During the 1965 and 1966 seasons, Farr and Gary Beban were the core of a UCLA backfield dubbed the "dream backfield" in "Sports Illustrated". In 1965, Farr was the starting halfback for Tommy Prothro's UCLA Bruins team that compiled an 8–2–1 record, won the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) championship, defeated No. 1-ranked Michigan State in the 1966 Rose Bowl, and was ranked No. 4 in the final AP Poll. Farr totaled 1,001 yards from scrimmage (821 rushing and 180 receiving) and eight touchdowns. He ran 49 yards for a touchdown in an upset victory over No. 6-ranked USC in 1965, and his average of 6.7 yards per carry in 1965 led the AAWU and ranked second in the NCAA. At the end of the 1965 season, he was selected by the conference coaches as a first-team halfback on the 1965 All-Pacific Athletic Conference football team and by the United Press International to the All-West Coast football team.