UCLA heads into Saturday’s home matchup with Wisconsin carrying some real injury questions, and the availability report already points to a Bruin team that could be short-handed in a game with major implications for both sides.
The biggest blows are already clear. Mikey Matthews and Nico Iamaleava are expected to be unavailable, with Matthews ruled out for the season and Iamaleava likely in the same situation.
Tao Johnson is another notable loss, and that one stings for UCLA’s defense. Johnson has been dealing with injuries all season, missing the first couple of games after getting hurt on the opening drive against Cal, then landing back on the report this week.
That makes his return last week against Oregon even more frustrating in hindsight. Johnson got back on the field and turned in a solid outing, including one of UCLA’s takeaways with an interception. Now the Bruins have to move on without him again, at least for this week.
There are also a pair of players listed as questionable who could matter a great deal. Starting tackle Jordan Davis would be a major absence, especially with UCLA needing protection for its new starting quarterback. Davis has also been a force in the run game this season, which only raises the stakes if he can’t go.
Cornerback Rodrick Pleasant is another name to watch. With Johnson out, the secondary is already thinner, and losing Pleasant would put even more pressure on a defensive back group that has to deal with Wisconsin’s Colton Joseph and his athleticism.
The good news for UCLA is that the back end still has depth to lean on. Ta'Shawn James, Scooter Jackson, Dante Lovett, and DJ Barksdale are among the defenders who could play key roles if the Bruins are going to get past Wisconsin. On a Saturday where every healthy body matters, UCLA may need that depth from start to finish.
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The Bruins own situation makes the matchup even more interesting. An upset win over Oregon came at a steep cost, and the rest of the season now carries a different feel as UCLA tries to regroup while facing a tough Big Ten road ahead. For USC, the result in Madison could alter how dangerous the Bruins look when the teams cross paths, which is exactly the kind of detail the Trojans will be watching during their bye week. [Read more 🡒]
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Wisconsin brings the kind of defense that can make life difficult for any quarterback, let alone one trying to settle in against a tougher opponent. For UCLA, the challenge is less about style points than survival, and the margin for error figures to be thin if the Bruins cannot keep the ground game effective and the defense sharp. The bigger question hanging over this one is whether the offense can keep its rhythm when the opposition starts dictating the pace. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA's New QB Draws A Brutal Week 7 Test For Bruins Ground Game
Ty Dieffenbach is set to make his first start at quarterback in Week 7, and the timing does not exactly hand UCLA an easy runway. The Bruins are still leaning on a run-heavy approach, which means the offense will be asking a lot from a ground game that has to set the tone if Dieffenbach is going to settle in smoothly against Wisconsin.
The matchup puts even more pressure on Wayne Knight, UCLAs leading rusher and the most obvious way for the Bruins to keep the chains moving. Wisconsins defense has the kind of linebacking talent that can make life miserable in that sort of game, and UCLAs challenge will be finding enough answers up front to keep the debut from turning into a long afternoon. [Read more 🡒]