Cincinnati, OH — The UCLA Bruins opened their 2025 season with a frustrating 20-14 road loss to the Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday night, a game marred by costly mistakes, missed opportunities, and a deviation from the game plan.
“We got away from what we wanted to do, and it cost us,” head coach Noles26 said after the game. “Too many pass attempts, and that led to turnovers. You can’t win on the road playing that kind of football.”
The Bruins turned the ball over multiple times, including a pair of interceptions and a fumble — all of which halted promising drives and shifted momentum in Cincinnati’s favor. Three critical drops in high-leverage moments only added to the offensive struggles.
Despite flashes from quarterback Ethan Garbers and some big-play potential from the receiving corps, the offense couldn’t find consistency. UCLA moved the ball at times but failed to finish drives, with turnovers and penalties often derailing their rhythm.
Defensively, the Bruins had few answers for Cincinnati’s ground game. The Bearcats dominated the line of scrimmage, chewing up clock and wearing down UCLA’s front seven.
“We just aren’t big enough up front right now,” Noles26 admitted. “They ran the ball on us from the first quarter to the last. We’ve got to get tougher, more physical, and more disciplined at the point of attack.”
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