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UCLA football: 3 takeaways from upset loss at Memphis

By Zach Bigalke

BOCA RATON, FL - DECEMBER 20: Chauncey Lanier #12 of the Memphis Tigers gestures during the first half of the game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at FAU Stadium on December 20, 2016 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
BOCA RATON, FL - DECEMBER 20: Chauncey Lanier #12 of the Memphis Tigers gestures during the first half of the game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at FAU Stadium on December 20, 2016 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

2. The UCLA secondary looked terrible against Riley Ferguson

While Josh Rosen had a rough game, it was magnified by the fact that UCLA’s quarterback was outplayed by his Memphis counterpart on Saturday. Riley Ferguson was 23-of-38 throwing the ball for 398 yards and six touchdowns against the Bruins defense, boosting his stats after two dud performances to start the 2017 season.

It is all the more impressive when put into the context of Ferguson’s slow start. He completed his first two passes for four yards and a touchdown, but then went 0-for-6 with an interception on his next four series. Other than that blip in the first half, Ferguson was nearly perfect against the Bruins defense.

It was a statement performance by a quarterback that had raised eyebrows with a marginal performance to open the year against Louisiana-Monroe. In that game against the Warhawks, Ferguson completed just 10 of his 25 attempts for 97 yards and an interception. On Saturday against a Pac-12 opponent, the Memphis quarterback more than tripled his stats.

Without a huge performance by their veteran quarterback, Memphis would never have had a chance at the upset. Ferguson stepped up in a big way to snatch the statement win for the Tigers on their home turf.

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