If you were looking for a Hollywood ending to the 2025 season, you didn't find it at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum this past November. Honestly, it was a rough night for the Bruins. The final score of the UCLA football game against USC was 29-10 in favor of the Trojans, a result that felt like a microcosm of a season defined by "what ifs" and heavy transitions.
It's one of those scores that looks a bit closer than the game actually felt if you were watching the second half. UCLA actually led 10-7 at halftime. For a minute there, it looked like they might pull off the upset and salvage a chaotic year. But the wheels didn't just come off in the third quarter; they basically disintegrated. USC scored 22 unanswered points to shut the door.
Breaking Down the Score of the UCLA Football Game
The 29-10 loss to USC wasn't just another tick in the loss column. It was the final nail in a 3-9 season that saw the Bruins miss out on a bowl game entirely. When you look at the box score, the disparity in the second half is what jumps out. UCLA was held scoreless for the final 30 minutes of play.
USC's defense, which has been hit-or-miss in recent years, suddenly looked like a brick wall. They limited UCLA to just 308 total yards. If you follow the rivalry closely, you know that's the lowest yardage total UCLA has managed against the Trojans since 2016. It wasn't just a lack of scoring; it was a total inability to move the sticks when it mattered most.
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The Turning Point
The game really flipped on a 32-yard touchdown pass from USC to Makai Lemon late in the third quarter. Up until that point, UCLA was hanging around. They were scrappy. But that play seemed to break the spirit of the defense. By the time King Miller—a redshirt freshman walk-on who has been a revelation for the Trojans—ripped off a 41-yard touchdown run in the fourth, the Rose Bowl faithful who made the trip across town were already heading for the exits.
Why 2025 Was Such a Grind for the Bruins
To understand why the score of the UCLA football game ended up where it did, you have to look at the context of the whole year. This was UCLA’s first real tour through the Big Ten, and man, the travel and the physicality of that conference are no joke.
They started the season 0-4. That’s a hole that's almost impossible to climb out of. They had a brief spark in October, winning three straight games against Penn State, Michigan State, and Maryland. That 42-37 win over Penn State? Absolute classic. But the momentum didn't last. They finished the year on a five-game losing streak.
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- Final Record: 3-9 overall.
- Conference Play: 3-6 in the Big Ten.
- The Coach Situation: Deshaun Foster started the year, but Tim Skipper took over the reins mid-season as the interim.
It was a year of musical chairs on the sidelines and inconsistency on the field. The offense averaged only 18.2 points per game, which ranked near the bottom of the entire FBS. You aren't going to win many games in a powerhouse conference like the Big Ten when you're struggling to put up 20 points.
The Silver Linings (Yes, There Are a Few)
It wasn't all doom and gloom. Nico Iamaleava, the highly-touted signal-caller, showed flashes of why people were so hyped about him. Even in the loss to USC, he threw for 200 yards and kept the offense moving in the first half. The defense also had its moments, specifically ranking 8th in the Big Ten in passing yards allowed per game (196.6).
A New Era: Bob Chesney Takes the Reins
The scoreboard from the USC game is already being treated as ancient history because the program has moved on—fast. On December 6, 2025, UCLA announced Bob Chesney as the 20th head coach in program history.
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Chesney comes over from James Madison, where he was basically a winning machine. He brought a lot of his staff with him, including offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy and defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler. The vibe in Westwood right now is "out with the old, in with the new."
Since taking over, Chesney hasn't wasted a second. He's been incredibly active in the transfer portal. The big news? Nico Iamaleava is staying. Getting your starting quarterback to buy into the new regime is half the battle in modern college football.
What to Expect Moving Forward
The 2026 roster is already looking significantly different. Chesney has been handing out offers to four-star recruits like candy, specifically targeting the 2027 class to build a long-term foundation. But for the immediate future, the focus is on the 2026 transfer window. The goal is clear: never let the score of the UCLA football game reflect a 3-9 season ever again.
What You Should Do Next
If you're a Bruin fan or just someone following the Big Ten chaos, the 29-10 score against USC is a benchmark. It’s the "before" picture. Here is how you can stay ahead of the curve as the program reboots:
- Track the Transfer Portal: The window is closing fast in mid-January. Keep an eye on the defensive line additions, as that was a major weakness in the 2025 campaign.
- Monitor Spring Practice: With a brand-new coaching staff, the "Spring Game" in 2026 will be the first real look at Chesney’s system. Expect a much faster tempo than what we saw last year.
- Check the 2026 Schedule: The Big Ten isn't getting any easier. See how the travel schedule aligns, as those cross-country flights to places like Rutgers or Ohio State proved to be a major hurdle for the team's depth last season.
The 2025 season might have ended with a whimper at the Coliseum, but the "Chesney Train" is officially in the station. It's going to be a long off-season, but for the first time in a while, there’s a specific plan in place to fix the scoreboard.