Washington doesn’t give up many yards, big plays or points. The Huskies had yielded only one passing touchdown in their first five games and entered the Rose Bowl as the nation’s top-ranked scoring defense, a designation they lost during a 31-24 victory over the Bruins.
A big chunk of UCLA’s success was an increased reliance on a run game that generated a season-high 150 yards, helping to sustain lengthy drives and keep the Bruins’ defense rested in the second half.
“It makes everyone’s job easier when we have a run game,” UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson said after shaking off a slow start to finish with 272 yards passing and two touchdowns, both career highs.