PASADENA, Calif. — Darius Taylor made a significant impact in Saturday night’s showdown at the Rose Bowl, scoring two touchdowns, including a decisive 4-yard touchdown reception that secured Minnesota’s comeback victory over UCLA with just 27 seconds left on the clock. This win propelled the Gophers to a 21-17 triumph, improving their record to 4-3 (2-2 in the Big Ten).
With 2:20 left in the game, Minnesota took possession and orchestrated a 61-yard drive over seven plays. Max Brosmer showcased his skills by completing four out of six passes for a total of 43 yards during this crucial drive, culminating in the game-winning touchdown.
On the night, Brosmer finished with impressive stats, completing 26 of 37 passes for 193 yards along with two touchdowns. Daniel Jackson was a reliable target, making 10 receptions generating 89 yards, while Koi Perich distinguished himself on defense with two interceptions.
Ethan Garbers, quarterback for the Bruins, put up a strong effort as well, throwing for 293 yards; however, UCLA has now suffered five consecutive losses, with their quest for a first Big Ten win still ongoing. The Bruins held a 10-0 lead at half-time, but Minnesota’s rally in the second half turned the tides.
Garbers seemed poised to break the losing streak when he connected with J.Michael Sturdivant for a 42-yard touchdown pass with 6:54 left in the game. Although UCLA led for most of the match, their inability to maintain the advantage in the closing moments proved costly. Following Minnesota’s go-ahead touchdown, the Bruins advanced to the Minnesota 49-yard line, but Garbers’ final Hail Mary attempt was intercepted by Perich in the end zone, sealing the game for the Gophers.
After trailing 10-0 at the break, Minnesota ignited their offense with two touchdowns in the third quarter, highlighted by a 1-yard touchdown run from Perich that flipped the score to 14-10. Garbers, who had missed the previous game due to an ankle injury, showed early promise by completing 10 of his initial 11 passes for 110 yards, but he eventually finished the game with 25 completions on 36 attempts, with one touchdown and three interceptions.
The game’s opening procession revealed a shaky start for Minnesota, who went three-and-out, allowing UCLA to strike first again this season. Keegan Jones executed a direct snap for a 1-yard touchdown run, giving the Bruins their first lead of the game.
UCLA carried a 10-0 lead into halftime, aided by Mateen Bhaghani’s 34-yard field goal at the end of the first half. T.J. Harden contributed to this scoring with a notable 32-yard reception that brought the Bruins into field goal territory after evading multiple tackles.
The Gophers finally pinned points on the board with a 12-yard touchdown catch from Max Brosmer to Elijah Spencer in the third quarter. This was set up following another interception by Perich, who capitalized on a Garbers’ pass that was intended for his teammate.
In terms of outlook, Minnesota has shown a knack for thrilling finishes against other newcomers to the Big Ten, having previously defeated USC with a similar late-game touchdown. Meanwhile, UCLA faces a notable challenge as they are one of the few Power Five teams in recent memory to not score at least 20 points in their first six games. The Bruins’ last experience with such a drought occurred in 2022 with Colorado notching fewer than 20 points in its first seven contests.
Looking forward, Minnesota will have a week off before hosting Maryland on October 26, while UCLA prepares for an away game against Rutgers next Saturday.