UCLA’s home opener brings San Diego State to town, and the Bruins will be trying to keep their start clean at 2-0 in Bob Chesney’s first season. The Aztecs have enough talent to punish any team that gets careless, so this one has the feel of a game UCLA can’t afford to drift through.
The first name to watch is senior quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who still has plenty to prove. His previous season at UCLA was underwhelming, though the situation around him made life difficult. A midseason coaching change and a shortage of elite weapons didn’t exactly set him up for easy success.
His opening performance against Cal was solid, but not spotless. Iamaleava finished 14-for-22 for 184 yards and added a touchdown on the ground. He may also be without Landon Ellis against SDSU, which makes his command of the offense even more worth tracking as he faces a team that looks more manageable on paper than some of what’s ahead.
Anthony Woods is another player who deserves a close look after breaking out in Week One. Against Cal, he ripped off 118 rushing yards on just eight carries, and that kind of production earns attention fast. He should see a similar workload against the Aztecs, with Wayne Knight and Jaivian Thomas also set to get their share of snaps in the backfield.
That backfield rotation brings its own intrigue. Thomas, in particular, will be worth monitoring to see whether he can separate himself as RB1 or whether someone else pushes to the front of the pack.
On defense, James Madison transfer Sahir West is the player who could tilt the game if he starts showing more of what he can do. He wasn’t quiet in the opener against Cal, finishing with a sack and five tackles, but he still looked like someone with another gear to hit. The Bruins will need pressure on SDSU’s passing game, especially after forcing turnovers played such a big role last week, and West has the kind of talent that can wreck a game when he’s fully rolling.
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Nico Iamaleava Faces A Big UCLA Test As Pressure Builds
Nico Iamaleava is heading into a season that could shape his NFL Draft stock, and UCLA is already thinking carefully about how to put him in position to answer that challenge. Bob Chesneys approach for the upcoming game against San Diego State is expected to weigh the balance between giving Iamaleava enough passing chances to settle in and avoiding unnecessary quarterback runs, especially with injury concerns part of the equation.
The Bruins also have seen a useful sign from Iamaleavas demeanor, after he stayed composed following a red zone interception against Cal. For a player whose upside and scrutiny now travel together, those are the kinds of moments UCLA will be watching closely, because the test is no longer just about flashes - it is about how he handles the pressure that comes with being the guy. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Gets An Early Test Fans Can't Ignore
UCLAs home opener in Pasadena already has the feel of an early measuring-stick game, and San Diego State is making sure the Bruins know it. After opening with a win over Cal, UCLA gets a quick chance to see how its roster stacks up against a program that arrives with plenty of confidence and no interest in being treated like a warmup opponent.
Sean Lewis has been clear that his team believes it belongs in the conversation, even against a Bruins squad with the kind of talent and resources that usually draw the bigger headlines. For UCLA, the matchup is less about style points than proving the first win was a starting point and not the high-water mark, which is exactly what makes this one worth watching so early in the season. [Read more 🡒]
UCLAs San Diego State Outlook Comes With Two Intriguing Player Calls
Before UCLAs second game of the season against San Diego State, Jack and Connor both leaned the same way on the spread, seeing the Bruins as the better side to back in a matchup that should help clarify a few early-season questions. Their read came down to what each team showed in its first outing, along with the kind of upside UCLA can still tap if a few players begin to settle into rhythm.
The more interesting part was where they aimed their bold calls. Jack saw Aidan Mizell as a candidate to become a bigger part of the passing game, while Connor circled sophomore cornerback Osiris Gilbert as a defender capable of making a disruptive play. Those are the kinds of projections that can tell you as much about UCLAs ceiling as the final score, especially in a game where the Bruins are expected to control the conversation. [Read more 🡒]