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UCLA at Northwestern

Saturday, September 27, 2025

Northwestern beat UCLA 17–⁠14. It was their seventh meeting; Northwestern leads the series 4–⁠3.

AwayUCLA3–⁠9 in 2025
14
HomeNorthwestern7–⁠6 in 2025
17

Final at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium, EvanstonTV: BTNAttendance 12,023

At kickoff
87°F, clear, wind 14 mph from the west, gusts to 21 mphWeather: NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network hourly; Chicago Palwaukee Airport, 21 km from the stadium, 22 minutes after kickoff
Official
Francisco VillarGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
UCLA033814
Northwestern3140017

How the win probability moved

Northwestern favored

Win probability by play: Northwestern 58% at kickoff, 100% at the end. Biggest swing: 27 points.

UCLA favored

Win probability after every play, from CollegeFootballData.com’s model. The dot marks the biggest swing (27 points).

Standouts

Player stats

UCLA

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Nico Iamaleava19/2718010
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Nico Iamaleava1465032
Jaivian Thomas743013
Jalen Berger41305
Anthony Woods41005
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Kwazi Gilmer351129
Rico Flores443018
Titus Mokiao-Atimalala328019
Hudson Habermehl220011
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
JonJon Vaughns12000
Cole Martin9100
Gary Smith III71.50.50
A.J. Fuimaono50.50.50
Rodrick Pleasant50.500
Jalen Woods30.50.50
Anthony Jones310.50

Northwestern

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Preston Stone12/1811510
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Caleb Komolafe27119113
Joseph Himon II858024
Preston Stone512010
Drew Wagner1808
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Griffin Wilde798125
Hunter Welcing122022
Hayden Eligon Ii1404
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Robert Fitzgerald9100
Braydon Brus70.50.50
Mac Uihlein7000
Braden Turner5000
Anto Saka4110
Aidan Hubbard30.50.50
Garner Wallace30.50.50
Michael Kilbane10.50.50

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

UCLANorthwestern
311Total yards314
180Passing yards115
131Rushing yards199
6.4Yards per pass6.4
4.5Yards per rush4.7
18First downs21
7–⁠14Third downs6–⁠13
1–⁠2Fourth downs2–⁠2
0Turnovers0
6–⁠60Penalties2–⁠20
25:39Possession34:21
2Sacks (by defense)3

Efficiency

UCLANorthwestern
42%Success rate47%
0.18EPA per play0.10
1.18Explosiveness1.06
0.41Rushing EPA0.20
−0.03Passing EPA−0.07
22%Passing-down success38%
0.22First-down EPA0.01
−0.18Second-down EPA−0.23
0.74Third-down EPA0.53
18%Havoc by its defense12%

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings and the line, going in

Our ratings (scores only)

Northwestern 64% to win. Elo’s favorite won.

The line

Northwestern −6, over/under 45.5.

The last line on file before kickoff: the consensus line when the books publish one, otherwise a single major sportsbook’s.

Before kickoff, the win chances were Northwestern 66%, UCLA 34%. CollegeFootballData.com’s estimate from the point spread.

Every drive

Northwestern end zoneUCLA end zoneQ1 UCLAPunt, 6 playsQ1 NorthwesternField goal, 17 playsQ1 UCLAPunt, 3 playsQ1 NorthwesternTouchdown, 6 playsQ2 UCLATurnover on downs, 14 playsQ2 NorthwesternTouchdown, 5 playsQ2 UCLAField goal, 13 playsQ3 NorthwesternPunt, 10 playsQ3 UCLAField goal, 12 playsQ3 NorthwesternMissed FG, 17 playsQ4 UCLATouchdown, 5 playsQ4 NorthwesternPunt, 6 playsQ4 UCLAPunt, 3 playsQ4 NorthwesternPunt, 3 playsQ4 UCLAResult not recorded, 5 plays
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. Northwestern drives left to right, UCLA right to left.
  1. Q1 UCLAPunt, 6 plays, 21 yards
  2. Q1 NorthwesternField goal, 17 plays, 74 yards
  3. Q1 UCLAPunt, 3 plays, 3 yards
  4. Q1 NorthwesternTouchdown, 6 plays, 66 yards
  5. Q2 UCLATurnover on downs, 14 plays, 49 yards
  6. Q2 NorthwesternTouchdown, 5 plays, 61 yards
  7. Q2 UCLAField goal, 13 plays, 73 yards
  8. Q3 NorthwesternPunt, 10 plays, 38 yards
  9. Q3 UCLAField goal, 12 plays, 73 yards
  10. Q3 NorthwesternMissed FG, 17 plays, 67 yards
  11. Q4 UCLATouchdown, 5 plays, 77 yards
  12. Q4 NorthwesternPunt, 6 plays, 24 yards
  13. Q4 UCLAPunt, 3 plays, 2 yards
  14. Q4 NorthwesternPunt, 3 plays, 3 yards
  15. Q4 UCLAResult not recorded, 5 plays, 1 yard

