PASADENA, Calif. — Colorado reached deep into its playbook to spark its offense against UCLA.
The results weren’t always pretty, though, and coupled with a pair of dropped touchdowns, the Buffaloes were dealt their second defeat in a row, 27-23, against UCLA at the Rose Bowl.
CU’s creative play-calling included direct snaps to running back Phillip Lindsay, reverses and even a fake field goal. None of it was enough to get the struggling offense going, even against one of the worst defenses in the country.
Steven Montez’s pass on the final play of the game sailed out of the end zone, and the Buffs (3-2, 0-2 Pac-12) now face an uphill climb to repeat as Pac-12 South champs, while UCLA (3-2, 1-1) snapped its two-game skid.
UCLA came into the game ranked 124th nationally in scoring defense, allowing 43.3 points per game. CU managed just two touchdowns against the Bruins, however, settling for three James Stefanou field goals on other possessions.
Montez had a gutsy performance, completing 17 of 36 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 108 yards on 15 carries. He was plagued by two touchdown drops, however.
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