UCLA shocks Penn State in a massive upset at the Rose Bowl: Recap  

The game is over

UCLA shocks Penn State 42-37 at the Rose Bowl. On the final play of the game,

Penn State will get the ball back

UCLA burns a ton of clock as their punter takes an intentional team safety with 17 seconds left. The Bruins lead 42-37 with 17 seconds left. UCLA will kick off from its own 20 leading 42-37 with 17 seconds left in the game.

Penn State turns it over on downs

On 4th and 2 at the UCLA 9, Penn State is stuffed as Trebor Pena goes on a jet sweep, Drew Allar keeps it, and he is stuffed for a loss. The Bruins take over with 37 seconds left leading 42-35.

It’s fourth down

Penn State follows the big play to Singleton with a Luke Reynolds drop and a Nick Singleton run up the middle for a loss of one. On 3rd down and 11, Allar hits Reynolds for 9. It’s 4th and 2 at the UCLA 9. There’s less than a minute left. Before 4th and 2 for Penn State at the UCLA 9, the Bruins call timeout with 39 seconds to go.

First down Penn State

First down Penn State: Allar hits Singleton to the Bruins 17. Clock stops with 1:35 to go.

Penn State gets a stop

Zakee Wheatley just slammed into the backfield and stopped Iamaleva short of the line to gain on 4th and 1. Penn State takes over at the UCLA 32, trailing 42-35. It’s the two minute timeout.

UCLA takes over at its own 25

With a 42-35 lead and 4:11 to play.

Touchdown, UCLA

Touchdown, Penn State: Drew Allar hits Kyron Hudson for six. His best throw of the game and a great catch by Hudson. Ryan Barker’s extra point is good. UCLA leads the Lions 42-34 with 4:11 to play.

Touchdown, UCLA

Touchdown, UCLA: Iamaleava races into the end zone on 3rd and goal at the PSU 7. The point-try is also good. UCLA 42, Penn State 28, with 6:41 to go in the fourth quarter.

Touchdown, Penn State

Touchdown, Penn State: Kaytron Allen races into the end zone from two yards out. UCLA DB Cole Martin missed the tackle on Drew Allar’s 27-yard scramble to set it up. The Bruins lead the Lions 34-28 with 14:26 to play.

The third quarter is over

END OF THREE: UCLA 34, Penn State 21. Penn State has 2nd and 9 at the Bruins 29 when the fourth quarter begins.

Touchdown, UCLA

Touchdown, UCLA: Iamaleava scores on a one-yard rush. Bruins line up to go for two but are called for a false start. UCLA ends up kicking and making the extra point. The Bruins lead Penn State 34-21 with 2:55 to go in the third quarter.

Touchdown, Penn State

Touchdown, Penn State: Dani Dennis-Sutton blocks UCLA’s punt by running right up the middle and Liam Clifford takes it in for six. Penn State is back within a touchdown, 27-20, in the third quarter. This game has completely changed since the Bruins passed on a chance to pin the Lions deep and instead tried a 56-yard field goal, which came up short.

The Lions get a stop

Touchdown, Penn State

Touchdown, Penn State: Khalil Dinkins runs wide open and Drew Allar hits him for a 40-yard scoring strike. And Khalil Dinkins gets 15 yards for celebrating Penn State pulling within 14 in the third quarter at UCLA. That’ll go on the kickoff. Ryan Barker’s extra point is good. UCLA 27, Penn State 14 with 11:28 to go in the third quarter.

The Lions get a stop

Mateen Bhaghani’s 56-yard field goal is no good. Penn State survices Luke Reynolds’ fimble and will take over at its own 38 with 13:12 remaining in the third quarter.

Penn State fumbles on the second play of the second half

Drew Allar hit Luke Reynolds for what apeared to be a big gain, but Lawerence knocked it right out of Reynolds hands. UCLA takes over at the Penn State 38.

The second half is about to start

The second half of Penn State-UCLA is underway. The Lions start at their own 25.

HALFTIME: UCLA 27, Penn State 7

Mateen Bhaghani’s 54-yard field goal is good. UCLA leads Penn State 27-7 at halftime. The Lions get the ball to start the second half.

Penn State turns it over on downs

On 4th and 2 at the UCLA 36, Drew Allar is sacked as Nick Singleton missed in pass pro. The Bruins have it with 15 seconds left.

Two minute timeout time

Drew Allar’s pass for Devonte Ross is incomplete, but UCLA is going to be called for defensive pass interference. It’s now the two minute timeout. Penn State will have 1st and 10 at UCLA 44.

UCLA scores again

Touchdown, UCLA: Nico Iamaleava rushes in from three yards out. Another easy drive for the Bruins, who lead No. 7 Penn State 24-7 with 4:47 to play in the first half. The home team has a 268-79 yards advantage.

Penn State goes three and out

Drew Allar’s third down pass sails incomplete and Penn State quickly goes three and out after UCLA marched right down the field on the Lions defense. UCLA will take over at its own 33 leading 17-7 with 7:54 left in the first half.

Touchdown UCLA

Touchdown, UCLA: Iamaleava throws it through a droppng Zuriah Fisher’s hands right to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for six. The Bruins lead No. 7 Penn State 17-7 with 8:50 to go in the first half.

