LINCOLN, Neb. – Showers were originally scheduled to fall in Memorial Stadium during the game.

But by halftime, only a few scattered boos rained down from the Cornhusker crowd.

And those skies would only get gloomier.

Punctuated by Kain Medrano’s pick-six on the first play of the second half, UCLA football (3-5, 2-4 Big Ten) escaped Nebraska (5-4, 2-4) with a 27-20 victory. The redshirt senior linebacker’s second career interception fueled the Bruins’ upset win – their second consecutive triumph over a conference opponent. 

“We just played our football, our brand of football,” Medrano said. “We practice all week doing what we do.”

Medrano’s interception solidified UCLA’s lead, but it was the offense that got the scoring started. 

Redshirt senior quarterback Ethan Garbers got the Bruins rolling with a pair of third-down conversions – including a 25-yard toss to freshman wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer – prolonging the Bruins’ opening drive. 

Despite an eight-minute drive – its longest of the season – UCLA walked away from it with only three points, courtesy of sophomore kicker Mateen Bhaghani’s 25-yard field goal. 

Ikaika Malloe’s defense almost instantly handed the keys back to Garbers.

The first-year defensive coordinator dialed up pressure on third down, forcing Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola to take a sack by senior defensive lineman Jay Toia. 

“We want to set the tone early, come out there, punch them in the mouth,” Garbers said. “I think we did a great job with that.”

UCLA was then pinned deep in its own territory by a 64-yard punt, but the Bruins marched down the field and converted all three third downs faced – including a nine-yard scramble from Garbers, who spun out of a would-be tackle to keep the drive alive.

This time, however, the visitors struck paydirt. 

Redshirt senior running back Jalen Berger navigated his way into the end zone after catching a screen pass from Garbers – capping off another lengthy drive. 

Nebraska’s second drive appeared to end in another quick three-and-out, but a taunting penalty – the first of three unsportsmanlike penalties on UCLA – gave Raiola new life.

“That’s our discipline aspect – we have to clean that stuff up,” said coach DeShaun Foster. “That’s what was keeping them in the game.”

The true freshman aired out a pass for a 40-yard gain – his first completion in five attempts – to set up Nebraska in the red zone. Running back Dante Dowdell punched it home from four yards out, penciling in the Huskers on the board. 

But for the third time in three drives, the Bruins set themselves up in scoring position. Garbers weaved down the middle of the field for a 57-yard run, good for the team’s longest rush of the season. 

The squad finished the game with 139 rushing yards – its first triple-digit rushing performance of the campaign.

After a failed third-down attempt inside the 10-yard line, UCLA lined up for a fourth down attempt. However, Foster ultimately settled for a field goal, where Bhaghani put the Bruins up six and guaranteed the lead heading into halftime. 

“We didn’t want to give them momentum,” Foster said. “We wanted to finish in the paint, but you still got to be smart in situations.”

Despite possessing the ball for over 20 minutes and outgaining the Huskers 248-71, it only netted a slim advantage. 

That lead, however, would not remain at six for long coming out of the locker room.

Medrano’s second career interception and 38-yard return – which featured a hurdle and a tiptoe along the sideline – instantly added to the UCLA lead, pushing it to 13. 

“(I) got my eyes back to the quarterback, and the ball is right there,” Medrano said. “I used to be a wide receiver. I got some moves up there, so not just a linebacker.”

A fourth-down stop on defense by redshirt senior defensive back Bryan Addison gave the Bruin offense possession of the ball for the first time in the second half. And within three plays, UCLA celebrated in the end zone once again.

Garbers’ 48-yard strike to Gilmer ballooned the lead to 20 – his first touchdown of his collegiate career. 

“For being 18 years old, the maturity and intelligence that that guy has on the football field is really unheard of,” Garbers said. “He’s becoming a guy that I can really, really trust.”

Despite their lead, the Bruins could not put the Huskers away cleanly. A third-quarter touchdown brought Nebraska within 13, and a promising drive landed them inside the five-yard line. 

But on fourth down, Carson Schwesinger dragged Raiola down for the Bruins’ third sack of the game. The redshirt junior linebacker also logged 12 tackles – his sixth consecutive double-digit tackle performance. 

Late in the fourth quarter, Nebraska eventually plowed into the end zone to draw within seven, but not without consequences. A missed extra point failed to cut the lead to six, and Raiola was knocked out with an injury. 

Backup quarterback Heinrich Haarberg was inserted into the game for an ailing Raiola but was unable to orchestrate a game-tying touchdown drive.

Senior defensive back Kaylin Moore – a California transfer – nabbed an interception off of a deflection with 29 seconds remaining to seal the Bruin victory.

“Huge play for Kaylin. That was actually his first interception,” Foster said. “It was just good that it came in this type of situation for us, so we’re fired up for him.”