UCLA 20-17 Maryland (Oct 18, 2025) Recreation Recap

PASADENA, Calif. — — Mateen Bhaghani kicked a 23-yard discipline purpose with two seconds to play, and UCLA beat Maryland 20-17 Saturday evening to increase its unbelievable season turnaround with a 3rd consecutive victory.

Nico Iamaleava handed for 221 yards and led three scoring drives within the ultimate six minutes regardless of taking place with an obvious knee harm throughout that wild stretch for the Bruins (3-4, 3-1 Big Ten), who managed to remain on the upswing of their curler coaster of a season.

“I think it’s all about belief, (and) the guys believe,” UCLA interim head coach Tim Skipper stated. “There’s nothing that happened throughout the game that’s going to take our confidence away, and you don’t really know that until you get in a tight game like that. I found out today that these guys believe.”

Iamaleava threw a go-ahead, 14-yard landing move to Mikey Matthews with 3:33 to play, and Bhaghani’s first discipline purpose put the Bruins up 17-10 with 2:09 to play shortly after Scooter Jackson intercepted Malik Washington’s move deep in Maryland territory.

But Washington, who handed for 210 yards, led the Terrapins (4-3, 1-3) on a dramatic drive, hitting Jalil Farooq for an 8-yard TD with 40 seconds left.

Iamaleava, who appeared to have a severe harm solely moments earlier, returned to the sector and drove the Bruins 68 yards in 31 seconds.

“I knew with Nico, when I saw him start to walk off and his face started to come back normal, I was like, ‘Hey, we have a shot here,’” Skipper stated with a smile.

Iamaleava accomplished two passes for 33 yards earlier than Anthony Frias — who made an early 55-yard landing run for UCLA — made a 35-yard run to the Maryland 5 to arrange Bhaghani’s tiebreaking discipline purpose.

“It just shows how much of a leader (Iamaleava) is,” Matthews stated. “He came back and pushed through. He has that dog in him, no matter what.”

The Bruins rallied to win regardless of committing three turnovers in these faculties’ first assembly since 1955, together with an interception returned 8 yards for a landing by Maryland’s Jamare Glasker within the third quarter. UCLA additionally went 9 straight drives with out scoring earlier than Matthews’ TD catch.

After an 0-4 begin that included the firing of head coach DeShaun Foster and the departure of each coordinators, UCLA has dramatically reversed course over the previous two weeks with gorgeous victories over Penn State and Michigan State beneath Skipper.

This victory wasn’t practically as eye-catching, however the Bruins’ protection stored Maryland’s offense out of the tip zone till the ultimate minute of regulation.

In their Rose Bowl debut, the Terrapins misplaced their third straight recreation after a 4-0 begin. Maryland blew a late lead in all three defeats, together with this heartbreaker about 2,700 miles from College Park.

“We’ve lost three Big Ten games by a combined 10 points in the last three weeks,” Maryland coach Mike Locksley stated. “I’m not going to ask what is the issue, or why this keeps happening. Why is a victim question, and I’m not a victim. I’m going to ask what we need to do or what I need to do to be able to get us to finish these games.”

Maryland entered the Rose Bowl main the nation in interceptions, and Glasker recorded the Terrapins’ fourth pick-6 of the season. Jalen Huskey additionally made an interception deep in Maryland territory within the second quarter.

“I thought our defense played lights-out,” Locksley stated. “They scored points. They got turnovers. … They played well enough for us to win. The other two phases, we didn’t play complementary football, but I do like the fight they showed.”

Frias put UCLA up 7-3 within the second quarter along with his first profession landing on that 55-yard romp. The Kansas State switch had by no means scored in his first 36 video games over 4 collegiate seasons.

Maryland linebacker Trey Reddick was ejected for concentrating on within the second quarter. Huskey was additionally ejected for concentrating on within the fourth quarter.

Takeaways

Maryland: Washington’s rising pains and the Terps’ lack of ability to carry a lead are brutal, however this protection nonetheless has the potential to be particular — and it will must be with Indiana, Illinois and Michigan arising.

UCLA: Nobody is aware of what to anticipate subsequent from this workforce. A severe harm for Tennessee switch Iamaleava would have put this season again in a blender, however the Bruins are nonetheless displaying exceptional delight and poise beneath Skipper.

Up subsequent

Maryland: A bye earlier than internet hosting the Hoosiers on Saturday, Nov. 1.

UCLA: At Indiana subsequent Saturday.

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