UCLA Covers Spread in Low-Scoring Battle at Northwestern
Northwestern held a commanding 17-3 lead through two quarters, scoring a touchdown run by Caleb Komolafe and a receiving touchdown to Griffin Wilde in the second quarter. However, the Wildcats managed only a field goal in the first quarter and were shutout in the second half.
UCLA mounted a fourth-quarter comeback behind quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who completed 180 passing yards and led the Bruins' offensive resurgence. The pivotal moment came when Iamaleava connected with Kwazi Gilmer for a 29-yard touchdown pass and found Anthony Woods on a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter.
Despite Northwestern's strong start and Griffin Wilde's 98 receiving yards, the Wildcats couldn't maintain their early momentum. UCLA's defense forced critical stops in the second and third quarters, setting up the comeback. The Bruins' late push proved decisive as they secured a 14-17 loss that still covered the spread, falling just short in a defensive struggle that finished well under the 46-point over-under.
AI-generated recap · Aug 13, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 UCLA | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 14 |
 Northwestern | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | UCLA | Northwestern |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 19-28 | 12-18 |
| Pass Yards | 180 | 115 |
| Rush Yards | 131 | 199 |
| Total Yards | 311 | 314 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| 3rd Down | 7-14 | 6-13 |
| Penalties | 6-60 | 2-20 |
| Possession | 25:39 | 34:21 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Nico Iamaleava run for 1 yd to the UCLA 26
UCLA Penalty, false start (Eugene Brooks) to the UCLA 21
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for 7 yds to the UCLA 28
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Rico Flores Jr. for 15 yds to the UCLA 43 for a 1ST down
Nico Iamaleava pass incomplete to Kwazi Gilmer
Jalen Berger run for 4 yds to the UCLA 47
Nico Iamaleava sacked by Garner Wallace and Anto Saka for a loss of 1 yard to the UCLA 46
Will Karoll punt for 44 yds , Drew Wagner returns for 1 yd to the NU 11
Caleb Komolafe run for 7 yds to the NU 18
Caleb Komolafe run for 5 yds to the NU 23 for a 1ST down
Northwestern Penalty, false start (Ezomo Oratokhai) to the NU 18
Preston Stone pass incomplete to Ricky Ahumaraeze
Joseph Himon II run for 8 yds to the NU 26
Caleb Komolafe run for 10 yds to the NU 36 for a 1ST down
Preston Stone pass complete to Griffin Wilde for 15 yds to the UCLA 49 for a 1ST down
Caleb Komolafe run for 1 yd to the UCLA 48
Preston Stone pass complete to Hayden Eligon II for 4 yds to the UCLA 44
Caleb Komolafe run for 7 yds to the UCLA 37 for a 1ST down
Caleb Komolafe run for a loss of 1 yard to the UCLA 38
Preston Stone pass incomplete to Hayden Eligon II, broken up by Robert Stafford III
Preston Stone pass complete to Griffin Wilde for 7 yds to the UCLA 31
Preston Stone pass complete to Griffin Wilde for 20 yds to the UCLA 11 for a 1ST down
Caleb Komolafe run for 5 yds to the UCLA 6
Preston Stone pass complete to Drew Wagner for a loss of 5 yards to the UCLA 11
Preston Stone sacked by Anthony Jones and A.J. Fuimaono for a loss of 4 yards to the UCLA 15
Jack Olsen 33 yd FG GOOD
Luke Akers kickoff for 65 yds , Anthony Frias II return for 14 yds to the UCLA 14
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Rico Flores Jr. for 3 yds to the UCLA 17
Nico Iamaleava pass incomplete to Kwazi Gilmer
Nico Iamaleava pass incomplete to Kwazi Gilmer
Will Karoll punt for 52 yds
Caleb Komolafe run for 9 yds to the NU 40
Caleb Komolafe run for 3 yds to the NU 43 for a 1ST down
Preston Stone pass complete to Hunter Welcing for 22 yds to the UCLA 35 for a 1ST down
Joseph Himon II run for 24 yds to the UCLA 11 for a 1ST down
Joseph Himon II run for 2 yds to the UCLA 9
Caleb Komolafe 9 Yd Run (Jack Olsen Kick)
Luke Akers kickoff for 65 yds , Anthony Frias II return for 17 yds to the UCLA 17
Nico Iamaleava run for 8 yds to the UCLA 25
Jaivian Thomas run for a loss of 1 yard to the UCLA 24
Nico Iamaleava run for 2 yds to the UCLA 26
Jaivian Thomas run for 12 yds to the UCLA 38 for a 1ST down
Jaivian Thomas run for 8 yds to the UCLA 46
Nico Iamaleava pass incomplete to Rico Flores Jr.
