UCLA vs. Alabama State Week 2: Live Updates, Highlights, Analysis

UCLA football (1-0) is playing Alabama State (2-0) in Week 2 of the 2022 college football season, pitting the Bruins and Hornets against each other at the Rose Bowl for the first time ever.

Stay tuned for injury and personnel updates, highlights and other key events to keep an eye on all day long.

FINAL: UCLA 45, Alabama State 7

5:23 p.m.: Stay tuned for All Bruins' wrap on UCLA's big win at the Rose Bowl.

DJ Justice makes good on position change, picks off pass

5:16 p.m.: Right when they were on the verge of finally breaking their scoreless streak, the Hornets coughed up the ball courtesy of a receiver-turned-cornerback.

Justice jumped the pass in the end zone just a few plays after Alabama State went 45 yards downfield in one play. It's only been about a month since he made the position change, and his ball skills from the offensive side have certainly transferred over.

It's now the Bruins' turn to run some clock and bring this game to its conclusion.

Chase Griffin takes over for home stretch

5:04 p.m.: The Bruins have moved onto their third quarterback of the day.

These are actually the first snaps Griffin has got since the 2020 season, when he stood in as Thompson-Robinson's replacement while the starter was held out due to COVID.

After Deshun Murrell came in for his first touches of the day, a holding brought back a long run by Grubb. Receiver Jadyn Marshall was Griffin's target on third down, but the pass fell incomplete and the Bruins had to punt.

UCLA sent Chase Barry out to punt instead of Barr-Mira, and the walk-on freshman had his attempt go 39 yards.

The Hornets will have another chance or two to score, but everyone's eyes are on the clock now.

Christian Grubb gets in on the fun

4:52 p.m.: The Bruins' resident track star in the backfield got to further bolster his team's lead, becoming the bell cow early in the fourth quarter.

After Norwood got horsecollar tackled, Grubb got four carries in a row, opening things up with a 21-yarder. The next went for 8 yards, and after he lost three on the next play, he made it into the end zone from 7 yards out.

UCLA is now up 45-7, matching their point total from a week ago.

END Q3: UCLA 38, Alabama State 7

4:42 p.m.:The game has really slowed down heading into the final 15 minutes of action, with no scores in the past 12 minutes and back-to-back punts following up the back-to-back interceptions.

Harden and Yankoff continue to take the ball from Garbers, and maybe the final quarter could see some third-stringers take the field.

Bruins, Hornets trade interceptions

4:21 p.m.: Oregon transfer Jaylin Davies capitalized on a drop on the right sideline, picking it off and running it back 46 yards to the Alabama State 7. He nearly brought it all the way to the house, but couldn't shake the last offensive linemen in his way.

Yankoff got a few carries to bring UCLA a little closer to the goal line, but Garbers' throw intended for Josiah Norwood at the front right pylon got picked off as well, and the score stayed the same.

Run game explodes with new faces

4:11 p.m.: After an inefficient first half on the ground, the Bruin backs really broke out to open the second half.

Quarterback-turned-receiver-turned-running back Colson Yankoff started things off with a 19-yard carry, and he came through a few plays later with attempts that went 4 and 8 yards. True freshman TJ Harden took over from there, taking carries for 15 and 7 yards.

Harden had a massive hole on the left side, and he broke through for a 13-yard touchdown – the first of his career.

UCLA leads 38-7 with 12:23 to go in the third.

HALFTIME: UCLA 31, Alabama State 7

3:42 p.m.: Garbers completed four passes to get the Bruins all the way downfield in under a minute, then he added another rushing touchdown to expand the lead. The Bruins' two quarterbacks have now completed just under 90% of their passes.

Here are the statistical leaders halfway through the contest:

TOTAL YARDS: UCLA 295, Alabama State 191

PASS YARDS: UCLA 249, Alabama State 177

RUSH YARDS: UCLA 46, Alabama State 14

FIRST DOWNS: UCLA 17, Alabama State 12

PASSING LEADERS

E. Garbers (UCLA): 11-of-12, 148 yards
M. Crawley (ASU): 16-of-25, 177 yards, 1 TD

RUSHING LEADERS

K. Jones (UCLA): 10 carries, 33 yards, 1 TD
J. Merritt (ASU): 6 carries, 15 yards

RECEIVING LEADERS

K. Allen (UCLA): 4 receptions, 30 yards
J. Hixon (ASU): 4 reception, 36 yards, 1 TD

UCLA in line to use backups the rest of the way

3:22 p.m.: By no means has the game entered garbage time, but it looks like the Bruins top playmakers are done for the day.

Zach Charbonnet is in full uniform, but never took a snap. Dorian Thompson-Robinson looks healthy enough to re-enter the game after his injury – it isn't even totally clear what exactly he hurt – but has ceded quarterback duties to Ethan Garbers.

It's only 21-7, but the Bruins' backups seem to be in full control. To bring Thompson-Robinson and Charbonnet in, at this point, would be an unpopular decision by Kelly.

Garbers finds paydirt

3:09 p.m.: The Bruins may have lost their dual-threat star quarterback for the time being, but their backup can still apparently get it done with his legs.

Garbers made one cut up the middle and pushed through several tacklers for the 5-yard touchdown. It took 11 plays for the Bruins to go 70 yards, with a quarterback change standing out right smack in the middle of it.

UCLA is up 21-7 with 10:39 to go in the half.

DTR heads to sideline, Garbers takes over

3:03 p.m.: Right after making one of the most miraculous plays of the day so far, the Bruins' starting quarterback took a trip to the sideline.

