Things got even crazier than usual in Saturday night’s #Pac12AfterDark college football action.
The unranked Arizona Wildcats went into Pasadena and stunned the No. 12 UCLA Bruins 34-28.
Arizona entered the game as a 20-point underdog.
The Wildcats had a 14-0 lead entering the second quarter, but the Bruins tied the game up 21-21 in the third quarter and took a 28-24 lead in the fourth quarter. But just when it seemed that UCLA might pull away, Arizona came through with a go-ahead 17-yard touchdown pass on 4th-and-4 with 6:34 remaining.
ARIZONA TD FOR THE LEAD ON 4TH-AND-4! 🏈 pic.twitter.com/R2HMHwtjqx
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 13, 2022
UCLA drove inside Arizona’s 30-yard line on the ensuing drive, but Bruins wide receiver Jake Bobo was unable to reel in a Dorian Thompson-Robinson pass in the back of the end zone as time expired on 4th-and-10.
🚨UPSET ALERT🚨
Arizona stuns No. 12 UCLA, 34-28 in Pasadena!
The Wildcats entered as 20-point underdogs. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/ZirYl4SGoB
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 13, 2022
Arizona sophomore quarterback Jayden de Laura was sensational in the victory, completing 22-of-28 passes for 315 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.
The Wildcats were able to control the clock, with a 34:20 to 25:40 time-of-possession advantage over the Bruins.
Arizona improves to 4-6 (2-5 in Pac-12 play) with the victory.
UCLA, meanwhile, suffers a crushing defeat. The ESPN College Football Playoff Predictor had the Bruins’ CFP chances at a slim 2% entering this game, and any chance has evaporated with this loss. The Bruins fall to 8-2 (5-2 in Pac-12 play). Their loss comes on the same night No. 25 Washington stunned No. 6 Oregon in Eugene.
Here’s a peek at how the college football world is reacting to Arizona’s huge upset win over UCLA:
ARIZONA PULLS OFF THE UPSET OVER NO. 12 UCLA 😱
It's the Wildcats' first road win over a ranked opponent since 2014 👏 pic.twitter.com/bhG7BqrfWl
— ESPN (@espn) November 13, 2022
Arizona still has more NY6 bowl appearances in the CFP era than UCLA, who has not been to a major bowl game since the 1998 season.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 13, 2022
Arizona 34, UCLA 28
Signature win for Jedd Fisch. The Wildcats will be bowl-eligible if they beat WSU and ASU at home
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) November 13, 2022
I believe UCLA's loss to Arizona opens the door for Washington to still make the Pac-12 title game. Huskies need to win out, have USC win out, have Oregon beat Utah and then lose to OSU.
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) November 13, 2022
LA could’ve had a top 10 showdown next week with UCLA and USC. Would’ve been great for the city, the rivalry. And yet. No dice after UCLA falls to Arizona. https://t.co/wCJSKZpdDZ
— Evan Barnes (@evan_b) November 13, 2022
OH my, DTR actually had a man open and didn't hit him with it on the last play. Arizona wins. UCLA takes a brutal loss. Pac-12 playoff hopes whittled down to one L.A. school.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) November 13, 2022
Hey, Arizona may never win the Rose Bowl, but they beat a top-10 UCLA team at the Rose Bowl for the last time before the Bruins bolt for the Big Ten.
I know it's not the real thing, but that's kinda cool if you ask me.
— Justin Spears (@JustinESports) November 13, 2022
UCLA always loses at least one game it should win. https://t.co/OdFD4agF1m
— Nick Canepa (@sdutCanepa) November 13, 2022
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.