UCLA will look to end a five-game losing streak and earn its first Big Ten victory when it visits Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J., on Saturday afternoon.
The Bruins (1-5, 0-4 Big Ten) haven’t won since opening the season with a 16-13 victory at Hawaii and haven’t scored more than 17 points in a game this season. UCLA had a 10-0 lead at halftime of last Saturday’s game against Minnesota, but the Gophers scored on a 4-yard pass play with 27 seconds remaining to pick up a 21-17 victory.
“We’re a one-half team right now,” UCLA coach DeShaun Foster said. “I have to find a way to get these guys to come out and approach the second half like they do in the first half of games.”
Rutgers (4-2, 1-2) began its season with four straight victories but has dropped back-to-back games against Nebraska (14-7 score) and Wisconsin (42-7) since then. The Scarlet Knights surrendered 549 yards of offense vs. Wisconsin, including 309 yards on the ground. The Badgers averaged 6.6 yards per carry.
Meanwhile, Kyle Monangai leads the Rutgers rushing attack with 739 yards and seven touchdowns on 135 carries (5.5 average).
UCLA ranks last among Big Ten teams in average yards per game (272.8) and points per game (14.5). No other team in the conference is averaging fewer than 19 points per contest.
Running back T.J. Harden has gained 166 yards on 55 carries and is UCLA’s leading rusher this season. He also tops the team in receiving with 21 receptions for 204 yards.
“You can be fooled by the record; don’t be,” Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. “When you look they have played a very, very competitive schedule — a really, really tough schedule — and have played and been competitive in each of the games.
“I think they are finding their identity as a team, and they are playing really well. So it’s going to be a huge challenge for us.”
UCLA will face a Rutgers defense that has allowed an average of 369.8 yards per game, which ranks 17th in the 18-team conference.
“I’ve got some resilient dudes,” Foster said. “We’re going to continue to fight, and it’s going to turn around.”
