UCLA Football: Bruins line up in super I-formation against Memphis (Photo)

Early in the first quarter against Memphis, the UCLA Bruins lined up in an odd, super I-formation before running an offensive play.

The UCLA football program made an uncharacteristic trip east to face American Athletic Conference opponent Memphis in Week 3, and the early kickoff (11 a.m. Central, 9 a.m. Pacific) proved troublesome.

UCLA was forced to punt after a six-play opening drive, and then allowed a quick two-play, 91-yard touchdown drive to the Tigers that included an 8-yard run and a two-yard TD pass from Riley Ferguson to Joey Magnifico after a pass interference penalty. The Bruins then took a step to confuse their hosts on the next offensive drive.

Following a Bolu Olorunfunmi three-yard loss on second down, UCLA broke the huddle for a 3^rd-and-5 play by lining up in an extreme I-formation. Nine Bruins lined up directly behind the center as quarterback Josh Rosen offered direction.

The lineup was intended to disguise their true intentions, forcing Memphis to scramble to line up defensively once the Bruins eventually shifted into a more traditional formation.

Nevertheless, it didn’t work. Rosen’s pass attempt intended for Jordan Lasley fell incomplete and UCLA was forced to punt.

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This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this kind of pre-snap formation. Michigan made news last season under Jim Harbaugh for coming out of the huddle and lining up in a similar fashion before shifting into a more traditional formation.

Following the UCLA punt, the Bruins defense came to life and forced a three-and-out, setting up a short field for UCLA to tie the score with a five-play, 50-yard touchdown drive, which culminated with a Jalen Starks seven-yard TD run.

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The Bruins also picked off a Ferguson pass attempt on the ensuing drive. Though the UCLA offense fumbled the ball away on the first play afterward, the defense responded with a second consecutive three-and-out to give the ball back to UCLA for the final drive of the first quarter.