A faster start by the Bruins would be nice

[UCLA, from B12] Bruins did it in the 1976 Rose Bowl, upsetting No. 1 Ohio State thanks to two touchdown passes by quarterback John Sciarra and a memorable 54-yard touchdown run by Wendell Tyler that clinched his team’s 23-10 victory.

- 

NICO IAMALEAVA averages nearly 53 yards rushing per game to lead UCLA.

(GINA FERAZZI Los Angeles Times)

The outcome precipitated Vermeil’s departure for the Philadelphia Eagles and marked Buckeyes coach Woody Hayes’ final appearance in the Rose Bowl. The Official Ohio State Football Encyclopedia — wait, it’s not called The Official The Ohio State Football Encyclopedia? — would list the loss as one of the most devastating in school history.

Can UCLA, as a 31½-point underdog, hand the top-ranked Buckeyes an even more unsettling setback? Here are five things to watch when the Bruins (3-6 overall, 3-3 Big Ten) face the Buckeyes (9-0, 6-0) at 4:30 p.m. PST Saturday at Ohio Stadium:

UCLA fell behind big in each of its last two losses.

There was a 28-0 deficit midway through the second quarter against Indiana and a 28-7 deficit early in the third quarter against Nebraska, leaving the Bruins in need of massive comebacks.

That's not a formula for success against anyone, much less the top team in the nation.

“We want to make sure we put a big-time emphasis on starting fast,” Skipper said, “that’s going to be the big thing.”

During its three-game winning streak, UCLA took early leads, going ahead 27-7 against Penn State, 24-7 against Michigan State and 7-3 against Maryland.