There’s plenty of buzz around UCLA football heading into this season, and Bob Chesney’s rebuilt roster has given Bruins fans a lot to feel good about. Week One can’t arrive fast enough.
At the center of it all is Nico Iamaleava. He belongs near the top of any conversation about this team because what he does will likely shape where UCLA lands when the season is over. The difference could be huge - from a 4-8 team to an 8-4 team.
Chesney has surrounded Iamaleava with more talent than he had before, especially compared with what he was working with last season at UCLA. That alone makes it hard to imagine his production staying the same.
If he’s healthy, Iamaleava brings arm talent, mobility, and leadership that can push the Bruins in the right direction. The Big Ten won’t make anything easy, but if he sets a strong base early, UCLA could be in position to do something meaningful.
On the ground, Wayne Knight looks like another major piece. The James Madison transfer rushed for more than 1,300 yards last season, and he arrives with both experience and familiarity with the staff. That should help him settle in quickly.
Knight may not carry the same workload he had with the Dukes, but he should still be a central part of the offense. Chesney is likely to lean run-first, and that could come through a rotation of backs. With Jaivian Thomas and Anthony Woods also in the room, UCLA should be able to keep fresh legs on the field all game, while Knight likely gets the biggest share of the snaps.
Then there’s the defense, where Sahir West is the name to know. Another James Madison transfer, West is expected to start off the edge for the Bruins.
There has been some skepticism around him this offseason, but West could end up being the most important player on the defense and maybe on the entire team. He’s set to be the centerpiece of that unit, and his ability should make him one of the leaders on that side of the ball.
In Other News...
UCLA's Top Commit Is Back With A Different Mindset Now
JuJu Johnsons long road back finally reached a game night again, and the timing made it feel even bigger. The five-star UCLA football commit was back in action for the first time since 2024 after dealing with a foot injury and a lengthy rehab process, a stretch that tested him in more ways than one. He even marked his 18th birthday on the same night, a fitting reminder that this return was about more than just getting cleared to play.
For UCLA, the appeal has always been obvious with Johnsons versatility, since he is expected to line up primarily at defensive back while also getting some offensive snaps. What stands out now is the perspective he says he picked up during the recovery process. Johnson has talked about how physically and mentally demanding the setback was, and how much more he understands the mental side of football after spending so much time away from the field. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Still Has One Offensive Question That Could Define Week One
UCLAs limited public practices have made this preseason feel a little like a guessing game, especially on offense, where the Bruins still are sorting through a few key roles before Week One. The receiver picture is the clearest place to start, with Landon Ellis, Brian Rowe Jr. and Mikey Matthews emerging as the leading candidates to be the top target, and Ellis and Matthews getting the edge thanks to their talent and existing rapport with the quarterback.
The running back room has its own depth chart questions, with Wayne Knight, Jaivian Thomas and Anthony Woods all in the mix, while the defense is leaning on transfers Sammy Omosigho and Trent Hendrick to help stabilize the linebacking corps. For UCLA, the bigger concern is not whether options exist, but which combination gives the offense the most reliable answer when the real games start and the first snaps carry a little more weight. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA's 2026 Season Will Say Everything About Bob Chesney
Bob Chesney has wasted little time putting his stamp on UCLA football, and the overhaul is as sweeping as it gets. More than 40 transfers are in the mix, along with roughly 20 freshmen, while several members of his James Madison staff have followed him to Westwood to give the program some familiar structure during the transition.
The real measure comes in 2026, when the Bruins will find out whether that kind of roster churn and staff continuity can translate into something more durable in the Big Ten. For UCLA, the season is less about simple rebuilding than about whether Chesneys model can hold up against a league where depth, physicality and week-to-week stability tend to expose even the most ambitious reset. [Read more 🡒]