College football is back, and the UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans are kicking off their seasons with home games on Saturday.
UCLA faces the tougher test of the two, hosting the Utah Utes at the Rose Bowl. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.
Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava is a Long Beach native who transferred back to the West Coast after a season at Tennessee, a team that lost to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff when a win would’ve assured the Volunteers a spot in the Granddaddy of Them All.
“Man, I’ve always wanted to play in the Rose Bowl,” Iamaleava said. “Almost had the chance last year to come here and play, came up short, but I’ve always been excited to play in the stadium. It’s a surreal moment for me and I can’t wait to just get in there.”
Iamaleava added that he expects 20 or 30 family members to be in attendance for his debut at the famed Pasadena venue.
USC, meanwhile, hosts the Missouri State Bears at the Coliseum at 4:30 p.m. This is the Bears’ first season as members of college football’s top tier, and they’ll be facing one of the most prestigious programs in the sport’s history.
After a middling 7-6 season last year, the Trojans are looking to bounce back, and the heavy favorites — Vegas has USC winning by more than five touchdowns — are excited to return to USC’s winning ways.
“I can’t wait to go to war with these boys,” said quarterback Jayden Maiava. “These guys have been getting after it and been attacking each and every day, upholding that standard.”
USC’s game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network, while UCLA will play on Fox.
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