UCLA shocks Penn State: Previously winless Bruins hand No. 7 Nittany Lions worst loss of James Franklin era

In the offseason, Penn State hired Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, a move that on paper looked like a home run after he helped the Buckeyes win the national title last season. But after last week's performance against Oregon -- coupled with allowing 435 total yards to a team not known as an offensive juggernaut -- it was a rough look for Knowles' defense and Penn State's big offseason swing. Nico Iamaleava exploited the Nittany Lions all day, contributing to the worst loss of the James Franklin era.

After Penn State's loss to Oregon last weekend, James Franklin addressed criticism about his team's struggles against highly ranked opponents. He said it wasn't a "narrative" that his teams have underperformed against top competition.

"I kinda look at the entire picture," Franklin said. "I get that narrative. It's really not a narrative; it's factual. It's facts."

Beyond Franklin's record, Penn State risks underutilizing an all-time roster. The Nittany Lions were considered strong contenders for a deep College Football Playoff run after falling short against Notre Dame in last season's semifinals. For now, the focus should be on getting back on track with games against Oregon and Indiana remaining on the schedule. After this loss, there is little room for error for Penn State to regain confidence.

Nico Iamaleava's start at UCLA through the first month was uneven, no question. But the former prized Tennessee transfer saved his best performance for the biggest moment. He excelled both with his legs and timely throws, keeping UCLA alive when it looked like Penn State might rally. There has been hype around his name since he committed to Tennessee years ago, and there may be few moments in his football career that top Saturday's performance.

FINAL: UCLA 42, No. 7 Penn State 37

UCLA pulled off the biggest upset of the 2025 season on Saturday with a stunning 42-37 win over No. 7 Penn State. Led by star transfer quarterback Nico Iamaleava -- who finished with a career-high five total touchdowns against the Nittany Lions -- UCLA snapped a 16-game losing streak against AP top-10 teams. UCLA's last win over a top-10 opponent came in 2010 against Texas.

But it didn't come without late drama. Penn State got the ball back at the 2-minute warning after UCLA elected to go for it on fourth-and-inches from its own 32-yard line. Penn State stopped Iamaleava short and had a chance to tie the game in the final minute, but Penn State quarterback Drew Allar was stopped short of the sticks.

After Penn State stopped UCLA and used all its timeouts, the Bruins ran into the end zone on the punt -- which resulted in an intentional safety -- with 17 seconds left.

Iamaleava, who transferred into the program this offseason from Tennessee, finished 17 of 24 for 166 yards and rushed for 128 yards and three touchdowns. He set a new career high in rushing yards and total touchdowns.

Coming into this game, UCLA (1-4, 1-1 Big Ten) was the only FBS team that hadn't held a lead at any point this season. The Bruins also entered as a 24.5-point underdog, which is the largest upset win by any team this season. Penn State coach James Franklin has now lost three games with his team as a favorite of at least 20 points. 

The Nittany Lions (3-2, 0-2) were coming off a double overtime loss last weekend to Oregon. Penn State saw its win streak against unranked teams (34 games) snapped with the loss.

The Bruins jumped out to an early 10-0 lead before Penn State got the ball. UCLA scored on its opening drive and then used a surprise onside kick to extend the lead to double-digits in the opening minutes of the game.

Allar gave his team life by making plays with his legs, including a 27-yard scramble on third-and-9, which led to a 1-yard touchdown run by running back Kaytron Allen during the opening minute of the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to six.

UCLA will face Michigan State next week, while Penn State hosts Northwestern.

Late 4Q: UCLA 42, No. 7 Penn State 35 

After a heroic performance from UCLA's offense and quarterback Nico Iamaleava, it looks as if the Bruin defense will win the day. Penn State had a chance to at least tie the game after stuffing UCLA on fourth down in its own territory. The Nittany Lions drove the ball all the way to UCLA's 12-yard line before they were forced into a fourth-and-2. Needing a touchdown, they went for it and quarterback Drew Allar was stuffed behind the line. Penn State still has all three timeouts, but with less than 40 seconds, its chances are very slim. 

Late 4Q: UCLA 42, No. 7 Penn State 35 

WOW! UCLA went for it on fourth-and-short DEEP in its own territory and didn't get it. Penn State will take over at UCLA's 32-yard line on the other side of the 2-minute warning.

Late 4Q: UCLA 42, No. 7 Penn State 35 

Penn State still has plenty of work to do -- namely, stopping UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava from running the ball -- if it wants to avoid one of the most stunning upsets of the season, but the Nittany Lions did capture some late momentum with a gorgeous touchdown connection between quarterback Drew Allar and wide receiver Kyron Hudson. Allar lofted a pass to the corner of the end zone from UCLA's 15-yard line and Hudson snagged the perfectly placed ball with a single hand. He also did it with a Bruin defender blanketed to him in coverage. 

