UCLA Bruins offensive coordinator Jerry Neuheisel became an overnight sensation on Saturday, helping scheme Nico Iamaleava and Co. to a high-scoring 42-37 win over the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Rose Bowl.
Neuheisel and interim head football coach Tim Skipper could be putting their names in the hats for future coaching opportunities if the product on the field against PSU becomes the norm. Moreso for Neuheisel, of course. Skipper is a defensive mind, and Penn State wasn’t having difficulties scoring in the second half.
CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah stressed how “remarkable” a win against the Nittany Lions the triumph was in the grand scheme. Especially juxtaposed against a 35-10 loss to the New Mexico Lobos, which was what led to DeShaun Foster’s firing as head football coach, a 17-14 loss to the Northwestern Wildcats, and a 30-23 loss to the UNLV Rebels.
“Heading into the weekend, UCLA was perhaps at the greatest risk of going winless in 2025. After losing to New Mexico, UNLV and Northwestern, the Bruins were positioned as heavy underdogs -- including 24-point 'dogs against No. 7 Penn State on Saturday. What happened at the Rose Bowl on CBS was truly remarkable,” Jeyarajah wrote.
“After an inconsistent start to the year, UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava delivered 166 yards passing, 128 yards rushing and five total touchdowns to shock Penn State 42-37. The win was the first win by a team 0-4 or worse against an AP top 10 team since UTEP beat No. 7 BYU in 1985. Newly-promoted offensive coordinator Jerry Neuheisel was carried off the field by players after the win.
“The win was an incredible moment for a program that has scraped some of the lowest moments of the 2025 season.”
UCLA faces the Michigan State Spartans and Indiana Hoosiers on the road, and the Maryland Terrapins at home, to close out October. Then, in November, the Bruins host the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Washington Huskies, and travel to the Ohio State Buckeyes and USC Trojans.
UCLA probably won’t be bowl-eligible. The Bruins will be better than anyone could’ve predicted after a 0-4 start to the season.
Even if “better” is only tangibly defined by the Nittany Lions win.