On Monday,  December 1, UCLA announced the hiring of Bob Chesney to be the next Head Coach of the UCLA football program.

Chesney is currently coaching James Madison University, leading the Dukes to a phenomenal 11-1 record this season. He has a reputation for quickly turning the program around in a hurry.

After a disastrous 3-9 mark, firing former Head Coach DeShaun Foster early in the season and uncertainty surrounding their future at the Rose Bowl- the Bruins are banking on Chesney revamping the team and inspiring hope.

Since 2018, UCLA has only had three winning seasons, and it hasn’t won 10 games since 2014. The Bruins also haven’t won a conference title in the 21st century.

Once Chesney’s hiring is finalized, UCLA gets a coach with a consistent track record of winning, as athletic director Martin Jarmond and the UCLA search committee quickly began the arduous process.

Chesney, a Pennsylvania native, brings a background as an assistant coach on both defense and special teams. He has also developed a reputation as a turnaround artist, as he has resuscitated struggling programs at Division III Salve, and turned FCS Holy Cross into a high-level winner.

Along with being 20-5 at JMU, he’s 131-51 overall as a college head coach over 16 seasons.

“He had an appreciation for UCLA, the academics and the Big Ten,” said a source familiar with the process. “He also had a detailed plan on how to turn the program around.”

Searching for the Bruins next head coach involved a special comitee looking to find the leader to spearhead this iconic school.

The committee viewed Chesney’s background through small college football and his knack of turning around programs as positives. Since arriving in the Big Ten, UCLA is 8-16 overall, bringing about a wake-up call that more investment is needed.

Welcome to UCLA coach Chesney.

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The Bruins (3-8, 3-5) lost their fourth in a row, tying their season-worst skid, while playing what could have been their final regular-season game at the historic Rose Bowl because of an ugly battle  between the university and the City of Pasadena involving UCLA’s lease.

The Huskies (8-3, 5-3 Big Ten) won their second game in a row for the first time since early October. It was their second win at the Rose Bowl in 30 years, having gone 1-9 in their previous 10 games.

The Huskies had red roses on their pillows Friday night.

“We made the game big,” coach Jedd Fisch said. “We let them know we’re going to the Rose Bowl, we’re going to go win this thing. These guys didn’t think it was too big for them. They’re just getting better and better and better.”

UCLA will be moving to SoFi Stadium,  its not a matter of if, but when.  It was a highly  disappointing, and an  uninspired effort by the Bruins once again.

“It’s a big-time venue,” UCLA interim coach Tim Skipper said. “The main thing is just the aura of being in here and the field and all that good stuff.

UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava returned after missing last week’s blowout loss at No. 1 Ohio State while in concussion protocol only to get hurt in the third quarter. He was sacked for a 15-yard loss by Bryce Butler with the Bruins trailing 27-0.

Lamaleava was knocked out of the game with a concussion. His status remains uncertain for USC next week.

UCLA’s Cash Peterman ran for a 3-yard loss and fumbled at the Washington 41. A botched fake field goal attempt by the Bruins led to McLaughlin recovering the ball and returning it for a TD, extending the Huskies’ lead to 20-0 in the second quarter.

In the second half, thousands of dissatisfied Bruins fans headed towards the aisles, leaving around 1,000 Washington fans to celabrate.

Where do the Bruins go from here?

The university is searching for a new head coach and is mired in legal action over the Bruins potentially leaving the Rose Bowl after 43 years to play at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood next season. Skipper will likely not be hired permanently.

UCLA visits No. 16 USC in their rivalry game to end the season.

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The city of Pasadena on October 30, announced they are  suing  UCLA for allegedly trying to move its college football games from one of the sport’s most iconic stadiums in the Rose Bowl, to the bucolic and futuristic SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

The 1,500 pound bear in the stadium is the empty seats. UCLA’s current lease runs through 2044.

The Rose Bowl is 26 miles from campus, and the Bruins (3-5, 3-2 Big Ten) have struggled with attendance in recent years. This season, UCLA’s average attendance for its four home games is roughly 35,000.

Many universities have their football stadium on campus, or within close proximity.  In addition,  UCLA joined the BIG 10 Conference in 2024.

Everything about the Conference is in the name: BIG. Meaning big crowds, big expectations etc…

Being at the Rose Bowl on gameday sometimes feel lifeless. The passion, tradition and school spirit is nowhere in sight. How can UCLA blame their lack of success  on a stadium?

