1970 UCLA Bruins football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1970 UCLA Bruins football Pacific-8 Conference Pac-8 6–5 4–3 Tommy Prothro 6th Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum The 1970 UCLA Bruins football team was an American football team that represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 1970 NCAA University Division football season. In their sixth and final year under head coach Tommy Prothro, the Bruins compiled a 6–5 record (4–3 Pac-8) and finished in a four-way tie for second place in the Pacific-8 Conference.1970 UCLA Bruins Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football December 17, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/ucla/1970-schedule.html UCLA's offensive leaders in 1970 were quarterback Dennis Dummit with 2,392 passing yards, running back Marv Kendricks with 573 rushing yards, and wide receiver Rick Wilkes with 595 receiving yards.1970 UCLA Bruins Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football December 17, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/ucla/1970.html In his final season at UCLA, Prothro's team suffered a rash of key injuries and finished 6–5, yet they were three close games from a 9–2 season and Rose Bowl berth. Before those injuries set in, UCLA took a 3–0 record into Austin to play defending national champ and top ranked Texas. Trailing 13–3 at the half, UCLA rallied and had a 17–13 lead in the final minute. But with 12 seconds left, Texas completed a long pass when their receiver caught the ball between two UCLA defenders, who then collided, allowing the receiver to score. UCLA also blew a 20-point fourth quarter lead against Oregon, when Ducks sophomore quarterback Dan Fouts rallied his team to three touchdowns and a 41–40 win. Finally, there came the showdown with Stanford; the game was expected to be a shootout between UCLA quarterback Dennis Dummit and Heisman winner Jim Plunkett. But the defenses ruled as UCLA took a 7–6 lead into the 4th quarter. Stanford took a 9–7 lead on a field goal, but UCLA was driving to a potential game-winning field goal or touchdown themselves when they completed a pass inside the Stanford 10-yard-line, only to have the receiver get sandwiched by two defenders on the tackle and fumble. This game ultimately decided the Pac-8 championship and 1971 Rose Bowl representative. The season ended on a high note when UCLA beat rival USC, 45–20, in a game that was not that close. This would end up being Prothro's final game at UCLA. Prothro was frustrated by bizarre officiating at critical moments, numerous last minute narrow losses, and losing out of the Rose Bowl by the conference vote in 1966. Prothro also decried the Pac-8 rule that only allowed the conference champion to go to a bowl game; he witnessed many lower ranked inferior teams (often ones he defeated during the season) go to bowl games while his Bruins stayed home. After George Allen was fired by the Los Angeles Rams, Prothro accepted that job. Schedule 1970 AP Pacific September 12 w y 18 Oregon State Parker Stadium Corvallis, OR 14–9 23,520 https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-francisco-chronicle-ucla-bruins-trip/183287437/ San Francisco Chronicle UCLA Bruins trip Oregon State, 14–9 September 13, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com September 19 w y y 16 Pittsburgh Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA 24–15 33,889 U.C.L.A. Defeats Pittsburgh, 24–15 https://www.proquest.com/docview/169917483 21 September 2017 Chicago Tribune 20 September 1970 169917483 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-ucla-rallies-to-clip/182557631/ The Greenville News UCLA rallies to clip Pitt Panthers, 24–15 September 20, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com September 26 w y 15 Northwestern Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 12–7 36,803 UCLA nips northwestern The Washington Post 27 September 1970 October 3 l y y 13 Texas 2 Texas Memorial Stadium Austin, TX 17–20 65,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-report-bruins-within-12-second/123957435/ The Daily Report Bruins within 12 seconds of upset October 4, 1970 May 2, 2023 Newspapers.com October 10 l 15 Oregon Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 40–41 44,722 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RalVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4uADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6353%2C2032688 Eugene Register-Guard Cawood Neil Webfoot comeback effort stuns Bruins 41–40 October 11, 1970 1B October 19, 2025 Google News Archivehttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ze5LAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5-wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7277%2C4238874 The Spokesman-Review Associated Press Webfoot(s) win wild contest October 11, 1970 2, sports October 19, 2025 Google News Archive October 17 1:31 p.m. w y 19 California California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA rivalry 24–21 43,000 UCLA trips california in final minute https://www.proquest.com/docview/147796605 21 September 2017 18 October 1970 147796605 October 24 8:00 p.m. l 16 Stanford 8 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 7–9 83,518 Chapin Dwight 82,518 See UCLA Tripped By A Foot, 9–7 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/173108613/ Los Angeles Times October 25, 1970 1D, 12D May 25, 2025 Newspapers.com October 30 w 19 Washington State Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 54–9 30,029 https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune-bruins-deck-wsu-549/183287562/ Oakland Tribune Bruins deck WSU, 54–9 October 31, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com November 14 l y 17 Washington University of Washington Stadium Seattle, WA 20–61 59,250 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-mad-dogs-now-even-wit/183286909/ The News Tribune 'Mad Dogs' now even with UCLA November 15, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com November 21 w USC Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA Victory Bell 45–20 78,773 https://www.newspapers.com/article/ventura-county-star-bruins-sack-troy-45/183287656/ Ventura County Star-Free Press Bruins sack Troy, 45–20 November 22, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com December 5 l y y Tennessee 5 Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN 17–28 63,242 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101322730/vols-late-rally-nips-ucla-2817/ The Sacramento Bee Vols' late rally nips UCLA 28–17 December 6, 1970 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com 2015 UCLA Bruins Football Media Guide Year-by-Year Results http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/uclabruins.com/documents/2015/8/13/FB_15MG_96_100.pdf June 14, 2017 December 20, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161220211707/http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/uclabruins.com/documents/2015/8/13/FB_15MG_96_100.pdf dead Schedule/Results (1970 UCLA) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/296428 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics October 19, 2025 Roster 1970 UCLA Bruins f 88 Jr Bob Christiansen TE y 50 Jr Dave Dalby C y 19 Sr Dennis Dummit QB 65 So Brian Goodman G y 74 So Bruce Walton T 29 So Alan Ellis DB n 73 Jr Ed Galigher DT y 21 Jr Reynaud Moore DB 58 Jr Bob Pifferini LB y 44 So Bruce Barnes P *Tommy Prothro References UCLA Category:UCLA Bruins football seasons UCLA Bruins football UCLA Bruins football