The No. 9 UCLA Bruins have done nothing but win - and cover - all season, and they’ll try to keep both streaks alive Friday night when Illinois comes to town.
UCLA is 9-0 and has cashed in against the spread in every one of those victories. The latest was a 34-20 road win at Minnesota last week, another step in a perfect run that has held together even after the Bruins lost Nico Iamaleava to a season-ending knee injury on Oct. 10.
That setback pushed Ty Dieffenbach into the starting role, and he’s handled it well enough to keep UCLA unbeaten. He helped the Bruins get past Oregon in his first game after taking over, and his numbers have steadily built from there. In five games, Dieffenbach has thrown for 986 yards, completed 67 of 116 passes for a 57.8% rate, and posted six touchdowns against two interceptions.
His best outing came last week, even with the box score looking a little uneven at first glance. He finished 8 of 16 passing, but those completions went for 303 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception.
He also added 27 yards on six carries. The senior’s confidence appears to be growing, and UCLA will need that to continue against an Illinois defense that has been playing better football lately.
Illinois arrives with momentum of its own after stumbling out of the gate at 2-3. The Fighting Illini have since ripped off four straight wins, highlighted by an upset of Nebraska last Friday night.
They’ve also shown they can travel. In three road games, Illinois beat Maryland, upset Michigan State and covered against Ohio State. That makes this a more interesting test than the records might suggest.
Still, UCLA has been a different team at home. The Bruins have covered in all five of their home wins, including their last three at home by scores of 27-0, 28-10 and 17-7. Their defense has been the driving force, and that side of the ball is expected to be the difference again here.
UCLA’s offense has started to find more rhythm recently, but the real edge remains the Bruins’ ability to clamp down defensively. With that in mind, the pick is UCLA as a home favorite once more.
In Other News...
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 🡒]
UCLAs Hot Start Is Being Driven By A Practice Battle Fans Will Love
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 🡒]
UCLAs Ranking Surge Just Changed The Ceiling For These Bruins
A week into the season, UCLA has already changed the conversation around its ceiling. The Bruins jumped from No. 22 to No. 9 in the AP poll after knocking off No. 5 Arizona, and they now own the only victory over a top-five team this season. Add in the fact that they are averaging the ninth-most points among high-major teams, and the early profile looks a lot different than it did when the year began.
For a team still trying to establish its place nationally, the ranking surge matters beyond bragging rights. It gives UCLA a stronger platform in the NCAA Tournament picture and a little more room to dream about where this season can go if the offense keeps producing and the rsum keeps building. The bigger question now is whether the Bruins can turn one statement win into the kind of consistency that keeps their seed climbing. [Read more 🡒]