UCLA at Northwestern
When: 12:30 p.m. PT Saturday
Where: Martin Stadium. Evanston, Illinois
TV/radio: Big Ten Network/790 AM
Records: UCLA 0-3 (0-0 Big Ten), Northwestern 1-2 (0-1 Big Ten)
Line: Northwestern by 6.5
Notable injuries
UCLA: OUT: DL Nico Davillier (personal reasons), WR Rico Flores Jr. (torn ACL, estimated return: October), DL Robert James III (undisclosed, season ending), DL Tyler Partlow (undisclosed), WR Jonah Smith (undisclosed, season ending), QB Pierce Clarkson (indefinitely suspended); QUESTIONABLE: WR Jadyn Marshall (undisclosed), LB Ben Perry (undisclosed), DB LaRue Zamarano III (undisclosed), DB Croix Stewart (undisclosed), OL Jaylen Jeffers (undisclosed), DB Kuron Jabari Jr. (undisclosed), DB Jamier Johnson (undisclosed), OL K.D. Arnold (undisclosed), OL Caleb Walker (undisclosed).
Northwestern: OUT: RB Cam Porter (season-ending injury); QUESTIONABLE: DB Damon Walters (undisclosed), DB Jalen Lewis (undisclosed), LB Matthew Smith (undisclosed), LB Nigel Glover (undisclosed), DL Callen Campbell (undisclosed), TE Tyler Kielmeyer (undisclosed), OL Matt Keeler (undisclosed), OL Jace Borcherding (undisclosed), OL Jack Bailey (undisclosed), WR Braden Blueitt (undisclosed), P Nikola Dugandzic (undisclosed), DL Caden O’Rourke (undisclosed), DL Migo Jackon (undisclosed), DL Braxton Strong (undisclosed).
What’s at stake: We’re just three games into the season – and at this rate, for both teams, it might be pride that is at stake. Northwestern and UCLA have definite shots at going winless in Big Ten play. Where the teams truly differ, however, comes with morale at this moment. UCLA hit rock bottom following its loss to New Mexico in Week 3, leading to interim coach Tim Skipper taking over for DeShaun Foster, who was dismissed two days after the Bruins stumbled against the Lobos. A trip to Lake Michigan could be just what the doctor ordered to take the sting out of the harsh reality of an already wash year in Westwood. For the Wildcats, a victory to prove they’re more than a bottom-dweller in the conference could help reshape the football program’s identity, which is still unclear since the university parted ways with Pat Fitzgerald two seasons ago.
Who’s better? It’s fair to place Northwestern far ahead of UCLA on the competitiveness spectrum; enough so that claiming the Wildcats are clearly better than the Bruins is a sure statement. Oregon defeated Northwestern by only 20 points last week at Martin Stadium – the Ducks not piling on in the same way they had in weeks previous. Maybe there’s something to say about the might of the David Braun-led Wildcats. However, talent-wise – considering the quality of talent on paper – UCLA should feel confident if it truly turned a corner with Skipper leading the Bruins into Evanston.
UCLA wins if: The Bruins can play fundamentally sound football. UCLA has focused on the fundamentals for a few weeks now, but maybe the practice effort will emerge on the gridiron Saturday. Cutting down on penalties, missed tackles and faulty blocking assignments could push the winless Bruins over the hump. It’s easier said than done, but the increased intensity over the past week and a half suggests the Bruins may just slip into the win column.
Prediction: UCLA 17, Northwestern 14. Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava admitted feeling stress after three consecutive defeats with the weight of national college football discourse on his shoulders. Defeating the Wildcats could be the Bruins’ final chance to lift pressure off their quarterback, and maybe change the tune going forward in Westwood.