In one of the most surprising results of the college football season, UCLA pulled off a dramatic 42–37 victory over No. 7 Penn State on Saturday at the Rose Bowl, handing the Nittany Lions a shocking loss and signaling a turning point for the Bruins.
UCLA’s quarterback Nico Iamaleava was the driving force behind the upset. He ran for three touchdowns and threw for two more, accounting for every score by the Bruins in the win.
The game got off to a fast start for UCLA, which marched downfield on its opening drive and later recovered an onside kick to seize momentum. By halftime, the Bruins had built a commanding lead, and they held on despite a late Penn State rally.
In the closing moments, a crucial defensive play preserved the victory: Scooter Jackson made a tackle for loss on Penn State’s final drive, sealing the upset.
Penn State’s offense, led by Drew Allar, tried to rally late — Allar completed 19 of 26 passes for 200 yards and also rushed for 78 yards, but the Bruins’ earlier dominance proved too much to overcome.
The loss is a serious blow to Penn State’s playoff hopes and national title aspirations. Meanwhile, UCLA, which had entered the matchup winless, now finds itself riding high on perhaps the biggest surprise of the season.
