UCLA Football: Bruins Reportedly Not Starting Ethan Garbers

The Bruins are going with a different starter for the LA Bowl.

The UCLA Bruins are set to take on Boise State for the LA Bowl. The game could be the win that the team needs to inspire their confidence heading into the 2024 season as part of the Big Ten Conference. 

Though everyone had presumed that Ethan Garbers would be the starting QB for the bowl game, that might not be the case at all. James Williams revealed on X that Collin Schlee was taking snaps under starter Duke Clemens.

UCLA QB Collin Schlee is working with center Duke Clemens during warm ups. Schlee might start against Boise State tonight.

— James H. Williams covers UCLA football (@JHWreporter) December 16, 2023

Choosing Schlee over Garbers is certainly an odd choice, as Garbers had been doing a solid job as the starter. Coach Chip Kelly might also want to give Schlee some much-needed reps in the final game of the 2023 season. 

Garbers ended the season with 984 yards, 9 TDs, and 3 INTs. Schlee only logged 139 yards, 1 TD, and 2 INTs. 

The Bruins might just be offering up some trickery for the beginning of the game before putting in Garbers, or they might simply be favoring the carousel approach with Garbers, Schlee, Chase Griffin, and Luke Duncan.

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