Penn State Upset by Winless UCLA in Stunning College Football Loss

PASADENA, Calif. — The No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions suffered a shocking defeat on Saturday, Oct. 4, losing 42-37 to the previously winless UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl. Defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton called the loss ’embarrassing.’

Despite quarterback Drew Allar‘s performance, which included two touchdown passes and a career-high 78 rushing yards, the Nittany Lions’ highly regarded defense fell short against a struggling UCLA offense. The Bruins racked up 435 total yards, with Tennessee transfer quarterback recording 294 total yards and five touchdowns.

Week 5 had already been rough for Penn State, with a double-overtime loss to Oregon. The back-to-back defeats have dealt a severe blow to their hopes of making the College Football Playoff, especially as UCLA was considered one of the weaker teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision prior to this game.

In other Big Ten action, No. 20 Michigan secured a 24-10 victory over its opponent, while No. 1 Ohio State crushed Minnesota 42-3. Additionally, No. 22 Illinois triumphed over Purdue 43-27, and Nebraska bounced back from a loss with a 38-27 win against Michigan State after a difficult stretch.

Heading into Week 7, the impact of these results will be reflected in the national polls. Teams such as No. 2 Oregon and No. 9 Indiana enjoyed bye weeks this week, setting up for an anticipated matchup on Saturday, Oct. 11, in Eugene, Oregon.

Polls are expected to update on Sunday, responding to the shakeups caused by these results, especially for Penn State and Texas, both of which fell to unranked opponents.