The Bruins of UCLA traveled to Mount Pleasant, MI for what would be an unforgettable Non-Conference bout vs. Central Michigan. Central Michigan is led by reigning MAC player of the year Dan Lefevour and is excited about the upcoming year. UCLA is just as excited as CMU but do not have as much faith in their QB situation as their opponents. Highly touted high school football player but disappointing college football player Ben Olson eventually won the starting job in the spring and looks to finally live up to his potential with offensive coordinator Norm Chow.

Central Michigan started with the ball and UCLA's defense was not rattled by the loud Chippewas crowd and held LeFevour in check. They eventually forced a punt and may have left the field a little too confident as Dan LeFevour would make them pay the rest of the day. UCLA marched down the field on the strength of a few big Kahlil Bell runs but eventually settled for a 46 yard Kai Forbath field goal: 3-0 UCLA. LeFevour found his groove on the next CMU drive and led his team down the field for the score. He connected with Pitts on a 14 yard pass: 7-3 CMU. Two plays later Ben Olson hit Dominique Johnson on a 10 yard out which led to a 70 yard TD score after Johnson broke a tackle and outran two Chippewas defenders into the end zone: 10-7 UCLA at the end of the first quarter.

LeFevour struck quickly in the second quarter as he threw his second TD pass of the day; this time to Anderson for a 14 yard score: 14-10 CMU. With 1:53 remaining in the half Ben Olson found Terrence Austin who used his speed to blow by the defense for a 20 yard TD pass: 17-14 UCLA. Olson found the ball in his hands again after a Shawn Oatis interception and the result would once again be a TD; this time just for the wrong team. Central Michigan corner Agneu intercepted a Ben Olson pass and took it 69 yards to the house. Olson finished the first half 11-26 with two interceptions. The score at the end of the half: 21-17 CMU.

Terrence Austin opened up the second half with a bang for UCLA after a disappointing finish to the first half. Austin took the kickoff 103 yards for a score to give UCLA a 24-21 lead with 6:46 remaining in the third quarter. CMU then put together two strong drives which ended in field goals to take a 27-24 lead with 2:48 remaining in the third quarter. Olson reacted well to his poor first half by going 10-11 in the second half with another TD. That TD was to FB Tobi Umodu which made the score 31-27 UCLA after three quarters.

CMU started the fourth quarter by marching down quickly to UCLA's 15 yard line. As they were looking to take the lead freshmen cornerback Glenn Love had other plans. He picked off one of two LeFevour incomplete passes (both being INTs) with 5:13 left in the game which put UCLA in great position to take control of the game. Kahlil Bell made sure they did just that as he helped UCLA not just get down into scoring position but milk precious seconds off the clock. With under two minutes remaining in the game the Bruins faced a 4th and 1 from the Chippewas 17 yard line. Do they go for it and seal the win or kick the field goal and take a 7 point lead? They eventually decided to kick the field goal and Forbath connected on his second field goal of the game; this time from 27 yards out. The score: 34-27 UCLA with 1:43 remaining. This gave LeFevour way too much time as he led his team down the field and connected for the second time with receiver Pitts to tie the game with 43 seconds left. 34-34, overtime here we come.

UCLA won the coin toss and elected to play defense first. The defense showed up huge in OT, especially Aaron Ware. Ware was being user-controlled the entire game and finished with 10 tackles and 3 tackles for loss. None of those tackles were bigger than the one he made on CMU RB Ontario Sneed on a 3rd and 16 play. Sneed caught a pass out of the backfield and made two Bruin defenders miss. Sneed only had one defender between him and the goal line: Ware. Ware made a huge play that not only prevented a score but prevented a first down. CMU had to settle for the field goal and took a 37-34 lead.

UCLA's first play of overtime was an option run with speedy redshirt freshmen Chris Forcier pitching to Bell for a 15 yard game. Forcier played well throughout in spot action going 3/3 for 33 yards. He also had 5 rushes for 17 yards. This opening play deflated CMU's defense as they didn't put up much of a fight; two plays later Bell punched the ball in from 3 yards out. Final score: 40-37 UCLA.

Ben Olson finished the game 21/37 for 266 yards, 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Kahlil Bell ran consistently well and he finished with 90 yards on 16 attempts with 1 TD. He also had 6 receptions for 54 yards. Ware anchored the defense throughout the entire game but CB Hester was the leading tackler with 11 because of LeFevours 35/37 day which saw the UCLA secondary get lit up for 408 yards. The only positive is that the defense really shut down LeFevour and Sneed's feet as CMU had negative 8 rushing yards. Bring on the Volunteers!