CBS’ preseason rankings put UCLA at No. 42 in the country and 12th in the Big Ten, a spot that sits below conference teams like Minnesota and Nebraska. For a program coming off a 3-9 season, that number is hardly a stunner.
What makes UCLA interesting is that the Bruins who finished last year are not the Bruins Bob Chesney inherited. The roster has been rebuilt with more than 40 transfers and 20 freshmen, and Chesney is working with an almost completely new coaching staff as well.
That overhaul is why the Bruins could end up being much better than their preseason spot suggests. The biggest swing factor is Nico Iamaleava, who enters his second season with UCLA and now has a stronger supporting cast around him than he has arguably ever had. With Chesney taking over and the roster looking dramatically different from the one that stumbled in Westwood, Iamaleava has a real chance to start matching the hype that has followed him.
UCLA’s backfield only adds to that case. Wayne Knight, Jaivian Thomas, and Anthony Woods give the Bruins a trio that could change the shape of the offense and help the ground game become a real strength.
None of that guarantees anything, and the No. 42 ranking does not automatically mean CBS missed on UCLA. It does, though, underline how much uncertainty surrounds this team. Chesney has never coached at this level, so some growing pains would not be a surprise.
That mix of questions and upside is exactly what makes UCLA one of the more fascinating teams to watch. If Chesney gets the most out of Iamaleava and the Bruins come out firing, they have a path to becoming one of the biggest surprises in the Big Ten and beyond.
In Other News...
UCLA Camp Is Already Raising One Early Concern For Bruins Fans
A week into UCLA training camp, there are already signs that the Bruins are getting a better read on where some key pieces fit. Receiver Matthews has apparently been more involved in the offense, which is the kind of development the staff wants to see this time of year, while Wayne Knight continues to look like a dependable option in the backfield. There is enough positive momentum in those spots to suggest the offense is sorting itself out in a few important areas.
The concern, at least for now, is on the other side of the ball. Malik Hartford appears to be trending in the wrong direction, and the bigger worry is whether UCLA's defensive front line will be able to hold up against the run when the season starts for real. Training camp is designed to surface problems before they become full-blown issues, and this one already looks like it could stick around for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Mick Cronin Just Set A Standard This UCLA Roster Must Meet
Mick Cronin is once again pushing UCLA toward the kind of identity he believes travel well in March. The Bruins were solid enough last season to be above average on both ends, but Cronin made it clear that is not the bar in Westwood, where he wants this group to live in the top 10 nationally on offense and defense. It is the sort of standard that turns every practice, every rotation decision and every matchup into a test of whether this roster can match the coachs expectations.
The harder part, at least right now, is on the defensive end, where UCLA does not appear to have a player with the same kind of back-line insurance Adem Bona provided. Cronin sees that type of "mistake eraser" as a necessity if the Bruins are going to make a real postseason run, and finding out who can fill that role may end up shaping the season as much as any scoring answer. Until someone proves capable of doing it, the gap between being good and being built for March will remain the most important storyline around this team. [Read more 🡒]
UCLAs Backfield Battle Could Finally Fix A Longstanding Problem
UCLA is heading into the season with a clear push to lean harder on the ground game under coach Bob Chesney, and the backfield looks like the part of the roster most likely to make that plan work. Transfer Wayne Knight joins a group that already includes returning backs Anthony Woods and Jaivian Thomas, giving the Bruins a deeper and more varied set of options than they have had in recent years.
For a program that has too often struggled to get much going on the ground, the chance to finally build a reliable rushing attack matters well beyond one position battle. Chesney has made it plain that surviving the season at running back takes more than one or two capable options, and UCLAs challenge now is turning that depth into something durable enough to hold up when injuries, fatigue and the grind of the schedule set in. [Read more 🡒]