After UCLA’s go-ahead touchdown, the Gophers drove to the UCLA 47 and faced fourth-and-6 with 3:17 left. Coach P.J. Fleck opted to punt, and Mark Crawford’s punt was downed at the 3 with 2:44 left. The Gophers forced the Bruins to punt, Perich returned a 52-yard punt to the Minnesota 41 with 2:20 left.
Brosmer hit tight end Jameson Geers for 13 yards to the UCLA 48 at the 2-minute warning. Brosmer then found Daniel Jackson for 27 yards to the Bruins 21 with 1:52 left. After an 8-yard connection with Elijah Spencer, Brosmer threw incomplete. Facing third-and-2 from the 13, Brosmer hit Le’Meke Brockington for a 4-yard gain on a screen. A delay-of-game penalty on UCLA moved the ball to the 5. Brosmer was incomplete on third down, and the Gophers faced third-and-goal with 32 seconds left. After a UCLA timeout, Brosmer found a wide-open Taylor, who delayed his route and found a hole in the Bruins defense.
The game turned in the third quarter when the Gophers defense took advantage of poor starting field position for the Bruins. Up 10-0, UCLA started from its 12 after a holding call on the kickoff return. On third-and-7 from the 15, Gophers defensive back Jack Henderson sacked Garbers for a 7-yard loss. Five plays after the ensuing punt, the Gophers cut the lead to 10-7 on Brosmer’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Spencer.
Perich added to his growing legend by making a diving interception of Garbers at the UCLA 38-yard line. Six plays later, Taylor’s 2-yard touchdown run gave the Gophers a 14-10 lead.
Brosmer finished 26-for-37 for 193 yards and two touchdowns. Daniel Jackson caught 10 passes for 89 yards. Taylor rushed 15 times for 30 yards and caught three passes for 17 yards.
For UCLA, Garbers went 25-for-36 for 293 yards and a TD with three interceptions. Sturdivant caught seven passes for 107 yards. Linebacker Cody Schwesinger had 12 tackles and two sacks.
