Rivalry Week May Have Passed, But UCLA Football Has Its Own History to Make
The UCLA football team may have moved on from Rivalry Week, but their upcoming game against Fresno State has a history of its own. The two teams will be meeting for the 11th time, with Fresno State having beaten the Bruins four times in a row and holding a three-game winning streak at the Rose Bowl dating back to 2018.
The Intensity Factor
DeShaun Foster, UCLA’s first-year head coach, emphasized the importance of matching Fresno State’s intensity in their upcoming game. “They’re a blue-collar type, play hard all around,” Foster said. “Whenever you play Fresno, you’re gonna always get a hard-nosed team that’s gonna play hard. We’re just gonna make sure that we match their intensity when we get into that stadium.”
A Chance to Prove Themselves
For players with NFL potential like Butkus Award finalist Carson Schwesinger and edge rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo, the game presents an opportunity to gain valuable film. “Monday morning we came out here and had meetings and things like that and just made a decision (to move on from USC),” Oladejo said. “It is what it is. It was an unfortunate loss. Gotta move on, gotta keep fighting and have to keep going.”
When Fresno State Has the Ball
Fresno State senior receiver Mac Dalena brings plenty of experience, having appeared in every single game of his college career (57). Quarterback Mikey Keene has started in every game this season and has thrown for 1,673 yards with a completion percentage of 70.57%. Freshman running back Bryson Donelson ran for 140 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries against Colorado State last week.
When UCLA Has the Ball
Quarterback Ethan Garbers will play in his last college football game and has thrown for a touchdown in six straight games while also throwing no interceptions in that timespan. Freshman Kwazi Gilmer could see his value rise after making multiple catches in all but one game he’s played in this season. Running back T.J. Harden rushed for 99 yards last week against USC — his second-highest rushing total of the season.
Fresno State (6-5, 4-3 Mountain West) at UCLA (4-7, 3-6 Big Ten)
When: Saturday, 12:30
Where: Rose Bowl
TV/radio: Big Ten Network/570 AM
Conclusion
The game between UCLA and Fresno State is more than just a regular season matchup. It’s an opportunity for both teams to prove themselves and gain valuable experience. For UCLA, it’s a chance to show that they can match Fresno State’s intensity and overcome their recent struggles. For Fresno State, it’s a chance to continue their winning streak against the Bruins and build momentum heading into the postseason.
FAQs
Q: What is the current record between UCLA and Fresno State?
A: Fresno State leads the series 6-4.
Q: Who is the starting quarterback for Fresno State?
A: Mikey Keene has started every game this season.
Q: Who is the leading rusher for UCLA?
A: Carson Schwesinger has 79 solo tackles, leading all college football players.
Q: What is the current ranking of UCLA’s run defense?
A: UCLA’s run defense ranks seventh in college football at 99.3 yards allowed per game.
