Anthony Frias II rushed for a 55-yard touchdown and broke a late 35-yard run that set up Mateen Bhaghani for a game-winning field goal as time expired, and UCLA scored its third consecutive victory with a 20-17 defeat of visiting Maryland on Saturday in Pasadena, Calif.
A defensive struggle most of the way, UCLA (3-4, 3-1 Big Ten Conference) and Maryland (4-3, 1-3) combined for more points in the final 3:33 than in the previous 56:27. Bhaghani’s 23-yard chip shot after a hard Frias run capped the late flurry of points that began after the Bruins had gone nine straight possessions without a point.
UCLA faced another fruitless drive with a fourth-and-10 near midfield, but quarterback Nico Iamaleava found Kwazi Gilmer for a 16-yard completion. It became a 31-yard net gain when Maryland’s Jalen Huskey, who snagged the first of two Terps interceptions of Iamaleave on the night, was penalized for targeting.
Maryland’s Dontay Joyner was flagged for pass interference previously on the same drive.
The Bruins finished the drive when Iamaleave connected with Mikey Matthews for a 14-yard touchdown to give UCLA a 14-10 edge. The Bruins hadn’t scored since Frias’ long touchdown rush in the early second quarter.
Maryland’s offense faced its own struggles, going 10 straight possessions with no points. The Terps did not reach the end zone until late in the third quarter — and did so with defense.
Jamare Glasker jumped a route to the sideline with UCLA backed up near its own goal line. His untouched pick-six was Maryland’s second in as many weeks, and FBS-leading fourth of the season.
Huskey’s pick just before halftime and Glasker’s interception were the Terps’ nation’s best 13th and 14th of 2025.
Maryland had its own turnover problems, however, as freshman quarterback Malik Washington was intercepted by Scooter Jackson at the Maryland 20 following Iamaleava’s fourth-quarter touchdown pass. That led to a 42-yard Bhaghani field goal and seven-point UCLA lead with 2:04 left in the fourth.
Washington rallied, leading Maryland down the field on nine plays spanning 75 yards, culminating in Washington’s laser-beam 8-yard touchdown pass to Jalil Farooq with 40 seconds remaining to tie the game at 17.
Washington finished 23 of 48 for 210 yards. He added a team-leading 67 yards rushing on six carries.
Iamaleava went 21 of 35 for 221 yards. Titus Mokiao-Atimalala accounted for 102 yards on six catches.
Frias finished with 97 yards on just four carries.
–Field Level Media