The Rose Bowl is a scapegoat for the football program struggling. Our issues on the field  have nothing to do with playing at the Rose Bowl.

SoFi Stadium opened in September 2020, is about 12 miles from UCLA’s campus and has a capacity of 70,240.

“This lawsuit arises in an era when money too often eclipses meaning and the pursuit of profit threatens to erase the very traditions that breathe life into institutions,” the suit claims. “Some commitments are too fundamental to be traded away.”

It’s sad to watch a Bruins game, in  particular, the Goodyear blimp cam showing the fraction of a  crowd in an empty stadium. This is unacceptable for such a legendary school as UCLA.

Earlier this season, the Bruins fired second-year coach DeShaun Foster and replaced him with interim coach Tim Skipper. They’ve also changed offensive and defensive coordinators this season.

With the optics looking this daunting for UCLA, some have suggested a  change of scenery might rejuvinate the football team.

“The Grandaddy Of Them All, ” is still breathtaking and inspiring, and on New Year’s Day it remains  the most prominent, and historic bowl in college football.

Yet at the same time, “The Grandaddy Of Them All ” has lost a bit of its luster due to the College Football Playoff,  and the ever changing landscape of college football.

As a lifelong UCLA fan, playing their schedule anywhere else  other than the Rose Bowl would be heartbreaking.

Pasadena officials and stadium representatives claim a potential move could cost Pasadena and its residents more than $1 billion in damages.

City officials said in the suit that taxpayers have funded more than $150 million in renovations with an additional $130 million in bonds that were recently refinanced for additional upgrades.

Whether its the Rose Bowl; a stadium that is rich with pride and tradition, or the new shiny state of the art one, its all about winning.

On Saturday night, UCLA welcomes Nebraska to the Rose Bowl. Kickoff is slated at 6:00 PM.

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Mateen Bhaghani kicked a 23-yard field goal with two seconds to play, and UCLA beat Maryland, 20-17 to extend its improbable season turnaround with a third consecutive victory.

UCLA scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to keep the wonderful, and frankly, baffling winning streak alive. Nico was astounding in the victory, sustaining what initially appeared to be a season ending knee injury, only to hop back on the field for their final possession in regulation leading them to victory.

It was reminiscent of a vintage John Elway performance.

Nico Iamaleava passed for 221 yards and led three scoring drives in the final six minutes despite going down with an apparent knee injury during that wild stretch for the Bruins (3-4, 3-1 Big Ten), who managed to stay on the upswing in their roller coaster of a season.

“I think it’s all about belief, (and) the guys believe,” UCLA interim head coach Tim Skipper said.

“There’s nothing that happened throughout the game that’s going to take our confidence away, and you don’t really know that until you get in a tight game like that. I found out today that these guys believe.”

It was heart pounding action down the stretch, each team answering in the clutch with dazzling plays and points.

Iamaleava threw a go-ahead, 14-yard touchdown pass to Mikey Matthews with 3:33 to play, and Bhaghani’s first field goal put the Bruins up 17-10 with 2:09 to play shortly after Scooter Jackson intercepted Malik Washington’s pass deep in Maryland territory.

Maryland quickly responded. QB Malik Washington refused to give in. Leading the Terrapins (4-3, 1-3) on a dramatic drive, hitting Jalil Farooq for an 8-yard TD with 40 seconds left.

Iamaleava completed two passes for 33 yards before Anthony Frias — who made an early 55-yard touchdown run for UCLA — made a 35-yard run to the Maryland 5 to set up Bhaghani’s tiebreaking field goal.

After an 0-4 start that included the firing of head coach DeShaun Foster and the departure of both coordinators, UCLA has dramatically reversed course over the past two weeks with stunning victories over Penn State and Michigan State under Skipper.

The Bruins are still showing remarkable pride and poise under Skipper. Which is inspiring and motivating for this program.

Next week UCLA travels to face the No. 3 Indiana Hoosiers. Should the Bruins pull off that Herculean upset, they will be one of the best teams in the BIG 10 Conference.

It’s amazing witnessing the UCLA faithful so jubilant walking back to their cars. Time to believe in the Bruins.

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The biggest upset of the college football season landed in Pasadena on Saturday, with the winless Bruins not just defeating a top 10 opponent but persistently overwhelming them on offense in the improbable win.

