Overview of UCLA's 2016-2017 Football Schedule (Games 7-9)

          After the ASU game, UCLA will travel to Pullman, Washington to take on the Washington State Cougars. Last season, the Cougars had the most miserable season opener in the Pac-12. They lost to FCS Portland State at home 24-17. The Cougars defeated Rutgers in New Jersey 37-34 and Wyoming at home 31-14. They led undefeated #24 California for most of their next game, but fell short 34-28 in Berkeley, California. WSU defeated Oregon in double overtime in Oregon and breezed past Oregon State 52-31 at home. The Cougars began to look like a legitimate team after defeating Arizona 45-42 and almost upsetting #8 Stanford, but losing 30-28 on a missed field goal. WSU rolled to a 3-game win streak by defeating Arizona State 38-24, shocking #19 UCLA 31-27 at the Rose Bowl, and cruising past Colorado 27-3 at home. Due to quarterback Luke Falk's injury, the Cougars couldn't keep up with in-state rival Washington, falling in the Apple Cup 45-10. Washington State then won the Sun Bowl 20-14 against Miami. The Cougars' final record was 9-4. Wide receiver Dom Williams will graduate, but quarterback Luke Falk and wide receivers River Cracraft and Gabe Marks will return for the pass-happy offense of Washington State.
          Next up for UCLA is the Utah Utes. Last season, Utah spoiled the opening game of Michigan's Jim Harbaugh era by defeating the Wolverines 24-17 in Salt Lake City. The Utes beat in-state rival Utah State 24-14 at home. Afterwards, Utah defeated Fresno State in Fresno 45-24. The following week, Utah began to receive a lot of national attention by giving #13 Oregon the biggest loss in program history since 1977. Utah pulled off so many trick plays in a 62-20 laugher in Eugene, Oregon. Utah jumped from 18th to 10th in the top 25 while Oregon fell from 13th to out of the poll. After forcing 5 turnovers in a win over #23 California and defeating Arizona State 34-18, the Utes were ranked #3 in the country. Many people were predicting that Utah would win the national championship since they were so good. But, all good things must come to an end, as USC proved by beating Utah 42-24. After wins over Oregon State (27-12) and Washington (34-23), the 10th-ranked Utes were shocked in double overtime by Arizona 37-30. The next game wasn't so good for Utah either. UCLA's defense stifled the Utes' offense in Salt Lake City, as Utah lost 17-9 and fell to #23. They beat Colorado 20-14 and Holy War rival BYU 35-28 in the Las Vegas Bowl. Utah finished the season 10-3, the only team in the Pac-12 South to have at least 10 wins. Utah might not be as good as they were this past season because they lose a bunch of their biggest players. They lose quarterback Kendal Thompson and Travis Wilson, running back Devontae Booker. However, they return running back Joe Williams and wide receiver Britain Covey.
          UCLA will take a bye week after playing Utah. Afterwards, they will travel to Colorado to take on the Colorado Buffaloes. Colorado had a bad season opener too, losing to Hawai'i 28-20. The Buffs rode a 3-game win streak after that, beating up Massachusetts 48-14, surviving in the Rocky Mountain Showdown against rival Colorado State 27-24 in overtime, and shutting down FCS Nicholls State 48-0. Colorado lost 41-24 to Oregon, 48-23 to Arizona State, and 38-31 to Arizona. On the following week, the Buffs got their first conference win since 2013 by beating Oregon State 17-13. Colorado brought the momentum from the win against Oregon State to the Rose Bowl against UCLA. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough for the Buffs, who surged from an 18-point deficit only to fall 35-31. Stanford beat up Colorado 42-10 the following week. The next Friday, Colorado blew a 17-6 halftime lead and lost to USC 27-24 at home, ending the Buffaloes' postseason hopes. In that same game, CU starting quarterback Sefo Liufau got injured and was supported by crutches for the rest of the season. Backup QB Cade Apsay tried his best to maintain the lead, but USC had a strong second half to propel the Trojans to a victory. Washington State (27-3) and Utah (20-14) finished them off, as Colorado finished the season 4-9, having played 13 games. Colorado will lose two of their biggest playmakers in running back Christian Powell and Pac-12 leader in receiving yards Nelson Spruce. Quarterback Sefo Liufau will return along with running back Patrick Carr and wide receiver Donovan Lee.

Who would've expected the ball to end up on the 

other side of the field? This was one of the trick plays 

that Utah pulled off against Oregon in their 62-20

victory against the Ducks. (Key: Watch the top of 

the screen)