Longtime Pac-12 Conference counterparts meet under the Big Ten banner on Saturday when UCLA welcomes Washington to Pasadena, Calif. for the 78th all-time matchup between the programs.
Washington (7-3, 4-3 Big Ten) makes its first visit to Rose Bowl Stadium since September 2022, playing the first of two regular-season-ending matchups against former Pac-12 opponents. A Thanksgiving weekend home date against rival Oregon looms on Nov. 29.
With the opportunity to play spoiler against the College Football Playoff hopeful Ducks still to come, the Huskies look to avoid a letdown this week against the sputtering Bruins (3-7, 3-4).
“I’m just excited about going back out there and playing that game in that stadium,” said Washington coach Jedd Fisch, who was previously offensive coordinator at UCLA in 2017 and replaced Jim Mora as interim coach to close out that season.
“We have talked to our team about what it’s like to play in that stadium and how cool it is to pull up in that parking lot.”
Since winning three straight shortly after the firing of head coach DeShaun Foster, UCLA has backslid with three consecutive losses. Sandwiching a 28-21 defeat at home against Nebraska on Nov. 8 were blowout losses on the road against the nation’s top two ranked teams, Indiana and Ohio State.
“We’re focused on finishing the season right,” interim coach Tim Skipper said on Monday. “… Everybody knows you’re measured when you’re dealing with adversity.”
In its last four games, including a 20-17 win over Maryland, UCLA has averaged just 14.3 points per game. Compounding the Bruins’ challenges is the continued uncertainty of quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s availability.
He sustained a concussion in the loss to Nebraska, which sidelined him in last Saturday’s 48-10 loss to Ohio State. Luke Duncan made the start against the Buckeyes, going 16-of-23 passing for 154 yards with an 18-yard touchdown throw to Kwazi Gilmer.
The run game provided little support, however, with UCLA totaling just 68 yards on the ground.
Iamaleava was labeled as day-to-day by Skipper early this week.
Meanwhile, Washington’s offense has ridden a roller coaster in recent weeks, scoring just seven and 10 points in losses to Michigan and Wisconsin but putting up 42 and 49 points in wins over Illinois and Purdue.
Quarterback Demond Williams Jr. combined for six touchdown passes in the two wins, while finishing with just one touchdown pass and four interceptions in those two losses.
