Seeking a boost in its final game before conference play, winless UCLA will return home to Pasadena, Calif., on Friday night to face New Mexico for just the second time in program history.
The Bruins beat the Lobos in the 2002 Las Vegas Bowl 27-13, but the 2025 version of UCLA football draws New Mexico after a more disappointing trip to Las Vegas.
The Bruins (0-2) dropped their second nonconference game of the season last Saturday at UNLV, 30-23, after spotting the Rebels a 23-3 first-half lead. Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava completed 29 of 41 passes for 255 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
UCLA’s stumble in that game followed a 43-10 blowout loss at home against former Pac-12 Conference counterpart Utah.
“Just finding a way to get these guys to show up in the first half,” UCLA coach DeShaun Foster said at his Monday media availability. “If we could put together two halves like we did in that second half (at UNLV) and play like that early on, then a lot of these numbers might be a little different.”
The numbers Foster was referring to include the Bruins’ average of 16.5 points per game, tied for No. 115 nationally; 36.5 points allowed per contest, tied for 120th; and the 70.4 percent rate opponents have converted on third downs against UCLA this season. Only UAB has been more porous on third down at 70.8 percent.
New Mexico (1-1) will face its second Big Ten opponent of the season, having lost 34-17 at then-No. 14 Michigan on Aug. 30. Last week, the Lobos rallied from a fourth-quarter deficit to score two late touchdowns in their 32-22 win over FCS Idaho State for the program’s first victory under coach Jason Eck.
Eck came to New Mexico from Idaho, where he coached the Vandals to the FCS playoffs in each of his three seasons at the helm.
The Lobos rushed for 216 yards in Saturday’s win, 141 of which came from running back Scottre Humphrey. New Mexico will look to get Humphrey rolling again when facing a UCLA defense that’s given up 843 yards through the first two games, but doing so will require countering a front line that Eck praised.
“They’re really big on the defensive line,” Eck said Monday on KNML radio. “It will pose a challenge to move their (defensive) tackles.”
