UCLA’s head coach Bob Chesney chose to stick with his classic all-black outfit on Saturday, a familiar look for him.
Meanwhile, San Diego State seemed to wear their struggles on their sleeves.
Just days after their coach had taken a jab at the Bruins, implying a sense of arrogance due to their “polos, khakis, and resources,” the Aztecs ended up showcasing themselves as the lesser team. It wasn’t easy for UCLA as they had to overcome a scoreless first half before finally finding their rhythm on offense.
The Bruins pulled off a convincing 28-10 win at the Rose Bowl, largely thanks to a solid defensive effort and the game-changing performance of Wayne Knight, who helped ignite the running game.
Knight scored three touchdowns in the second half, one of which—a 7-yard run—came with just seven minutes left in the game, where he effortlessly cut to the outside and dashed into the end zone untouched.
This extended the Bruins’ lead to two scores. Shortly after, UCLA linebacker Jalen Woods intercepted a pass deep in San Diego State territory, sealing the Aztecs’ fate. Eventually, UCLA running back Jaivian Thomas added a 2-yard touchdown run, stretching the margin to 21-3.
So far this season, UCLA has outdone itself by achieving more rushing touchdowns (10) in just two games than they managed throughout last season (eight). Knight led the way on Saturday with 97 yards on 13 carries, bringing his season total to six rushing touchdowns.
This game also reinforced one of the coach’s favorite maxims: the halftime score is perhaps the most meaningless stat in college football.
A week earlier, UCLA had rallied with 21 points against Cal in the fourth quarter, and they showed a similar resilience against San Diego State (0-2).
With a total of 365 offensive yards compared to the Aztecs’ 189, the Bruins moved to a 2-0 record for the first time since 2023. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava completed 14 of 22 passes for 151 yards and also rushed for 57 yards.
This win was unconventional, to say the least.
Despite Iamaleava’s greater success on the ground than through the air, he led the team deep into San Diego State territory on the first drive of the second half. Knight finally broke the scoring drought for UCLA with an 8-yard touchdown run, slipping away from a defender near the goal line.
However, the first half had been a source of frustration, concluding in a rather fittingly disappointing manner—Iamaleava struggled, shaking off a defender only to deliver a shaky pass that fell incomplete. As he took a knee to run out the clock, a few boos rang out from the crowd.
Poor passes and hasty decisions plagued Iamaleava in the early stages of the game.
When it seemed like the Bruins might finally make a breakthrough, facing a third-and-goal situation at San Diego State’s 2-yard line in the second quarter, Iamaleava threw a risky pass that was intercepted in the end zone.
Later, while attempting to convert a fourth-and-7 at the Aztecs’ 36-yard line, Iamaleava was sacked, resulting in a turnover on downs.
Despite these hurdles, the Bruins wouldn’t let the scoreboard stay blank for long, as they once again proved their identity as a second-half team.
