Bob Chesney gets his first home test at UCLA on Saturday, and the Bruins won’t have to wait long for a real measuring stick. San Diego State is making the 140-mile trip north to Pasadena, bringing a defense-heavy reputation and a 1-0 start into Week 2.
UCLA opened Chesney’s tenure with a 45-24 win at Cal, and the Bruins put the game away with a 21-point fourth quarter. That finish came with a little drama, though, when quarterback Nico Iamaleava was seen hobbling to the sideline after a scramble.
Chesney said Monday that the concern didn’t linger.
"That was something he worked through and by the end of the game, he was good to go," Chesney said during his Monday media availability. "Seeing him (on Sunday) and again (Monday), everything looks really good."
If Iamaleava is indeed fine, UCLA will try to keep the offense rolling after piling up 461 yards last week. That kind of production will be a fresh challenge for a San Diego State program that has long built its identity on defense.
The Aztecs opened with a 53-20 win over FCS opponent Portland State, shaking off a slow start before putting up 22 points in the second quarter. They also showed some bite on defense, holding the Vikings to 3.2 yards per rushing attempt while Mike Lindsay and Isaiah Green each picked off a pass.
San Diego State’s defensive profile last year was as stingy as it gets, finishing sixth in the nation by allowing 15.4 points per game in 2025. This season’s group has some new pieces, including transfer linebacker Sione Hala, who had 10 tackles in Week 1. The defense is now run by first-year coordinator Demetrius Sumler, who had been the team’s cornerbacks coach and passing-game coordinator in 2025.
That unit will have its hands full with UCLA’s ground game, which averaged 8.7 yards per carry at Cal. And Lewis knows exactly what kind of quarterback he’s preparing for after watching Chesney’s offense last season at James Madison.
The Aztecs coach pointed to the way Chesney used Alonza Barnett III, calling him a "dynamic, dual-threat quarterback."
"Nico is that and then some," Lewis said. "They're doing some things to really accentuate his ability."
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 🡒]