UCLA Defeats Iowa 20-17 with Strong Defense and Ground Game: T.J. Harden Hits 100 Yards, Ethan Garbers Throws Two TDs

UCLA Defeats Iowa 20-17

UCLA defeated Iowa 20-17 in a hard-fought battle on Friday night, with the Bruins showcasing both strong defense and a revived ground game. Despite facing Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, the nation’s second-leading rusher, UCLA’s defense held him to a season-low 49 rushing yards on 18 carries. On offense, T.J. Harden had a standout performance, rushing for 125 yards on 20 carries, including a key 15-yard gain late in the game to secure the victory. This was Harden's first 100-yard game of the season and his fourth career 100-yard outing.

Quarterback Ethan Garbers threw for 204 yards, completing 21 of 34 passes, and bounced back from a difficult first half that included three turnovers. Despite two interceptions and a fumble, Garbers helped lead UCLA with two touchdown passes in the second quarter. His connections with Titus Mokiao-Atimalala (2-yard TD) and Logan Loya (29-yard TD) gave the Bruins a 14-7 lead at halftime, and UCLA never relinquished the lead after that.

The Bruins dominated the ground game, finishing with 211 rushing yards compared to Iowa’s 80, and outgained the Hawkeyes 415-265 in total yards. In contrast, Iowa struggled offensively, particularly after starting quarterback Brendan Sullivan was injured in the third quarter. Backup quarterback Jackson Stratton briefly led Iowa to a game-tying 13-play touchdown drive, but the Hawkeyes couldn’t capitalize on that momentum.

Mateen Bhaghani played a crucial role for UCLA, hitting a 57-yard field goal in the second quarter and a 27-yard field goal with 4:49 left in the game to put the Bruins ahead for good. Bhaghani’s long field goal set a new school record for the second-longest field goal in UCLA history. Despite some early mistakes and a missed opportunity to score in the red zone, the Bruins maintained their composure and executed when it mattered most.

With the win, UCLA improved to 4-5 (3-4 Big Ten), continuing their strong push after a rough 1-5 start to the season. Coach DeShaun Foster praised his team’s ability to control the line of scrimmage, particularly in the running game, saying, “They took pride in wanting to outrush them, and we did that.” The Bruins will look to keep their momentum going next Friday at Washington, while Iowa, now 6-4 (4-3 Big Ten), will travel to Maryland on November 23.

UCLA Defeats Iowa 20-17 with Strong Defense and Ground Game: T.J. Harden Hits 100 Yards, Ethan Garbers Throws Two TDs