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UCLA Football: The 10 Best Games of the Jim Mora Era

Mike Regalado
Mike Regalado

Go Joe Bruin

October 13, 2012; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Jim Mora runs out onto the field before the Bruins play against the Utah Utes at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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Under Jim Mora, UCLA football is 29-11 in three seasons with a 2-1 bowl record. He is responsible for the uprising of the Bruin football program from mediocrity and despair. From a team that got no love in their own city to a brand that is making waves on the nation scene, Mora has turned this team into a contender.

Since Mora took over in 2012, UCLA has churned out several incredible games. There have been battles with a lot of emotion and games that have been good old fashioned beat downs. There are also a few losses, but we are not going to get into that. Oh yeah, there have also been some record breaking moments.

With Mora at the helm, there will no doubt be several more memorable games for UCLA football, but through three seasons, we wanted to see what has been the 10 best games under his guidance.

So with that, here are the Top 10 best games of the Jim Mora era!

Next: The 10 Besr Games of the Jim Mora Era

November 22, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback

Brett Hundley

(17) runs in for a touchdown against the Southern California Trojans during the second half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

10. #19 USC 20 – #9 UCLA 38

Rose Bowl, November 22, 2014

Jim Mora’s 3rd year

Three years. That is the current UCLA football win streak against USC after the Trojans had defeated the Bruins the the previous 5 years. In the first of many Jim Mora vs Steve Sarkisian battles (not counting Sark’s time at Washington) Round 1 went to Mora.

This game proved what quarterback Brett Hundley said the year before, “UCLA runs L.A.”

The Trojans really believed that they could beat UCLA and that looked to be the case early as USC intercepted a Hundley pass for a TD. Unfortunately for the Trojans, UCLA withstood the early barrage by USC as they tied it at 14, but then the Bruins went on to score 24 unanswered points. It was not a great game for Trojan fans. Bruin fans on the other hand were ecstatic.

9. #16 Nebraska 30 – UCLA 36

Rose Bowl, September 8, 2012

Jim Mora’s 1st year

Who knew that UCLA was going to be this tough of a team this early in Mora’s first season? The Bruins welcomed the Nebraska Cornhuskers to the Rose Bowl for the first game of their home-and-home. The new identity of UCLA football was yet to be determined, but this game helped shape what that would be.

In a stunner, in front of a national audience, UCLA did the impossible and defeated the ranked Cornhuskers with a fantastic effort from Brett Hundely who threw for 305 yards and 4 touchdowns. It was an eye-opener for Bruin fans and college football critics alike. Mora was for real with UCLA.

Nov 8, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Jim Mora looks to the scoreboard during the fourth quarter against the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

8. #24 Arizona 10 – #24 UCLA 66

November 3, 2012

Jim Mora’s 1st year

I do not know about you, but aside from a few key wins in his 1st season, this game is one of those that really made me like Jim Mora. Facing Arizona, a team that the Bruins have a ton of trouble with, Mora went into this game with a plan to destroy. UCLA did so as they sent the Wildcats home with their tail between their legs with as the Bruins won 66-10.

That was great, but what aided an already great win is the classiness of Mora. This was the game that Jonathan Franklin became the all-time leading UCLA rusher. To honor that, Mora stopped the game (informing both the referees and the Arizona staff before the game) and displayed a video on the Rose Bowl Stadium big screen with a message from former all-time leading rusher, Gaston Green honoring Franklin.

Very classy, Mora.

7. #12 UCLA 20 vs Texas 17

AT&T Stadium, September 13, 2014

Jim Mora’s 3rd year

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UCLA had all the expectations in the world going into AT&T Stadium to face the Texas Longhorns. With one awkward fall on an elbow, those expectations were nearly dashed. The Bruin’s leader, Brett Hundley, had injured his elbow and was out for the game. In his absence, Jerry Neuheisel took the reins and continued to lead the Bruins into a battle.

With Hundley out, the rebuilding Longhorns attacked both the Bruin’s offense and defense and almost upset the perceived national title contenders… but they forgot about Jerry. Though it took a few quarters, Neuheisel was able to get the offense going while the UCLA defense did their part in slowing down Texas.

And then it happened… the connection to

Jordan Payton

.

Oct 3, 2013; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; UCLA Bruins lineacker

Eric Kendricks

(6) intercepts a pass against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. UCLA defeated Utah 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

6. #12 UCLA 34 – Utah 27

Rice-Eccles Stadium, October 3, 2013

Jim Mora’s 2nd year

One of the most exciting and tense games of the Mora era took place on a cold and snowy Thursday night in Salt Lake City. It was a long game that saw both the Utes and the Bruins trading blows. The Utes defense stumped the Bruins. UCLA’s defense intercepted Utah’s QB Travis Wilson 6 times. There were 4 lead changes. The game was tied at 24 to early in the fourth quarter. It was anybody’s game.

