UCLA coach Bob Chesney again went with his familiar all-black look Saturday, a wardrobe choice that has become part of his game-day routine.
San Diego State, meanwhile, absorbed the consequences.
Days after the Aztecs’ coach jabbed at UCLA as a program with “all their polos, all their khakis, all their resources,” San Diego State was decisively reminded of the gap between the two teams on the field.
It was not an immediate runaway for the Bruins, who stumbled through a scoreless first half before finally finding enough rhythm on offense.
But a resilient defensive effort and a game-changing surge from running back Wayne Knight helped UCLA pull away for a 28-10 win over San Diego State at the Rose Bowl.
Knight powered in three second-half touchdowns, highlighted by a 7-yard score with seven minutes remaining. He bounced outside, found open space and reached the end zone untouched.
That run gave UCLA a two-possession advantage. Soon after, Bruins linebacker Jalen Woods intercepted a pass deep in Aztecs territory, effectively ending any hopes of a comeback. UCLA running back Jaivian Thomas later spun across the goal line on a 2-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 21-3.
Through two games, UCLA has already produced 10 rushing touchdowns — more than its total of eight for the entire previous season. Knight led the Bruins’ ground attack Saturday with 97 yards on 13 carries and now has six rushing scores this season.
The Bruins also reinforced one of Chesney’s preferred college football mantras: the halftime score means very little.
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One week after scoring 21 fourth-quarter points to separate from Cal, UCLA once again delivered its strongest work late, closing out San Diego State (0-2) with another imposing finish.
The Bruins rolled up 365 total yards of offense to the Aztecs’ 189 while improving to 2-0 for the first time since 2023. UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava completed 14 of 22 passes for 151 yards and an interception while also rushing for 57 yards.
This was a victory that came in unconventional fashion.
With Iamaleava having more success running the ball than throwing it, his team drove deep into San Diego State territory on its first drive of the third quarter. Knight finally put UCLA on the scoreboard when he ran for an 8-yard touchdown, slipping a tackle near the goal line.
What preceded that was far less pleasing for Bruins fans.
A scoreless, bizarre first half ended in fitting fashion — with Iamaleava shaking off a defender only to throw a shaky pass across his body that fell incomplete. After Iamaleava took a knee on the next play to run out the clock, there were a few boos inside the Rose Bowl.
Bad throws and poor decisions were an unfortunate theme for Iamaleava in the game’s early going.
Just when it looked as if the Bruins might finally break through, facing a third-and-goal at San Diego State’s 2-yard line early in the second quarter, Iamaleava threw a pass across his body that was intercepted in the end zone.
Later, when UCLA faced a fourth-and-7 at the Aztecs’ 36-yard line, Iamaleava was sacked, leading to a turnover on downs.
But the scoreboard wouldn’t stay stuck on zeroes for much longer, the Bruins once again showing themselves to be a second-half team.