UCLA’s 5-0 start is showing up everywhere, including on the Associated Press midseason All-America teams.
The Bruins sit at No. 12 in the country after a stretch that has included wins over Cal, San Diego State, Purdue, Maryland and No. 13 Oregon.
That last one, the road win at Autzen Stadium, has helped make the case that Bob Chesney’s team is more than just a fast starter. The Bruins are carrying themselves like a team with real College Football Playoff ambitions.
The AP list also reveals something else: UCLA is popping up far more often than most people probably expected. While familiar powers such as Miami, Texas, Notre Dame and Georgia are well represented, the Bruins have made their own strong early-season statement.
No school has more first-team selections right now than UCLA, which has three.
Those picks went to running back Wayne Knight, linebacker Sammy Omosigho and defensive back Ta’Shawn James.
Knight, a senior, has become the engine of the offense and may matter even more moving forward with quarterback Nico Iamaleava likely to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. Knight has rushed 71 times for 548 yards and 10 touchdowns, and he has also added 11 catches for 11 yards and another score.
Omosigho has been a disruptive force in the middle of the defense. He ranks second on the team with 40 tackles, while also producing four forced fumbles and three sacks.
James has filled up the stat sheet in his own way. He is third on the team in tackles with 29, and he already has four interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, plus half a sack.
That trio is a big reason UCLA’s run has looked so convincing through five games.
The Bruins will get another chance to prove it Saturday night against Wisconsin. The Badgers are 4-1 and unranked, but they already own a notable win of their own after knocking off No. 13 Penn State in Happy Valley a few weeks ago.
In Other News...
UCLA's Undefeated Start Faces Its Toughest Test Yet
UCLAs unbeaten start is about to be measured in a different way, with Wisconsin coming to town for one of the more revealing games on the Bruins early schedule. The matchup carries extra weight because of the quarterback situation, and the Bruins are heading into it with Ty Dieffenbach in line to take over while the staff leans on a formula built around defense, field position and making life easier on the offense.
For UCLA to keep the momentum going, the emphasis is on forcing mistakes from Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph, then turning those chances into possessions the Bruins can control. That means getting help from playmakers such as TaShawn James and Sammy Omosigho on the back end and in the front seven, while also spreading the ball around so the attack is not overly dependent on Wayne Knight. It is the kind of game that can tell a lot about how sustainable this start really is. [Read more 🡒]
UCLAs Biggest Test Yet Just Got Even Tougher
UCLAs surprising rise under first-year coach Bob Chesney has already been one of the early stories of the season, with the Bruins reaching a 5-0 start even after losing starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava to injury. The offense has adjusted on the fly, and backup Ty Dieffenbach helped steady things in the recent win by managing the game cleanly once he stepped in.
The next challenge comes against Wisconsin, and the Bruins are still sorting through their quarterback plan as they get ready for one of their more demanding tests yet. Dieffenbach is in line to handle the job, which gives UCLA a chance to keep its momentum going while Chesneys staff continues to weigh its options behind center. [Read more 🡒]
UCLAs First Exhibition Could Answer Two Huge Rotation Questions
UCLA gets its first live look at the new roster on Oct. 21, when the Bruins face California Baptist University in an exhibition scrimmage that should start to clarify how Mick Cronin wants to sort out his eighth-year team. With the season still ahead, the matchup is less about the final score than about the early clues it can provide on who settles into the rotation and how the pieces fit together.
Among the bigger questions is how the bench will be shaped and which players emerge as central offensive options. Filip Jovic is among the names worth watching in that reserve conversation, while Eric Dailey Jr., Jaylen Petty and Nikola Kusturica are all in the mix as potential focal points. For a Bruins group still in the evaluation stage, this opener should offer the first real indication of where the coaching staff sees the most dependable roles taking shape. [Read more 🡒]