UCLA Football: 3 takeaways from victory over rival California

3. UCLA will be just fine after Josh Rosen heads to the NFL

When Josh Rosen was knocked out of the game in the second quarter and did not return to the game, it prematurely ended what is almost certainly his final game at the Rose Bowl. What we learned, however, is that whoever emerges as the next Bruins head coach won’t have to worry about the quarterback position moving forward.

That’s because Devon Modster stepped right in and kept things churning at a high rate for the UCLA offense through the air. Though he failed to throw a touchdown pass, Modster was otherwise just as productive at quarterback as Rosen had been during the first half.

Modster ended the game with a stellar stat line. He finished 14-of-18 for 191 passing yards against the Cal defense. He averaged more than 10 yards per attempt, keeping the Bruins moving downfield and allowing them to keep ahead of the Golden Bears on the scoreboard. In one half, Modster more than doubled his productivity for the season.

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Losing a talent like Rosen is never easy for any team. But if Friday night is any indication, the Bruins have a new star in the making in Modster. He was an essential part of UCLA’s sixth win of the season. It is unknown the extent to which Rosen was injured. If the NFL-bound star can’t go in the postseason, Modster will get another chance to shine.