STEPHEN HAWKINS, AP Sports Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — UCLA backup quarterback Jerry Neuheisel threw two touchdown passes, including a 33-yarder to Jordan Payton with 3 minutes left, and the No. 12 Bruins avoided an upset with a 20-17 win over Texas on Saturday night.
The go-ahead score for the Bruins (3-0) came on the first play after Ishmael Adams’ 58-yard punt return when he was helped by a crushing open-field block.
Neuheisel completed 23 of 30 passes for 178 yards after Brett Hundley injured his left elbow in the first quarter.
Texas (1-2), which started the game with a big blunder, had gone ahead when Tyrone Swoopes hit John Harris for an 8-yard TD with 5:13 left. The Longhorns then forced a fumble, but went three-and-out before punting the ball to Adams.
Swoopes threw for 196 yards and two touchdowns in his second start for concussion-plagued David Ash.