This post was updated Nov. 5 at 11:59 p.m.

All of the Bruins’ defensive pieces seemed well placed in 2023 prior to their conference realignment.

With a front seven highlighted by former Bruin defensive lineman Laiatu Latu – UCLA’s first Lombardi Award winner and an eventual NFL first-rounder – and former Bruin linebacker Darius Muasau, the 2023 team leader in tackles and a second-team All-Pac-12 selection, the Bruin defense boasted the talent to dominate the trenches.

However, UCLA football’s defensive outlook took a hit with the departure of former defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn to USC.

Lynn’s departure resulted in the transfer of defensive backs Kamari Ramsey and John Humphrey to the Trojans. The duo combined for three interceptions, seven pass breakups and 71 tackles last season.

And with the exit of integral defensive playmakers such as Latu, Muasau, Ramsey and Humphrey, first-year defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe faced immense pressure to produce in the unchartered territory of the Big Ten.

As such, few thought that shades of the 2023 Bruin defense would return to the gridiron.

That was until UCLA found its groove.

Facing Nebraska and quarterback Dylan Raiola, the defense had its work cut out for it Saturday. But Malloe’s crew refused to falter, holding the former five-star recruit to 177 yards and a 51.9% completion percentage.

“We have been playing our brand of football, and we practiced all week doing what we were doing,” said redshirt senior linebacker Kain Medrano. “We didn’t come out there with anything that we didn’t practice all week. He (Raiola) had some troubles on the five- and six-down stuff, and we were able to confuse him with not knowing where to slide the protection and who’s coming and not coming.”

While mitigating Raiola’s dual-threat capabilities, the Bruins also recorded two interceptions – their first time doing so since the first game of the season.

UCLA snagged its first turnover on a 38-yard pick-six by Medrano, putting the team up 20-7 early in the third quarter. The Bruins’ second turnover of the affair came on a game-sealing interception in their own red zone.

“(I) bit on the run fake, panic dropped back where I was supposed to be,” Medrano said. “I worked on that – I don’t know how many times this year or over the past two years, three years. I got my eyes back to the quarterback, and the ball was right there. … I used to be a wide receiver, I got some moves up in there, so I’m not just a linebacker.”

The Bruins’ second interception came from senior defensive back Kaylin Moore on a circus play. With less than 30 seconds left on the clock, a pass intended for Nebraska wide receiver Jacory Barney Jr. was broken up by redshirt senior defensive back Bryan Addison. After the breakup, the ball deflected off Barney’s knee and into Moore’s diving hands.

The interception marked not only the Los Angeles local’s first as a Bruin, but also the first in his collegiate career.

“It was good that it came in this type of situation for us,” said coach DeShaun Foster. “We’re fired up for him. He’s continued to make plays this whole year. That’s one of the transfers I’m really excited about.”

The Bruin defense has struggled throughout the season to create turnovers – registering just four interceptions and one fumble recovery prior to its matchup with the Cornhuskers – and mitigate opponent scoring, conceding at least 30 points in four of its eight matchups this season. However, it seems they’re beginning to develop some rhythm.

And as the Bruins’ field general said, the team hands Foster the lion’s share of the credit.

“He’s our light, and he’s our motivation,” said redshirt senior quarterback Ethan Garbers. “He does such a great job day in and day out getting us motivated, getting us ready. He’s huge on sacrifice. I really think that we started to sacrifice a little bit, and this really means a lot to a lot of the seniors.”