Last Second Field Goal Earns Bruins Rose Bowl Eligibility

PASADENA, CA — JJ Molson kicked a 37-yard field goal with four seconds to play Saturday evening, giving UCLA a 30-27 victory over California at the Rose Bowl, making the Bruins bowl eligible.

UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen did not play in the second half because of an injury. He completed 13 of 18 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, helping the Bruins to a 17-9 lead.

Devon Modster completed 14 of 18 passes for UCLA (6-6, 4-5 in Pac-12 Conference play) in the second half before a crowd announced at 50,287.

The Bruins have not missed bowl games in back-to-back seasons since 1989 and 1990. Bowl pairings will be announced Dec. 3.

The game came five days after Jim Mora was fired as UCLA's coach and replaced on an interim basis by offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch.

The Golden Bears (5-7, 2-7) tied the score with 2:22 left on Ross Bowers' six-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Veasy.

The Bruins began the ensuing drive on their own 20-yard line. Modster completed three of four passes for 33 yards and rushed once for three yards and Brandon Stephens rushed twice for 17 yards as the Bruins advanced the ball to California's 25-yard line with 46 seconds left.

Runs by Stephens of two and three yards moved the ball to the 20 with eight seconds left, setting up Molson's third field goal of the game.

UCLA outgained the Golden Bears, 462 yards to 458. California led 26-24 in first downs and 33:15-26:45 in time of possession.

Jordan Lasley caught 12 passes for 227 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown pass 5:10 before halftime that increased the Bruins lead to 17-6. Matt Anderson kicked a 37-yard field goal with 1:20 left in the first half.

The Golden Bears tied the score, 17-17, with 8:56 left in the third quarter on Bowers two-yard run and a two-point conversion pass to Patrick Laird.

UCLA regained the lead on the ensuing possession, driving 75 yards on eight plays in 2:21 with Stephens running the final yard for the touchdown. Modster completed four of five passes for 66 yards, including a 37-yard completion to Lasley that put the ball on California's 28-yard line. Modster completed a 16-yard pass to Eldridge Massington on the next play.

Rosen threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Theo Howard on UCLA's third possession for a 7-3 lead. Anderson opened the scoring with a 32-yard field goal on the game's first drive.

Molson also kicked a 27-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 26- yarder with 12:10 left in the fourth quarter that gave the Bruins a 27-17 lead. Anderson kicked a 20-yard field goal with 8:35 left on the next possession.

Bowers completed 25 of 41 passes for 242 yards and one touchdown for California, which was also seeking to become bowl eligible. Laird ran for 178 yards on 32 carries.

UCLA was 6-0 at the Rose Bowl this season, its first undefeated home season since 2005. The Bruins also had undefeated home seasons at the Rose Bowl in 1987 (6-0) and 1985 (5-0, including a victory in the Rose Bowl Game).

UCLA has played at the Rose Bowl since 1982.

UCLA is 3-7 in regular-season games following the USC game since 1967.

The USC game usually is the last egular season game for both teams.

City News Service; Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins passes in the pocket during a 28-23 loss to the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 18, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)