UCLA outgained the Nittany Lions 446-357, with 280 of their yards on the ground. The loss also snaps a streak of 34 straight wins over unranked opponents for Penn State.

Nico Iamaleava finally showed us what he is capable of. He was magnificent with his arm and his legs. Ultimately finishing with 166 yards and two touchdowns on 17-of-24 passing plus 128 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

Nico accounted for five touchdowns.

It’s difficult proving just how miraculous this win is for the beleaguered Bruins. Per the broadcast, it was the first time since 1985 that a top 10 team lost to an 0-4 team or worse.

The Bruins weren’t just winless, they entered Saturday as the second-worst team in the Power Four by Sagarin ratings, ahead of only Oklahoma State.

Penn State held the Bruins scoreless on the subsequent drive, though, and began a comeback that felt inevitable after a blocked punt narrowed the deficit to six points with a quarter and a half to play.

“You’d think it was Mardi Gras,” interim coach Tim Skipper said, describing the locker room atmosphere. “There was water flying everywhere, there’s music, there’s guys that can’t dance that are dancing, there’s coaches trying to be dancers. It was exciting.”

The Bruins’ offense exploded early, and they led all the way after not scoring in the first quarter of their earlier losses.

The Bruins (1-4, 1-1 Big Ten) had tight ends coach Jerry Neuheisel calling UCLA’s offensive plays for the first time against Penn State’s vaunted defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.

After the monumental win, Neuhheisel got a Gatorade bath, and was carried off the field. He needs to be promoted to Offensive Coordinator this week.

His game plan was highly effective on this afternoon. A strong running game, while controlling the clock.

“We had two days to practice the new game plan and all they did was believe,” said Neuheisel, a former UCLA quarterback and son of former Bruins coach Rick Neuheisel, who called the nationally televised game for CBS. “It was just a special, special day.”

The Bruins ensured they won’t have the first winless season in program history after ending a 16-game skid against Top 10 teams. It’s their first win against such competition at home since 2007, when they beat No. 9 Oregon 16-0.

This is the most important win for the program in years. Celebrate Bruins Nation, you’ve earned it.

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Being crushed by the “football juggernaut” Lobos was the final straw. Dropping to an abysmal 0-3, remember these first three games were supposed to serve as a tune-up before the difficult and grueling BIG 10 schedule arrives.

Foster, 45, was in his second year as the head coach at his alma mater. He played four seasons as a running back for UCLA from 1998-2001, then played six seasons in the NFL, all with the Carolina Panthers.

His record was 5-10 in his short tenure. Foster was in way over his head; UCLA is lacking the basic fundamentals in all three phases of the game.  Furthermore, Quarterback Nico Iamaleava has been disappointing to say the least.

Transferring from Tennessee, his potential as a dual threat has not panned out for UCLA so far.

Athletic Director Martin Jarmond released the following statement:

“I want to extend my sincere appreciation to DeShaun for his contributions to UCLA football over the course of many years, first as a Hall of Fame student-athlete, then as an assistant coach and finally a head coach,” Jarmond’s statement reads… “His legacy and love for this university are firmly established. He is a Bruin for life, and we wish him, his wife, Charity, and their family the best.”

Foster will have success down the road. The man stepped into an almost impossible situation. Former Head Coach Chip Kelly up and quits UCLA for Ohio State abruptly. DeShaun Foster bravely stepped in, wanting to restore pride and honor for his alma mater.

Foster was hired after a process that lasted less than 72 hours. Being asked to lead and grow a program while being in the midst of joining the ferocious BIG 10 Conference.

Deshaun was doomed from the start.

Foster started his coaching career with UCLA as a volunteer assistant in 2013 and was ultimately promoted to director of player development and high school relations. He left in 2015 to become the running backs coach at Texas Tech under Kliff Kingsbury for a single season, then returned to UCLA in the same position under then-head coach Jim Mora.

The loss to the Lobos followed similar disappointments against UNLV and Utah in previous weeks. Suddenly, the Bruins are shockingly close to staring down the barrel of an 0-12 season.

In three games, UCLA hasn’t led at all and averaged 16.5 points per game, tied for 115th in FBS out of 133 teams, and the 36.5 points allowed per games is ranked 120th. Its offense is ranked 101st in the country and defense is 111th.

Special assistant Tim Skipper will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season, but the school’s release stated, “a comprehensive national search for a new head coach will begin immediately.”

