UCLA Football vs. Stanford: 5 Things We Learned From the Stanford Game

Sep 24, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (center) runs the ball during the second half against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. The Stanford Cardinal won 22-13. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (center) runs the ball during the second half against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. The Stanford Cardinal won 22-13. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 24, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Jim Mora (right) looks on during the first half against the Stanford Cardinal at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Jim Mora (right) looks on during the first half against the Stanford Cardinal at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

5. UCLA Football Still Cannot WIn Big Games

It is hard to say, but Jim Mora cannot win big games. In the last five seasons, the Bruins have had a number of games set up to propel themselves into the upper echelon of the college football elite. In the last five years the Bruins have lost all of those big games which has kept them as a team that is just good, not great.

A lot of what occurred in yesterday’s loss to Stanford was not on the players. There were a few bonehead plays, like that kick-catch interference by Rios, but for the most part coaching lost this game. Again.

Jim Mora still has not beat David Shaw and this was the sixth time in a row he has watch Stanford walk off the field victorious.

If Jim Mora wants UCLA to be great, then he has to be more aggressive and take more risks rather than have this “bend but don’t break” mentality.

Stanford is a good championship level team. If you play “bend but don’t break” against them, they will break you because they know how. They have the coaching staff for it. They have the experience. They have the Pac-12 trophies.

Next: Stanford Will Make or Break Mora's Revolution

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UCLA has a Alamo Bowl trophy and one South Division win in the Mora era. That will not do.