UCLA is showing up big time in the 1H, befitting a team who has played the #1 strength of schedule in Div 1.
UCLA's OL has been a huge difference maker in what has been their opus half of the season, particularly in pass protection which has underscored Garber's spectaculat 1H (15-19 amd 150 passing yards which has kept Neb's O largely off the field. The O-line has been progressively improving the last couple of games, with Yoon in particular as the starting C consolidating the OL play.
Garbers has greatly elevated his game coming back from his brief injury, adding a level of escapability that we hadn't seen before. It's been huge in keying UCLA's ridiculous dominance in time of possession; 21 mins to 9.
UCLA's D has risen to the occasion with Toia and Oladejo anchoring a DLine clearly controlling their line of scrimmage, along with Schwesinger showing an uncanny nose for the ball in the 2nd level. Holding Neb to only 71 total O yds is as good as it gets. Neb's O has shown inconsistency thus far in 2024, especially recently ~ getting slaughtered by Indian and then showing strength AT Ohio State. UCLA's D exploited that inconsistency in extending possessions, with a huge 30 mins to go.
While this has been one of UCLA's most dominant halves of the season, the scoreboard margin has been only 6 points. Nebbie gets the 2H kick and I expect Ruhle to make some major halftime adjustments including speeding up Garbers and running more of a horizontal O. That said, UCLA's OLine & D are controlling the pace of the game and are 30 mins away with a hopefully turnover-free 2H.
GO BRUINS!