Part 7/13:
The game plan’s shortcomings were highlighted by questionable play calls, especially in crucial moments. A notable example was a 4th-and-2 attempt in the final minutes—running a spread mesh concept that is effective against man coverage, but UCLA’s zone defense rendered the play ineffective. The decision to revisit a previously unsuccessful stretch quarterback power on 4th down, which had resulted in a negative yardage earlier, further exemplified a lack of adaptive strategy.