The backup quarterback in college football has a unique ability to jumpstart an offense. Cardale Jones, Kedon Slovis, and so on. Plug-and-play.
For stretches this Saturday, UCLA backup Austin Burton made true on that trend, rallying late to bring the Bruins within a margin of respectability against the Oregon State Beavers.
Burton, replacing an injured (and struggling) Dorian Thompson-Robinson, displayed a steadiness that Thompson-Robinson hadn’t, especially in the second half.
But it was much too little, much too late after the Bruins found themselves in a 21-point hole after only six minutes into the ballgame.