The 1985 UCLA Bruins football team was an American football team that represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their tenth year under head coach Terry Donahue, the Bruins compiled a 9–2–1 record (6–2 Pac-10), finished in first place in the Pacific-10 Conference, and were ranked #7 in the final AP Poll.
UCLA defeated defending national champion BYU 27–24 in Provo to start the season, and tied eventual SEC and Sugar Bowl champion Tennessee. The Bruins opened the Pac-10 season by losing 21–14 at Washington. They later got two key wins, the first against Arizona State, the second at Arizona. For much of the season, the rushing defense was ranked second in the nation, behind Oklahoma.[1][2] They won the rest of their games leading to the 1985 USC vs UCLA game.
Needing a win against 4–5 USC, UCLA struggled. Gaston Green and Mel Farr Jr. had fumbles in the game. UCLA was leading in the fourth quarter 13–10 when Eric Ball fumbled at the USC 1 as he was about to score what would have been the clinching touchdown.[3] Freshman quarterback Rodney Peete led USC on a drive, converting a key fourth down along the way. In the last two minutes, USC again faced a fourth down, this time at UCLA's 2-yard line. USC scored to take a 17–13 lead, then intercepted UCLA quarterback David Norrie as he tried to lead a Bruin comeback. UCLA's loss opened the door for Washington to grab the Rose Bowl berth, but they were upset by Washington State the same day, 21–20. Washington lost the advantage due to their upset home loss to Oregon State. This put Arizona State in position to win the conference as they entered their rivalry game with Arizona with only one conference loss (40–17 to UCLA). But later that evening, Arizona defeated Arizona State 16–13 to cause a tie between UCLA, Arizona State, and Arizona.[4] UCLA won the tiebreaker and the Rose Bowl berth by virtue of its wins over Arizona and Arizona State.[5][6]
UCLA ended the regular season with a record of 8–2–1, and head coach Terry Donahue had been named Pac-10 Coach of the year.[7] Five Bruin players were first team All-Pac-10: defensive tackle Mark Walen, offensive tackle Mike Hartmeier, kicker John Lee, nose guard Terry Tumey, and inside linebacker Tommy Taylor. Walen was named Pac-10 defensive player of the year. UCLA finished ranked #1 in the nation in rushing defense, at 70.3 yards per game. Oklahoma was second with 89.9 yards per game.[8]
The Bruins went on to defeat #4 Iowa in the 1986 Rose Bowl.[9] Running back Eric Ball was selected as the most valuable player in the 1986 Rose Bowl.
UCLA's offensive leaders in 1985 were quarterback David Norrie with 1,819 passing yards, running back Gaston Green with 712 rushing yards, and wide receiver Karl Dorrell with 565 receiving yards.[10]
Schedule
Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
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September 7 | at No. 8 BYU* | No. 20 | | ESPN | W 27–24 | 65,455 | [11] |
September 14 | at Tennessee* | No. 10 | | ABC | T 26–26 | 94,370 | [12] |
September 21 | San Diego State* | No. 12 | | | W 34–16 | 54,625 | [13] |
September 28 | at Washington | No. 13 | | CBS | L 14–21 | 60,801 | [14] |
October 5 | Arizona State | | | CBS | W 40–17 | 50,494 | [15] |
October 12 | at Stanford | | | | W 34–9 | 63,000 | [16] |
October 19 | at Washington State | No. 18 | | KNBC | W 31–30 | 32,302 | [17] |
October 26 | California | No. 17 | | TBS | W 34–7 | 61,530 | [18] |
November 9 | at Arizona | No. 14 | | | W 24–19 | 57,779 | [19] |
November 16 | Oregon State | No. 13 | | | W 41–0 | 45,102 | [20] |
November 23 | at USC | No. 8 | | | L 13–17 | 90,064 | [21] |
, 1986 | vs. No. 4 Iowa* | No. 13 | | NBC | W 45–28 | 103,292 | [22] |
- *Non-conference game
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
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Game summaries
At BYU
At Tennessee
San Diego State
At Washington
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
UCLA |
7 |
7 | 0 | 0 |
14 |
• Washington |
0 |
11 | 10 | 0 |
21 |
- Date: September 28
- Location: Husky Stadium, Seattle
- Game attendance: 60,801
- Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C)
Scoring summary |
1 | | UCLA | Sherrard 26-yard pass from Norrie (Lee kick) | UCLA 7-0 |
|
2 | | WASH | Jaeger 31-yard field goal | UCLA 7-3 |
|
2 | | UCLA | Dorrell 26-yard pass from Norrie (Lee kick) | UCLA 14-3 |
|
2 | | WASH | Hill 31-yard pass from Millen (Millen to Trimble pass) | UCLA 14-11 |
|
3 | | WASH | Jaeger 37-yard field goal | Tied 14-14 |
|
3 | | WASH | Toy 1-yard run (Jaeger kick) | WASH 21-14 |
[23]
Arizona State
At Stanford
At Washington State
California
Game information
|
- California
- Brown
7/15, 78 Yds
- Barbero
5 Rush, 31 Yds
- Vince Delgado
6 Rec, 47 Yds, TD
|
- UCLA
|
|
UCLA moved into first place in the Pac-10 with the win.
