PASADENA, Calif. — No. 7/6 Penn State (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten) dropped a road contest to UCLA (1-4, 1-1 Big Ten) by way of a 42-37 final score inside the Rose Bowl on Saturday. Despite a late-game comeback attempt, the Nittany Lions came up short of a victory.
Senior quarterback Drew Allar led the run-game, gaining 78 yards on the ground while also totaling 200 passing yards. Redshirt senior Kyron Hudson and sophomore Luke Reynolds were Allar’s top targets. Hudson made four catches for 52 yards including a 15-yard touchdown catch. Redshirt senior Khalil Dinkins recorded his career longest reception, a 40-yard touchdown catch to total three receptions for 49 yards. On the ground, Kaytron Allen led the Penn State running back efforts, producing 50 yards to go with two touchdowns.
Defensively, senior Zakee Wheatley and redshirt senior Dominic DeLuca led the squad with 12 tackles apiece while each recorded a tackle for loss. Junior Amare Campbell totaled 10 tackles, a sack for a loss of 11 yards and 2.5 tackles for loss. Senior Zane Durant and redshirt senior Zuriah Fisher recorded a sack each in addition to their four and three total tackles respectively. Senior defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton produced three tackles and blocked his first career punt which led to a touchdown recovery for senior wide receiver Liam Clifford.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UCLA made quick work on its opening drive, capping off a 10-play drive with an 11-yard reception in the endzone to take a 7-0 lead early on. The Bruins decision for an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff proved effective, with UCLA able to add another three points to the board on a 24-yard field goal.
The Nittany Lions offense converted on their first possession of the contest, getting all parts of the offense involved throughout the drive with throws to multiple wide receivers and tight ends while kick-starting the run game. Penn State’s 10-play, 75-yard drive was finished off with a 13-yard rushing touchdown for Allen, marking his fifth consecutive game with at least one score of that manner.
The Bruins retained possession as the clock switched into the second quarter. After a long drive, built by 17 plays spanning over 75 yards, UCLA added its second passing touchdown to take a 17-7 lead. Following an empty possession for the Nittany Lions, the Bruins tacked on seven more points, with their quarterback finishing off the possession with a three-yard touchdown run, extending UCLA’s lead to a 24-7.
Following a turnover on downs for the Nittany Lions with under 30 seconds on the clock, UCLA used two plays to get within field goal range. The Bruins’ placekicker drilled a 54-yard attempt to extend the margin to 27-7 heading into halftime.
Despite beginning the second half with the ball, a forced fumble on offense sent the Penn State defense back to the field. The Nittany Lions put the Bruins in a third and 18 position, which would then lead to a failed 56-yard field goal attempt.
PSU quickly added to the scoreboard on the following drive, using just six plays to find the endzone. The possession was finished off with a 40-yard reception from Allar to Dinkins to inch back within a 13-point margin.
Back-to-back sacks from Campbell and Durant on the next drive forced the punt team on for the first time in the contest. Dennis-Sutton blocked the punt, which allowed Clifford to collect the ball and take it to the endzone to add another seven points to the board for the Nittany Lions.
The Bruins responded with another touchdown on their next possession, a quarterback keeper capping off a seven-play drive to elevate their lead to 34-21. UCLA lined up for a two-point conversion following the score but a false start penalty sent the kicking team on for an extra point.
The Penn State offensive drive spilled into the final stanza as Allar’s 57 yards on the ground highlighted the 10-play possession. His 27-yard run moved the Nittany Lions into the redzone where Allen finished off with a two-yard rush for his second touchdown of the day. PSU trimmed the score to 34-28 with nearly an entire quarter left to play.
UCLA burned almost eight minutes of game clock on its next possession while finishing off the drive with eight points following a successful two-point conversion, moving the score to 42-28 with just under seven minutes remaining in the contest.
The Nittany Lions continued to claw, moving the ball up the field in quick fashion on their next drive to inch the deficit back to seven points. Allar finished off the 10-play possession with a 15-yard throw to Hudson in the endzone.
The Bruins took over as the clock dwindled down in the fourth quarter. PSU’s defense put up a stop to give the offense a chance to tie the game. Wheatley came up with the tackle for a loss on fourth down, forcing a turnover on downs.
Penn State was unable to convert on the ensuing drive.For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and ticket information for the 2025 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU, as well as club seating in West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.GoPSUsports.com, or call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.