UCLA will next take the field on the road against Northwestern on September 27. The Bruins return home on Saturday, October 4 to face the No.2 ranked Penn State Nittany Lions.

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UCLA is not only (0-3) for the first time since 2019, but the Bruins have also not held a lead this season after falling into another big hole on a night they were 15½-point favorites.

The Bruins’ lone score in the first half came with Iamaleava finding Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for a 12-yard touchdown to cut the 14-0 lead in half to 14-7. This was, remarkably, the Bruins’ only touchdown of the whole night.

The Lobos punished the Bruins in the ground game. New Mexico ended the night with 298 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.

In total, the Lobos had 450 yards of offense. UCLA had 326.

Despite the lopsided outcome, UCLA had momentum on their side to open the second half. With New Mexico (2-1) facing a fourth and one at the Bruins’ five-yard line, Deshaun Buchanan ran for two yards before having the ball stripped by UCLA safety Key Lawrence.

Bruins defensive end Devin Aupiu recovered the fumble to thwart the drive.

UCLA lacks a consistent offensive attack, failing to capitalize on two key turnovers cost them any opportunity of mounting a comeback.

Lobos Running Back Damon Bankston led the charge with 154 yards on 15 carries (10.3 yards per rush). He also had 49 receiving yards and two total touchdowns.

UNM starting Quarterback Jack Layne completed 12-16 (75%) for 152 yards and a touchdown.

UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava finished 22-34 for 217 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of this season thus far has been the underwhelming play of lamaleava.

New Mexico held the Bruins to 3-11 on third down and 0-1 on fourth down.

It would be unfair to place the blame solely at his feet, UCLA is struggling with its numerous penalties. 10 for over 100 yards.

Now the Big 10 portion of our season begins. After a much-needed bye week, the UCLA Bruins take on the Northwestern Wildcats on September 27.

Bruins fans will keep on rooting for the team and staying positive because the year is not yet in vain, it’s true UCLA is desperate for a victory.

Hopefully our Bruins will improve their tackling for instance, as the difficult part of the season is upcoming.

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UCLA falls to (0-2) after the bitter defeat.

Iamaleava completed 29-of-41 passes for 255 yards, one touchdown and an interception. He also added a 59 rushing yards with 30 yards coming on a touchdown run.

The Rebels last beat a Big Ten team when they won 23-5 at No. 14 Wisconsin on Sept. 13, 2003. The Bruins entered a wild, bombastic environment. Allegiant Stadium was shaking from the raucous Rebels.

UNLV Quarterback Anthony Colandrea played exceptionally well throwing for 203 yards and three touchdowns in the programs first ever victory over UCLA.

UCLA managed to get on the scoreboard just before the break with a short field goal, but the Bruins were still outgained 250 yards to 110.

But that late scoring drive apparently created a spark, and UCLA had a chance to at least tie by taking possession down a touchdown with 2:17 left. UNLV sealed the victory when linebacker Marsel McDuffie tipped a pass that nickelback Aarmaris Brown intercepted with 52 seconds left.

Adding insult to injury, Brown told reporters during the buildup prior to the game he felt there was nothing that stood out about Iamaleava.

UCLA dominated the second half with 318 yards of total offense compared to UNLV’s 101. The Bruins were 2-for-3 on third down in the fourth quarter, scoring 10 points in the final frame.

“I think it just starts with me, man. I’ve got to be better coming out. I started out a little slow on the first drive coming out. Overall, we got to clean up a lot of stuff,” said Iamaleava.

Sophomore wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer was Iamaleava’s top target, hauling in a career-high eight catches for 87 yards. His 87 yards were the second most in his young career.

Flags were being tossed left and right all game for both squads. Saturday night’s contest was marred by a litany of penalties with a total of 27 for 129 yards each between the two squads.

The Bruin offense came out of the break with renewed confidence. It was just a case of too little too late.

UCLA trailed 30-20 with 8:50 to go. A late field goal made it a seven-point game. The Bruins fierce second half defense forced a UNLV punt setting up one final drive.

The field was literally rumbling as UCLA attempted to send this wild game into overtime.

It was not to be on this night sadly. It was brave to keep fighting, displaying grit which will help this team grow.

The Bruins return home to take on New Mexico at The Rose Bowl on Friday, September 12.

