Colorado coach Karl Dorrell, mixing it up once again at quarterback, started not-so lucky No. 7, true freshman Owen McCown as UCLA barreled through the Buffs, winning 45-17 on Saturday at Folsom Field.

In his first start — the earliest start in a season by any true freshman QB in CU history — some of McCown’s drives were not the most seamless, but he provided Colorado’s early offensive spark in the first half scoring a rushing touchdown and he finished the game by going 26 for 42 for 258 yards passing with another score through the air.

The offense effectively utilized its receivers in the first half as McCown connected on big throws to Jordyn Tyson for 31 yards and Daniel Arias for 42 that brought the Buffs (0-4, 0-1 Pac-12) back into the red zone with a toss to Brady Russell after a 10-yard offensive holding penalty.

But Colorado's frustrating offensive struggles were still apparent as the red zone remained a foreign land for the Buffs coming out of the half. On the other side of the ball, the defense could not make a stop as UCLA scored on seven out of its 12 drives.

Josh Chandler-Semedo crippled one of the Bruins’ drives, sacking QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson for a loss of 9 yards. Quinn Perry also had a stop on fourth-and-2. He experienced a brief injury after the play but came back into the game.

Russell hopped off the field on one leg and didn’t return for the rest of the game.

First Quarter

1st Q, 6:18, UCLA: Matt Sykes 24-yard reception (Nicholas Barr-Mira PAT), 7-0

1st Q, 00:46, UCLA: Zach Charbonnet 35-yard rush (Nicholas Barr-Mira PAT), 14-0

Second Quarter

2nd Q, 12:12, Colorado: Cole Becker 35-yard field goal, 14-3

2nd Q, 9:00, UCLA: Zach Charbonnet 13-yard rush (Nicholas Barr-Mira PAT), 21-3

2nd Q, 00:19, Colorado: Owen McCown 2-yard rush (Nicholas Barr-Mira PAT), 21-10

Third Quarter

3rd Q, 13:23, UCLA: Zach Charbonnet 46-yard rush (Nicholas Barr-Mira PAT), 28-10

3rd Q, 13:23, UCLA: Nicholas Barr-Mira 44-yard field goal, 31-10

3rd Q, 13:23, UCLA: Colson Yankoff 2-yard reception (Nicholas Barr-Mira PAT), 38-10

Fourth Quarter

4th Q, 14:56, UCLA: Colson Yankoff 3-yard reception (Joseph Firebaugh Jr. PAT), 45-10

4th Q, 2:59, Colorado: Jordyn Tyson 8-yard reception (Cole Becker PAT), 45-17

QB Owen McCown

McCown created positive plays with the offense as he capitalized in the pass game and run game with a 2-yard touchdown rush at the end of the second quarter. McCown also threw a quality garbage-time touchdown pass to true freshman Jordyn Tyson.

However, his offensive energy immediately diminished once the third quarter started. He threw an interception that then developed into a Bruins score. The Buffs began to deflate, as they often do, in the second half.

LB Josh Chandler-Semedo

Chandler-Semedo had two big stops, including a QB sack for a 9-yard loss in the third quarter and another tackle for loss in the first. He had only 5 total tackles for the day, but he made the biggest impact.

This matchup was quickly out of the Buffs’ reach as UCLA dominated in the third quarter, scoring two more touchdowns and a field goal. Going into the fourth, the Buffs were down 28 points.

The game took an unfortunate turn for CU after halftime and the Bruins had them beat.

Colorado’s final drive of the second quarter was a chaotic one due to the penalties on both the offense and the Bruins defense. Charlie Offerdahl crossed the plane, but his potential CU touchdown was called back due to a holding call.

UCLA was offside and brought the Buffs to the 2-yard line before McCown took it home.

A positive start for the offense in the first half turned south as Colorado once again struggled to find the end zone after halftime.

The defense put Colorado further in the trenches as the Bruins offense made it to the end zone six times while totaling 515 yards. Not surprisingly, the worst rush defense in the country was again an issue as UCLA rushed for 249 yards.

A dismal start to the season continues. The Buffs are not only 0-4 but they're a non-competitive 0-4, losing by an average of 31.5 points and showing few signs of progress. McCown actually managed to move the offense, which was a change of pace, but otherwise this was just more of the same for a Colorado squad that has staked its claim as the worst Power 5 team in the country this season.

Passing

Owen McCown: 26 of 42 for 258 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Rushing

Charlie Offerdahl: 14 carries for 47 yards

Anthony Hankerson: 7 carries for 25 yards

Deion Smith: 2 carries for 16 yards

Brady Russell: 1 carry for 1 yard

Maurice Bell: 1 carry for -6 yards

Owen McCown: 9 carries for -32, 1 TD

Receiving

Daniel Arias: 4 catches for 82 yards

Jordyn Tyson: 2 catches for 39 yards, 1 TD

Brady Russell: 4 catches for 33 yards

R.J. Sneed: 3 catches for 29 yards

Erik Olsen: 2 catches for 17 yards

Montana Lemonious-Craig: 1 catch for 9 yards

Ty Robinson: 1 catch for 9 yards

Deion Smith: 2 catches for 6 yards

Anthony Hankerson: 1 catch for 4 yards

Jack Hestera: 1 catch for 4 yards

Sacks

Josh Chandler-Semedo: 1 sack

Tackles for loss

Josh Chandler-Semedo: 2 tackles for loss