Thompson-Robinson found Jones slipping upfield on third down, using a backhanded, overhand flip to complete the pass. On that play, though, DTR took a shot.

The fifth-year veteran stayed in the game for another play, a 12-yard completion to receiver Jake Bobo. That's when Thompson-Robinson was guided to the sidelines, with Ethan Garbers taking over from there.

Jones nearly picked up a touchdown immediately after, but a hold by guard Jon Gaines II wiped out the 24-yard score.

Thompson-Robinson's status is undetermined, but he was still in his helmet and pads watching the drive from the sidelines.

Hornets get on the board

2:55 p.m.: Alabama State converted on 3rd-and-10, then hit Jeremiah Hixon over the middle for the touchdown.

The Bruins' secondary is getting torn apart by their FCS counterparts, and their lead has been cut to seven early in the second quarter.

END Q1: UCLA 14, Alabama State 0

2:48 p.m.: The Bruins went three-and-out, and the Hornets are in the midst of making them pay for it.

Alabama State got the ball on their own 40-yard line after Nicholas Barr-Mira's punt went out of bounds. A 14-yard pass up the middle and ensuing short run got the Hornets a first down near midfield.

Defensive end Bo Calvert was credited with a forced fumble on the next play, but the ball went out of bounds, so Alabama State picked up 7 yards on the play regardless.

The Hornets may be down two touchdowns, but they have outgained the Bruins 112-82.

Bruins force first turnover, convert with touchdown

2:31 p.m.: A flag negated a big Bruin touchdown, but it didn't take them long to get it back.

Laiatu Latu got to the quarterback and forced the ball out as he tried to pass it downfield. Gabriel Murphy recovered and pitched it to his identical twin brother, Grayson, who ran it 20 yards into the end zone. The play was ruled an illegal forward pass, though, and the offense had to take over at the 25.

Thompson-Robinson found Habermehl in the seam on the very first play of the drive, and the former walk-on receiver split the defense and scored the long touchdown.

𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐂𝐇𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍 ... 𝐁𝐑𝐔𝐈𝐍𝐒.

It’s a 25-yard strike from Dorian Thompson-Robinson to Hudson Habermehl.

UCLA 14, Alabama State 0
4:53 – 1st quarter

💻: https://t.co/ANaEbBSpsx
📺: @Pac12Network
📻: AM 1150#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/v9DoOUhhpn
— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) September 10, 2022

UCLA leads 14-0 with 5:00 left on the clock in the first half.

Keegan Jones caps off scoring drive

2:21 p.m.: Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson carved up the Hornets' secondary, setting up one of his running backs for an early score.

The Bruins' first four plays on offense were completions of 8, 14, 6 and 21 yards, with the first two going to receiver Titus Mokiao-Atimalala and the other two going to tight end Hudson Habermehl and receiver Kazmeir Allen.

Keegan Jones got the only running back touches of the drive, with no sign of Zach Charbonnet so far. The presumed starter is on the sidelines, according to the radio broadcast.

Habermehl drew a pass interference at the goal line to move the ball forward again, and then Jones punched it in for six on a fake pass.

UCLA leads 7-0 with 7:53 remaining in the first quarter.

TOUCHDOWN … Keegan Jones!

Jones, with the 2-yard carry, to cap UCLA’s 68-yard drive.

UCLA 7, Alabama State 0
7:58 – 1st quarter

💻: https://t.co/ANaEbBSpsx
📺: @Pac12Network
📻: AM 1150#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/isdMYFCafv
— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) September 10, 2022

UCLA forces turnover on downs, secondary looking spotty

2:17 p.m.: The Bruins and Hornets are getting the trash talk going early.

Alabama State got the ball first, and receiver La'Vontae Shenault secured a big 32-yard catch to convert a key 3rd-and-long. A few plays later, he made another grab on the left sideline before cornerback Devin Kirkwood pushed him out of bounds.

The pair trash talked for a beat, then Kirkwood locked up Shenault on a deep ball the following set of downs.

The Hornets wound up going for it on 4th-and-3 and the UCLA 32, but the Bruins had four pass rushers with a clean shot at quarterback Myles Crawley and the dual-threat signal-caller threw it away.

Several weapons appear healthy before kickoff

1:37 p.m.: The Bruins have taken the field, and multiple reports have them picking up some reinforcements on offense.

Receivers Kam Brown and Logan Loya, who both missed the Bruins' Week 1 game against Bowling Green and watched it from the sidelines, are in uniform for the Alabama State game. The two receivers could both also play a part on special teams, especially on punt returns.

UCLA receivers Kam Brown and Logan Loya are back in uniform and participating in warmups.
— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) September 10, 2022

According to 247Sports' Bruin Report Online, tight end Michael Ezeike was also dressed down on the field. Ezeike left midway through UCLA's win over Bowling Green with an injury and did not return or feature at practice Monday.

Bruin Report also said quarterback-turned-receiver-turned-running back Colson Yankoff was in uniform after not suiting up last week. Offensive lineman Josh Carlin, meanwhile, was in street clothes.

Also, redshirt junior Colson Yankoff, who didn't dress last week, is in uniform today. Yankoff came to #UCLA as a quarterback, switched to receiver, and is now a running back -- well, more like an H-back. He's been beset by injury so it'd be nice to see him get some field time.
— Bruin Report Online (@BruinReport) September 10, 2022

Photos have also surfaced of coach Chip Kelly wearing a visor, returning to his 2021 headwear after sporting a baseball cap in Week 1 due to the sun and heat.

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