The UCLA Bruins play football in the Bowl today in a 12:30 p.m. season opener against Hawai’i that marks the first of seven games on Speiker Field set for this year, including the first three games of the season.
The Hawai’i battle will be the Bruins’ earliest season opener ever. But it couldn’t come too soon for the thousands of fans who will eagerly flock to the Arroyo and are prepared to “mask up” to enter the stadium.
Good thing there will be beer in the Bowl for UCLA games (for the first time since 1989). Today could hit 97 degrees under clear skies, according to the National Weather Service.
Today’s game will be the first home season opener for UCLA since the 2018 season (a 26-17 loss to Cincinnati). UCLA posted its last non-conference win over the Rainbow Warriors in 2017 in the Rose Bowl. It has dropped the last eight encounters with non-league opponents.
In UCLA’s last meeting with the Rainbow Warriors, Josh Rosen was 22 of 25 for 329 yards passing and found Darren Andrews for three of his career-high five touchdown passes as the Bruins defeated Hawai’i 56-23 at the Rose Bowl in 2017. Theo Howard and Caleb Wilson each caught a touchdown pass. Demetric Felton and Bolu Olorunfunmi both added one-yard touchdown runs in the victory.
Starting this year, UCLA will use mobile ticketing for all events. Fans attending the games download tickets to their smartphone prior to arriving at the Rose Bowl.
The UCLA Football team is scheduled to arrive at the Rose Bowl via Arroyo Blvd at 10:00 am outside Gate A.
The Rose Bowl gates open at 11:00 am. Fans should be seated by noon to witness pregame festivities, including the National Anthem performed by 10-year-old Anjali Singh and a performance by the UCLA Marching Band. Halftime also will feature a performance by the UCLA Marching Band.
Parking lots open 6:30 a.m., according to the Rose Bowl. Stadium gates open at 11:00 a.m.