UCLA Football Aims to Sweep Pac-12 California Teams with Win Against Cal – Daily News

Linebacker Kain Medrano #20 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates following a USC Trojans turnover in the early stages of an NCAA football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 18, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

UCLA bounced back from a two-game losing streak and questions about coach Chip Kelly’s job security to defeat rival USC at the Coliseum the previous week.

While reveling in the victory over their crosstown rival, Kelly emphasized that the team would resume training the following day in preparation for another Pac-12 rivalry game against Cal.

“That’s the beauty of football,” Kelly remarked. “Every week is a fresh start; no one really cares tomorrow what happened today.”

“It’s going to be business as usual; same mindset. We have to come back and prepare for a formidable Cal team,” Kelly added.

Kelly also highlighted the rare opportunity for UCLA to beat the three Pac-12 state teams in the same season.

“This is our chance. It’s not been done often,” Kelly said, underlining the importance of the Cal game.

“We did this a few years ago after being told it hadn’t been done since the 90s. It’s an opportunity for this football team to win. The Cal game next week is crucial for us,” he noted.

WHEN UCLA HAS THE BALL

The Bruins found their offensive rhythm last week against USC, a factor that has been elusive for most of the season.

UCLA’s quarterback rotation of Dante Moore, Collin Schlee, and Ethan Garbers had made it challenging to achieve consistency.

Garbers played the entire game last week following his return from an injury the previous week against Arizona State.

“The injury didn’t impact me that much,” Garbers mentioned. “I was still attending training every day, participating in meetings, and doing everything. Returning to action was really good, and I had a lot of fun,” he added.

Garbers is anticipated to start again this week against Cal, a team his elder brother Chase played for from 2017-2021.

Running back TJ Harden supported Garbers’ efforts by amassing 142 yards against USC, exploiting the vulnerabilities of Cal’s defense that has allowed 139.7 rushing yards per game this season.

Cal is one of the two teams in the Top 50 for rush defense that has conceded 22 or more touchdowns this season, further enhancing UCLA’s offensive prospects.

The Bruins will need to continue involving their receivers in the game. Last week, Logan Loya emerged as the top receiver with nine receptions and 60 yards. Hudson Habermehl, the tight end, scored two touchdowns from his only two catches. Harden also contributed with a touchdown, but no other receiver had more than two catches apart from Loya.

WHEN CAL HAS THE FOOTBALL

Laiatu Latu and the defense aim to maintain their impressive display against opposing Pac-12 teams in their final encounter of the season.

Latu and the defensive duo of Gabriel and Grayson Murphy have been instrumental in leading the nation in fewest rushing yards allowed per game.

Cal’s running back Jayden Ott, who has gained 1,182 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, will be the key point of focus for the Bruins’ defense. Ott has been equally remarkable in the receiving game with 20 receptions for 140 yards and two touchdowns.

The defensive front will apply pressure on Cal’s redshirt freshman quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, who has shown potential but has also thrown five interceptions this season.

Defensive back Alex Johnson could extend his All-American credentials by adding another forced turnover. Johnson has four interceptions this season and returned a recovered fumble for a touchdown last week.

Jeremiah Hunter and Trond Grizzell have been influential for Cal’s offense, combining for 83 receptions, 1,066 yards, and 10 touchdowns this season.