UCLA Football: 3 takeaways from disappointing loss at Cincinnati

Thursday night saw a good performance by Cincinnati and a a poor outing by UCLA football. Here are three takeaways from the season opener.

Thursday night’s UCLA vs. Cincinnati game wasn’t the most compelling of the opening weekend contests but it had all the makings of a classic early on.

Cincinnati ran away with it and left the Bruins looking for answers.

3. Too many miscues on both sides of the ball

Dorian Thompson-Robinson had four turnovers all by himself throwing two interceptions and coughing up two fumbles. That was much of the story in this game. There were miscues and sloppy play all night. Both of Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s fumbles weren’t caused by the defense; the ball simply slipped out of his hand, twice.

Even when it seemed as if UCLA would make the critical miscue, the Bearcats wouldn’t take advantage. Desmond Ridder threw an inexcusable interception in the red zone. Gerrid Doaks fumbled the ball after a long run. The miscues by Cincinnati kept the Bruins in the game, and the miscues by the Bruins help the Bearcats win.

This was a penalty-filled game as well. The Bruins and the Bearcats combined for 19 penalties in Thursday’s game. Both teams are going to have to clean this up before their next games.