How about that defense? Takeaways from UCLA’s win over Washington State

UCLA linebacker Gabriel Murphy closes in to sack Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward in the third quarter of the Bruins’ upset win Saturday at the Rose Bowl.Funny how a season’s complexion can change in a matter of hours.

On Saturday morning, UCLA was widely regarded as on its way to another unremarkable season. Unranked and unable to protect its freshman quarterback, the Bruins weren’t even sure how credible their defense was.

By sundown, the outlook had brightened like the sun radiating off the Rose Bowl’s seats. UCLA did a much better job of keeping Dante Moore upright during a 25-17 comeback victory over then-No. 13 Washington State that vaulted the Bruins back into the national…