No. 12 Washington back in action after loss hosting UCLA

UCLA (4-3, 2-2) at No. 12 Washington (6-1, 3-1 Pac-12), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)

Line: Washington by 17.

Series record: UCLA leads 40-30-2.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Washington is now firmly on the fringes of the College Football Playoff conversation after losing at Arizona State two weeks ago. The Huskies will play four of their final five regular season games at home and must look impressive in all of them — beginning with UCLA — to get back into contention. The Bruins continue to be a vexing team, turning in one of their better performances of the season in last week’s rout of Oregon after losing three of the previous four.

KEY MATCHUP

UCLA QB Josh Rosen vs. Washington’s secondary. A strength for Washington is now a major question. The Huskies lost starting CB Jordan Miller to a broken ankle late in the loss to Arizona State. Young standout Byron Murphy’s status is uncertain as he’s been out with a foot injury. The Huskies have experience in Myles Bryant and Austin Joyner, but very likely could be putting a true freshman or a converted running back out there against Rosen and one of the top passing offenses in the country.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

UCLA: WR Darren Andrews. The senior is fourth in the country with eight touchdown catches.

Washington: LT Andrew Kirkland or Luke Wattenberg. Kirkland was thrown into a difficult situation at Arizona State after standout left tackle Trey Adams went down with a season-ending knee injury.

FACTS & FIGURES

UCLA has won five of past six meetings with Washington, including last matchup in 2014 in Seattle. … UCLA’s run defense ranks last in the Pac-12 and last in the country giving up 303.4 yards per game on the ground; Washington has the No. 2 run defense in the country allowing 73 yards per game. … Washington QB Jake Browning had streak of TD pass in 20 straight games snapped in loss to Arizona State.

———

AP college football website: collegefootball.ap.org and www.Twitter.com/AP—Top25