A more cinematic storyline perhaps could not have been scripted.
Two in-state rivals, two new head coaches and a plethora of weapons up and down both rosters.
Someone waking up from a three-year deep sleep would probably throw a fit seeing how much the Pac-12 changed.
But the rivalry never died.
Reviving a matchup last seen in 2023, UCLA football (1-0) took down California (0-1) 45-24 at California Memorial Stadium on Saturday night in Bob Chesney’s debut as head coach in the blue and gold. On the other side of the field, Tosh Lupoi’s Cal head-coaching inauguration was spoiled on home soil.
“Everyone on the team wants it,” said senior wide receiver Mikey Matthews. “We all came together with a lot of transfers and coach Ches. And we trust him. He’s leading us, and we trust him with all of our hearts. So we just play for him and play extra hard.”
Tickets sold quickly, with record-setting sales creating a sold-out crowd in Berkeley to watch the Bruins trek into the Golden Bear’s den.
And those in attendance got their money’s worth immediately.
In just his second season in collegiate competition, Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele opened the match on a near-perfect drive, flashing his picturesque ball placement for a 5-for-6 clip, despite decent pressure on a revamped UCLA front seven.
Surviving three consecutive third downs, Sagapolutele marched down the field for 58 passing yards – eventually finishing with 271 on the night – finding wide receiver Chase Hendricks for a nine-yard score behind a timely backfield block.
The Ohio transfer, who totaled 1,037 receiving yards last season, alongside former Rutgers wideout Ian Strong, flashed an adept connection with their new signal caller in Lupoi’s high-tempo spread offense. Sagapolutele routinely found his top targets on wheel and corner routes, with the receiving duo combining for 160 yards on the night on just 11 total catches.
But the new “Bruin Bullies” made their mark on the playground, limiting the Golden Bears to just 34 first-half rushing yards and forcing Cal into early three-and-outs. UCLA consistently showed strength in open space, connecting on tackles against slot receivers and preventing Cal’s ground game from attacking C gaps on sweeps.
“This is a game that you have to play with some emotion,” Chesney said. “You have to play with some intensity, and you got to play with some joy.”
And when the defense capitalized, the offense converted.
In what seemed like a complete 180 of the squad that went 3-9 last year, the Bruins trounced the Golden Bears in the trenches, out-rushing their opponents 279 to 119, including six total scores.
The new-look offensive line gave Nico Iamaleava newfound stability and time in the pocket. A system that used to look like endless quarterback scrambles when plays crumbled in seconds is now one with notable stability, allowing the senior quarterback to dance in RPOs and thrive in designed quarterback runs.
When Iamaleava limped off the field late in the fourth quarter after a 10-yard run and fumble that he recovered, he’d recorded 184 passing yards and a rushing score. Iamaleava returned to the field for the final play, kneeling to conclude the game.
But the offensive highlight of the night was a Cerberus-themed running back room. The trio of fifth-years Wayne Knight and Anthony Woods and senior Jaivian Thomas combined for 230 ground yards and five rushing touchdowns.
The trio juiced up a UCLA attack that consistently marched down the field, boosted by 88 yards from Matthews – whose post routes out of the slot provided timely yardage. Afterward, the Bruins cycled through a rotation that mixed Thomas’ speed, Knight’s low center of gravity and Woods’ relentlessness to put pressure on the opposing rush.
“It’s amazing,” Knight said of the running back room. “We got a lot of guys that can go and keep fresh legs. So any given chance in the moment, it’s your time to shine. It’s going to be a huge testament moving forward that we showed today.”
The Bruins opened the second quarter with a lateral to former Golden Bear Thomas, before Woods eventually punched home a 31-yard run. UCLA would strike once again on their following drive behind an eight-yarder from Knight.
But Cal wasn’t one to rule out.
After an early 21-10 UCLA lead, Cal finished their half on an 87-yard drive in less than a minute to enter the locker room within one possession, before a 38-yard field goal from senior kicker Mateen Bhaghani gave the Bruins extra insurance on their lead. Then, a near-nine-minute third-quarter drive, powered by 47 rushing yards from running back Adam Mohammed, evened the score at 24.
With the Bruins down a starting receiver in senior Landon Elis, who was knocked down hard on the third quarter’s first play, Chesney opted for heavier tight end sets, limiting Iamaleava’s passing options and resulting in just five net yards on the Bruins’ third down, with the Golden Bear’s defensive line exerting ample pressure. Following a fumbled Cal snap on fourth down, the Bruins had an opportunity to strike near midfield with just over 11 minutes left in the game, but ended up with their third consecutive punt out of halftime.
But if anything would resuscitate the Bruins, it’d be the run game.
After an overthrown pass was picked off by senior defensive back Ta’Shawn James – who’d do the exact same on Cal’s next drive – it took just one play for Knight to burst past multiple tackles for a 31-yard run and break the scoreboard deadlock.
With sophomore quarterback Madden Iamaleava filling in for his older brother, continual first downs from UCLA’s run game – capped off with Knight’s third score – mixed with a swarming secondary that forced five incompletions in Sagapolutele’s final drive were enough to close out on the road.
“Honestly, it was good for our first game to play versus some very talented receivers, and it’s going to set the tone for us and for down the road,” James said. “Shoutout to those guys. They went out there and played hard, made plays. But we went out there and made plays, too. So, honestly, I don’t see us stopping.”
While Nico’s status is to be determined, for just a few hours, the old Pac-12 was alive and well.
