WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) – In its first Big Ten game of the 2026 season, Purdue Football (1-2, 0-1) lost to UCLA (3-0, 1-0) in a 52-38 shootout at the Rose Bowl Saturday night.
Both teams combined for 1,133 total yards of offense and averaged eight plus yards per play.
The game began with a fast-paced first quarter. UCLA drove right down the field and scored on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Nico Iamaleava to Semaj Morgan.
It only took Purdue one play to respond. Ryan Browne found Xavier Townsend throw the Bruins blitz for a 75-yard house call. UCLA scored on the next series with a 27-yard strike from Iamaleava to Morgan again, and after a Purdue turnover cashed in for another touchdown courtesy of Wayne Knight.
The Bruins led by three at the half.
Ryan Browne found the endzone for the third time with a 30-yard dime to George Burhenn that gave Purdue its first lead of the game.
But the Bruins run game could not be stopped in the second half. UCLA rushed for 369 yards and four touchdowns. Knight carried the ball 18 times for 177 yards and two scores on 9.8 yards per carry. Anthony Woods and Jaivian Thomas each added a touchdown of their own.
Fame Ijeboi was a little banged up heading into Saturday’s game. He finished with 47 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns.
Ryan Browne set a new career high in passing yards yet again. The junior had 378 yards through the air and three touchdowns.
The Boilers were driving late in the fourth quarter down two scores. But an ill-advised throw from Browne resulted in a UCLA interception that sealed the game.
The Bruins’ offense converted on 11 of its 14 third downs.
Purdue’s offense put up 488 total yards of offense. The Boilers turned the ball over three times leading to 14 points for UCLA.
The Gold and Black drop to 1-2 on the season and will look to snap a two-game losing streak against No. 3 Notre Dame next Saturday inside Ross-Ade Stadium.
Kick-off is set for 2:00pm.
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