UCLA’s trip to face San Diego State in Week 2 comes with a few clear pressure points, and the Bruins’ path to 2-0 runs through how they handle them.
The biggest one is simple: slow down Lucky Sutton. San Diego State’s main offensive weapon was busy in the Aztecs’ 53-20 win over Portland State, where he logged 18 carries for 58 yards and three touchdowns. He should see that kind of workload again, maybe even more, and if UCLA can keep him from settling in, it takes away the kind of ground game that can make this matchup uncomfortable for the Bruins.
That concern is tied directly to UCLA’s run defense. The Bruins allowed 119 yards against Cal, which is respectable on paper, but there were still enough moments where drives got moving and Adam Mohammed found space. If Sutton starts stacking positive runs, that could become a problem quickly.
The other defensive test comes when San Diego State asks Jayden Denegal to throw. He wasn’t overwhelming in Week 1, finishing 12-for-17 for 137 yards with two touchdowns and an interception against Portland State. UCLA’s best answer is to make that pocket messy, and edge rusher Sahir West looks like the guy to watch after posting five tackles, one sack and one tackle for loss against Cal.
That pass rush matters because it can force Denegal into rushed decisions and open the door for turnovers. UCLA already showed last week how valuable those takeaways can be, and the Bruins will want to keep that trend going.
On the other side of the ball, the game may come down to something even more obvious: whether UCLA can keep leaning on its rushing attack. That ground game carried the Bruins against Cal, and it should be front and center again against the Aztecs.
Anthony Woods and Wayne Knight each got eight carries in the opener, and that usage looks likely to hold. Jaivian Thomas should also be worked into the mix. As for Nico Iamaleava, he figures to take a backseat as a runner here, with Bob Chesney and Co. likely not eager to expose him to unnecessary injury risk before conference play begins.
In Other News...
UCLA Has One Lingering Injury Concern Entering San Diego State
UCLA came out of its Week One win over Cal with a few bumps and bruises, but the overall injury picture looks manageable as the Bruins turn their attention to San Diego State. Starting quarterback Iamaleava was hurt during the game, though postgame updates indicated he has been cleared to keep going, and receiver Mizell is also set to be back for the next matchup.
The one situation the Bruins are still watching closely is Tao Johnson, whose recovery remains a little murkier as the staff monitors how he responds in the coming days. If Johnson is unable to go, TaShawn James is the next man up, giving UCLA a ready fallback even as the final call on Johnson hangs over the lead-up to kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Heads Into Week 2 With A Few Usage Questions Fans Noticed
UCLAs season opener offered a familiar early-season snapshot: plenty of bodies got work, the rotation was broad, and the offense made a point of spreading the ball around. Seven different receivers were targeted in Week 1, while the Bruins also mixed and matched defensively, with Malik Hartford and Tao Johnson starting ahead of Martin, who logged only 11 snaps.
The part worth watching now is how the staff sorts out the smaller usage decisions as the season settles in. Phifer and Loftin were on the field a similar amount at tight end but were barely involved in the passing game, Brian Rowe Jr. flashed early before fading in the second half, and those details can say as much about a depth chart as the snap counts themselves. Through one game, the Bruins have shown they trust their rotation, but the next few weeks should tell a lot about which pieces are getting a real role and which ones are still waiting for theirs. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Faces A Run Defense Test Bruins Fans Can't Ignore
UCLA got the season off to a clean start by beating Cal, but the next test looks a lot more grounded. San Diego State comes to Week Two with an offense built around the run, and that means the Bruins defense will have to be sharper at the point of attack if it wants to keep building early momentum under coach Bob Chesney.
The matchup is especially tricky because the Aztecs have leaned hard into the ground game to open the year, making this the kind of assignment that can expose any missed fits or weak tackling. For UCLA, the task is less about chasing splash plays and more about proving it can control a physical opponent for four quarters, the sort of challenge Bruins fans will be watching closely. [Read more 🡒]