Northwestern jumps out to big first-half lead, then hangs on for 17-14 win over UCLA

Caleb Komolafe rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries, and Northwestern staved off UCLA 17-14 on Saturday in Evanston to spoil interim coach Tim Skipper’s debut and keep the Bruins winless.

Preston Stone threw for 115 yards and a touchdown on 12-for-18 passing. Griffin Wilde pulled in a touchdown and 98 yards on seven receptions.

The Wildcats (2-2, 1-1 Big Ten) scored on their first three possessions to build a 17-0 lead and then held on to earn their first conference win. Northwestern broke through repeatedly for big, long-yardage plays, both in the air and on the ground, in the first half.

UCLA (0-4, 0-1) got rolling offensively in the second half behind quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who threw for 180 yards and rushed for a team high 65. After Northwestern dominated early, it ended up holding only a 314-311 edge in total yards over the Bruins, who have not led in a game.

Iamaleava threw his lone touchdown of the game, a 29-yard toss to Kwazi Gilmer with 6:19 left in the fourth quarter to complete a zippy four-play, 80-yard drive. Iamaleava then passed to Anthony Woods for a two-point conversion to cut it to 17-14.

Northwestern’s Joseph Himon II ran for 58 yards on eight carries, including a 24-yard dash that help set up a score. Jack Olsen kicked a 33-yard field goal.

Mateen Bhagani booted a 28- and 25-yard field goals for UCLA.

The takeaway

UCLA: The Bruins still seemed to be resetting in the first half under the 47-year-old Skipper, who took over Sept. 14 following the firing of coach DeShaun Foster. The Bruins had a week off to start adjusting following their 35-10 loss to New Mexico on Sept. 13. UCLA has a tough conference schedule that includes No. 1 Ohio State, No. 3 Penn State, No. 11 Indiana and No. 21 USC.

Northwestern: The Wildcats held their ground defensively in the red zone after UCLA’s offense started to click, preventing touchdowns and forcing the Bruins to settle for the field goals. No play was bigger than Ore Adeyi’s breakup of Iamaleava’s pass intended for Gilmer in the end zone with 2:56 left in the third quarter.

Up next

UCLA: Plays host to No. 3 Penn State on Saturday.
Northwestern: Faces Louisiana-Monroe at home Saturday.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/27/northwestern-ucla-big-ten-football/