UCLA
1-4 , 1-1
Penn State
3-2 , 0-2
UCLA Football Takes Down No. 7 Penn State, 42-37
October 04, 2025 | Football
PASADENA, Calif. – The UCLA football team defeated No. 7 Penn State, 42-37, on Saturday afternoon at the Rose Bowl. The Bruins secured their first win over an AP top-10 opponent since Sept. 24, 2010, when UCLA defeated No. 7. Texas on the road.
With UCLA clinging to a 42-35 lead in the final minute and Penn State threatening deep in the Bruins' territory, Scooter Jackson came up with a stop, bursting into the backfield for a clutch tackle-for-loss that sealed the upset victory on Saturday.
UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava completed 16 of 24 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns. The Bruins' signal-caller was also the team's leading rusher, racking up 128 yards and three scores on 16 carries. Iamaleava's three rushing touchdowns are at least tied for the most-ever by a UCLA quarterback.
Iamaleava was responsible for all five of UCLA's touchdowns on Saturday afternoon.
"We wanted to control the game," UCLA interim head coach Tim Skipper said. "That's why we wanted to run the ball, and it all starts with the big boys up front. They have to control the line of scrimmage. They were creating openings. We know their D-line and linebackers are really good, so we had to put bodies on those guys. We just wanted to control it one play at a time, just take it one play at a time, and that's exactly what we did. We actually have never talked about not leading for a game – somebody told me about it, that's how I knew. We never talked about it or anything. We just went out there and played ball today."
UCLA assistant head coach Jerry Neuheisel, who has coached the Bruins' tight ends and wide receivers the last four and a half seasons, made his debut as the Bruins' offensive play-caller.
"It's up there," said Neuheisel, when asked where this win ranks for him as a Bruin. "First thing I want to say is I love UCLA more than anything, and the kind of kids you see that played on that field today is exactly why you love a place like this. We had two days to practice a new game plan, and all they did was believe, and we came out and played as hard as we could for 60 full minutes. Had to take a safety at the end because we messed it up at the end. How can you not love college football when you have days like this? It's special. Special. Special."
Javian Thomas rushed for 51 yards on nine carries for UCLA, while Anthony Woods totaled 63 yards on the ground on 14 attempts.
Leading the receiving corps was Kwazi Gilmer, hauling in five catches for 79 yards and a touchdown.
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar completed 19 of his 26 pass attempts for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Allar also rushed for 78 yards on 11 carries.
The Bruins received the opening kickoff and promptly marched downfield for a touchdown, setting the tone with a well-orchestrated 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Iamaleava completed three of four passes in the series, including an 11-yard touchdown strike to Kwazi Gilmer. Facing a crucial 3rd-and-11 from the Penn State 34-yard line, Iamaleava extended the drive with a 22-yard scramble.
UCLA kept the momentum rolling when Mateen Bhaghani executed a perfectly-placed surprise onside kick, catching Penn State off guard. Redshirt freshman Kanye Clark pounced on the loose ball to secure possession for the Bruins.
Capitalizing on the recovery, UCLA advanced to the six-yard line before the drive stalled. Bhaghani then converted a 24-yard field goal, pushing the Bruins' lead to 10-0 early in the first quarter.
Penn State responded immediately with a scoring drive of its own, punctuated by a 13-yard touchdown run from running back Kaytron Allen to cut into UCLA's early lead. The Bruins retained a 10-7 lead at the end of the first period.
Iamaleava kept the chains moving on UCLA's first drive of the second quarter, converting a critical 3rd-and-long with a 19-yard scramble that brought the Bruins inside Penn State's 10-yard line. Three plays later, on 3rd-and-goal, he found Titus Mokiao-Atimalala in the end zone for his second touchdown pass of the day. The 17-play scoring drive restored UCLA's 10-point lead, making it 17-7 with 8:50 remaining in the first half.
UCLA's defense forced a quick three-and-out, setting the stage for another efficient drive. The Bruins needed just six plays to extend their lead, capping the 68-yard scoring drive with a designed run for Iamaleava from six yards out for his third total touchdown of the day.