DeLuca is back on the sideline

DeLuca is out of the tent and running back down the sideline now. Cam Smith will make his Penn State debut on this play. UCLA has first and goal at the Lions’ 5.

Dom DeLuca is hurt, and UCLA has first and goal

Nico Iamaleava scmrables for a big gain on 3rd and long as Jaylen Harvey was held pretty good but no flag flew. Dom DeLuca is down after the play. UCLA has 1st and goal at the Penn State 5 with 10:23 to go in the first half.

The first quarter is over

One quarter of play is in the books at the Rose Bowl. UCLA leads No. 7 Penn State 10-7 and has 3rd and 1 at its own 46 to start the second quarter. Bruins have a 141-75 yards edge and have recovered an onside kick. PSU scored on its lone offensive possession so far.

Touchdown, Penn State

Touchdown, Penn State: Kaytron Allen bounces outside and races 13 yards to pay dirt. The Lions pull within 10-7 of UCLA with 2:06 to go in the first quarter. It was a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive in 5:14.

Penn State takes over at its own 25

It’s the Lions’ first offensive series of the day. UCLA leads 10-0. TJ Shanahan starts at right guard, and Nolan Rucci at right tackle, for the Lions.

UCLA adds a field goal

UCLA’s 24-yard field goal attempt is good. The Bruins now lead No. 7 Penn State 10-0 wth 7:20 left in the first quarter. The Lions offense has yet to take the field after UCLA received, scored, and then recovered an onside kick, leading to these three points.

UCLA recovers an onside kick

It goes from bad to worse for Penn State: UCLA just recovered an onside kick. Beautifully executed, too. There wasn’t a Nittany Lion anywhere close to where the ball landed.

Touchdown, UCLA

Touchdown, UCLA: Iamaleava to Kwazi Gilmer for six in front of AJ Harris. About as bad of a start for the Penn State defense as possible. The Bruins take a 7-0 lead with 10:26 to go in the first quarter. It was a 10-play, 75-yard scoring march. The Lions gave up two third down attempts, including a 3rd and 11 when Iamaleava scrambled for 22. For those wondering, yes: This is UCLA’s first lead of the 2025 season. New offensive coordinator Jerry Neuheisel had it going on that drive, and the Penn State defense was frequently out of position.

We are underway

Touchback. We are underway. UCLA ball at the 25. No changes to the Penn State starters on defense other than Dom DeLuca is in for the injured Tony Rojas.

UCLA wins the toss and will receive

We’re moments from kickoff at the Rose Bowl.

Penn State and UCLA have taken the field

And based on the cheers for each as they ran out of the locker room, there are decidely more Penn State than UCLA fans here.

Warmups are over

As of 2:20 p.m. ET, we’re 20 minutes from kickoff.

Update on the OL

Once 11 on 11 work started, TJ Shanahan slotted into Anthony Donkoh’s right guard spot beside Nolan Rucci at tackle. The next rep saw Cooper Cousins at right guard and Anthony Donkoh at right tackle. Regardless of how it shakes out, we might see an offensive line shakeup to some degree this afternoon in terms of which five play the most.

An update on two questionable Nittany Lions

Anthony Donkoh and Jaxon Smolik are both going through warmups per the usual so far. Both were listed as questionable.

The travel roster is out

Nine Penn State football freshmen made their first travel roster today for the Lions’ matchup with UCLA. Which members of the Class of 2025 are here? See the list here.

A large NFL scouting contingent is here, including a sitting GM

Here is the list:

Commanders (five, including GM Adam Peters, who is on the UCLA head coach search advisory committee)
Bears
Steelers (x2)
Bills
Texans (x2)
Raiders (x2)
Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
Titans
Panthers
Vikings
Cowboys
Packers (x2)
Charges
Ravens
Browns (x2)
Giants
Dolphins

When will the game start?

Looking at an official kickoff time of 3:40 p.m. ET on CBS.

Penn State availability report

There are a couple of notes worth passing along, starting with the fact that first-team Penn State right guard Anthony Donkoh is questionable. But, he is at least going through pregame warmups. Third-string quarterback Jaxon Smolik is questionable. And, backup running back and guard Cam Wallace and Jven Williams, respectively, are both out.

Who is out and questionable for Penn State today?​

Here’s who is OUT:


#7 Kaden Saunders


#11 Lyrick Samuel


#13 Tony Rojas


#16 Bekkem Kritza


#18 Max Granville


#19 Josiah Brown


#26 Cam Wallace


#30 Kari Jackson


#42 Mason Robinson


#58 Kaleb Artis


#59 Brady O’Hara


#61 Liam Horan


#74 J’ven Williams


#81 Donte Nastasi


#84 Peter Gonzalez


#95 Jordan Mayer


Here’s who is QUESTIONABLE:


#14 Jason Smolik
#68 Anthony Donkoh

The latest Penn State-UCLA line

Penn State is a 24.5-point favorite at BetMGM ahead of kickoff. The total is 48.5 points.

Officiating info

Today’s Penn State-UCLA referee is Gregory Blum of the Big Ten Conference. Much more of note, however, is today’s replay official: David Witvoet.

Both teams are here

Penn State rolled in just before 1:30 p.m. ET. UCLA got to the stadium just after 1:30 p.m. ET.