UCLA Seeks Seventh Win as Nevada Visits Rose Bowl
The undefeated Bruins face a Mountain West opponent with a revolving door at quarterback and a rushing attack that relies on power.
By Julia Novak ·
UCLA enters Saturday’s game at the Rose Bowl with a perfect 7-0 record and a clear target in the College Football Playoff.
The Bruins host Nevada at 1:15 p.m. to complete their final nonconference matchup before returning to Big Ten play. Coach Bob Chesney’s first season has produced seven wins, placing the program in position for its first playoff appearance ever.
Nevada arrives with a 3-4 overall record and a 2-2 mark in the Mountain West Conference. Coach Jeff Choate acknowledges the disparity in talent between the two squads.
“Coach Chesney’s done a fantastic job there. You look at this team, it’s a top-10 team. One of the few undefeated teams left,” Choate said. “Three undefeated teams left in the country and they’re one of them at our level. They’re in a real league. It’s not like they’re beating patsies.”
UCLA’s offense centers on a running game that has rushed for 1,327 yards and 22 touchdowns this season. Backs Wayne Knight, Anthony Woods, and Jaivian Thomas form a trio that Choate describes as complementary in style.
Quarterback Ty Dieffenbach has started the last two games, replacing Nico Iamaleava after the Oct. 10 win over Oregon. Choate noted that Dieffenbach operated the offense effectively against Michigan State’s backup quarterback.
“Going toe-to-toe with Michigan State with their backup quarterback [Ty Dieffenbach]. The young man has done a nice job operating their offense,” Choate said. Nevada’s defense allows an average of 166 rushing yards per game, a metric that sits near the middle of the conference.
The Wolf Pack have used three different quarterbacks for in-game reps this season. Luke Duncan, a transfer from UCLA, directed the offense in a 15-point win over San Jose State on Oct. 24. Chesney said his staff must prepare three distinct plans depending on who starts, focusing on whether the quarterback is a runner.
“They have three different quarterbacks that they’ve been playing with,” Chesney said. “We got to figure out which one. We got to have three different plans ready for each one. Not schematically, crazy different plans, just the intent of how we’re gonna play within those calls based on is this quarterback a runner or not.”
Nevada’s offense also relies on a power read system that includes pop passes and wheels out of the backfield. Runners Dominic Kelley and Herschel Turner provide a physical threat that UCLA has limited to 131 rushing yards per game in its two nonconference contests.
UCLA linebacker Sammy Omosigho leads the team in defensive impact with five sacks and five forced fumbles. The senior is second on the squad with 53 total tackles. The Bruins must contain Nevada’s versatile ground game to keep the game on their terms.
The game will air on the Big Ten Network and 790 AM. Following Nevada, UCLA plays a demanding four-game stretch with road trips to Minnesota and Michigan and home dates against Illinois and USC.