Just before halftime, UCLA came up with a key defensive stand on 4th-and-2 as Jacob Busic broke through and sacked Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, giving the Bruins possession near midfield with 22 seconds remaining.
Iamaleava quickly moved the offense into scoring position, connecting with Hudson Habermehl and Mokiao-Atimalala on back-to-back completions. Bhaghani then drilled a 54-yard field goal as time expired, sending UCLA into the locker room with a 27-7 lead.
Penn State quickly cut into the UCLA lead when Allar found Khalil Dinkins for 40-yard touchdown pass at the 11:28 mark in the third quarter.
Momentum shifted sharply when UCLA's next possession ended in a blocked punt, allowing Dani Dennis-Sutton to scoop and return for touchdown, trimming the Bruins' lead to one score.
UCLA's offense regained its rhythm on the ensuing possession when a 52-yard burst from Iamaleava, the Bruins' longest play of the game, set up a red zone opportunity. Iamaleava finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge to extend UCLA's lead to 34-21 with 2:58 remaining in the third quarter.
Penn State opened the final period with a 10-play, 75-yard drive finished off by Allen's two-yard rushing score to cut the lead to six.
UCLA regained possession and methodically pieced together a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive to reestablish a two-score cushion. Facing a 4th-and-1 at the Penn State 30, the Bruins drew the defense offside to keep the drive alive. Iamaleava finished the series with his third rushing touchdown of the night, squeezing just inside the pylon. UCLA's quarterback then found Gilmer in the end zone for the two-point conversion to push the lead to 14 with 6:46 remaining.
The Nittany Lions needed just over two minutes to trim the lead to seven as Allar hit Kyron Hudson in the end zone with 4:16 remaining.
UCLA's next drive was stopped on a 4th-and-1 situation at its own 33-yard line, giving Penn State the opportunity to tie the ballgame.
The Bruins will travel to Michigan State for its next contest on Saturday, Oct. 11. Game time is schedule for 8 a.m. PT (12 p.m. ET in Michigan). UCLA's next home game will take place against Maryland on Saturday, Oct. 18.
Team Stats
PSU 0, UCL 7
UCL - Gilmer,Kwazi 11 yd pass from Iamaleava,Nico (Bhaghani,Mateen kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:34
PSU 0, UCL 10
UCL - Bhaghani,Mateen 24 yd field goal 7 plays, 40 yards, TOP 03:05
PSU 7, UCL 10
PSU - Allen,Kaytron 13 yd run (Barker,Ryan kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:14
PSU 7, UCL 17
UCL - Mokiao-Atimalala,Titus 6 yd pass from Iamaleava,Nico (Bhaghani,Mateen kick) 17 plays, 75 yards, TOP 08:16
PSU 7, UCL 24
UCL - Iamaleava,Nico 3 yd run (Bhaghani,Mateen kick), 6 plays, 68 yards, TOP 03:07
PSU 7, UCL 27
UCL - Bhaghani,Mateen 54 yd field goal 3 plays, 17 yards, TOP 00:22
PSU 14, UCL 27
PSU - Dinkins,Khalil 40 yd pass from Allar,Drew (Barker,Ryan kick) 5 plays, 62 yards, TOP 01:44
PSU 21, UCL 27
PSU - Clifford,Liam 6 yd punt return (Barker,Ryan kick)
PSU 21, UCL 34
UCL - Iamaleava,Nico 1 yd run (Bhaghani,Mateen kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:24
PSU 28, UCL 34
PSU - Allen,Kaytron 2 yd run (Barker,Ryan kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:29
PSU 28, UCL 42
UCL - Iamaleava,Nico 7 yd run (Gilmer,Kwazi pass), 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 07:45
PSU 35, UCL 42
PSU - Hudson,Kyron 15 yd pass from Allar,Drew (Barker,Ryan kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:30
PSU 37, UCL 42
PSU - Harris,AJ 0 yd safety
