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Cal vs UCLA winners and losers: Grades for Bruins' big Week 1 win
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- Cal vs UCLA winners and losers: Grades for Bruins' big Week 1 win
UCLA and Cal provided an exciting start to a rekindled rivalry on Saturday, Sept. 5. Wayne Knight led the Bruins in the 45-24 victory , scoring three touchdowns.
It was the first time the programs were on opposing sidelines against each other since 2023 and will serve as the latest installment in the long-time rivalry between the West Coast programs.
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The two teams had played one another every year since 1933 before that streak ended in 2023, after Cal moved to the Atlantic Coast Conference and UCLA played a Big Ten Conference schedule.
The rivalry nearly came to an end a few years prior when an initial schedule for the pandemic-shortened 2020 season did not have the two teams playing against one another.
However, when each team had one of their respective opponents back out of games due to COVID-19, the in-state rivals put a game together on short notice.
While this weekend's matchup was the start of a four-game series between the two teams, it remains unclear if the two universities have plans to extend the series beyond 2029. Cal will host the Bruins in 2026 and 2028, while UCLA will serve as host in 2027 and 2029.
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UCLA improves to 58-36-1 in the all-time series against Cal.
Here are some of the biggest winners and losers from tonight's game:
Nico Iamaleava of the UCLA Bruins warms up before their game against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium on September 5, 2026, in Berkeley, California.
Winners from UCLA vs. Cal
West Coast football fans
UCLA is in the Big Ten and Cal is in the ACC, but the fans are already the true winners after the universities managed to get the game back on the field to restore the long-time Pac-12 rivalry.
Grade: A+++
UCLA rushing attack
The Bruins scored six rushing touchdowns on Saturday night. Knight scored three touchdowns, including two in the fourth quarter. Anthony Woods also scored his second touchdown in the final quarter. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava managed to get the scoring going early for the Bruins, with a rushing touchdown in the first quarter.
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Grade: A
Losers from UCLA vs. Cal
Cal's offense
Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele and the offense were doing well in the first half. The Golden Bears produced 131 yards and seven first downs with zero penalty yards.
Sagapolutele's night got out of hand as he started to get banged up, being sacked twice in the first half. Sagapolutele had some discomfort in the final minutes of the first half. He was not at his best in the second half, throwing an interception on back-to-back drives to safety Ta'Shawn James.
Grade: C-
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cal vs UCLA winners and losers: Grades for Bruins' big Week 1 win