Scoring summary
|
Quarter
|
Time
|
Drive
|
Team
|
Scoring information
|
Score
|
Plays
|
Yards
|
TOP
|
CAL
|
UCLA
|
1
|
|
13
|
76
|
|
California
|
Delgado 17-yard touchdown reception from Bedford, Rix kick good
|
7
|
0
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
UCLA
|
46-yard field goal by Lee
|
7
|
3
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
UCLA
|
Farr 45-yard touchdown reception from Norrie, Lee kick good
|
7
|
10
|
2
|
2:33
|
|
|
|
UCLA
|
Interception returned 21 yards for touchdown by Turner, Lee kick good
|
7
|
17
|
2
|
0:06
|
|
|
|
UCLA
|
29-yard field goal by Lee
|
7
|
20
|
3
|
12:09
|
7
|
80
|
2:51
|
UCLA
|
Norrie 3-yard touchdown run, Lee kick good
|
7
|
27
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
UCLA
|
Wilson 38-yard touchdown reception from Stevens, Lee kick good
|
7
|
34
|
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
|
7
|
34
|
|
At Arizona
Oregon State
At USC
Game information
|
First quarter
Second quarter
- UCLA – John Lee 22-yard field goal. UCLA 10–7. Drive:
- UCLA – John Lee 34-yard field goal. UCLA 13–7. Drive:
Third quarter
- USC – Don Shafer 38-yard field goal. UCLA 13–10. Drive:
Fourth quarter
- USC – Rodney Peete 1-yard run (Don Shafer kick). USC 17–13. Drive:
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
|
|
Vs. No. 4 Iowa (Rose Bowl)
#13 UCLA vs. #4 Iowa
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Bruins |
10 |
14 | 7 | 14 |
45 |
Hawkeyes |
7 |
3 | 7 | 11 |
28 |
Scoring summary |
1 | 7:02 | IOWA | David Hudson 1-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) | IOWA 7-0 |
|
1 | 3:23 | UCLA | Eric Ball 30-yard run (Lee kick) | Tied 7-7 |
|
1 | 1:11 | UCLA | John Lee 42-yard field goal | UCLA 10-7 |
|
2 | 7:43 | IOWA | Rob Houghtlin 24-yard field goal | Tied 10-10 |
|
2 | 6:19 | UCLA | Eric Ball 40-yard run (Lee kick) | UCLA 17-10 |
|
2 | 1:36 | UCLA | Eric Ball 6-yard run (Lee kick) | UCLA 24-10 |
|
3 | 12:19 | IOWA | Chuck Long 4-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick) | UCLA 24-17 |
|
3 | 6:25 | UCLA | Mike Sherrard 6-yard pass from Matt Stevens (J. Lee kick) | UCLA 31-17 |
|
4 | 13:25 | UCLA | Eric Ball 32-yard run (Lee kick) | UCLA 38-17 |
|
4 | 10:51 | IOWA | Rob Houghtlin 52-yard field goal | UCLA 38-20 |
|
4 | 6:38 | UCLA | Matt Stevens 1-yard run (Lee kick) | UCLA 45-20 |
|
4 | 3:11 | IOWA | Bill Happel 11-yard pass from Chuck Long (Harmon run) | UCLA 45-28 |
[26]
Personnel
1985 UCLA Bruins football team roster
|
Players
|
Coaches
|
Offense
|
Defense
|
Special teams
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
P
|
|
Ted Henderson
|
K
|
25
|
John Lee
|
Sr
|
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
|
1986 NFL draft
The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.
