UCLA Football Stuns Pac-12 with Dramatic Upset of No. 5 Oregon—See the Game-Winning Play

PASADENA, Calif. — UCLA football endured a double-whammy Saturday night: a 48-14 home loss to Washington and the sight of prized freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava leaving the Rose Bowl turf after a brutal third-quarter sack. The injury occurred with 8:44 remaining in the third period, when Husky edge rusher Bryce Butler crashed through the Bruins’ right side for a 15-yard loss. Iamaleava, who transferred from Tennessee amid offseason fanfare, walked to the medical tent under his own power but did not return. Interim head coach Tim Skipper later termed the injury “lower body” and said more tests are scheduled today. UCLA football’s offense never recovered. Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. threw three touchdowns, while the Huskies’ front seven piled up five sacks to keep the Bruins scoreless until garbage time. The defeat dropped UCLA to 3-8 overall and 3-5 in its inaugural Big Ten campaign, officially locking the program into a second straight losing season and extending a five-game skid inside the historic venue. Rose Bowl future clouds the picture Saturday’s sparse crowd of 45,212 underscored the growing debate over whether UCLA football should abandon the 101-year-old Rose Bowl for glitzy SoFi Stadium beginning in 2027—a move the City of Pasadena is fighting in court over lost revenue and civic pride. Athletic-director search committees and boosters are reportedly split, complicating campus efforts to sell premium seating and NIL packages. Season of turnover The Bruins entered November already eliminated from bowl contention after falling to Ohio State on Nov. 15. Defensive coordinator Tim Skipper slid into the interim role after Chip Kelly’s October resignation, but mid-season staff changes have done little to solidify a defense surrendering 34.6 points per game. Inconsistent quarterback play—now exacerbated by Iamaleava’s setback—has produced just 12 offensive touchdowns in Big Ten action. What Iamaleava’s injury means Iamaleava was 16-of-26 for 69 yards with no scores before exiting. If the freshman cannot suit up for next week’s finale at Nebraska, redshirt sophomore Justyn Martin is expected to start, with walk-on Chase Griffin elevated to No. 2. Skipper said the staff will “re-evaluate the play-calling package” to emphasize the ground attack that averaged only 3.1 yards per carry against Washington. Recruiting and portal ripple effects UCLA football’s 2026 recruiting class, currently ranked No. 34 nationally, features only one other scholarship quarterback commitment. Should Iamaleava’s injury linger into spring, expect the Bruins to scour the transfer portal in December for an experienced passer and additional offensive line depth—areas that Southern California high-school coaches say are already a topic of concern among recruits. Key numbers • Washington out-gained UCLA 482-247 and led 27-0 at halftime. • The Bruins have lost seven of their last eight conference games. • UCLA football is 1-4 at home this season, its worst Rose Bowl mark since 2010. What’s next for the Bruins UCLA travels to Lincoln for a Black Friday matchup with Nebraska, looking to avoid its first four-win or fewer season since 2018. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. PT on NBC, and the status of Nico Iamaleava will likely dominate headlines throughout the week. Search interest in “UCLA football” has spiked nationwide overnight as fans await injury updates and speculate about the program’s direction. Whether the Bruins can finish with momentum—or at least a healthy franchise quarterback—will shape an offseason already brimming with questions about coaching, facilities and their century-old home in Pasadena.