UCLA vs. Cal: How the Bruins Pulled Away, 45–24

Why I looked this up

The UCLA–Cal matchup caught my attention, so I went looking for the result and the actual numbers behind it. I wanted to know whether the final score reflected a one-sided game or a late breakaway.

It was the latter. UCLA defeated Cal 45–24 on Saturday, September 5, 2026, but the teams were tied 24–24 after three quarters. UCLA then scored all 21 points in the fourth quarter.

The game also marked the first UCLA game under head coach Bob Chesney and the first Cal game under head coach Tosh Lupoi, according to the schools’ official recaps.

The key numbers

Here is the comparison I found most useful in the official Cal box score:

Category	UCLA	Cal
Final score	45	24
Total yards	461	410
Rushing yards	277	119
Passing yards	184	291
Turnovers	1	3
Third downs	6 of 11	11 of 21

Cal produced more passing yards and first tied the game late in the third quarter on an Adam Mohammed touchdown run. UCLA’s separation came through rushing production and takeaways rather than passing volume.

Two UCLA runners accounted for most of the damage. Anthony Woods gained 118 yards on eight carries and scored twice. Wayne Knight carried eight times for 71 yards and three touchdowns. Together, they produced five of UCLA’s six rushing touchdowns.

How the fourth quarter changed the game

My simplest way to read the finish is as a three-step sequence:

1. With the score tied at 24, UCLA defensive back Ta’Shawn James intercepted Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele.
2. Knight followed with a 31-yard touchdown run, giving UCLA a 31–24 lead.
3. James made another interception, and UCLA added two more rushing touchdowns before the game ended.

The UCLA recap records all three fourth-quarter scores: two by Knight and one by Woods. Cal’s official recap likewise identifies the two interceptions as turning points.

What I would check before judging this matchup

For anyone scanning only the final score, this is the order I would use:

• Start with the quarter-by-quarter score: it was tied through three quarters.
• Check turnovers: Cal committed three, while UCLA committed one.
• Separate passing from total offense: Cal led in passing yards, but UCLA held a much larger rushing advantage.
• Look at individual efficiency: Woods needed only eight carries to reach 118 yards, while Knight scored three times on eight attempts.
• Identify the decisive possession changes: James’ two fourth-quarter interceptions immediately preceded UCLA touchdown drives.

That sequence explains the 45–24 result more clearly than total yardage alone.

What I looked up next

Sagapolutele finished 24 of 41 for 271 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Cal running back Adam Mohammed recorded 120 rushing yards and one touchdown on 28 carries. Those numbers show that Cal generated meaningful individual production even though its final three possessions ended without points.

My takeaway is narrow: this was a tied game entering the fourth quarter, and UCLA converted two late interceptions into separation while continuing to generate explosive rushing plays. That is the part of the box score I would remember when revisiting the first UCLA–Cal game of the Chesney and Lupoi coaching eras.