Bruins need to defeat nemesis
UCLA can capture Pac-12 South title by topping Stanford.
PASADENA, CALIF. — Just one hurdle remains between No. 9 UCLA and the Pac-12 South title.
Trouble is, Stanford has been an insurmountable obstacle for Brett Hundley, coach Jim Mora and the Bruins (9-2, 6-2 Pac-12).
The Cardinal (6-5, 4-4) have won six straight meetings between the California schools heading into the Cardinal’s latest trip to the Rose Bowl on Friday. Hundley and Mora have lost three times to Kevin Hogan and coach David Shaw in the previous two years alone, and they were forced to watch while the Cardinal played on the Bruins’ hallowed home turf on the past two New Year’s Days.
With a win, UCLA advances to face Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game in Santa Clara, California, next week. With a loss, the Bruins must watch the title game on TV, knowing Stanford still has their number.
“If that doesn’t motivate you, I don’t know,” Bruins receiver Jordan Payton said. “What we have at stake, what is in our grasp — everything is there for us as long as we keep winning.”
Hundley realizes the stakes in what’s likely to be his home finale after three record-breaking years at UCLA, but he isn’t making it personal. His 39th consecutive start is just a chance to keep the Bruins moving toward a shot at the College Football Playoff.
“I’ve done a lot throughout my career here, and hopefully we can pull out this win on Friday,” Hundley said.
Stanford clinched bowl eligibility last week, but a rocky regular season means its postseason destination won’t be as glamorous as the Rose Bowl, where the Cardinal went 1-1 in the past two years.