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This is Foster’s second season in charge at the Rose Bowl, and his first campaign was no picnic, meaning the former All-American running back needed to get things off on the right foot. The fact that his first loss was followed by a second, albeit by a narrower margin, at the hands of the UNLV Rebels, only makes his position even shakier.

Fans of the Bruins who feel that Foster can turn things around and want to bet on just such a comeback occurring can do so with the aid of this amazing DraftKings promo code. Making use of promotions and bonuses can be a clever way of taking some of the risk out of your wager, so why not take a punt?

Despite that loss to the Utes, Foster believes there are signs of progress, being very optimistic, despite the heavy opening loss, commenting.

“We were close,”

“Like it wasn’t exactly what I thought, you know, I was a little more disappointed right after the game, and then, seeing the film, it brought a little more life into me. Just because if we can execute, there are a lot of things that we can actually fix. So, that’s a bright spot that I saw in that.”

“Talking to the team, I can tell that they were ready to hear those things, and they saw the same thing, too.” Foster added.

The pressure being applied to Foster did appear to be taking its toll prior to the season kicking off, as the head coach clashed with reporters who were filming his practice sessions.

“You guys film our practice and put it online,”

“If I was an opponent for another team, I’d look right at your guys’ stuff and see what’s going on. So, for them not to get a beat on Tino (Sunseri) or depth or anything that’s going on, that’s why it’s closed.”

Foster took over from Chip Kelly, whose six-year tenure was showing signs of progress before he resigned to take over as offensive coordinator at Ohio State.

One slight sign of improvement can be taken from the fact that the Bruins battled back from 23-0 down to at least make a game of it during their 30-23 loss at Allegiant Stadium, but one wonders if Foster is fighting a losing battle.

The Bruins were penalized 14 times during the game, and that lack of discipline is something that Foster wants to stamp out.

“I’m just frustrated because when you know that you can execute better than we were and put together two halves like I wish we would have done and this outcome would have been different,” he said. “But the situation that we were in in the first half, we didn’t really help ourselves out. And we came in the second half and finally we were able to execute, but it still wasn’t enough and just didn’t make enough plays. They played a good game.” Foster commented.

Next up for the Bruins are New Mexico, with Foster needing a win at the Rose Bowl to keep his job.

The post DeShaun Foster Left Reeling After Opening Week Loss: UCLA Easily Beaten By Utes appeared first on Canyon News.

UCLA Quarterback Nico Iamaleava struggled in his Bruin debut, with the quarterback wrapping the night completing 11 of 22 pass attempts for 136 passing yards and one touchdown. The Long Beach native also led UCLA’s rushing efforts with 47 yards on the ground in 13 attempts.

The Bruins (0-1) totaled 210 yards of offense against Utah (1-0), as the Utes finished the contest with 492 total yards (286 rushing, 206 passing) and scored on seven drives.

Utah, a former PAC-12 foe, simply dominated from the kickoff. All three facets; offense, defense and special teams were in favor of the Utes.

“A lot of stuff to learn from,” said UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster.

“Not the outcome that we wanted in the first game, but we just have to learn from this. It’s not going to be easy, but one positive thing I can take away from this is the way they’re sounding in the locker room right now.

Nico undoubtedly has remarkable talent, unfortunately, the offensive line was unable to offer any breathing room for Iamaleava to extend plays and create when the play breakdowns.

Player of the game honors goes to Utah QB Devon Dampier, who threw two touchdowns for 206 yards and no interceptions.  It was his legs, ad-libbing speed and vision which dazzled the crowd, making Dampier an early Heisman candidate.

Dampier led the Utes (1-0) with 16 carries for 87 yards, “when the situation comes that I’ve got to run the ball, I’m going to run the ball,” Dampier said. “I’m doing what I got to do for my boys.”

The Bruins’ lone TD came on Iamaleava’s 19-yard pass to former Utah player Anthony Woods in the second quarter.

Redshirt junior Anthony Woods was the Bruin quarterback’s top target, finishing with 48 receiving yards and UCLA’s lone touchdown. The running back added 13 yards on three rushes for the evening.

In the third quarter, UCLA pulled within two scores, making a 34-yard field goal. Trailing by thirteen at 23-10.

That would be as close as the Bruins got. Utah next possession proved to be the back breaker.

Utah used a 20-play drive over 9:44 to score a touchdown and secure a 30-10 cushion late in the third quarter. The Utes scored two more touchdowns before the final horn sounded, with one score resulting from a Bruins’ turnover that gave the Utes the ball on the line of scrimmage within 30 yards of the end zone.

