Hawai'i @ UCLA preview
Rose Bowl
UCLA hopes to pick up where it left off when it hosts Hawaii at the Rose Bowl on Saturday afternoon. UCLA trailed by 34 points late in the third quarter of its season opener against Texas A&M before generating five consecutive touchdown drives and taking the lead for good, 45-44, on a 10-yard pass from Josh Rosen to Jordan Lasley with 43 seconds remaining.
Rosen completed 35-of-59 passes for 491 yards and four touchdowns while leading UCLA to the biggest comeback victory in program history, and he was recognized as the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts. The Bruins are hoping Rosen doesn't need to work as hard late in the game against the Rainbow Warriors, who have won five straight contests dating back to last season and are seeking their first 3-0 start since 2007. The Bruins still are searching for a consistent running game that eluded them for most of 2016 and again in the season opener, in which they were held to 63 yards on 25 carries for a 2.5 average. Western Carolina ran for 212 yards on 48 carries in the 41-18 loss to Hawaii last Saturday, so UCLA likely will pay close attention to those portions of the game film.
TV: 5 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: UCLA -23.5
ABOUT HAWAII (2-0): The Rainbow Warriors have a proven runner in senior Diocemy Saint Juste, who rushed for 202 yards and one touchdown on 25 carries against Western Carolina. He totaled 1,006 rushing yards last season while averaging 6.1 per carry, but Hawaii would like to see more consistency from Sainte Juste, who had five games last year in which he gained fewer than 40 yards - all on the road. The Rainbow Warriors have the potential for good offensive balance, as junior quarterback Dru Brown threw for 2,488 yards and 19 TDs last season before recording 398 yards and three touchdowns in a season-opening 38-35 win against Massachusetts on Aug. 26.
ABOUT UCLA (1-0): The biggest surprise for the Bruins in Week 1 was the play of sophomore tight end Caleb Wilson, a former walk-on who finished with a school-record 15 catches for 208 yards - which was one catch and 12 yards fewer than he totaled last season. He was especially active during the comeback, catching 11 passes for 162 yards on the final five TD drives, and Rosen likely will look his way much earlier against Hawaii. Wilson also should continue to open up the field for wide receivers Darren Andrews and Lasley, who combined for 16 catches, 242 yards and three fourth-quarter touchdowns against Texas A&M.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Rosen needs one more 300-yard passing game to give him 12 in his UCLA career and move past Cade McNown for most in school history.
2. UCLA DL Jaelan Phillips and DB Darnay Holmes became the first true freshmen to start a season opener on defense.
3. Hawaii never has played at the Rose Bowl.
PREDICTION: UCLA 42, Hawaii 17