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UCLA's Tim Skipper Earns Two National Coach Of The Week Awards After Topping Penn State

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Football

UCLA interim head coach Tim Skipper has earned a pair of National Coach of the Week honors after leading UCLA to a 42-37 upset victory over then-No. 7 Penn State last Saturday, as he was recognized by both the Dodd Trophy and Bear Bryant Awards.

The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week award honors a football coach who led his team to a significant victory during the previous week, while also embodying the award's three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity. Meanwhile, the Bear Bryant Awards recognizes a coach weekly for leading their team to an exceptional victory.

The result marked UCLA's first win at home over a team ranked inside the AP top-10 since 2007, and was the Bruins' first win of any kind over an AP top-10 squad since 2010.

In addition, it was the first time since 1985, and just the fifth time ever, that an 0-4 (or worse) team defeated a top-10 opponent.

UCLA, which scored on each of its first five possessions en route to a 27-7 halftime lead, outgained Penn State by a margin of 435-357 in total offense, including a season-high 269 yards on the ground. It was the most points allowed and the most rushing yards allowed by the Nittany Lions in a regular season game since 2022.

Several game management decisions played a key part in the victory, including a successfully-recovered onside kick following the Bruins' game-opening touchdown drive, and an intentional safety in the final minute of the contest.

UCLA redshirt sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava was the x-factor in the contest, earning a slew of awards – including AP National Player of the Week and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week – after accounting for five touchdowns and 294 yards of total offense. With three scores on the ground, Iamaleava tied a program record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, and his 128 rushing yards were the most by a Bruin signal-caller since Brett Hundley in 2014.

UCLA returns to action this Saturday, Oct. 11, traveling to Michigan State for a 9 a.m. PT contest. The Big Ten Network will televise the first-ever league meeting between the Bruins and Spartans.