1985 UCLA Bruins football team

American college football season

1985 UCLA Bruins football
Pac-10 champion Rose Bowl champion
Rose Bowl, W 45–28 vs. Iowa
Conference	Pacific-10 Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 7
AP	No. 7
Record	9–2–1 (6–2 Pac-10)
Head coach	Terry Donahue (10th season)
Offensive coordinator	Homer Smith (8th season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Bob Field (4th season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Tom Hayes (4th season)
Home stadium	Rose Bowl
Seasons ← 1984 1986 →

1985 Pacific-10 Conference football standings
v t e	Conf					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
No. 7 UCLA $	6	–	2	–	0	9	–	2	–	1
Arizona	5	–	2	–	0	8	–	3	–	1
Arizona State	5	–	2	–	0	8	–	4	–	0
Washington	5	–	3	–	0	7	–	5	–	0
USC	5	–	3	–	0	6	–	6	–	0
Oregon	3	–	4	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Washington State	3	–	5	–	0	4	–	7	–	0
Stanford	3	–	5	–	0	4	–	7	–	0
Oregon State	2	–	6	–	0	3	–	8	–	0
California	2	–	7	–	0	4	–	7	–	0

$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1985 UCLA Bruins football team was an American football team that represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their tenth year under head coach Terry Donahue, the Bruins compiled a 9–2–1 record (6–2 Pac-10), finished in first place in the Pacific-10 Conference, and were ranked #7 in the final AP Poll. The Bruins went on to defeat #4 Iowa in the 1986 Rose Bowl.^[1] Running back Eric Ball was selected as the most valuable player in the 1986 Rose Bowl.

UCLA's offensive leaders in 1985 were quarterback David Norrie with 1,819 passing yards, running back Gaston Green with 712 rushing yards, and wide receiver Karl Dorrell with 565 receiving yards.^[2]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 7	at No. 8 BYU*	No. 20	Cougar Stadium Provo, UT	ESPN	W 27–24	65,455
September 14	at Tennessee*	No. 10	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN	ABC	T 26–26	94,370	^[3]
September 21	San Diego State*	No. 12	Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA		W 34–16	54,625
September 28	at Washington	No. 13	Husky Stadium Seattle, WA	CBS	L 14–21	60,801
October 5	Arizona State		Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA	CBS	W 40–17	50,494
October 12	at Stanford		Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA		W 34–9	63,000
October 19	at Washington State	No. 18	Martin Stadium Pullman, WA	KNBC	W 31–30	32,302
October 26	California	No. 17	Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA	TBS	W 34–7	61,530
November 9	at Arizona	No. 14	Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ		W 24–19	57,779
November 16	Oregon State	No. 13	Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA		W 41–0	45,102
November 23	at USC	No. 8	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA (Victory Bell)		L 13–17	90,064
January 1, 1986	vs. No. 4 Iowa*	No. 13	Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA (Rose Bowl)	NBC	W 45–28	103,292
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Personnel

1985 UCLA Bruins football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
WR	`83`	Willie Anderson	So
RB	`21`	Eric Ball	Fr
WR		Dave Clinton
OT	`72`	Robert Cox
WR		Paco Craig
WR	`8`	Karl Dorrell	Jr
FB	`22`	Mel Farr	So
RB		Greg Francois
RB		Bob Garabaldi
C	`69`	Joe Goebel
RB	`44`	Gaston Green	So
RB	`45`	Marcus Greenwood	Jr
G	`63`	Mike Hartmeier
OT		Robert Jenkins	Sr
OT	`70`	John Kidder
QB		Brendan McCracken
G	`77`	Jim McCullough
QB	`9`	David Norrie	Sr
TE		Jeff Nowinski
RB		James Primus
WR	`82`	Mike Sherrard	Sr
QB	`11`	Matt Stevens	Jr
TE	`81`	Derek Tennell	Jr
RB		Danny Thompson
OL		Jim Warnick
WR		Al Wilson

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
DL		Frank Batchkoff
DB		Joe Gasser
DL		Jeff Glasser
CB	`2`	Darryl Henley	Fr
LB	`59`	Melvin Jackson
LB	`99`	Steve Jarecki	Sr
LB		Chance Johnson
DB	`31`	Carnell Lake	Fr
DB	`37`	Chuckie Miller	Jr
LB	`41`	Ken Norton Jr.	So
DB		Dennis Price
DB		Craig Rutledge
LB		Eric Smith
LB	`42`	Tommy Taylor	Sr
NG	`40`	Terry Tumey	So
DB	`23`	Marcus Turner	Fr
DL		Jim Wahler
DT	`95`	Mark Walen	Sr
DB		James Washington
DL		Doug Wassel

