UCLA’s rise in the latest College Football Playoff rankings changed the picture in a big way.
After opening at No. 8 in the committee’s first release, the Bruins jumped to No. 4 when the new rankings came out today, matching their AP spot and putting them in a far stronger position than they had a week ago.
That move matters for more than bragging rights. It gives UCLA a much clearer path to the playoff even if the Bruins stumble a couple of times late.
The committee had plenty of questions about the Bruins’ schedule, but chair Hunter Yurachek pointed to the win over Minnesota as a major reason for the climb. The Gophers had not lost at home in Big Ten play in a few years, and they also had quality wins over Iowa and Michigan, along with an overtime loss at Indiana the week before.
UCLA also got credit for handling the backup quarterback situation. Ty Dieffenbach has steadied things, and his 300-plus-yard showing against Minnesota helped ease concerns. Those two deep balls to Aiden Mizell likely made an impression, too.
The top of the rankings changed in several places. Georgia moved into the No. 1 spot after rolling past Ole Miss and with previous No.
1 Miami losing. Miami dropped to No. 7, landing two spots behind Notre Dame, which beat the Hurricanes.
Utah climbed to No. 2 after its Holy War win over new No. 10 BYU, while Alabama rose to No. 3 after a road win at LSU.
The biggest slide belonged to Indiana. The Hoosiers did not play last week, but they still fell from No. 4 to No.
- UCLA’s road win over Minnesota by multiple scores appears to have helped the Bruins pass them.
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti also took some shots at the committee during his bye-week press conference, and while that may not have changed anything, it certainly adds some spice to the situation. If Indiana beats Southern Cal at home this week, though, the whole thing could quickly fade.
There were other notable movers further down the list. Oregon made one of the biggest jumps, climbing to No. 16 after its road win over Ohio State and putting itself within reach of the lower end of the playoff field.
The Ducks have a manageable finish, and if UCLA and Oklahoma State keep winning, their losses will look more understandable. Southern Cal staying hot and Ohio State sorting itself out would also help Oregon’s case.
Just as important, Oregon is the highest-ranked three-loss team, which could matter if more three-loss teams start crowding the SEC side of the bracket.
Wake Forest sits at No. 13 and remains in the mix, while Houston at No. 14 drew attention for being ranked that high despite not having a single good win.
For UCLA, the big takeaway is simple: the Bruins have a little more room to breathe. Last week, the concern was that they might need to run the table just to get in.
Now, the path looks less rigid. Winning out would still make life easier, but the Bruins no longer look like a team that has to be perfect to stay in the hunt.
And if the season ended today, the reward would be a first-round bye into the second round at one of the old NY6 bowl sites - Fiesta, Cotton, Peach, or Rose. The top four teams choose in order, and Georgia would likely take the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.
Utah would be a fascinating call, but the Fiesta seems like the likeliest fit because of its proximity to the fan base. That would leave Alabama choosing between the Cotton and Rose, and while the Crimson Tide might want another shot at the Rose Bowl, Dallas feels like the more likely pick.
That could leave UCLA opening the playoff at the Rose Bowl on January 1.
That would be hard to script any better.
For now, though, the Bruins still have work to do. They host Illinois on Friday, and the next step is simple: keep winning.
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UCLA's CFP Push Is Fueling An Uncomfortable Rose Bowl Debate
UCLAs unbeaten start has put the Bruins back into the College Football Playoff conversation, but it has also put an old problem right back in the spotlight. Troy Aikman voiced concern about the sparse crowds at UCLA games, and coach Bob Chesney has acknowledged the challenge, saying the program needs stronger fan engagement on campus as the season builds toward bigger stakes.
The issue was hard to ignore at the Bruins last home game, when attendance dipped to a season-low 24,611. With Illinois, Michigan and USC still ahead, UCLA has a chance to keep turning its on-field momentum into something louder in the stands, but the gap between the teams results and its home atmosphere remains an uncomfortable part of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
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UCLAs fast start against Minnesota had plenty of game-day highlights, but the Bruins energy has been building long before kickoff. In the 34-20 win, Ty Dieffenbach turned in a career-best passing performance and Aidan Mizell delivered the kind of explosive plays that can change a game in a hurry, connecting on a pair of long touchdowns that stretched the field and tilted the momentum. On the other side of the ball, Scooter Jackson helped steady things with an interception, giving UCLA another reminder that its playmakers are showing up on both sides.
Bob Chesney has pointed to the work behind the scenes as a big reason the Bruins are carrying that edge onto the field. The practices have been competitive, with players like Mizell and Jackson pushing each other in ways that have sharpened the roster and raised the standard. For a team trying to turn early success into something more durable, that sort of internal battle may be just as important as the scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Puts Its Perfect Season In Ty Dieffenbachs Hands
UCLA heads into its matchup with Illinois carrying a spotless 9-0 record and a growing sense that this stretch could tell us plenty about how far the Bruins can go. The No. 9 team in the country has been steady enough to keep winning while navigating a quarterback change, and now it gets a home test against an Illini team that has found its footing after a rough start and has won four in a row.
Ty Dieffenbach is the latest reason for confidence in Westwood, stepping into the starting role after Nico Iamaleavas injury and handling the job well in recent games. Illinois arrives with momentum and enough confidence to make this more than a routine tune-up, which is why the betting market has kept a close eye on it. For UCLA, the bigger question is whether the unbeaten run can keep rolling with Dieffenbach steering the offense through another meaningful conference-style test. [Read more 🡒]