PASADENA — UCLA’s offense was worth the price of admission in its Big Ten opener against Purdue, powering the Bruins to their first conference win under Bob Chesney.

The Bruins (3-0, 1-0 Big Ten) dominated through the air and on the ground in their 52-38 victory over Purdue (1-2, 0-1).

Although the Bruins’ offense took care of business, the same wasn’t true for the defense. UCLA struggled to get the Boilermakers off the field as chunk plays and fourth-down conversions kept Purdue in the game.

The Boilermakers held a four-point lead early in the third quarter, but the Bruins quickly rallied, outscoring Purdue 28-17 in the second half to pull away.

Nico Iamaleava had his best game of the season, completing 19 of 31 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns. The senior added seven carries for 55 yards.

“Last week it wasn’t his greatest game,” UCLA coach Bob Chesney said. “We watch him go out here today and he was near perfect for a stretch at the beginning of the game. Finding all kinds of different receivers and being able to carry the ball himself a little bit. What a warrior because he was kinda nicked up out there in moments and he wouldn’t come out the game.”

As a team, the Bruins rushed for 369 yards. Wayne Knight led the way in the backfield, finishing with 18 carries for 177 yards and two touchdowns.

“This game, the biggest test for us was putting it all together. I think we all stood up to that challenge,” Knight said.

The Bruins’ passing game, which has mostly been an afterthought through the first two games, shined in the first half.

Iamaleava tossed his first touchdown pass of the year to cap the Bruins’ opening possession. He found Semaj Morgan for a 20-yard touchdown to give UCLA an early 7-0 lead.

Purdue had a lightning-quick response. On its first play from scrimmage, Ryan Browne hit Xavier Townsend on a drag route, and Townsend did the rest on a 75-yard touchdown to tie the game.

Morgan hauled in his second touchdown of the night when Iamaleava found him for a 27-yard score to put the Bruins back on top 14-7.

The Boilermakers appeared headed for another promising drive, but two plays into the possession, UCLA forced its first turnover of the game. Linebacker Sammy Omosigho forced a fumble inside Purdue territory, giving the Bruins’ offense a short field to work with.

It was the first of two forced fumbles by Omosigho, bringing his season total to four. The Oklahoma transfer has been a pivotal part of the Bruins’ turnaround under defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler.

Omosigho said punching the ball out was something the defense keyed in on during practice.

“That was a big emphasis throughout the week, just trying to punch the ball out. Creating another turnover, creating another opportunity for the offense,” Omosigho said. “That’s my goal every week and every day.”

On the ensuing possession, Knight scored his seventh touchdown of the season on a 6-yard run to give the Bruins a two-score lead.

Purdue scored a pair of touchdowns to tie the game at 21 late in the half.

Just before halftime, Mateen Bhaghani made a 34-yard field goal to send the Bruins into the break with a 24-21 lead.

On the opening possession of the second half, Purdue drove down the field in five plays to take its first lead of the game. The Boilermakers’ lead did not last long, as Anthony Woods rumbled for a 16-yard touchdown on the following possession to put UCLA back up 31-28.

Knight found the end zone again on a tough 7-yard run to give the Bruins a 10-point lead.

Purdue cut UCLA’s lead to seven with a field goal before, for the second game in a row, a third Bruins running back found the end zone. Jaivian Thomas scored on a 17-yard touchdown run to put UCLA back up by double digits.

The Boilermakers did not go away, scoring on a 1-yard run by Ijeboi to make it 45-38 with 12:38 left in the game.

Landon Ellis caught his first touchdown in a UCLA uniform late in the fourth quarter. Iamaleava found Ellis on a 6-yard touchdown pass to put the game away.

UCLA will travel to Maryland next week in its first road game outside of California as it looks to go 4-0 for the first time since 2022.