PASADENA — Kevin Prince was giving the ball to the Longhorns, the Bruin defense was giving up third-down conversions, and Texas took everything UCLA gave them on its way to payback for last year’s beatdown in Austin.
UCLA fell 49-20 to No. 23 Texas at the Rose Bowl Saturday afternoon, falling behind 21-0 early after three early Kevin Prince interceptions and never recovering. Prince, getting the start after sitting out last week’s game, threw all of his picks in the first quarter and the Longhorns converted each one into a touchdown.
The UCLA defense forced an early three-and-out on Texas’ first drive of the game, only to watch the offense give the ball right back. In his first game action since injuring his throwing shoulder and suffering a concussion at Houston, Prince sailed his very first pass attempt wide of his intended target and right into the hands of diving Texas cornerback Carrington Byndom, and things only got worse from there.
He ended the first quarter by throwing his third interception, capping a miserable 15 minutes in which he threw as many passes to Texas defensive backs as he did to UCLA receivers. He heard a chorus of boos from the Rose Bowl crowd as he left the field.
Brehaut replaced Prince, but couldn’t bring the Bruins to within one score of the Longhorns. Brehaut finished 8-of-19 for 150 yards and no touchdowns.
UCLA pulled to within 15 points in the second half on a 1-yard touchdown run by junior running back Derrick Coleman, but that was as close as it would get. Texas scored five minutes later when running back Fozzy Whittaker took a direct snap and ran untouched to the endzone for a 36-yard score.
Texas gassed the Bruin defense by converting nine of 11 third down opportunities through three quarters.
The game saw four quarterbacks take snaps, but Texas had the better two-headed attack Saturday. Starter Case McCoy finished 12-of-15 for 168 yards and two touchdowns, while backup David Ash was 3-3 for 31 yards.