UCLA Rolls Against Colorado to Open Pac-12 Play

Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) of the UCLA Bruins passes against the Colorado Buffaloes in the third quarter at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo., on Sept. 24, 2022. Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

Zach Charbonnet ran for 104 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries to power UCLA to a 45–17 victory over host Colorado in the Pac-12 opener on Sept. 24 in Boulder, Colo.

Charbonnet averaged 11.6 yards per attempt and didn’t play in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson went 19-of-23 passing for 234 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, in addition to rushing for 56 yards on seven carries.

Jake Bobo had four receptions for 53 yards.

UCLA (4–0, 1–0) jumped out to a 21–3 lead over the Buffaloes (0–4, 0–1) and never looked back en route to outgaining Colorado 515–309 and holding the Buffaloes to 5–for–17 on third-down conversions. Colorado has been outscored 173–47 this season.

The Bruins put the game away by scoring 17 points in the first nine minutes of the third quarter.

Charbonnet’s 46-yard touchdown run gave the Bruins a 28–10 advantage before Nicholas Barr-Mira added a 44-yard yard field goal and Thompson-Robinson tossed a 2-yard score to Colson Yankoff with 6:03 left in the quarter for a 38–10 lead.

Running back Zach Charbonnet (24) of the UCLA Bruins celebrates with wide receiver Logan Loya (17) after a second quarter touchdown against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo., on Sept. 24, 2022. Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

UCLA backup quarterback Ethan Garbers opened the fourth quarter with a 3-yard scoring strike to Yankoff for a 45–10 advantage.

Colorado quarterback Owen McCown threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Jordyn Tyson with 2:59 left to provide the final score.

McCown was 26–for–42 passing for 258 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Charlie Offerdahl rushed for 47 yards on 14 carries, while Daniel Arias had four receptions for 82 yards.

Quarterback Owen McCown (7) of the Colorado Buffaloes rolls out of the pocket in the second quarter of a game against the UCLA Bruins at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo., on Sept. 24, 2022. Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

After UCLA took a 7–0 lead on Thompson-Robinson’s 24-yard pass to Matt Sykes with 6:18 left in the first, the Bruins doubled the advantage on Charbonnet’s 35-yard scoring run with 46 left in the opening period.

Colorado cut the lead to 14–3 on Cole Becker’s 35-yard field goal early in the second quarter.

UCLA responded when Charbonnet’s 13-yard touchdown run capped a seven-play, 75-yard drive, giving the Bruins a 21–3 lead with 9:00 left before halftime.

The Buffaloes pulled to within 21–10 on McCown’s 2-yard run that capped a nine-play, 74-yard drive with 19 seconds left in the half.