MINNESOTA at UCLA

When: 8 p.m. CT Saturday
Where: Rose Bowl stadium, Pasadena, Calif.
TV: Big Ten Network
Radio: KFXN-FM, 100.3 FM
Weather: 63 degrees, cloudy, 3 mph east wind
Betting spread: Minnesota, minus-5

Records: Minnesota (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) won their first conference game with a 24-17 victory over then-No. 11 USC on Saturday. UCLA (1-4, 0-3) lost its fourth straight game, 27-11, on the road to No. 7 Penn State.

History: The Gophers are 2-1 against the Bruins all-time, with a 21-3 win over UCLA in the 1962 Rose Bowl Game. The U fell to UCLA at L.A. Memorial Coliseum in 1978 and won at Memorial Stadium in 1977. This is their first Big Ten matchup.

Big question: Can the Gophers avoid a letdown? Minnesota’s first home win against a Top 20 team last weekend came with a lot of emotion — fourth-down quarterback sneak, game-sealing interception and field storming — so the U must put that behind them and get a road win against a lesser team.

Key matchup: Gophers rushing offense vs. Bruins defensive front. Minnesota produced its best performance on the ground this season against USC, with 40 carries for 193 yards and three touchdowns. UCLA is 25th in the country, allowing only 102 yards per game.

Who has the edge?

Gophers offense vs. UCLA defense: Gophers OC Greg Harbaugh identified DE Oluwafemi Oladejo, DT Jay Toia and safety Bryan Addison as three of the Bruins’ best. … Some observers felt the 27-11 loss to Penn State last week was the best the unit has played this season. …  QB Max Brosmer has been locked in after halftime against Michigan and USC in the last two weeks and there will be more opportunities against a UCLA defense that is 124th in the nation against the pass. Brosmer’s completion percentage 67.6 is on pace to be the best single season in Minnesota history. His “adjusted completion percentage,” per PFF is near 80 percent or 13th-best in the nation. … The Gophers offensive line was plagued by penalties through the Michigan game, but didn’t have one against USC. Progress. The unit had 15 through five games after having six total in 13 games a year ago. Harbaugh said the O-line was challenged to cut that out after the Wolverines loss. … RB Darius Taylor ran with force against the Trojans and his 200 all-purpose yards (144 rushing, 56 receiving) was his highest since 2019 in an MVP performance in the Quick Lane Bowl against Bowling Green last December. … Brosmer’s three rushing touchdowns, two on QB sneaks, was the most since Mo Ibrahim had three rushing scores against Northwestern in 2022. … WR Daniel Jackson and Taylor account for nearly half of all receiving targets this season. Jackson is at 27 percent, while Taylor is at 19 percent despite missing the season opener. EDGE: Gophers 

Gophers defense vs. UCLA offense: UCLA’s offense went nearly 10 full quarters without an offensive touchdown until a garbage-time TD against No. 4 Penn State on Saturday. The drought also came against No. 13 LSU and and No. 3 Oregon, but that’s still pretty anemic. Former Kansas City Chiefs coordinator Eric Bieniemy has same role with Bruins and the adjustment has been rough. … The Bruins offense is outside the top 100 in the country in many offensive categories and their tough schedule also includes the surprise team in the Big Ten, No. 18 Indiana (6-0). … It’s unclear whether starting QB Ethan Garbers  (ankle) will be healthy enough to play, but backup Justyn Martin might be the better option anyway. He completed 73 percent of his passes for 167 yards and a late touchdown against the Nittany Lions last week. … The U is dealing with a handful of injuries: LB Maverick Baranowski, SAF Kerry Brown, NB Jack Henderson and DTs Deven Eastern and Jalen Logan-Redding. This meant against USC, the U used 24 players on defense compared to 18 on offense. Gophers’ first bye is next week, so that will be in consideration for when they might be able to return. … The Gophers’ top-ranked pass defense rank seemed over inflated give the competition through five weeks, but USC’s higher quality air attack was helped in check with only 200 yards, no plays over 20 yards and QB Miller Moss intercepted twice. The Bruins passing offense is 95th in the nation. The Bruins are down two left tackles, so end Jah Joyner, who is hot right now, might have a big evening. EDGE: Gophers

Special teams: Gophers kicker Dragan Kesich added a big more confidence with a 32-yard field goal against USC to give him seven makes in 12 kicks. Bruins kicker Mateen Bhaghani is 9 for 10 this year, with a long of 54. After a massive day against Michigan, Koi Perich had a quiet day in the return game against USC. Keegan Jones is averaging 19 yards on seven kickoff returns. EDGE: Gophers 

Prediction: The Gophers have a veteran team that should be able to not get caught up in the elation of a big upset win last week and take care of business despite a spate of injuries on the defensive side of the ball. Gophers, 28-13

Related Articles

Gophers football: 1962 Rose Bowl was a program pinnacle but came after protests and trash talk

Gophers football: Big Ten won’t fine for field storming after USC upset

Gophers football: Five players share crowd-storming experiences in 24-17 upset of No. 11 USC

With gutsy call, Gophers pull off 24-17 upset of No. 11 USC

When the Gophers will play each new Big Ten opponent through 2028