UCLA Bruins Named Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week

Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

For the second straight game, Jim Mora’s UCLA Bruins used a freakishly-strong second half to prove that they’re a team to be reckoned with, beating Nebraska 41-21, while scoring the game’s final 38 points. Monday afternoon, that effort earned the Bruins the honor of being the national team of the week, as handed out by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Redshirt-sophomore quarterback Brett Hundley had 294 passing yards and threw three touchdown passes, as UCLA scored 35 points in a matter of 16 minutes that bookended the halftime interval.

Not only did the Bruins drop the gauntlet in their big win over of the Huskers in Lincoln, putting up 504 yards on the literal Blackshirts, they did it with heavy hearts.

UCLA walk on wide receiver Nick Pasquale was killed last week, struck down as a pedestrian as he spent the Bruins’ bye week at his home in San Clemente, Calif.

Jim Mora made it clear the Bruins played with additional passion for Pasquale and his family, and both teams donned tributes to the receiver, in the form of decals and patches.

Other teams given recognition by the Fiesta Bowl for their play this past Saturday include Alabama, Colorado and Central Florida. Alabama beat No. 6 Texas A&M on the road in a Game of the Year-type setting, while Central Florida knocked off Penn State in Happy Valley.

Colorado’s game with Fresno State was postponed due to disastrous floods that have swept through Boulder. The 2-0 Buffs have played a big role in the community, banding together through unimaginable circumstances.