The game rests on Penn State's defense now. The Bruins have scored touchdowns on each of their last two possessions after allowing the Nittany Lions to roar back early in the third quarter. 

MID 4Q: UCLA 42, No. 7 Penn State 28

This has unequalivealty been the best game of Iamaleava's career. The Tennessee transfer has a career-high in rushing yards and total touchdowns and has his team less than seven minutes away from pulling off the biggest upset of the 2025 season. Iamaleava scored his fifth total touchdown of the day, to put his team ahead 42-28 after the successful 2-point conversion.

UCLA has lost 16 consecutive games against teams ranked in the top 10 of the AP poll. This would be the Bruins' first win against a top-10 team since 2010, when UCLA defeated Texas.

EARLY 4Q: UCLA 34, No. 7 Penn State 28

Just a few minutes ago, Iamaleava picked up key yards with his legs on third-and-long. Allar just did the same for Penn State. On third-and-9, Allar picked up 27 yards on a scramble. On the very next play, Allen scored on a 2-yard rush to cut the deficit to 34-28 with 14:26 remaining.

END 3Q: UCLA 34, No. 7 Penn State 21

We have reached the end of the third quarter, as UCLA leads No. 7 Penn State 34-21 heading into what should be a thrilling final 15 minutes. The Nittany Lions have found a rhythm on offense to get back into this game and have been going up-tempo to generate a spark. 

Iamaleava made a huge play on third down midway through the third quarter with a 52-yard rush, which set up a 1-yard touchdown run a few plays later. Can UCLA hold on and pull off the biggest upset of the 2025 college football season?

LATE 3Q: UCLA 34, No. 7 Penn State 21

If UCLA ends up winning this game, the play Iamaleava made on third-and-long might be the difference. Iamaleava scrambled for a 52-yard gain to move the sticks after it looked like UCLA was heading toward another three-and-out. UCLA capped its scoring drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by Iamaleava. He now has four total touchdowns (two rush, two pass) on the day.

MID 3Q: UCLA 27, No. 7 Penn State 21

Here comes Penn State. After the Nittany Lions forced a three-and-out after sacking Iamaleava on second and third down, the special teams unit made a play. Penn State blocked UCLA's punt, and Liam Clifford picked it up and returned it for a touchdown.

Brand new game here in Southern California.

EARLY 3Q: UCLA 27, No. 7 Penn State 14

After Penn State turned the ball over on its first possession of the first half, the Nittany Lions were aggressive. Penn State quarterback Drew Allar connected with Khal Dinkins for a 40-yard touchdown. That was the first points Penn State scored since its first drive of the game. Allar is 10 of 12 for 120 yards.

EARLY 3Q: UCLA 27, No. 7 Penn State 7

UCLA missed a 56-yard field goal on its first possession of the second half after the fumble. Penn State will get the ball back.

EARLY 3Q: UCLA 27, No. 7 Penn State 7

What a start for UCLA's defense. After Penn State completed a long pass over the middle, Rodrick Pleasant recovered a forced fumble to set the Bruins up in favorable field position. This has been one of the most stunning results (thus far) I can remember. UCLA closed as a 24.5-point underdog against Penn State.

Penn State is going to get the football first in the second half. That is, if UCLA doesn't elect to go with an onside kick again. Last fall, Penn State trailed by as many as 14 points on the road against USC. Can the Nittany Lions recreate that magic and pull off a second-half comeback?

HALFTIME: UCLA 27, No. 7 Penn State 7

The most surprising halftime score on the Week 6 college football slate is what is transpiring in Southern California, as UCLA leads No. 7 Penn State 27-7 after 30 minutes of play. The Bruins jumped out to a 10-0 lead -- thanks to an impressive scoring drive and a surprise onside kick -- before Penn State had a chance to possess the ball.

UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava has been impressive thus far. The former Tennessee transfer and the top-ranked player in the 247Sports transfer rankings finished the first half 14 of 18 for 158 yards and two touchdowns against a stout Penn State defense. Iamaleava also added 51 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.

The Bruins entered this weekend as the only team in the FBS that hadn't led in a game this season after four consecutive losses to open the 2025 campaign. UCLA reshuffled its coaching staff by firing coach DeShaun Foster and saying goodbye to offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri and defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe.

Also entering the weekend, UCLA ranked No. 132 (14.2 points per game) -- only behind Northern Illinois and UMass -- as the lowest scoring team in the FBS. The Bruins racked up 285 yards of total offense.

MID 2Q: UCLA 24, No. 7 Penn State 7

An upset is brewing here in Southern California, as UCLA just took a 24-7 lead over No. 7 Penn State with 4:47 remaining in the first half. Iamaleava capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. The former Tennessee transfer has played up to his former five-star billing today. He has completed 12 of 16 attempts for 141 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, he has 51 yards rushing and another touchdown.

