This post was updated Oct. 17 at 6:51 p.m.

They say all good things must come to an end.

But the tale has flipped for this year’s Bruins – they’re on a quest for all bad things to come to an end.

UCLA football (1-5, 0-4 Big Ten) will fly across the country to scrap with Rutgers (4-2, 1-2) on Saturday morning at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. The meeting is the first between the two programs – both of which limp into the contest carrying losing streaks.

“The season’s not going how any of us want,” said senior defensive lineman Jay Toia. “But, I believe we’re getting better every week and we’re just striving to win games.”

UCLA won its season opener against Hawai’i, but has since failed to add anything to the win column. Across its five-game losing streak – four of which came against now-top-25 opponents – the Bruins have been outscored 158-71.

Against Minnesota, UCLA nearly snapped its losing spell but yielded a go-ahead touchdown in the closing seconds of the game – ultimately falling 21-17. The Bruins have yet to post more than 17 points in a game, a mark they breached nine times in 2023.

Redshirt senior quarterback Ethan Garbers tossed a career-high 293 passing yards against the Golden Gophers, but a trio of interceptions dulled the Bruins’ chances – although one was tipped at the line of scrimmage and another was a last-ditch Hail Mary attempt.

On the defensive side of the ball, Carson Schwesinger has proven a force over the middle of the field. The redshirt junior linebacker notched double-digit tackles in four consecutive outings and leads the conference in solo tackles.

One of the biggest tasks for the former walk-on will be containing Rutgers’ running back Kyle Monangai.

“Their running back is really good,” said coach DeShaun Foster. “He’s not just going to go down if you hit him, so he’s a back that we’re going to have to wrap up, and I’m confident in my defense and I know they’re excited for the challenge.”

Last season, Monangai led the Big Ten on the ground, posting 1,262 rushing yards.

And in 2024 he picked up right where he left off. Monangai has churned out 739 yards on 135 carries – highlighted by a 208 yard, three-touchdown performance against Akron on Sep. 7.

UCLA’s running attack, meanwhile, has been stuck in first gear all year.

Just a season after pacing the Pac-12 in rushing yards per game, the Bruins have plummeted to the bottom of the Big Ten in the category.

The ground game has also struggled with a lack of explosiveness – UCLA’s longest run this season is just 22 yards.

“We just have to help on the perimeter with blocking,” said redshirt junior wide receiver J.Michael Sturdivant. “Obviously, the o-line has to make some blocks too, but once the running back breaks through the line, they have to depend on us.”

T.J. Harden – who has mustered just 166 yards this year – is UCLA’s leading rusher. The junior running back is also the leading receiver with 204 yards on 21 receptions – at least six more catches than any true wideout.

However, Saturday’s game against the Scarlet Knights presents an opportunity to play a team that has struggled as of late – dropping back-to-back contests after opening the season with four straight wins. Last week’s 42-7 drubbing at the hands of Wisconsin exposed vulnerabilities within the Rutgers defense as the Badgers tallied more than 300 rushing yards.

And while the team’s track record may offer little hope, the mood in Westwood feels anything but defeated.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun to fly all the way across the country and go play football,” Sturdivant said. “I’m excited for it, I know the team is excited for it, and it’s going to be a fun day on Saturday.”