But it all came down to one freakishly athletic freshman linebacker…

Myles Jack

! With one last chance to tie the game, Wilson marched Utah down the field. With the ball at the 23, Jack put himself right in Wilson’s passing lane an intercepted the ball and returned it 43 yards to seal the win.

Nov 30, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins coach Jim Mora celebrates at the end of the game against the Southern California Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

5. #22 UCLA 35 – #23 USC 14

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, November 30, 2013

Jim Mora’s 2nd year

Though we knew it was happening, Brett Hundley officially confirmed that “UCLA runs L.A.” The thing about this statement is that they still do. The Bruins pounded the Trojans at the L.A. Coliseum in a game interim head coach Ed Orgeron said they would whip the Bruins by referencing them as “little boys” and “locking the gates”. Weird, right?

It turned out it was the other way around as UCLA smacked around USC for the second straight year. #WOTT

Jan 2, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Jim L. Mora celebrates with the trophy following their victory against the Kansas State Wildcats in the 2015 Alamo Bowl at Alamodome. The Bruins won 40-35. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

4. #11 Kansas State 35 – #14 UCLA 40

Alamo Bowl, January 2, 2015

Jim Mora’s 3rd year

This game had a great first half in the biggest bowl game for UCLA football in the Mora era. The second half, not so much, though the Bruins persevered to hold off the pesky Kansas State Wildcats.

The reason why this was a landmark game for Jim Mora was because this was the most national attention the Bruins ever got for a bowl game. It was the day after New Year’s, it was a game that pitted two ranked teams against each other and it was a chance for the Bruins to show that they could beat good teams on bigger stages.

Sure enough, though it ended awkwardly, UCLA captured their second straight bowl victory.

The 2015-16 UCLA Offensive Line should be the best group the Bruins have had since the 90’s. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

3. #11 UCLA 62 – #15 Arizona State 27

Sun Devil Stadium, September 25, 2014

Jim Mora’s 3rd year

With Brett Hundley injuring his elbow two weeks before, it was unknown how the Bruins would do against a team that beat them at the Rose Bowl the previous year to win the Pac-12 South Division.

UCLA football responded on offense and defense to give Arizona State their worst loss of 2014.

It was a huge game for cornerback Ishmael Adams who had a 100-yard kick returned for a touchdown and a 95-yard interception for a touchdown. Aside from him, Hundley also added 355 yards and 4 passing touchdowns and 1 rushing touchdown.

Sep 14, 2013; Lincoln, NE, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Brett Hundley (17) leaves the field after defeating the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. UCLA won 41-21. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

2. #16 UCLA 41 – #23 Nebraska 21

Memorial Stadium (Lincoln), September 14, 2013

Jim Mora’s 2nd year

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Emotions were running high for this game. UCLA football had just endured something that is unfamiliar to most teams… the death of a player.

Nick Pasquale, a reserve wide receiver, was killed after being struck by a car in his hometown of San Clemente the weekend before UCLA was heading out to Nebraska. That was the hardest week for the Bruins, their fans and especially the Pasquale family, but they still had a game to play.

Aside from dedicating the game to Nick, UCLA was awe-struck by the outpouring of emotion and support by the the Nebraska fan base. “Two Schools, One Team” was the motto for this game.

As far as the game went, UCLA had a tough time in the first half. With less than a minute before halftime, UCLA was down 21-6. Then the Bruins scored 38 unanswered points and shut out Nebraska the rest of the game. The Bruins won. They did it for Nick.

Nov 30, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins linebacker

Anthony Barr

(11) celebrates after sacking Southern California Troans quarterback

Cody Kessler

(not pictured) in the fourth quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

1. #21 USC 28 – #17 UCLA 38

Rose Bowl, November 17, 2012

Jim Mora’s 1st year

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Things were looking very good for Mora as he started to close out his first season, but one of the final games loomed large as it was the first battle for Mora against crosstown rival USC. With senior Trojan QB Matt Barkley looking to finish his “unfinished business”, the Bruins made sure it stayed unfinished.

In a battle from the first snap (where UCLA intercepted a Barkley pass that set up a Bruin touchdown), UCLA showed that they were no longer going to be pushed around by the Trojans. Not only did the Bruins lead the majority of the game, but the way it ended was perfect to halt USC’s 5-game win streak against UCLA.

Barkley got sacked and was taken out of the game by linebacker extraordinaire

Anthony Barr

. Let us take a look…

GO BRUINS!

Next: UCLA Football: Balancing The Run Game And The Pass Game

Mike Regalado

Mike Regalado

Editor of GoJoeBruin.com. Lover of animals, collector of vinyl and fan of UCLA Bruins and L.A. Kings. FWAA member.