How UCLA stymied Colorado's offense to win 28-16: Full recap and analysis

The Bruins oust the Buffaloes in the Pac-12 showdown.

Christopher Kamrani and The Athletic College Football Staff

October 28, 2023 at 11:23 PM EDT How UCLA stymied Colorado's offense to win 28-16: Full recap and analysis

(Photo: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)

UCLA improves to 6-2 with 28-16 victory over Colorado

(Photo: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)

Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders had a tough day against the Bruins, completing nearly 63 percent of his passes for 217 yards and one touchdown. The pass protection was weak, as Sanders was sacked seven times total, and five times in the first half.

UCLA QB Ethan Garbers completed 20 of 27 passes for 269 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Logan Loya became his favorite target in the second half, and Loya finished with seven receptions for 111 yards.

Two-way player Travis Hunter played primarily on the defensive side of the ball, coming up with two interceptions for Colorado.

No. 23 UCLA plays Arizona and Colorado plays No. 11 Oregon State next Saturday.

You bet

I believe this is what those in the gambling community call "a bad beat."

Notwithstanding Shedeur Sanders' terrible, horrible, no good very bad day (seven sacks! SEVEN!), the Colorado QB managed to connect with Jimmy Horn Jr. on an 18-yard touchdown pass.

Per BetMGM, UCLA was favored to win by 14.5 points. The touchdown puts the Buffs within 12 of the Bruins, meaning that the spread will depend on whether or not UCLA manages to score one last time this game.

Redemption for Schlee

Collin Schlee, the Kent State transfer quarterback, made up for his interception in the first half. He finished off a 75-yard drive for the Bruins, running the ball into the end zone from the 7-yard line.

UCLA has the game well-to-hand now, and we can take a moment to note something a little surprising: with six-and-a-half minutes remaining in the game, two quarterbacks have played for the Bruins, and neither is former five-star (and former starter) Dante Moore.

Logan Loya exploding in second half

The Bruins WR has seven receptions for 112 yards on the game so far.

Did the Bruins call game?

That might do it folks.

Shedeur Sanders has been pressured, sacked and held to 156 yards passing and -16 yards rushing. With 14 minutes left in the fourth quarter, and UCLA up 21-9 following a 3-yard touchdown run by RB T.J. Harden, it's hard to imagine how the Buffaloes could muster up any offensive push.

This one feels over.

Talk about toeing the line

Logan Loya juuuuust tapped his toe in the field of play, securing a one-handed catch and converting a first down for UCLA. It feels like UCLA is heading towards a score here, and if it manages to collect seven points on this trip to the red zone then that might be all she wrote for Colorado.

Am I watching Colorado or Iowa?

Answer: No. The Buffs are trying for their third field goal of the night.

UCLA 14, Colorado 9.

Colorado was waiting for that one

Finally, a big play for Colorado. I really wasn't expecting a defensive doubt between these two teams: Going into this game UCLA was averaging 31.3 points per game and Colorado 34.4.

Colorado has gained 20 yards via penalty on this drive, then picked up another 45 on a pass from Sanders to Xavier Weaver. Can they turn this into a touchdown?

Two plays, two passes and a touchdown for UCLA!

(Photo: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)

In a first half that I can only describe as moribund, the UCLA offense was able to string together several significant drives that netted zero points. To start the second half, however, the Bruins went big — Ethan Garbers threw a 49-yard pass to Logan Loya then followed up the short and snappy drive with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Moliki Matavao.

The touchdown was the first score in the game since 14:19 in the second quarter. You wonder if UCLA will need anything additional, with the pressure being applied to Shedeur Sanders and the Colorado offense.

UCLA takes 14-6 lead

Ethan Garbers hits Moliki Matavao for the 26-yard touchdown.

First-half standstill

(Photo: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)

His name might be Steele, but his grip has been suspect: Carson Steele coughed up the ball for the second time tonight, with UCLA in the red zone and trying to get their second score of the night right before half.

In keeping with tonight's theme, Colorado did not score off the turnover.

Colorado has forced four turnovers, UCLA has 222 yards of offense, so of course the score is 7-6 at halftime.

