Iowa vs. UCLA Football: A Historical Preview
For the first time in nearly 40 years, the Iowa Hawkeyes and the UCLA Bruins are set to face off on the football field. Their gridiron history dates back to 1938, with the Bruins holding a significant lead in the all-time series. This upcoming matchup at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, marks a renewed chapter in their rivalry as they navigate their paths in the Big Ten Conference.
Series History: Bruins Dominate Early, Hawkeyes Seek to Close the Gap
The first meeting between Iowa and UCLA occurred on September 23, 1938, at the LA Memorial Coliseum, with the Bruins securing a 27-3 victory. UCLA dominated the early years of the series, winning the first five contests. Iowa first hosted the Bruins in the third game of their series, on Sept. 24, 1949 - a 41-25 win for the Bruins.
Iowa's first victory against UCLA came on September 21, 1974, in Iowa City, with a score of 21-10. The Hawkeyes followed up with another win in Iowa City on September 26, 1981, defeating the Bruins 20-7. Despite their success at home (2-2), Iowa has struggled in Los Angeles, losing all five games played there.
Notably, UCLA forfeited a 34-16 win in 1977 in Los Angeles "due to two unnamed players who used fake school transcripts." Both Iowa and UCLA officially recognize the series record as 7-2 in favor of the Bruins.
Series Record Breakdown:
- Overall: UCLA leads 7-2
- In Los Angeles: UCLA leads 5-0
- In Iowa City: Tied 2-2
The Last Meeting: 1986 Rose Bowl
The most recent game between Iowa and UCLA took place in the 1986 Rose Bowl. The Hawkeyes, who had finished the season with a 10-1 record and a Big Ten championship, were defeated by the Bruins 45-28. Despite a strong performance from quarterback Chuck Long, who completed 29 of 37 passes for 319 yards and a touchdown, UCLA's running back Eric Ball proved too much to handle, rushing for 227 yards and four touchdowns.
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Game details:
- Date: Jan. 1, 1986
- Location: Pasadena, California (Rose Bowl)
- Result: UCLA 45, Iowa 28
Recent Performances and Season Outlook
Iowa is coming off a solid win against the Wisconsin Badgers behind backup, but now starting quarterback Brendan Sullivan, but more so the brilliant play of running back Kaleb Johnson. The Hawkeyes have found its groove in the last two weeks with a 40-14 win over Northeastern and a 42-10 win over Wisconsin in its last two games. UCLA also comes in as winners of back-to-back games, though they have been tighter than Iowa's wins. On the road, the Bruins picked up wins over Rutgers (35-32) and Nebraska (27-20).
UCLA is in their first season in the Big Ten after leaving the Pac-12 and have had an up-and-down season.
Game Details and Predictions
The game is set to take place at the Rose Bowl Stadium.
How to Watch:
- TV: Fox Sports
- Streaming: FuboTV
Odds (Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook):
- Spread: UCLA: +5.5 (+100), Iowa: -5.5 (-122)
- Moneyline: UCLA: +190, Iowa: -235
- Total: O/U 44.5 (-110/-110)
Injury Report:
- UCLA: N/A
- Iowa: Cade McNamara (QB) - Out, Luke Lachey (TE) - Questionable
Weather Forecast:
The weather in Los Angeles will be nice during the day, but at night, it will cool down quite a bit. The high for the day will be 75 degrees, with a low of 49 degrees. The sun will be setting, so it will definitely be cooler as the game goes on, but that shouldn't be a worry for the Hawkeyes.
Implications and Significance
There has been some speculation in the fan base in whether the Hawkeyes could have claimed at least a share of the national championship had they defeated the Bruins in the Rose Bowl. No. 1 Penn State and No. 2 Miami lost in their respective bowls, though it was ultimately Oklahoma - which beat the Nittany Lions 25-10 in the Orange Bowl - that claimed the national championship.
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tags: #iowa #vs #ucla #football #history
