UCLA Football: 3 takeaways from victory over rival California

2. The Bruins defense still struggles to stop top running backs

While UCLA had a hard time running the ball, the Bruins defense was a sieve when the Golden Bears kept the ball on the ground. Entering the final game of the regular season, the Bruins were ranked 128th out of 130 FBS teams in terms of yards allowed to opposing runners. In their first 11 games, UCLA conceded an average of nearly 290 rushing yards per game.

They were slightly better than that season average, giving up 216 yards on 42 carries against the Cal offense. Patrick Laird was especially strong for the Golden Bears, finishing the night with 178 yards on 32 carries. Laird put up the bulk of California’s production on the ground, posting his third straight game with at least 150 yards.

Though he failed to reach the endzone on Friday, Laird was easily the most dominant running back for either team. He added five receptions for 30 yards out of the backfield, finishing the day with over 200 total yards from scrimmage.

UCLA had little trouble stopping lesser talents, as the rest of the Golden Bears managed only 38 yards on 10 carries throughout the day at the Rose Bowl. But Laird showcased his skill with a big performance that nearly won the game for Cal. He offered the kind of balance to an emerging passing attack that is going to be critical for them moving forward. More critical will be UCLA’s front seven learning how to stop players like Laird.