Friday nights in Pasadena usually feel like a movie set, but the Iowa vs UCLA score told a much grittier story than any Hollywood script. Forget the glitz. This was a classic Big Ten slugfest transposed onto the West Coast, ending in a narrow 20-17 victory for the UCLA Bruins.
Honestly, if you just looked at the first quarter, you probably thought Iowa was going to run away with it. They jumped out to a 10-0 lead. The Hawkeyes looked like the more physical team early on. But college football is a weird, oscillating beast, and the momentum shifted so fast it probably gave the 53,467 fans in attendance some serious whiplash.
The Final Numbers: Breaking Down the Iowa vs UCLA Score
UCLA managed to scrap their way back from a double-digit deficit to secure their third straight win. It’s kinda wild when you look at the box score. UCLA actually dominated the stat sheet in ways the final three-point margin doesn't quite capture.
- Final Score: UCLA 20, Iowa 17
- Total Yards: UCLA 414, Iowa 265
- Rushing Yards: UCLA 211, Iowa 80
- Time of Possession: UCLA 37:33, Iowa 22:27
The most staggering stat? Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, who entered the game as one of the most feared running backs in the nation, was held to just 49 yards on 18 carries. That’s a 2.7-yard average. For a guy used to ripping off massive runs, it was like running into a brick wall all night.
How the Scoring Played Out
Iowa got on the board first after Ethan Garbers threw an early interception. Kaleb Johnson punched it in from 2 yards out to make it 7-0. Shortly after, Drew Stevens nailed a 24-yard field goal. At 10-0, the Hawkeyes were cruising.
Then, things got weird.
UCLA’s kicker Mateen Bhaghani hammered a 57-yard field goal in the second quarter. That’s not a typo. 57 yards. It seemed to wake up the Bruins' offense. Garbers settled down and found Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for a 2-yard touchdown, then hit Logan Loya for a 29-yard score just before halftime. Suddenly, UCLA was up 17-10.
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Iowa didn't go away, though. Kamari Moulton tied it up at 17-17 with a 1-yard plunge in the fourth quarter. It felt like we were headed for overtime. But UCLA marched down the field, ate up nearly seven minutes of clock, and Bhaghani chipped in a 27-yard field goal with under five minutes left to seal the deal.
Why the Bruins Won the Battle of the Big Ten
It basically came down to UCLA’s ability to control the line of scrimmage. You’ve probably heard coaches talk about "winning the trenches" a million times, but this game was the textbook definition.
T.J. Harden was the engine for UCLA. He finished with 125 rushing yards, a season-best for him. Every time the Bruins needed a tough four yards to keep a drive alive, Harden seemed to find a hole. Meanwhile, Iowa's offense felt stagnant. They only had 12 first downs the entire game. You can't win many Big Ten games—even the ones played in California—with that kind of production.
Defensive Standouts
Carson Schwesinger was everywhere for the Bruins. He picked off two passes, effectively killing Iowa's momentum whenever they tried to take a shot downfield. On the Iowa side, Nick Jackson was a tackling machine as usual, but the Hawkeyes' defense was just on the field for too long. When you lose the time of possession battle by 15 minutes, your legs eventually turn to jelly.
Looking Beyond the Football Field: Basketball Update
Wait, were you looking for the basketball score? Because these two just met on the hardwood, too.
On Friday, January 17, 2025, the Iowa vs UCLA score in men's basketball was even more lopsided. UCLA blew the doors off the Hawkeyes at Pauley Pavilion, winning 94-70. Eric Dailey Jr. went off for 23 points, and the Bruins started the game by making their first nine shots. It was a 57-24 lead at halftime. Total dominance.
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Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're tracking these two programs, here is what the recent scores tell us about their trajectories:
- UCLA’s Identity Shift: Under DeShaun Foster, the football team is proving they can win with defense and a power run game, which is essential for survival in the Big Ten.
- Iowa’s Offensive Woes: The Hawkeyes' struggle to find a consistent passing game continues to be their Achilles' heel. When teams successfully "box in" Kaleb Johnson, Iowa doesn't currently have a Plan B that works.
- Betting Trends: In the football matchup, Iowa was a 6.5-point favorite. If you took the Bruins and the points, you had a very good night. The "Under" also hit (44.5), which is a common theme for Iowa games.
To keep a pulse on the next matchup, keep an eye on the injury reports for Iowa’s quarterback room. Their offensive rhythm depends entirely on whether they can threaten teams vertically to open up those running lanes. For UCLA, watch T.J. Harden’s workload; when he gets 20+ carries, the Bruins usually find themselves in the winner's circle.