**Bloomington, IN** — In one of the wildest finishes of the young college football season, UCLA escaped with a 23-20 road victory over Indiana on Sunday thanks to a gutsy final drive and a walk-off touchdown that silenced Memorial Stadium.
The Bruins, coming off a disappointing loss at home to Arkansas State in Week 2, responded with poise and resilience. The game was a back-and-forth defensive battle for most of the afternoon, but it was UCLA's opportunistic defense and late-game execution that made the difference.
“Our guys never panicked,” head coach Noles26 said after the win. “We made plays when we needed them the most.”
UCLA’s defense played inspired football, intercepting Indiana quarterback three times and keeping the Hoosiers' offense in check for much of the game. The Bruins led 17-13 with just over two minutes left after a methodical scoring drive capped by a go-ahead touchdown.
But Indiana wouldn’t go quietly. The Hoosiers answered with a clutch drive of their own, finishing with a 1st-and-goal option run from the 4-yard line that put them ahead 20-17 with just 16 seconds remaining.
Then came the magic.
After a fair catch on the ensuing kickoff, UCLA had the ball at its own 25-yard line with time for only one or two plays. Expecting Indiana’s safeties to sit shallow, the Bruins dialed up a deep shot. Quarterback Ethan Garbers delivered a perfect strike down the sideline to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, who hauled in the pass and took it all the way to the Indiana 21-yard line with 10 seconds left.
Instead of immediately attempting the game-tying field goal, the Bruins ran a quick underneath route to Carsen Harden for a few extra yards, stopping the clock with six seconds left. UCLA lined up in a field goal formation to send the game into overtime, but after Indiana burned a timeout, Coach Noles26 made a bold call: a simple dive play to center the ball.
What happened next no one saw coming.
Harden took the handoff, burst through an over-pursuing Indiana front, and sprinted untouched into the end zone for the game-winning score with no time left on the clock.
**Final: UCLA 23, Indiana 20.**
“That was supposed to be a safe play,” Noles26 admitted with a grin. “But Harden saw daylight and took it. Credit to him for staying ready.”
With the win, the Bruins improve to 2-1 and regain momentum heading into their BYE WEEK for Week 4. The defense continues to show growth, and the offense — though still ironing out some wrinkles — found a way to deliver in the biggest moment of the season so far.
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