UCLA Bruins Stunned 35-10 By New Mexico: Flags, Run Defense, And A Flat Offense Tell The Story

The UCLA Bruins scheduled New Mexico as a tune-up and reportedly paid $1.2 million for the visit, and the Lobos cashed the check and the win in a 35-10 upset at the Rose Bowl.

New Mexico controlled the game with 450 total yards and 36:38 of possession, while the Bruins finished with 326 yards, 23:22 of possession, and thirteen penalties for 116 yards that repeatedly flipped the field.

The run defense never stabilized, and it set the tone. UCLA opened in single-high and immediately allowed four straight positive runs, then sprung a 43-yard gash after the edge went unsealed.

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A late first-quarter shift to more two-high shells did not fix the fits, and the Lobos kept churning on duo and stretch.

New Mexico closed with 298 rushing yards at 6.5 a carry and paired that ground control with efficient play-action at 8.9 yards per attempt.

The Bruins recorded zero sacks and rarely hurried the quarterback with a four-man rush. Rushing four was not getting home, and the four couldn’t even contain UNM’s running backs.

There were bright spots, including two fourth-and-one stops near the goal line, the second producing the first takeaway of the season, but the rushing leaks returned on the next series.

The UCLA Bruins Lack Discipline

Discipline compounded the damage on defense. A facemask on Devin Aupiu extended a drive, and pre-snap issues gifted fresh downs. Pass coverage mixed man and zone yet struggled at the catch point, with New Mexico logging eight pass breakups to the UCLA Bruins’ two.

The offense never stacked answers, and special teams help went to waste. False starts and an illegal substitution crushed early scripts. Protection wobbled, the run game lacked push, and UCLA opened the second half with six plays for three yards before settling for a 51-yard field goal off a muffed punt.

Nico Iamaleava finished 22-of-34 for 217 yards with one touchdown and one interception, adding 33 rushing yards, but too many throws went to the first read or arrived late. He hit Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for a 12-yard score and found Mikey Matthews for chunk gains, yet the operation never found rhythm.

For a program preaching D.R.E. — discipline, respect, enthusiasm — the discipline piece must show up fast. The Bruins paid for a get-right game and instead bought a lesson in fundamentals, leverage, and finishing drives.