Play by play

1st quarter4 drives, then Northwestern 3, UCLA 0
UCLA Punt, 6 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Luke Akers kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
14:591st & 10 at own 25Nico Iamaleava run for 1 yd to the UCLA 26
14:262nd & 9 at own 26UCLA Penalty, false start (Eugene Brooks) to the UCLA 21
14:032nd & 14 at own 21Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for 7 yds to the UCLA 28
13:343rd & 7 at own 28Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Rico Flores Jr. for 15 yds to the UCLA 43 for a 1ST down
13:031st & 10 at own 43Nico Iamaleava pass incomplete to Kwazi Gilmer
13:012nd & 10 at own 43Jalen Berger run for 4 yds to the UCLA 47
12:133rd & 6 at own 47Nico Iamaleava sacked by Garner Wallace and Anto Saka for a loss of 1 yard to the UCLA 46
11:414th & 7 at own 46Will Karoll punt for 44 yds , Drew Wagner returns for 1 yd to the NU 11
Northwestern Field goal, 17 plays
11:321st & 10 at own 11Caleb Komolafe run for 7 yds to the NU 18
10:482nd & 3 at own 18Caleb Komolafe run for 5 yds to the NU 23 for a 1ST down
10:121st & 10 at own 23Northwestern Penalty, false start (Ezomo Oratokhai) to the NU 18
9:491st & 15 at own 18Preston Stone pass incomplete to Ricky Ahumaraeze
9:392nd & 15 at own 18Joseph Himon II run for 8 yds to the NU 26
9:093rd & 7 at own 26Caleb Komolafe run for 10 yds to the NU 36 for a 1ST down
8:321st & 10 at own 36Preston Stone pass complete to Griffin Wilde for 15 yds to the UCLA 49 for a 1ST down
8:061st & 10 at opp 49Caleb Komolafe run for 1 yd to the UCLA 48
7:192nd & 9 at opp 48Preston Stone pass complete to Hayden Eligon II for 4 yds to the UCLA 44
6:423rd & 5 at opp 44Caleb Komolafe run for 7 yds to the UCLA 37 for a 1ST down
6:171st & 10 at opp 37Caleb Komolafe run for a loss of 1 yard to the UCLA 38
5:342nd & 11 at opp 38Preston Stone pass incomplete to Hayden Eligon II, broken up by Robert Stafford III
5:273rd & 11 at opp 38Preston Stone pass complete to Griffin Wilde for 7 yds to the UCLA 31
4:444th & 4 at opp 31Preston Stone pass complete to Griffin Wilde for 20 yds to the UCLA 11 for a 1ST down
4:031st & 10 at opp 11Caleb Komolafe run for 5 yds to the UCLA 6
3:322nd & 5 at opp 6Preston Stone pass complete to Drew Wagner for a loss of 5 yards to the UCLA 11
3:083rd & 10 at opp 11Preston Stone sacked by Anthony Jones and A.J. Fuimaono for a loss of 4 yards to the UCLA 15
2:244th & 14 at opp 15Jack Olsen 33 yd FG GOODNorthwestern 3, UCLA 0
UCLA Punt, 3 plays
2:241st & 10 at own 35Luke Akers kickoff for 65 yds , Anthony Frias II return for 14 yds to the UCLA 14
2:121st & 10 at own 14Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Rico Flores Jr. for 3 yds to the UCLA 17
1:432nd & 7 at own 17Nico Iamaleava pass incomplete to Kwazi Gilmer
1:383rd & 7 at own 17Nico Iamaleava pass incomplete to Kwazi Gilmer
1:354th & 7 at own 17Will Karoll punt for 52 yds
Northwestern Touchdown, 6 plays
1:261st & 10 at own 31Caleb Komolafe run for 9 yds to the NU 40
0:442nd & 1 at own 40Caleb Komolafe run for 3 yds to the NU 43 for a 1ST down
0:081st & 10 at own 43Preston Stone pass complete to Hunter Welcing for 22 yds to the UCLA 35 for a 1ST down
Q2 15:001st & 10 at opp 35Joseph Himon II run for 24 yds to the UCLA 11 for a 1ST down
Q2 15:001st & 10 at opp 11Joseph Himon II run for 2 yds to the UCLA 9
