This post was updated Nov. 22 at 12:11 a.m.

Laiatu Latu came screaming off the edge in the third quarter.

The defensive end barreled into Caleb Williams, taking down the Heisman-winning quarterback in the Bruins’ Victory Bell-claiming win last season.

Though both Latu and Williams are gone – as the first defensive and offensive selections in the 2024 NFL Draft, respectively – the man who was calling the defense for the Bruins will be back at the Rose Bowl come Saturday night, only this time on the opposite sideline.

This year’s rivalry game will not only be a homecoming of sorts for USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, but it’ll also be an opportunity for UCLA football to showcase its no-longer-secret weapon – defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe.

“Obviously, our defense – you see what we do: We’re fast. We’re physical. We fly around. And that’s where coach Malloe comes in,” said redshirt senior linebacker Kain Medrano. “He instills that. … It’s always the same thing, fast and physical.”

While Lynn got the lion’s share of credit for UCLA’s 10th-ranked total defense last season, Malloe – then a defensive line coach – deserves some recognition too. After all, the Bruins’ rushing defense ranked second in the nation in 2023 by yards allowed.

In his rookie campaign as defensive coordinator this season, Malloe has transformed his unit – one that grappled with five NFL departures after last season – into the 48th-best defense in the country by yards allowed per game. More strikingly, however, the Bruins have tied for seventh in rushing yards allowed per game.

“We knew what we had in coach Malloe,” said coach DeShaun Foster. “He’s a great coach. He’s coached a bunch of first-rounders. … This isn’t anything shocking with what’s happening with the defense right now.”

Also tabbed as inside linebackers coach, Malloe has overseen the breakout of redshirt junior Carson Schwesinger. The linebacker – a Burlsworth Trophy semifinalist – leads the Big Ten in both solo tackles and total tackles with 69 and 109, respectively.

The Moorpark, California, local has also racked up three sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions through 10 contests.

“The job Malloe’s done – he’s able to maximize the whole defense’s potential,” Schwesinger said. “A lot of our success can be attributed to the work he’s put in. The man he is, too – we come out every day wanting to play for him.”

Schwesinger added that Malloe was crucial in getting the former walk-on significant playing time this season.

Meanwhile, across town, Lynn has failed to replicate the success he managed in Westwood last year. USC ranks 67th in the country in total defense and 15th in the Big Ten while slotting in at 86th nationally in passing yards allowed and a tied 63rd in red zone defense.

However, Foster shot down the idea that the Bruins would have an advantage facing their former defensive play-caller.

“It was only a year,” Foster said. “I know in this game, you’re not going to do your normal stuff. People are going to make sure that you make adjustments, and you might even self-scout yourself.”

With his team’s bowl game hopes dangling by a thread, Foster said he’s got the right man to get the job done.

“He’s (Lynn is) a good coach, and we had a good run last season,” Foster said. “But Ikaika’s our defense coordinator, and I love our team.”