UCLA vs. Bowling Green: What to watch during the Bruins' season opener

Ben Bolch
·4 min read
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UCLA coach Chip Kelly runs off the field with the team at the end of the first half against Utah
UCLA coach Chip Kelly runs off the field with the team at the end of the first half against Utah on Oct. 30, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (Rick Bowmer / Associated Press)
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Here are five things to watch during UCLA's season opener against Bowling Green at the Rose Bowl on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. PDT (Pac-12 Network):

Bye, September blues?

UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet carries against LSU.
UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet carries against LSU during the first half on Sept. 4, 2021, at the Rose Bowl. (Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press)

It’s a new UCLA football season. Slather on the sunscreen, wipe out the cooler and dust off the folding chairs. There’s one usual trapping of September that the Bruins would just as well abandon. That’s the disappointment they have experienced before the first chill of fall overtakes the Rose Bowl.

UCLA has not completed a nonconference schedule unbeaten since 2015 (unless you smart alecks count COVID-19-shortened 2020, when the Bruins played only Pac-12 foes). This could be the year that changes. UCLA is a 24½-point favorite over the Falcons and will also be heavily favored against Alabama State and South Alabama.

Upset alert

Tennessee running back Jabari Small dives across the goal line for a touchdown.
Tennessee running back Jabari Small (2) dives across the goal line for a touchdown as he's hit by Bowling Green linebacker Darren Anders (23) during the first half on Sept. 2, 2021, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Wade Payne / Associated Press)

UCLA coach Chip Kelly used video clips of Bowling Green’s 14-10 victory over Minnesota from last September to illustrate how the Falcons could beat a Power Five opponent on the road.

Of course, Bowling Green went on to finish the season 4-8, but it ranks No. 1 nationally in 2022 by returning 92% of its production, according to ESPN’s Bill Connelly. That includes nine starters back on offense and defense — even counting the recent loss of running back Terion Stewart, who will not play this season for unspecified reasons.

Among those returners is linebacker Darren Anders, a first-team All-Mid-American Conference selection last season after leading the conference with 10.3 tackles per game.

Familiar territory

Bowling Green quarterback Matt McDonald passes against the Akron.
Bowling Green quarterback Matt McDonald passes against the Akron during a game on Oct. 9, 2021, in Bowling Green, Ohio. (Rick Osentoski / Associated Press)

Bowling Green senior quarterback Matt McDonald is fulfilling a legacy by playing at the Rose Bowl.

His father, Paul, was a USC quarterback who led the Trojans to back-to-back victories in the Rose Bowl game in 1979 and 1980. His brothers Michael, another USC quarterback, and Andrew, a quarterback at New Mexico State, also played in the iconic stadium.

A native of Newport Beach, Matt grew up a diehard USC fan. At Mater Dei High, he beat out a young counterpart named JT Daniels for the starting job before suffering an injury that cost him the spot. McDonald transferred to Mission Viejo to complete his high school career and spent the next two seasons at Boston College.

“I dreamed of playing in the Cardinal and Gold and beating the Bruins,” McDonald said, “but life’s crazy, just took a little different route but I still get to do it [play at the Rose Bowl], so it’s awesome.”

McDonald has gone 115 passes since his last interception, which came on his first pass of the third quarter against Eastern Michigan last October.

What about Bill?

Bill McGovern watches on the sideline.
Bill McGovern watches on the sideline during an NFL game in Detroit in 2019. (Paul Sancya / Associated Press)

UCLA’s offense has continually hummed under Kelly, but the Bruins are still seeking a competent defense. That’s why Bill McGovern will be sitting in the press box Saturday.

Outside of one season as a defensive analyst at Nebraska, the Bruins’ new defensive coordinator has not coached at the college level since holding the same post at Boston College in 2012. Kelly said he was intrigued by the NFL defensive pass concepts McGovern could bring to the team after stops with the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants and Chicago Bears.

The first signs of whether it’s a smart move should be apparent Saturday.

Hot stuff

A view of the Rose Bowl during a UCLA football game.
A view of the Rose Bowl during a UCLA football game. (Thuc Nhi Nguyen / Los Angeles Times)

The forecast calls for a high of 104 degrees at the Rose Bowl, some 12 degrees warmer than the projected temperature in Westwood. If the Bruins can’t get that on-campus stadium many have desired, perhaps there’s an alternative.

“We’ll try to get a dome built between now and Saturday," Kelly quipped.

The best plan beyond hydration and lingering in the mist of the sideline “Cool Zone” may be heavy substitutions. If the Bruins rotate liberally, they can keep everyone (relatively) cool.

“You’ve got to play a lot of guys,” Kelly said, “and I think that’s beneficial to us is that we do have a lot of guys that we can play.”

UCLA will try to help fans beat the heat by providing water refill stations; cooling buses with air-conditioning; tents with misters and fans; and free Liquid I.V. samples.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.