[27]
References
- ^ Dodds, Tracy – True Grit on Ground : Walen Anchors UCLA's Ranked Rushing Defense. Los Angeles Times, November 6, 1985
- ^ Dodds, Tracy – UCLA Bruins, Alias Smith and Jackson : Sophomore Outside Linebackers Have Earned the Respect of Their Coaches Los Angeles Times, November 13, 1986
- ^ Dodds, Tracy – Wildcats Find the Way to Lift Bruins' Spirits. Los Angeles Times, November 24, 1985
- ^ Oates, Bob – Strange Plays Beat Sun Devils : To UCLA's Benefit, Arizona State Was Own Worst Enemy. Los Angeles Times, November 25, 1985
- ^ Dodds, Tracy – Donahue Says UCLA Didn't Back In : Coach Points Out Bruins Finished With the Best Record. Los Angeles Times, November 25, 1985
- ^ UCLA had a record of 6–2, both ASU and Arizona were 5-2 having played one fewer conference games. The University of Arizona football Media Guide in the 2013 season lists the Wildcats as finishing tied for second place. The Arizona State University Media Guide in the 2013 season listed the Sun Devils as having finished in third place. The Pac-12 Media guide lists ASU and Arizona having tied for second with UCLA in sole possession of first place.
- ^ Donahue and Walen Win Honors in Pacific-10 Conference. Los Angeles Times, November 27, 1985
- ^ University of Oklahoma Football Media Guide. University of Oklahoma Athletic Department. Norman, Oklahoma: University Printing Services 1986
- ^ "1985 UCLA Bruins Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
- ^ "1985 UCLA Bruins Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
- ^ "UCLA beats BYU, ending Cougars' win streak at 25". Lexington Herald-Leader. September 8, 1985. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "UCLA's comeback kids are at it again, 26–26". The Los Angeles Times. September 15, 1985. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Steve Dolan (September 22, 1985). "Aztecs watch as ball bounces in UCLA's favor, 34–16". The Los Angeles Times. p. III-1. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Huskies bite UCLA 21–14". The Macon Telegraph & News. September 29, 1985. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "UCLA handles ASU". The Daily Breeze. October 6, 1985. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "UCLA rips Stanford 34–9; Muster gone?". The Sacramento Bee. October 13, 1985. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Luck eludes Cougars, UCLA wins 31–30". The Sunday Oregonian. October 20, 1985. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "UCLA leads Pacific-10". Statesman-Journal. October 27, 1985. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "UCLA escapes Tucson with 24–19 victory". The Los Angeles Times. November 10, 1985. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "UCLA, Lee not perfect, just winners". The San Bernardino County Sun. November 17, 1985. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Trojans shock Bruins 17–13". The Sacramento Bee. November 24, 1985. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "UCLA has too much for Iowa". Spokane Chronicle. January 2, 1986. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Huskies jolt Bruins, 21-17". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. September 29, 1985. p. 9B.
- ^ "UCLA spins Cal to hold the top." Eugene Register-Guard. 1985 Oct 27. Retrieved 2019-Jan-08.
- ^ UCLA-Southern Cal Box Score. Gainesville Sun. 1985 Nov 24. Pg. 4F. Retrieved 2020-Dec-12.
- ^ "ROSE BOWL; U.C.L.A. WALLOPS IOWA". New York Times. January 2, 1986. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
- ^ "1986 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
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Bowls and rivalries | |
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Culture and lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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National championship seasons in bold |
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Pacific Coast | |
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AAWU | |
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Pacific-8 | |
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Pacific-10 | |
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Pac-12 | |
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National championships in bold |