UCLA has 268 yards of total offense, compared to just 79 for Penn State.

MID 2Q: UCLA 17, No. 7 Penn State 7

After Penn State put together an impressive touchdown drive, UCLA responded with one of its own. The Bruins capped a 17-play, 75-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Iamaleava to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala on third-and-goal. UCLA has racked up 200 yards of total offense through the first 22 minutes of regulation.

END 1Q: UCLA 10, No. 7 Penn State 7

The end of the first quarter from the historic Rose Bowl is in the books, and No. 7 Penn State could be on (early) upset alert against UCLA. The Bruins entered this game having not held a lead at any point this season and jumped out to a quick 10-0 advantage -- thanks to an opening drive touchdown and a surprise onside kick.

Penn State marched down the field on its first possession with a 75-yard touchdown drive, but UCLA's offense has also looked sharp. The Bruins have 141 yards of total offense. Iamaleava is 7 of 9 for 68 yards and a touchdown. UCLA has a long way to go to make things really interesting, but you have to respect that the Bruins aren't pulling any punches after starting 0-4.

LATE 1Q: UCLA 10, No. 7 Penn State 7

Penn State is on the board. The Nittany Lions put together an impressive drive after UCLA got the first two possessions of the game. Penn State capped the 10-play, 75-yard drive that lasted over five minutes with a 13-yard rushing touchdown by Kaytron Allen. It should be interesting to see how UCLA responds after starting strong on offense.

MID 1Q: UCLA 10, No. 7 Penn State 0

Is an upset brewing at the Rose Bowl? UCLA is pulling out all the stops thus far to make this a game. The Bruins entered as over a three-touchdown underdog against No. 7 Penn State, but that hasn't mattered ... yet. UCLA drove deep into Penn State territory and settled for a short field goal after getting stopped.

UCLA is pulling out all the stops in this one. The Bruins just recovered an onside kick and will take over in Penn State territory.

EARLY 1Q: UCLA 7, No. 7 Penn State 0

For the first time during the 2025 season, UCLA has a lead. No, that's not a typo. Through the first four games of UCLA's season, the Bruins had not led at any point ... until today. 

UCLA put together an impressive scoring drive on its opening possession,  capped with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Nico Iamaleava to Kwazi Gilmer. Let's see how Penn State responds.

When former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava hit the transfer portal earlier this spring, it unexpectedly made one of the top-ranked players from the 2023 recruiting cycle available. Iamaleava was the No. 1 overall player in the 247Sports transfer rankings, and on paper, it seemed like a good fit for him to get a fresh start close to home at UCLA.

Through the first month and change of the 2025 college football season, that decision hasn't paid dividends for either side in hindsight. The Bruins fired their (former) coach DeShuan Foster after a disastrous loss to New Mexico and Iamaleava has been one of the most pressured quarterbacks in the FBS. 

UCLA is 0-4 ahead of a matchup against No. 7 Penn State on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET on CBS), and the outlook for the remainder of the season looks bleak when trying to find a surefire win on the schedule. Iamaleava, obviously, hasn't been the sole reason for the slow start, but UCLA had high hopes that the former blue-chip quarterback would bring new life to a program that was starving for success.

Transfer QB Report Card from September: John Mateer leads the hits, Nico Iamaleava headlines the misses

Cameron Salerno

Penn State is coming off an emotional loss, while UCLA is searching to lead in a game for the first time this season. Something will have to give on Saturday. Penn State's defense should be able to get pressure on Iamaleava, which could make it a long day for UCLA's offense. However, look for the Bruins to cover. They're coming off their best showing of the season against Northwestern. Penn State will win this game, but won't cover the nearly four-touchdown spread. PICK: UCLA +26.5

The only team in the FBS that hasn't led at any point this season is UCLA. After losing by 65 points combined during its first three games, UCLA showed fight against Northwestern last weekend. The Bruins mounted a comeback and had a chance to send the game to overtime on their final drive, but time ran out. UCLA's final drive -- which lasted 1:29 -- netted just a single yard on five plays.

This game will be won (and lost) in the trenches. Penn State has a stout defensive line headlined by star edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton. In total, seven different players on the Nittany Lions' roster have recorded at least one sack this season. Meanwhile, Iamaleava has been one of the most pressured quarterbacks in the Big Ten this season. If Penn State's defensive line can get home, it could be a long day for the Bruins.

The Nittany Lions missed a marquee opportunity to steal a game at home after being down by double digits in the fourth quarter against Oregon. A win over the Ducks in a rematch of last season's Big Ten title game would've changed the trajectory of the entire season, but Penn State will have to turn the page fast with an interesting stretch of games upcoming starting with a cross-country trip to Southern California.