On Saturday, October 4, the number seven-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions will be on the road, taking on UCLA at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. This game will hopefully serve as a bounce-back opportunity for Penn State after their loss to the Oregon Ducks during the White Out.

So far this season, running back Kaytron Allen has found the end zone in every game. Andre Campbell is currently third in the nation in solo tackles per game, averaging six. This will also be Penn State’s first road game of the 2025 season, and UCLA leads the all-time series with the Nittany Lions 4-3. Additionally, Penn State ranks eighth in the nation in turnover margin. Now, let’s dive into what we can expect from both teams on each side of the ball in this upcoming matchup.

UCLA Offense vs. Penn State Defense
The Bruins were at the center of one of the biggest offseason storylines, acquiring quarterback Nico Iamaleava after he parted ways with Tennessee. Unfortunately, the move hasn’t helped the offense much, as they’ve struggled to move the ball during their 0-4 start. Iamaleava has not been the sole issue, but he hasn’t been able to elevate an offense that has scored more than 14 points just once this season, in a 30-23 loss to UNLV. He’s completing a solid 65.3% of his passes but has thrown only four touchdowns against three interceptions. Iamaleava also leads the team in rushing with 204 yards, including the team’s only rushing touchdown of the season.

His favorite and most consistent target has been Kwazi Gilmee, who leads the team with 19 receptions and 225 yards. UCLA often utilizes running back Anthony Woods out of the backfield, using him on screens and finding ways to get the ball in his hands quickly. The Bruins also feature both tight ends, Jack Pederson and Hudson Habermehl, in the short passing game to mitigate the offensive line’s struggles in protecting Iamaleava.

The Bruins recently announced the departure of offensive coordinator Tito Sunseri, effective this past Wednesday. He will be replaced by Jerry Neuheisel, a former UCLA backup quarterback from 2012 to 2015.

UCLA’s offensive struggles are likely to persist against the stout Penn State defense, which has been phenomenal under Jim Knowles. Despite the loss to Oregon, the Nittany Lions were able to contain a high-powered Ducks offense, holding them to just 17 points in regulation. Linebacker Amare Campbell has been a major addition, leading the team with a career-high 15 tackles against Oregon.

Penn State will also be without second-leading tackler Tony Rojas, who had emerged as a standout early in the season before suffering a long-term injury. Dom DeLuca will take over as a full-time starter, with Keon Wylie and Anthony Specca expected to see more playing time to provide depth.

Penn State Offense vs. UCLA Defense
Through four games, the Penn State offense has been a major disappointment, perhaps even more than expected. Drew Allar has been inconsistent, often looking more like a true freshman than a third-year starting quarterback. Nicholas Singleton, expected to be one of the nation’s best running backs, has struggled to evade tacklers. The veteran offensive line, which was supposed to be the team’s strength, has failed to protect Allar and open up running lanes. The wide receiver corps, while upgraded, has yet to consistently make plays when needed.

The offense faces a critical test on Saturday. It could either confirm that this unit just isn’t that good and will continue to struggle, or it could show signs of improvement, making the necessary adjustments to find a rhythm. Given Penn State’s experience and playmakers, they should have the ability to pull away from the Bruins—but it’s also possible that the Nittany Lions’ offense just isn’t all that difficult to defend.

We’ll learn a lot about the run game on Saturday, as UCLA has been among the worst in the nation at stopping the run, allowing 232.8 rushing yards per game and 31.25 points per game. The Bruins’ pass defense has been better, giving up only 169 passing yards per game, but their defense has yet to record an interception through four games and might struggle to do so in this matchup.

Special Teams for Both Teams
One bright spot for UCLA has been kicker Mateen Bhaghani, who has made all seven of his field goal attempts, including a 51-yarder. Bhaghani is coming off an outstanding season where he made 20 of 24 attempts, including a career-high 57-yarder. Punter Will Karoll has a powerful leg, regularly sending punts of 60+ yards, with a career-long of 78 yards, which he achieved while playing for Tulane in 2024.

For Penn State, kicker Ryan Barker has been incredibly reliable, converting 10 of 11 field goal attempts on the season, with the lone miss coming due to a block. He’s now gone two seasons without a miss on a field goal attempt from under 40 yards. Punter Gabriel Nwosu is averaging 46.7 yards per punt, with 60% of his punts landing inside the 20-yard line.

What to Expect from Penn State vs. UCLA
This game is a potential trap for Penn State, following an emotional night game with a cross-country trip to face a UCLA team that is looking to improve on its 5-7 record and earn a bowl berth in 2025. However, UCLA is more likely to remain winless after this matchup.

Penn State’s defense should do its job in shutting down UCLA’s offense, especially if they can prevent big plays from Iamaleava. However, the Nittany Lions’ offense will likely struggle to start, unless they can build off the fourth-quarter spark they showed against Oregon, when they scored two quick touchdowns to send the game into overtime. That being said, I have my doubts about the Nittany Lions’ offensive consistency.

Expect Penn State to head into halftime with a 7-0 lead and to add a few more touchdowns in the second half to pull away for the win. This game is unlikely to be remembered much after the final whistle. The final score prediction is Penn State 24, UCLA 3. You can catch the game on CBS, kicking off at 3:30 PM.