"This wasn't close, no matter what the scoreboard said. This was a full-blown debacle. Given a chance to quickly right things after a season-opening blowout loss, UCLA instead doubled down on disappointment. The Bruins' 30-23 loss to Nevada Las Vegas on Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium showcased many of the same problems that had plagued them a week ago. The defense was slow and often out of position."
"Thanks to some questionable Rebels playcalling, UCLA had a chance to force overtime or go for the win when it got the ball back at its own 19-yard line while trailing by seven points with 2 minutes 19 seconds left. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava quickly moved the ball downfield and into Rebels territory. But fate intervened when a pass was tipped by Nevada Las Vegas' Marsel McDuffie and intercepted by Aamaris Brown at the UNLV 13-yard line with 52 seconds left, ending the Bruins' comeback hopes."
UCLA began the season 0-2 after a 30-23 loss at UNLV, marking the worst start since 2019 when the team finished 4-8. The Bruins exhibited the same offensive struggles and defensive lapses seen in the season-opening blowout loss to Utah, including slow defensive positioning and inability to sustain drives. Every big play favored UNLV, and a late 52-second interception ended a potential game-tying or winning drive. Ten consecutive fourth-quarter points narrowed the gap but failed to change the outcome. The loss increases pressure on coach DeShaun Foster and is especially damaging given it came against a Mountain West opponent.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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