Q2 0:002nd & goal at opp 10Mateen Bhaghani 28 Yd Field Goal
2nd quarter4 drives, then Northwestern 17, UCLA 3
Northwestern Touchdown, 6 plays
13:292nd & 8 at opp 9Caleb Komolafe 9 Yd Run (Jack Olsen Kick)Northwestern 10, UCLA 0
UCLA Turnover on downs, 14 plays
13:291st & 10 at own 35Luke Akers kickoff for 65 yds , Anthony Frias II return for 17 yds to the UCLA 17
13:241st & 10 at own 17Nico Iamaleava run for 8 yds to the UCLA 25
12:452nd & 2 at own 25Jaivian Thomas run for a loss of 1 yard to the UCLA 24
11:503rd & 3 at own 24Nico Iamaleava run for 2 yds to the UCLA 26
11:254th & 1 at own 26Jaivian Thomas run for 12 yds to the UCLA 38 for a 1ST down
10:381st & 10 at own 38Jaivian Thomas run for 8 yds to the UCLA 46
10:002nd & 2 at own 46Nico Iamaleava pass incomplete to Rico Flores Jr.
9:503rd & 2 at own 46Nico Iamaleava run for 3 yds to the UCLA 49 for a 1ST down
9:131st & 10 at own 49Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Jaedon Wilson for 9 yds to the NU 42
8:532nd & 1 at opp 42Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Jalen Berger for no gain to the NU 42 Northwestern Penalty, illegal formation (5 Yards) to the NU 47
8:342nd & 6 at opp 47Nico Iamaleava run for 6 yds to the NU 41 for a 1ST down
7:471st & 10 at opp 41Nico Iamaleava pass incomplete to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala
7:372nd & 10 at opp 41Jalen Berger run for 5 yds to the NU 36
7:013rd & 5 at opp 36Anthony Woods run for 2 yds to the NU 34
6:184th & 3 at opp 34Nico 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
Northwestern Touchdown, 5 plays
6:161st & 10 at own 36Preston Stone pass complete to Griffin Wilde for 6 yds to the NU 42
5:372nd & 4 at own 42Joseph Himon II run for 3 yds to the NU 45
4:563rd & 1 at own 45Joseph Himon II run for 20 yds to the UCLA 35 for a 1ST down
4:171st & 10 at opp 35Preston Stone pass complete to Griffin Wilde for 25 yds to the UCLA 10 for a 1ST down
3:331st & goal at opp 10Griffin Wilde 10 Yd pass from Preston Stone (Jack Olsen Kick)Northwestern 17, UCLA 0
UCLA Field goal, 13 plays
3:311st & 10 at own 35Luke Akers kickoff for 63 yds , Anthony Frias II return for 15 yds to the UCLA 17
3:241st & 10 at own 17Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for 19 yds to the UCLA 36 for a 1ST down
2:361st & 10 at own 36Anthony Woods run for 5 yds to the UCLA 41
2:022nd & 5 at own 41Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for 2 yds to the UCLA 43
1:543rd & 3 at own 43Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Rico Flores Jr. for 7 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
1:441st & 10 at the 50Nico Iamaleava pass incomplete to Kwazi Gilmer
1:382nd & 10 at the 50Anthony Woods run for 3 yds to the NU 47
1:053rd & 7 at opp 47Nico Iamaleava run for 9 yds to the NU 38 for a 1ST down
0:551st & 10 at opp 38Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Kwazi Gilmer for 13 yds to the NU 25 for a 1ST down
0:471st & 10 at opp 25Jalen Berger run for 3 yds to the NU 22
0:172nd & 7 at opp 22Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Anthony Woods for 5 yds to the NU 17
0:103rd & 2 at opp 17Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Anthony Woods for 7 yds to the NU 10 for a 1ST down
3rd quarter3 drives, then Northwestern 17, UCLA 6
