for three yards. Jack Layne rolled right and tossed the ball out of bounds under pressure. On third-and-seven, Layne’s deep pass was broken up by Kanye Clark and fell incomplete.

The Lobos punted, but they were called for false start for a loss of five yards. The Lobos punted again and Mikey Matthews returned it to the UCLA 42. UCLA was called for an illegal blindside block on the return, moving the ball back to the UCLA 27.

New Mexico 14, UCLA 7, 8:59 left in second quarter

UCLA started on its 22 after a brief kickoff return.

Nico Iamaleava passed to Mikey Matthews for 32 yards. Iamaleava looked up field for Kwazi Gilmer in double coverage, but Gilmer could not pull it in. Iamaleava passed to Gilmer for 12 yards.

On first down at the New Mexico 34, UCLA was called for false start on Gilmer for a loss of five yards. It was UCLA’s fourth penalty of the game.

Iamaleava passed to Anthony Woods for no gain. Iamaleava passed to Matthews for seven yards. New Mexico was called for roughing the passer on the play for a loss of 15 yards.

Iamaleava passed to Hudson Habermehl for nine yards. Anthony Woods ran for one yard.

On first-and-goal at the New Mexico 7, UCLA was called for illegal substitution for a five-yard loss. Iamaleava passed to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for a 12-yard touchdown.

Mateen Bhaghani hit the extra point to cut New Mexico’s lead.

New Mexico 14, UCLA 0, 12:43 left in second quarter

New Mexico continued its drive on UCLA’s 16.

D.J. McKinney ran for two yards on first down. Jack Layne passed for three yards. On third-and-five, Layne passed to Damon Bankston for three yards.

On fourth-and-two, Layne passed to Simon Mapa for what was called an eight-yard touchdown. Replay officials confirmed the call despite UCLA protests it stripped the ball after the catch and before the play was dead. The Lobos hit the extra point to extend their lead.

New Mexico 7, UCLA 0, end of first quarter

New Mexico started on its 36.

Damon Bankston ran for three yards. Jack Layne passed to Xavier Slayton for 14 yards. UCLA’s Keanu Williams was called for hands to he face and New Mexico got an extra 15 yards tacked onto the end of the play.

Scottre Humphey ran up the middle for 11 yards to the UCLA 16 as time expired in the first quarter.

New Mexico averaged 6.4 yards per carry during the first quarter.

New Mexico 7, UCLA 0, 1:39 left in the first quarter

UCLA was called for a personal foul penalty on the New Mexico extra point attempt, and the 15-yard penalty was enforced on the ensuing kickoff.

New Mexico kicked the ball to the UCLA 9 and it was returned to the UCLA 17.

Nico Iamaleava tossed an incomplete pass. Anthony Woods ran and it appeared Xavier Slayton forced a fumble recovered by New Mexico at the UCLA 27. After review, Woods was ruled down by contact and officials determined there was no turnover.

On third-and-five at the UCLA 22, Iamaleava ran for one yard.

UCLA punted and New Mexico took a fair catch at its 36.

New Mexico 7, UCLA 0, 3:10 left in the first quarter

New Mexico started the drive on its 36 after a UCLA penalty on the punt return.

Scottre Humphrey ran for 10 yards. Humphrey then ran for 19 yards.

New Mexico stick with Humphrey, running for two yards and another five yards. On third-and-three, D.J. McKinney ran for nine yards.

McKinney ran up the middle for five yards.

Jack Layne passed to Dorian Thomas for 10 yards.

On first and goal at the UCLA 4, James Laubstein ran for three yards. On second-and-goal at the UCLA 1, Humphrey ran for a one-yard touchdown.

New Mexico hit the extra point to complete the nine-play, 64-yard scoring drive.

UCLA 0, New Mexico 0, 8:35 left in the first quarter

UCLA started on its 10.

Nico Iamaleava passed to Kwazi Gilmer for seven yards. UCLA was called for false start. On second-and-eight, Jaivian Thomas ran for six yards. On third-and-two, Iamaleava ran for six yards.

Iamaleava passed to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for 13 yards. Anthony Woods then ran for three yards to the UCLA 40. Iamaleava ran for four yards. On third-and-three, Jalen Berger ran a slow developing reverse and was dropped for a three-yard loss on the play.

On fourth-and-six at the UCLA 41, Will Karoll punted 38 yards to the New Mexico 21. Michael Buckley caught the ball and UCLA’s Kanye Clark was called for catcher interference, giving New Mexico another 15 yards on the play.

UCLA 0, New Mexico 0, 13:23 left in first quarter

New Mexico started on its 25.

The Lobos did a series of pitches before Jack Layne passed to D.J. McKinney for 20 yards.

Michael Buckley then attempted a deep pass that was off target. Jack Layne tossed an incomplete pass and ran for two yards before New Mexico punted to the UCLA 10-yard line.

UCLA 0, New Mexico 0, start of first quarter

New Mexico won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff.

The most densely packed section inside the Rose Bowl on Saturday was filled with fans wearing the colors of the visiting team.

Swathed in red and white, they crammed into one corner of the century-old stadium for what amounted to a nightlong celebration.

Fans cheering for the home team were more subdued and scattered throughout a stadium that seemed about one-third full, outnumbered by empty seats, visiting fans and those massive blue-and-gold tarps covering most of each end zone. Deliberately or not, Fox cameras inside the stadium showed those watching from home only wide shots filled with graphics that obscured the paltry crowd.

From his seat inside Allegiant Stadium last weekend, Jorge Morales surrounded himself with the UCLA football gameday essentials.

Pizza. Beer. The Bruins’ roster pulled up on his cellphone.

During the game’s first series, the lifelong fan saw No. 15 on the UCLA defense surge into the Nevada Las Vegas backfield. Morales wondered about the identity of this fast, feisty edge rusher and looked him up. It was Anthony Jones, a transfer from Michigan State.

Later, Morales watched No. 3 in coverage and commenced another search. It was defensive back Robert Stafford III, a transfer from Miami (Fla.).

In December, DeShaun Foster touted mass turnover as a reason to think he could win big in Year 2, citing the quick turnaround at Colorado under Deion Sanders.

On Saturday, UCLA’s football coach used mass turnover as an explanation for his team’s 0-2 start.

“I have a lot of new people,” Foster said after his team’s 30-23 loss to Nevada Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium left it as the only winless team in the Big Ten. “I’m not somebody who’s going to come up here and give you guys excuses and everything, but I have a lot of new people and we’re still finding ways to come together and really rely on each other and we’re going to continue to build and it’s a long season.”

LAS VEGAS — This wasn’t close, no matter what the scoreboard said. This was a full-blown debacle.

Given a chance to quickly right things after a season-opening blowout loss, UCLA instead doubled down on disappointment.

There was another terrible start. A defense that was slow and often out of position. An offense couldn’t sustain drives until it was too late.

Even with an inspired comeback that fell short after a Nico Iamaleava pass was tipped and intercepted with 52 seconds left, the Bruins’ 30-23 loss to Nevada Las Vegas on Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium showcased many of the same problems that had plagued them a week ago.

The numbers are in, and they’re not good.

None of them.

There are 134 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision. UCLA ranks near the bottom in the most significant statistical categories, a big reason the Bruins have started the season 0-2.

Scoring offense? The Bruins are tied for No. 115, averaging 16.5 points per game.

Scoring defense? UCLA is tied for No. 120, giving up 36.5 points per game.

Penalties? The Bruins are No. 121, averaging 79.5 yards per game.

Opposing third-down conversions? UCLA is No. 133, opponents converting 70.4% of their chances.