We'll see how both offenses adjust coming out of the half.

Ebbs and flows

UCLA was already in the midst of an efficient drive downfield when Shiloh Sanders laid a booming hit on Bruins' tight end Carson Ryan. Sanders' hit was called for targeting, a call that was confirmed on review, and he was subsequently ejected from the game.

But the Buffs had a stroke of luck, with UCLA's R.J. Lopez hitting the doink and missing on the 24-yard chip shot field goal. Colorado has one last shot to score before the half. The score remains 7-6.

I'm thinking Travis Hunter might be back

UCLA put in a second quarterback (notably not Dante Moore), Kent State transfer Collin Schlee, and that choice backfired badly for the Bruins.

Travis Hunter snapped up his second interception of the game, leaping in the air to snag Schlee's pass. In a change of pace, Hunter has been playing the majority of his snaps on defense and not running out for every offensive snap.

The turnover, however, resulted in another three-and-out for the Buffaloes. This is fast becoming a defensive slugfest, but still it feels like Colorado is being stifled — their defense has created three turnovers, but the offense has only netted three points from them.

If it's not one Sanders it's another

Shiloh Sanders — son of Deion, brother of Shedeur and a fine player in his own right — caused UCLA's second turnover of the game. In lowering his shoulder to tackle the Bruins' Carson Steele, he knocked the ball out of the running back's hands (not exactly a Steele grip eh? Eh?).

Colorado needs these extra possessions to try and get any points they can against UCLA's defense, but as is often the case field goals aren't going to be enough in this game. The Buffs would do well to score a touchdown here and give themselves some cushion.

UCLA takes one-point lead

Colorado's defense was playing stoutly through the majority of the first quarter, with Travis Hunter picking off Ethan Garbers, and the Buffs forcing a Bruins punt.

But third time is the charm for UCLA's offense, with a crisp drive that only came close to derailment once, with a sack of Garbers setting up fourth-and-12 at the Colorado 37. Chip Kelly elected to go for it, however, and he hit boxcars (double sixes) on his dice roll — Garbers picked up the first down with a smooth quarterback draw.

Garbers finished off the drive with a 3-yard pass to Bruins RB Carson Steele.

UCLA is up on Colorado 7-6 with 14 minutes to go in the second quarter.

Travis Hunter doing what needs to be done

It was generally agreed among The Athletic staff that, in order for Colorado to have a chance, Travis Hunter would need to play to the insanely high standard he set in games against TCU and Nebraska — prior to his injury in Week 3 versus Colorado State.

It's early, but he's already aiming to meet that mark. In the Bruins' first offensive possession, Hunter intercepted Ethan Garbers' second pass on the night.

Colorado wasn't able to convert the opportunity into a touchdown, but another made field goal by Alejandro Mata puts the Buffs up 6-0 in Pasadena.

Buffaloes start strong

Colorado's offense mounted a strong opening drive, but the quietly-excellent UCLA defense caused the Buffaloes to stall out in the red zone.

Shedeur Sanders was 7-for-10 on the march downfield, which ended in a successful 31-yard field goal from Alejandro Mata. Sanders avoided taking a sack, but came close on the final third-and-10 play prior to the field goal attempt.

Now we see what Bruins' QB Ethan Garbers can do.

What's UCLA's key for a win?

Limit Colorado’s big plays and don’t give the Buffaloes any help. UCLA has forced more turnovers (16) than all but four FBS teams but ranks outside the top 100 in giveaways, with 13. In the two games UCLA has lost the turnover battle, it’s 0-2 and had its two lowest point totals of the season.

Week 9 model projections

This week’s college football schedule doesn’t feature any top-10 matchups like last week, but as the number of contenders in the College Football Playoff race starts to shrink, everyone is on upset watch. Which teams will survive another week?

The Utah Utes host the Oregon Ducks in what is arguably the biggest game of the week. The winner stays in the CFP race with one loss and takes a big step closer to the Pac-12 title game. The loser will need some help to get there. Meanwhile, three undefeated teams, Georgia, Oklahoma and Ohio State take on quality opposition away from home. What are the odds any of them lose? Let’s take a look.