UCLA Football: 3 takeaways from statement win over USC in Week 12

Nov 20, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) scores a touchdown past Southern California Trojans linebacker Ralen Goforth (10) in the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

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Chip Kelly and UCLA football took it to USC on Saturday afternoon, ending a two-game losing streak in the rivalry emphatically with a 29-point win.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Zach Charbonnet starred for the Bruins while the defense stepped up when it needed to, helping them pull away late for a big win.

The Bruins are now 7-4 and have locked up their first winning season since 2015.

What did we learn from the Bruins’ blowout win over USC?

3. Zach Charbonnet is that dude

It’s been a few weeks since Zach Charbonnet was making headlines at UCLA, but he’s had a heck of a season since transferring in from Michigan and he added to his already-impressive total with 167 yards and a touchdown, breaking the 1,000-yard mark on the season.

Although Dorian Thompson-Robinson stole the show on Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles, Charbonnet took some pressure off his quarterback with a huge game.

This year’s UCLA team looks completely different from Chip Kelly’s other teams and this is the first winning season for the Bruins since 2015 and Charbonnet has had a big hand in that success.

Whenever a player has a big game in the crosstown rivalry game against USC, Bruins fans usually put them on a pedestal for the rest of eternity. Charbonnet’s big performance against the Trojans may have just solidified his spot as a legend at UCLA.

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