UCLA has opened the season 3-0, but the deeper the Bruins go into conference play, the more the questions start to pile up.
There’s plenty to like about what UCLA has put on tape through three games. Still, the wins have come with a few warning signs attached, and the road ahead does not exactly offer much relief.
Health is one of the biggest concerns. Wide receiver Mikey Matthews has been ruled out for the season with a foot injury, and he is only one of several Bruins who have already missed time.
Landon Ellis has recently returned, while safety Tao Johnson remains a week-to-week decision and still has not played a full game for UCLA after leaving the Cal game early with an injury. Nico Iamaleava has also absorbed enough punishment to leave games at times.
The timing of UCLA’s bye week should help. After the Bruins travel to Maryland in Week Four, they will get a break before facing Oregon the following week, giving the team a chance to recover and reset.
Iamaleava is another major piece of the puzzle. He looked much better against Purdue in Week Three, and UCLA will need that level of play to hold steady as the schedule tightens.
At this point, the Bruins do not need him to carry the offense. The running backs have been doing enough that his job is more about control than volume.
For UCLA, that means Iamaleava has to keep the offense on schedule and trust the ground game instead of forcing things. He showed toughness and resilience against Purdue, and if he can keep producing that kind of performance, the Bruins have a chance to stay dangerous.
The other issue that stands out is how UCLA has started games. That was a problem heading into Week Three, and the Bruins did make real progress against Purdue by putting up 24 points in the first half. The flip side was that Purdue matched them with 21 in that same stretch.
That game also gave UCLA its most glaring defensive test so far. Purdue’s 38 points and 488 total yards are the most the Bruins have allowed this season, and if other Big Ten teams can generate that kind of production, UCLA could find itself in trouble.
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UCLA Suddenly Has A Receiver Question It Didn't Want
UCLAs receiving group took an unwelcome hit this week when coach Bob Chesney said Mikey Matthews will miss the rest of the 2026 season after foot surgery. The injury came early in the game against San Diego State, cutting short a start that had followed a strong Week One showing and had given the Bruins a more settled look at the position.
Now the burden shifts to the next wave of pass catchers, with Landon Ellis, Semaj Morgan, Brian Rowe and Leland Smith all expected to take on bigger roles in the offense. For a group still trying to establish its rhythm, Matthews absence creates a different kind of test, one that will show quickly whether UCLA has enough depth to keep its passing game on track. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Commit Myles Baker Is Already Flashing Why Bruins Fans Care
Myles Baker is already giving UCLA fans a glimpse of why his commitment mattered. The four-star safety from Chatsworth helped Sierra Canyon beat Orange Lutheran with an interception and seven tackles, a strong showing from a player who has quickly emerged as one of the more notable names in the Bruins 2027 class.
Baker flipped from Cal to UCLA on June 30 and has already made it clear he is locked in with the Bruins. Ranked No. 192 overall and No. 14 among safeties by 247Sports, he brings the kind of early production and local profile that UCLA is hoping to keep building around as his senior season develops. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Faces Its First Real Big Ten Test With Momentum On The Line
UCLA heads to SECU Stadium on Sept. 26 with a chance to keep an early-season roll going and put itself on the doorstep of a 4-0 start for the first time since 2022. The Bruins have already given themselves a sturdy foundation, with running back Wayne Knight piling up a school-record eight rushing touchdowns in the first three games and linebacker Sammy Omosigho emerging as one of the Big Tens early defensive standouts.
Maryland offers a different kind of test, and it arrives at a good time for Bob Chesney in his first season leading UCLA. A win would do more than protect the Bruins momentum, it would help show whether their fast start can travel into conference play and hold up against a team that figures to make them work for every inch. [Read more 🡒]