Mike Johnson was named the interim head coach for the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl after Neuheisel was fired.

On November 25, 2011, with Colorado's defeat of Utah, the Bruins were declared the South Division champions.

The season concluded with a loss to Illinois, 20–14, in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl and completed a 6–8 overall record (5–4 in the Pac-12).

The radio broadcast team members on flagship station KLAC-AM 570 were Chris Roberts, play-by-play; Matt Stevens, analyst; and Wayne Cook, sidelines.

The Spartans' Brandon Rutley provided the highlight of the game with a 65-yard run in the third quarter to tie the score, 17–17.

1st Quarter scoring: UCLA – Johnathan Franklin 1-yard run (Kip Smith kick).

First Quarter scoring: OSU – Trevor Romaine 25-yard field goal; UCLA – Taylor Embree 22-yard pass from Richard Brehaut (Jeff Locke kick) Second Quarter scoring: UCLA – Brehaut 5-yard run (Locke kick); UCLA – Jordon James 4-yard run (Locke kick); OSU – Jordan Poyer 85-yard punt return (Romaine kick) Third Quarter scoring: OSU – Romaine 30-yard field goal; OSU – Jordan Bishop 45-yard pass from Sean Mannion (Two-point pass conversion failed) Fourth Quarter scoring: UCLA – Anthony Barr 1-yard run (PAT blocked) UCLA leads Stanford 45–33–3 in a series that dates back to 1925.

First Quarter scoring: WSU – Andrew Furney 21-yard field goal Second Quarter scoring: WSU – Furney 26-yard field goal; UCLA – Derrick Coleman 1-yard run (Tyler Gonzalez Kick); WSU – Furney 21-yard field goal Third Quarter scoring: UCLA – Coleman 1-yard run (Gonzalez Kick); WSU – Jared Karstetter 8-yard pass from Marshall Lobbestael (Furney kick) Fourth Quarter scoring: WSU – Rickey Galvin 21-yard pass from Lobbestael (PAT blocked); UCLA – Josh Smith 9-yard pass from Kevin Prince (Two-point conversion failed); WSU – Furney 47-yard field goal; UCLA – Shaquelle Evans 7-yard pass from Prince (Prince pass to Nelson Rosario two-point conversion) at Arizona Stadium • Tucson, Arizona