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
P		Ted Henderson
K	`25`	John Lee	Sr

Head coach

Terry Donahue

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Greg Robinson (DL)

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Game summaries

At BYU

At Tennessee

San Diego State

At Washington

	1	2	3	4	Total
UCLA	7	7	0	0	14
• Washington	0	11	10	0	21

Date: September 28
Location: Husky Stadium, Seattle
Game attendance: 60,801
Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C)

Scoring summary

1	UCLA	Sherrard 26-yard pass from Norrie (Lee kick)	UCLA 7-0

2	WASH	Jaeger 31-yard field goal	UCLA 7-3

2	UCLA	Dorrell 26-yard pass from Norrie (Lee kick)	UCLA 14-3

2	WASH	Hill 31-yard pass from Millen (Millen to Trimble pass)	UCLA 14-11

3	WASH	Jaeger 37-yard field goal	Tied 14-14

3	WASH	Toy 1-yard run (Jaeger kick)	WASH 21-14

^[4]

Arizona State

At Stanford

At Washington State

California

California Golden Bears (3–4) at #17 UCLA Bruins (5–1–1)

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
California	7	0	0	0	7
UCLA	3	17	7	7	34

at Rose Bowl • Pasadena, California

Date: October 26
Game attendance: 61,530
^[5]

Game information

California

Brown
7/15, 78 Yds
Barbero
5 Rush, 31 Yds
Vince Delgado
6 Rec, 47 Yds, TD

UCLA

David Norrie
12/19, 191 Yds, TD, INT
Eric Ball
14 Rush, 101 Yds
Karl Dorrell
2 Rec, 56 Yds

UCLA moved into first place in the Pac-10 with the win.

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	CAL	UCLA
1		13	76		California	Delgado 17-yard touchdown reception from Bedford, Rix kick good	7	0
1					UCLA	46-yard field goal by Lee	7	3
2					UCLA	Farr 45-yard touchdown reception from Norrie, Lee kick good	7	10
2	2:33				UCLA	Interception returned 21 yards for touchdown by Turner, Lee kick good	7	17
2	0:06				UCLA	29-yard field goal by Lee	7	20
3	12:09	7	80	2:51	UCLA	Norrie 3-yard touchdown run, Lee kick good	7	27
4					UCLA	Wilson 38-yard touchdown reception from Stevens, Lee kick good	7	34
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							7	34

At Arizona

Oregon State

At USC

#8 UCLA Bruins (8–1–1) at USC Trojans (4–5)

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
UCLA	7	6	0	0	13
USC	7	0	3	7	17

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

Date: November 23
Game attendance: 90,064
^[6]

Game information

First quarter

UCLA – Eric Ball 1-yard run (John Lee kick). UCLA 7–0. Drive:
USC – Joe Cormier 34-yard pass from Rodney Peete (Don Shafer kick). Tie 7–7. Drive:

Second quarter

UCLA – John Lee 22-yard field goal. UCLA 10–7. Drive:
UCLA – John Lee 34-yard field goal. UCLA 13–7. Drive:

Third quarter

USC – Don Shafer 38-yard field goal. UCLA 13–10. Drive:

Fourth quarter

USC – Rodney Peete 1-yard run (Don Shafer kick). USC 17–13. Drive:

Top passers

UCLA – David Norrie – 14/21, 178 yards, 2 INT
USC – Rodney Peete – 8/15, 101 yards, TD, INT

Top rushers

UCLA – Gaston Green – 28 rushes, 145 yards
USC – Ryan Knight – 32 rushes, 147 yards

Top receivers

UCLA – Karl Dorrell – 5 receptions, 61 yards
USC – Joe Cormier – 8 receptions, 101 yards

Vs. No. 4 Iowa (Rose Bowl)

#13 UCLA vs. #4 Iowa

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Bruins	10	14	7	14	45
Hawkeyes	7	3	7	11	28

Date: January 1, 1986
Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
Game start:
2:12 p.m. PST
Elapsed time: 3:18
Game attendance: 103,292
Game weather: 71 °F (22 °C), Overcast, Wind S 5 mph (8.0 km/h)
Referee: Tom Quinn
TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Merlin Olsen

Scoring summary

1	7:02	IOWA	David Hudson 1-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick)	IOWA 7-0

