UCLA
0-4 , 0-1
Northwestern
2-2 , 1-1
UCLA Football Edged, 17-14, at Northwestern on Saturday
September 27, 2025 | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. โ The UCLA football team dropped a 17-14 decision at Northwestern in a Big Ten matchup on Saturday afternoon at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
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The Bruins (0-4, 0-1 Big Ten) trailed 17-0 midway through the second quarter, cut the deficit to 17-3 at halftime, and pulled to within 17-14 midway through the final quarter. In an even distribution of total yards, Northwestern (2-2, 1-1 Big Ten) outgained the Bruins in yardage, 314 to 311.
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UCLA had rallied back from a 17-0 deficit but was unable to pull into field goal position, down 17-14, on its final two offensive drives late in the fourth quarter. The Bruins finished the game with 180 total passing yards and 131 yards on the ground.
"I'm proud of the guys for fighting and finishing," UCLA interim head coach Tim Skipper said. "We need to start a lot better in that first 30 minutes. We kind of spotted them some points and some plays. A lot of bonding and talking at halftime. We came out with a lot more fire and energy. We started making the plays, so the guys started believing in everything that we were talking about. We pitched a second-half shutout, and we got some drives going on offense, but I wish we would've played the first half better."
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Down 17-6, the Bruins cut Northwestern's cushion to 17-14 with a touchdown, capping a four-play and 80-yard drive at the 6:19 mark in the fourth quarter. Bruins' quarterback Nico Iamaleava connected on a 29-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer, before UCLA scored on a two-point conversion.
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Bruins' kicker Mateen Bhaghani knocked through a pair of field goals earlier in the contest to reduce Northwestern's advantage from 17-0 to 17-6. Bhaghani hit a 28-yarder as time expired at the conclusion of the second quarter. He also nailed a 25-yard field goal attempt with 2:48 left in the third quarter.
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Iamaleava finished Saturday's Big Ten contest having completed 19 of 27 pass attempts for 180 yards and one touchdown. The Bruins' signal-caller had 14 carries on the ground for 65 rushing yards, finishing the contest as UCLA's leading rusher. Iamaleava had a game-high 32-yard carry midway through the third quarter.
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Northwestern quarterback Preston Stone completed 12 of 18 pass attempts for 115 yards and one touchdown. The Wildcats' primary running back, Caleb Komolafe, registered 119 yards on the ground on a game-high 27 carries. Komolafe finished with one rushing touchdown in Northwestern's fourth game of the season.
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Northwestern had taken a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on a 33-yard field goal with under three minutes to play in the opening period. The Wildcats padded their first-half margin with a touchdown early in the second quarter before closing a five-play drive late in the period with their second touchdown of the day.
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Komolafe had a nine-yard touchdown rush at the 13:29 mark in the second quarter to help the Wildcats secure a 10-0 cushion.
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With 3:33 to play in the second quarter, Stone connected with wide receiver Griffin Wilde for a 10-yard touchdown pass, allowing Northwestern to race ahead, 17-0.
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UCLA will return to action against Penn State in a nationally-televised Big Ten contest on Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. The Bruins' game next Saturday will begin at 12:30 p.m. (PT), televised on CBS.
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Team Stats
UCL 0, NU 3
NU - Olsen,Jack 33 yd field goal 17 plays, 74 yards, TOP 09:09
UCL 0, NU 10
NU - Komolafe,Caleb 9 yd run (Olsen,Jack kick), 6 plays, 69 yards, TOP 02:57
UCL 0, NU 17
NU - Wilde,Griffin 10 yd pass from Stone,Preston (Olsen,Jack kick) 5 plays, 64 yards, TOP 02:46
UCL 3, NU 17
UCL - Bhaghani,Mateen 28 yd field goal 13 plays, 73 yards, TOP 03:26
UCL 6, NU 17
UCL - Bhaghani,Mateen 25 yd field goal 12 plays, 73 yards, TOP 06:12
UCL 14, NU 17
UCL - Gilmer,Kwazi 29 yd pass from Iamaleava,Nico (Woods,Anthony pass) 4 plays, 80 yards, TOP 01:29
