Stanford vs. UCLA: Game Grades, Analysis for the Bruins

UCLA squandered a chance to punch a ticket to the Pac-12 title game and end a six-game losing streak to Stanford Friday, falling 31-10 in the Bruins' final home game of the season.

A five-game win streak propelled UCLA back into the Top 10 and into the periphery of the College Football Playoff discussion at 9-2, but that all came to a screeching halt Friday. After going down 7-0 early, Stanford dominated the rest of the contest with a 436-262 yardage advantage.

Let's take a look at how the Bruins did in every category. It's not pretty:

Positional Unit	1st-Half Grade	Final Grade
Pass Offense	C+	C-
Run Offense	B-	C+
Pass Defense	C-	D
Run Defense	C	C
Special Teams	B-	C+
Coaching	C	D+

Pass Offense: After firing on all cylinders on possession No. 1, UCLA's passing game crumbled. Brett Hundley was ineffective and inaccurate in his final home game, going 17 of 32 with 146 yards. Much of the futility can be attributed to the offensive line, which couldn't keep Stanford's defense out of the backfield.

Run Offense: The Bruins moved the ball well with Paul Perkins—who had 17 carries for 116 yards—when committed to it. But as things got away from it, UCLA opted to air it out, and Stanford had all the answers. A plethora of sacks also downed UCLA's rushing totals.

Pass Defense: Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan carved up the Bruins on Thanksgiving weekend, going 16 of 19 for 234 yards and two touchdowns. He completed his first 10 passes. A Stanford team not known for its passing prowess simply shouldn't have found the success it did.

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Run Defense: Whether it was Remound Wright or Christian McCaffrey doing the damage, Stanford got it done on the ground early and often against UCLA. Chunk-yardage runs paved the way to most of Stanford's long touchdown drives, helping it gain 22 first downs and rush for 202 yards total.

Special Teams: The Bruins' stellar 51.5 yards-per-punt average was completely overridden by a boneheaded decision to fake a field goal, down 18 late in the third quarter. Backup quarterback Jerry Neuheisel could have extended the play and found someone else but threw a game-sealing pick instead.

Coaching: UCLA was constantly bashed by the same looks from Stanford's defense and failed to make any impacting adjustments. But as stated just previously, its choice to fake a field goal (when a kick would have made it a two-possession game) pretty much put the nail in the coffin.