Rome was not built in a day.
And the Bruins’ success will not be either.
UCLA football (0-2) has an opportunity to lay its first brick when it faces New Mexico (1-1) at the Rose Bowl on Friday night. The two squads have faced off just once before – a 27-13 Bruin victory in Las Vegas in 2002.
UCLA is coming off back-to-back defeats – including last week’s setback to UNLV that marked its first 0-2 start since 2019 – while New Mexico defeated Idaho last week by 10 and held its Michigan face-off within three scores.
While the 20-point halftime deficit against UNLV was nearly erased, UCLA’s final efforts were squashed when redshirt sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava threw an interception during the offense’s final drive, halting the Bruins on the Rebels’ 24-yard line.
“If we can put together two halves like we did in that second half and play like that earlier on, then a lot of these numbers might be a little different,” said coach DeShaun Foster. “We played a really good team in that first game (versus Utah). And that second game didn’t necessarily start the way we wanted to. I was glad they were able to come out after half and start executing the way they needed to, because a lot of it is just execution.”
This time around, the Bruins have had less time to get their bearings, jumping into practice Sunday to prepare for their sole Friday matchup of the season – and leaving them with one less day of break and preparation.
Nonetheless, the Bruins can look towards their upcoming affair as an opportunity to start fresh, especially after Iamaleava threw for a sub-75 Quarterback Rating in both games. Additionally, UCLA’s offense sported just three touchdowns across those contests.
“Football is a complicated but easy game if we all do our job,” said redshirt junior tight end Jack Pedersen. “Nico’s a great leader, great sport. All 10 other guys on the field around him, we need to go out there and execute and be able to string it altogether all at once.”
And the Lobos could be the perfect opponent to retool the offense.
New Mexico’s defense has allowed over 500 receiving yards through its first two games, contributing to a total of 56 points. The starting secondary features three new members and is led by cornerback Abraham Williams and safety Tavian Combs, who each have 11 tackles.
Squaring off against an inexperienced nickel personnel could allow Iamaleava to feed deep targets to his downfield threats. The Long Beach, California, local threw for just 136 yards against Utah, but improved that mark to 255 against UNLV, highlighted by sophomore wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer’s eight catches for 87 yards.
But the Bruins could make their biggest impact defensively.
After facing two dual-threat quarterbacks in Utah’s Devon Dampier and UNLV’s Anthony Colandrea – both of whom posted double-digit carries against UCLA – New Mexico’s Jack Layne offers a chance for increased pass rush opportunities with his increased pocket presence and lack of leg usage. The former Idaho signal caller tends to sit behind his offensive line, an area that may be exploitable.
“Their offensive line is coached pretty well,” said redshirt junior defensive lineman Anthony Jones. “I do think we have an advantage as a defensive line, just matchup for matchup.”
Layne has been sacked five times and forced into three interceptions through two games.
While their run-blocking made way for 216 rushing yards last week, the Lobos posted just 50 in the game prior against Michigan. And a Bruin defense that has allowed 434 ground yards to open 2025 may seek to replicate the Wolverines’ success.
“It’s really just trusting the process,” Jones said. “Getting in with Coach Malloe (defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe), Coach Jet (defensive line coach Jethro Franklin), and understanding the little ins and outs of the defense. … The defense is known to work, so we have to learn how to play off one another.”
The Lobos may pose yet another threat, but it is one that the Bruins are bracing for.
And as unsuccessful a start as UCLA may seem to have had, the team is not letting it tarnish its spirits.
“All of us, myself included, are just ecstatic for a new opportunity to get on the field and really show what this team is about and how we play Bruin football,” Pedersen said. “It’s a great opportunity. New Mexico is a great team. They’re going to come into the Rose Bowl amped to play us, and we’re amped to play them.”
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