Northwestern Punt, 10 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Mateen Bhaghani kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
14:591st & 10 at own 25Caleb Komolafe run for 6 yds to the NU 31
14:192nd & 4 at own 31Drew Wagner run for 8 yds to the NU 39 for a 1ST down
13:401st & 10 at own 39Preston Stone pass complete to Joseph Himon II for a loss of 1 yard to the NU 38
12:582nd & 11 at own 38Preston Stone pass complete to Drew Wagner for a loss of 3 yards to the NU 35
12:043rd & 14 at own 35Preston Stone pass complete to Griffin Wilde for 15 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
11:231st & 10 at the 50Caleb Komolafe run for a loss of 2 yards to the NU 48
10:392nd & 12 at own 48Preston Stone pass incomplete to Alex Lines for a 1ST down Northwestern Penalty, personal foul (-15 Yards) to the UCLA 37 for a 1ST down
10:351st & 10 at opp 37Caleb Komolafe run for a loss of 1 yard to the UCLA 38
9:512nd & 11 at opp 38Preston Stone run for 1 yd to the UCLA 37
9:133rd & 10 at opp 37Preston Stone pass incomplete to Drew Wagner
9:074th & 10 at opp 37Luke Akers punt for 37 yds
UCLA Field goal, 12 plays
8:581st & 10 at own 20Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Jack Pedersen for 2 yds to the UCLA 22
8:182nd & 8 at own 22Jaivian Thomas run for 1 yd to the UCLA 23
7:403rd & 7 at own 23Nico Iamaleava run for 32 yds to the NU 45 for a 1ST down
7:081st & 10 at opp 45Nico Iamaleava run for 6 yds to the NU 39
6:332nd & 4 at opp 39Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Rico Flores Jr. for 18 yds to the NU 21 for a 1ST down
6:061st & 10 at opp 21Jalen Berger run for 1 yd to the NU 20
5:312nd & 9 at opp 20Nico Iamaleava run for 2 yds to the NU 18
5:033rd & 7 at opp 18Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Kwazi Gilmer for 9 yds to the NU 9 for a 1ST down
4:231st & goal at opp 9Nico Iamaleava run for 2 yds to the NU 7
3:422nd & goal at opp 7Anthony Woods run for no gain to the NU 7
2:563rd & goal at opp 7Nico Iamaleava pass incomplete to Kwazi Gilmer, broken up by Ore Adeyi
2:484th & goal at opp 7Mateen Bhaghani 25 Yd Field GoalNorthwestern 17, UCLA 6
Northwestern Missed FG, 17 plays
2:481st & 10 at own 35Mateen Bhaghani kickoff UCLA Penalty, unsportsmanlike conduct (Julian Armella) to the UCLA 20
2:481st & 10 at own 20Mateen Bhaghani kickoff for 72 yds , Joseph Himon II return for 23 yds to the NU 31
2:401st & 10 at own 31Caleb Komolafe run for 6 yds to the NU 37
2:012nd & 4 at own 37Caleb Komolafe run for 2 yds to the NU 39
1:213rd & 2 at own 39Caleb Komolafe run for 1 yd to the NU 40
0:404th & 1 at own 40Caleb Komolafe run for 2 yds to the NU 42 for a 1ST down
Q4 14:591st & 10 at own 42Joseph Himon II run for no gain to the NU 42
Q4 14:122nd & 10 at own 42Preston 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
Q4 14:031st & 10 at opp 43Ryan Boe run for 2 yds to the UCLA 41
Q4 13:212nd & 8 at opp 41Preston Stone run for 10 yds to the UCLA 31 for a 1ST down
Q4 13:011st & 10 at opp 31Caleb Komolafe run for 3 yds to the UCLA 28
Q4 12:172nd & 7 at opp 28Caleb Komolafe run for 13 yds to the UCLA 15 for a 1ST down
Q4 11:301st & 10 at opp 15Caleb Komolafe run for 8 yds to the UCLA 7
Q4 10:502nd & 2 at opp 7Caleb Komolafe run for 1 yd to the UCLA 6
Q4 10:083rd & 1 at opp 6Caleb Komolafe run for 3 yds to the UCLA 3 for a 1ST down
Q4 9:281st & goal at opp 3Joseph Himon II run for no gain to the UCLA 3