Nico Iamaleava run for 3 yds to the UCLA 49 for a 1ST down
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Jaedon Wilson for 9 yds to the NU 42
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Jalen Berger for no gain to the NU 42 Northwestern Penalty, illegal formation (5 Yards) to the NU 47
Nico Iamaleava run for 6 yds to the NU 41 for a 1ST down
Nico Iamaleava pass incomplete to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala
Jalen Berger run for 5 yds to the NU 36
Anthony Woods run for 2 yds to the NU 34
Nico Iamaleava sacked by Aidan Hubbard and Michael Kilbane for a loss of 2 yards to the NU 36 UCLA Penalty, illegal formation (Jalen Berger) to the NU 36
Preston Stone pass complete to Griffin Wilde for 6 yds to the NU 42
Joseph Himon II run for 3 yds to the NU 45
Joseph Himon II run for 20 yds to the UCLA 35 for a 1ST down
Preston Stone pass complete to Griffin Wilde for 25 yds to the UCLA 10 for a 1ST down
Griffin Wilde 10 Yd pass from Preston Stone (Jack Olsen Kick)
Luke Akers kickoff for 63 yds , Anthony Frias II return for 15 yds to the UCLA 17
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for 19 yds to the UCLA 36 for a 1ST down
Anthony Woods run for 5 yds to the UCLA 41
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for 2 yds to the UCLA 43
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Rico Flores Jr. for 7 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Nico Iamaleava pass incomplete to Kwazi Gilmer
Anthony Woods run for 3 yds to the NU 47
Nico Iamaleava run for 9 yds to the NU 38 for a 1ST down
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Kwazi Gilmer for 13 yds to the NU 25 for a 1ST down
Jalen Berger run for 3 yds to the NU 22
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Anthony Woods for 5 yds to the NU 17
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Anthony Woods for 7 yds to the NU 10 for a 1ST down
Mateen Bhaghani 28 Yd Field Goal
Caleb Komolafe run for 6 yds to the NU 31
Drew Wagner run for 8 yds to the NU 39 for a 1ST down
Preston Stone pass complete to Joseph Himon II for a loss of 1 yard to the NU 38
Preston Stone pass complete to Drew Wagner for a loss of 3 yards to the NU 35
Preston Stone pass complete to Griffin Wilde for 15 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Caleb Komolafe run for a loss of 2 yards to the NU 48
Preston Stone pass incomplete to Alex Lines for a 1ST down Northwestern Penalty, personal foul (-15 Yards) to the UCLA 37 for a 1ST down
Caleb Komolafe run for a loss of 1 yard to the UCLA 38
Preston Stone run for 1 yd to the UCLA 37
Preston Stone pass incomplete to Drew Wagner
Luke Akers punt for 37 yds
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Jack Pedersen for 2 yds to the UCLA 22
Jaivian Thomas run for 1 yd to the UCLA 23
Nico Iamaleava run for 32 yds to the NU 45 for a 1ST down
Nico Iamaleava run for 6 yds to the NU 39
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Rico Flores Jr. for 18 yds to the NU 21 for a 1ST down
Jalen Berger run for 1 yd to the NU 20
Nico Iamaleava run for 2 yds to the NU 18
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Kwazi Gilmer for 9 yds to the NU 9 for a 1ST down
Nico Iamaleava run for 2 yds to the NU 7
Anthony Woods run for no gain to the NU 7
Nico Iamaleava pass incomplete to Kwazi Gilmer, broken up by Ore Adeyi
Mateen Bhaghani 25 Yd Field Goal
Mateen Bhaghani kickoff for 72 yds , Joseph Himon II return for 23 yds to the NU 31
Caleb Komolafe run for 6 yds to the NU 37
Caleb Komolafe run for 2 yds to the NU 39
Caleb Komolafe run for 1 yd to the NU 40
Caleb Komolafe run for 2 yds to the NU 42 for a 1ST down
Joseph Himon II run for no gain to the NU 42
Preston Stone pass incomplete to Hayden Eligon II for a 1ST down Northwestern Penalty, Offensive pass interference (-15 Yards) to the UCLA 43 for a 1ST down
Ryan Boe run for 2 yds to the UCLA 41
Preston Stone run for 10 yds to the UCLA 31 for a 1ST down
Caleb Komolafe run for 3 yds to the UCLA 28
Caleb Komolafe run for 13 yds to the UCLA 15 for a 1ST down
Caleb Komolafe run for 8 yds to the UCLA 7
Caleb Komolafe run for 1 yd to the UCLA 6
Caleb Komolafe run for 3 yds to the UCLA 3 for a 1ST down
Joseph Himon II run for no gain to the UCLA 3
Preston Stone pass incomplete to Joseph Himon II, broken up by Jalen Woods
Caleb Komolafe run for 1 yd to the UCLA 2
Jack Olsen 20 Yard Field Goal Missed
Jaivian Thomas run for 13 yds to the UCLA 33 for a 1ST down
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Jaedon Wilson for 11 yds to the UCLA 44 for a 1ST down
Jaivian Thomas run for 12 yds to the NU 44 Northwestern Penalty, personal foul (Richie Hagarty) to the NU 29
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Anthony Woods for no gain to the UCLA 35
Kwazi Gilmer 29 Yd pass from Nico Iamaleava (Nico Iamaleava Pass to Anthony Woods for Two-Point Conversion)
Preston Stone pass incomplete to Joseph Himon II
Preston Stone run for 8 yds to the NU 33
Caleb Komolafe run for 10 yds to the NU 43 for a 1ST down
Caleb Komolafe run for 5 yds to the NU 48
Joseph Himon II run for 1 yd to the NU 49
Preston Stone pass incomplete to Hayden Eligon II, broken up by A.J. Fuimaono
Luke Akers punt for 44 yds
Jaivian Thomas run for a loss of 2 yards to the UCLA 5
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Jaivian Thomas for 4 yds to the UCLA 9
Nico Iamaleava pass incomplete to Rico Flores Jr., broken up by Ore Adeyi
Will Karoll punt for 45 yds , Drew Wagner returns for 1 yd to the NU 47
Caleb Komolafe run for 4 yds to the UCLA 49
Caleb Komolafe run for 2 yds to the UCLA 47
Preston Stone sacked by Gary Smith III and Jalen Woods for a loss of 3 yards to the 50 yard line
Luke Akers punt for 50 yds
Nico Iamaleava run for 4 yds to the UCLA 24
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Hudson Habermehl for 9 yds Nico Iamaleava fumbled, recovered by UCLA for a 1ST down
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Anthony Woods for no gain to the UCLA 33
Nico Iamaleava sacked by Braydon Brus and Anto Saka for a loss of 7 yards to the UCLA 26
UCLA Penalty, false start (Courtland Ford) to the UCLA 21
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Hudson Habermehl for 11 yds to the UCLA 21