Iowa football vs. UCLA: Live score updates, highlights, analysis (Nov. 8, 2024)

PASADENA, Calif. — From the “Let’s go Hawks” and “I-O-W-A” chants to the wave at the end of the first quarter, the Rose Bowl crowd seemed somewhat like Kinnick Stadium West at a few points on Friday night.

But on the field, the Hawkeyes experienced a thorny result as they suffered a 20-17 loss to UCLA (4-5, 3-4 Big Ten).

Iowa (6-4, 4-3) had its chances for a rosier outcome, as the score was tied 17-17 for much of the fourth quarter and it trailed by only a field goal for the final five minutes.

But after Iowa’s defense gave up a drive that led to Mateen Bhaghani's go-ahead 27-yard field, the quarterback-thin offense could not muster any more scoring. UCLA then ran out the clock as it strung together a four-minute drive.

Iowa’s quarterback position — already pilloried with injuries — lost Brendan Sullivan to an injury in the third quarter. That meant the Hawkeyes had to turn to Jackson Stratton for its fourth-quarter comeback.

Stratton — 4-of-17 with one touchdown and two interceptions in his career before Friday’s moment — went 3-of-6 for 28 yards and was on the field when Kamari Moulton tied the game at 17-17 with a 1-yard rushing touchdown.

But it was not enough to make up for the Hawkeyes’ other shortcomings, which included much more than injuries on Friday.

Iowa’s defense picked off UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers twice, but the Phil Parker unit also allowed Garbers to throw for 204 yards and two touchdowns while completing 62 percent of his passes.

UCLA went into Friday’s game with only 73.9 rushing yards per game, yet the Hawkeyes allowed 211 rushing yards against the Bruins. That includes 125 yards from T.J. Harden on 20 carries.

In fact, the Bruins had more rushing yards in the first half (146) than Iowa had in the entire game (80).

UCLA held Iowa star running back Kaleb Johnson to 49 yards on 18 carries. That was well below Johnson’s previous season average of 142.1 rushing yards.

Before Sullivan’s exit, he was 6-for-9 for 157 yards, but he also gave up his first three turnovers of the season — two interceptions and one fumble. Those three turnovers set up two UCLA scoring drives.

— John Steppe