Q4 8:422nd & goal at opp 3Preston Stone pass incomplete to Joseph Himon II, broken up by Jalen Woods
Q4 8:363rd & goal at opp 3Caleb Komolafe run for 1 yd to the UCLA 2
Q4 7:504th & goal at opp 2Jack Olsen 20 Yard Field Goal Missed
4th quarter5 drives, then Northwestern 17, UCLA 14
UCLA Touchdown, 5 plays
7:471st & 10 at own 20Jaivian Thomas run for 13 yds to the UCLA 33 for a 1ST down
7:151st & 10 at own 33Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Jaedon Wilson for 11 yds to the UCLA 44 for a 1ST down
6:421st & 10 at own 44Jaivian Thomas run for 12 yds to the NU 44 Northwestern Penalty, personal foul (Richie Hagarty) to the NU 29
6:191st & 10 at opp 29Kwazi Gilmer 29 Yd pass from Nico Iamaleava (Nico Iamaleava Pass to Anthony Woods for Two-Point Conversion)Northwestern 17, UCLA 14
6:221st & goal at opp 3Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Anthony Woods for no gain to the UCLA 35
Northwestern Punt, 6 plays
6:191st & 10 at own 35Mateen Bhaghani kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
6:181st & 10 at own 25Preston Stone pass incomplete to Joseph Himon II
6:142nd & 10 at own 25Preston Stone run for 8 yds to the NU 33
5:343rd & 2 at own 33Caleb Komolafe run for 10 yds to the NU 43 for a 1ST down
4:511st & 10 at own 43Caleb Komolafe run for 5 yds to the NU 48
4:102nd & 5 at own 48Joseph Himon II run for 1 yd to the NU 49
3:273rd & 4 at own 49Preston Stone pass incomplete to Hayden Eligon II, broken up by A.J. Fuimaono
3:234th & 4 at own 49Luke Akers punt for 44 yds
UCLA Punt, 3 plays
3:231st & 10 at own 7Jaivian Thomas run for a loss of 2 yards to the UCLA 5
3:232nd & 12 at own 5Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Jaivian Thomas for 4 yds to the UCLA 9
3:233rd & 8 at own 9Nico Iamaleava pass incomplete to Rico Flores Jr., broken up by Ore Adeyi
1:554th & 8 at own 9Will Karoll punt for 45 yds , Drew Wagner returns for 1 yd to the NU 47
Northwestern Punt, 3 plays
1:551st & 10 at own 47Caleb Komolafe run for 4 yds to the UCLA 49
1:492nd & 6 at opp 49Caleb Komolafe run for 2 yds to the UCLA 47
1:433rd & 4 at opp 47Preston Stone sacked by Gary Smith III and Jalen Woods for a loss of 3 yards to the 50 yard line
1:294th & 7 at the 50Luke Akers punt for 50 yds
UCLA Result not recorded, 5 plays
1:291st & 10 at own 20Nico Iamaleava run for 4 yds to the UCLA 24
1:292nd & 6 at own 24Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Hudson Habermehl for 9 yds Nico Iamaleava fumbled, recovered by UCLA for a 1ST down
1:291st & 10 at own 33Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Anthony Woods for no gain to the UCLA 33
1:292nd & 10 at own 33Nico Iamaleava sacked by Braydon Brus and Anto Saka for a loss of 7 yards to the UCLA 26
1:293rd & 17 at own 26UCLA Penalty, false start (Courtland Ford) to the UCLA 21
1:293rd & 22 at own 21Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Hudson Habermehl for 11 yds to the UCLA 21

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

The series

Every UCLA–Northwestern game

Northwestern leads 4–⁠3 in seven meetings.

Recent meetings
2025Northwestern 17, UCLA 14
2005UCLA 50, Northwestern 38Sun Bowl
1970UCLA 12, Northwestern 7
1969UCLA 36, Northwestern 0
1948Northwestern 19, UCLA 0
1947Northwestern 27, UCLA 26

Around this game

UCLA

Northwestern

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