1	3:23	UCLA	Eric Ball 30-yard run (Lee kick)	Tied 7-7

1	1:11	UCLA	John Lee 42-yard field goal	UCLA 10-7

2	7:43	IOWA	Rob Houghtlin 24-yard field goal	Tied 10-10

2	6:19	UCLA	Eric Ball 40-yard run (Lee kick)	UCLA 17-10

2	1:36	UCLA	Eric Ball 6-yard run (Lee kick)	UCLA 24-10

3	12:19	IOWA	Chuck Long 4-yard run (Rob Houghtlin kick)	UCLA 24-17

3	6:25	UCLA	Mike Sherrard 6-yard pass from Matt Stevens (J. Lee kick)	UCLA 31-17

4	13:25	UCLA	Eric Ball 32-yard run (Lee kick)	UCLA 38-17

4	10:51	IOWA	Rob Houghtlin 52-yard field goal	UCLA 38-20

4	6:38	UCLA	Matt Stevens 1-yard run (Lee kick)	UCLA 45-20

4	3:11	IOWA	Bill Happel 11-yard pass from Chuck Long (Harmon run)	UCLA 45-28

^[7]

1986 NFL Draft

The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.

Player	Position	Round	Pick	Franchise
Mike Sherrard	Wide receiver	1	18	Dallas Cowboys
John Lee	Kicker	2	32	St. Louis Cardinals
Mark Walen	Defensive tackle	3	74	Dallas Cowboys
Tommy Taylor	Linebacker	4	97	San Diego Chargers
Robert Jenkins	Tackle	6	144	Los Angeles Rams
Steve Jarecki	Linebacker	8	195	Los Angeles Rams

^[8]

References

^ "1985 UCLA Bruins Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
^ "1985 UCLA Bruins Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
^ "UCLA's comeback kids are at it again, 26–26". The Los Angeles Times. September 15, 1985. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Huskies jolt Bruins, 21-17". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. September 29, 1985. p. 9B.
^ "UCLA spins Cal to hold the top." Eugene Register-Guard. 1985 Oct 27. Retrieved 2019-Jan-08.
^ UCLA-Southern Cal Box Score. Gainesville Sun. 1985 Nov 24. Pg. 4F. Retrieved 2020-Dec-12.
^ "ROSE BOWL; U.C.L.A. WALLOPS IOWA". New York Times. January 2, 1986. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
^ "1986 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved November 22, 2019.

v t e UCLA Bruins football
Venues	Moore Field (1919–1928) Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (1926–1981) Rose Bowl (1982–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games California USC: Victory Bell
Culture & lore	Joe Bruin "Sons of Westwood" "Mighty Bruins" Marching band 1967 "Game of the Century" 1998 Miami game
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
National championship seasons in bold

v t e Pac-12 Conference football champions
Pacific Coast	Washington (1916) Washington State (1917) California (1918) Oregon & Washington (1919) California (1920) California (1921) California (1922) California (1923) Stanford (1924) Washington (1925) Stanford (1926) Idaho, Stanford, & USC (1927) USC (1928) USC (1929) Washington State (1930) USC (1931) USC (1932) Oregon & Stanford (1933) Stanford (1934) California, Stanford, & UCLA (1935) Washington (1936) California (1937) California & USC (1938) USC (1939) Stanford (1940) Oregon State (1941) UCLA (1942) USC (1943) USC (1944) USC (1945) UCLA (1946) USC (1947) California & Oregon (1948) California (1949) California (1950) Stanford (1951) USC (1952) UCLA (1953) UCLA (1954) UCLA (1955) Oregon State (1956) Oregon & Oregon State (1957) California (1958)
AAWU	UCLA, USC, & Washington (1959) Washington (1960) UCLA (1961) USC (1962) Washington (1963) Oregon State & USC (1964) UCLA (1965) USC (1966) USC (1967)
Pacific-8	USC (1968) USC (1969) Stanford (1970) Stanford (1971) USC (1972) USC (1973) USC (1974) California & UCLA (1975) USC (1976) Washington (1977)
Pacific-10	USC (1978) USC (1979) Washington (1980) Washington (1981) UCLA (1982) UCLA (1983) USC (1984) UCLA (1985) Arizona State (1986) USC & UCLA (1987) USC (1988) USC (1989) Washington (1990) Washington (1991) Washington & Stanford (1992) Arizona, UCLA, & USC (1993) Oregon (1994) USC & Washington (1995) Arizona State (1996) UCLA & Washington State (1997) UCLA (1998) Stanford (1999) Oregon, Oregon State, & Washington (2000) Oregon (2001) USC & Washington State (2002) USC (2003) USC (2004) vacated USC (2005) vacated California & USC (2006) Arizona State & USC (2007) USC (2008) Oregon (2009) Oregon (2010)
Pac-12	Oregon (2011) Stanford (2012) Stanford (2013) Oregon (2014) Stanford (2015) Washington (2016) USC (2017) Washington (2018) Oregon (2019) Oregon (2020) Utah (2021) Utah (2022) Washington (2023)
National championships in bold