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UCLA Football: 3 takeaways from Bruins loss to USC in Week 12

By Connor Muldowney

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Quarterback Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins greets head coach Jim Mora of the UCLA Bruins before the game against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 18, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Quarterback Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins greets head coach Jim Mora of the UCLA Bruins before the game against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 18, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 18: Jaleel Wadood #4 of the UCLA Bruins returns his interception during the second quarter against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 18, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 18: Jaleel Wadood #4 of the UCLA Bruins returns his interception during the second quarter against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 18, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

2. Bruins will be bowl eligible next week

If this loss by UCLA told us anything, it’s that the Bruins aren’t quick to give up. Even with a seemingly un-winnable game against crosstown rival USC on the road, the Bruins played up to their competition and held their own.

The Bruins went into the fourth quarter down by a touchdown and even pulled within four points, 21-17, in the fourth, but gave up a touchdown with under six minutes to play to essentially put the win on ice for the Trojans.

Hosting an average Cal team next week, UCLA is likely to achieve bowl eligibility, especially if it plays the way it did for four quarters against the Trojans. Sure, the defense could always be a little better and more clutch, but the Bruins looked like a more inspired team on Saturday evening.

The rivalry game went down to the wire, surprisingly, but the Bruins just didn’t have enough firepower to hold on late and on the road. If the Bruins had any semblance of a run game and didn’t have to rely on Josh Rosen too much, they may have made things really interesting.

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