UP NEXT – UCLA at UNLV (Sept. 6)

The Bruins head to Las Vegas next week to face UNLV at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6. UCLA’s game against UNLV will begin at 5 p.m. in Las Vegas. The non-conference showdown will be televised on the CBS Sports Network

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UCLA’s hopes and expectations lie on one man’s shoulders: Nico Iamaleava!

Nico Iamaleava. You think hiring Foster last year was bold? The signing of the former Tennessee quarterback – who was at the center of the contract standoff storm – might change the entire program.

It was a signal that UCLA was ready to be a player in the transfer portal, and it was also a nod to the problems with a horrendous offense that finished 118th in the nation in yards and 126th in scoring.

Last season, the Bruins joined the ferocious, highly competitive BIG 10 Conference. The Bruins certainly got off to a slow start, as every weekend featured a new heavyweight foe.

Their record in 2024 was 5-7, although the Bruins improved leaps and bounds finishing 4-2 down the stretch to get some momentum into 2025.

Utah is widely regarded as the favorite out of the Big 12 for a reason. A staunch defense complements a revamped offense that added New Mexico Lobos quarterback and offensive coordinator Devon Dampier and Jason Beck.

The Utes defense has historically been known to be consistently good, and it will be a great first test for Iamaleava. UCLA’s newfound depth in the backfield — headlined by Cal transfer Jaivian Thomas and returnee Jalen Berger — makes its offense much more dynamic than before.

Now the O line has to be better. Tackle Courtland Ford (Kentucky) and guards Eugene Brooks (Oklahoma) and Julian Armella (Florida State) were good gets to help a still rebuilding front.

For the Bruins, this Labor Day weekend matchup is vital for the program, as it may set the tone for a successful season.

UCLA is honoring first responders by offering free tickets to the Bruins’ season opener on August 30, 2025, against Utah at the Rose Bowl.

“August 30th, our first game this year is gonna be the first responder game,” Foster said. “The tickets will be free for all first responders, just showing (a form of) ID or anything. You can check the links there on both our social media accounts, Twitter and Instagram, please come out.”

As for the Men of Troy, their first game seems to be more of a scrimmage with no real competition. Facing the Missouri State Bears, making their debut as a division one FBS school.

Things might get ugly as the Trojans are an eye popping 37-point favorites.

Last season was a disappointment for USC under head coach Lincoln Riley. Those question marks are carrying over in 2025, but the Trojans still have an incredibly talented bunch, led by a slew of transfer additions and the No. 1 recruiting class in the country.

SC’s explosive offense and improved defense should carry over from 2024 to 2025. The Trojans should be motivated to blow teams out in the early part of the season before the difficulty of their schedule kicks in later on.

Needless to say, it’s going to be a great day for football.

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UCLA will kick off against a familiar foe, Utah at the iconic Rose Bowl 8:00 p.m. on Saturday August 30 in what should be a very intriguing game. Any first responders who choose to come for a great event will be welcomed with open arms.

UCLA and Utah were formerly in the PAC-12 before the conference disbanded. Utah is now a part of the Big 12, but the rivalry between the Bruins and Utes remains intact.

“August 30th, our first game this year is gonna be the first responder game,” Foster said. “The tickets will be free for all first responders, just showing (a form of) ID or anything. You can check the links there on both our social media accounts, Twitter and Instagram, please come out.”

“This is our first opportunity to really just share and let them know, the first responders, how we feel about them and how important it was for them to, you know, they basically saved us, you know, because (the fires) didn’t make it to UCLA,” said UCLA football Head Coach DeShaun Foster.

Last season, the Bruins joined the ferocious, highly competitive BIG 10 Conference. The Bruins certainly got off to a slow start, as every weekend featured a new heavyweight foe.

Their record was 5-7, although the Bruins improved leaps and bounds finishing 4-2 down the stretch to get some momentum into 2025.

Attention UCLA Football fans, meet our new Quarterback who hopefully will take the Bruins to a bowl game: Nico Lamaleava.

He is a transfer from Tennessee who is garnering headlines across the Nation. UCLA has hope and momentum going into 2025.

“He’s just somebody that I don’t think he can really get rattled, you know? Personality wise, he’s kind of quiet a little bit, but, you know, confidence,” Foster said at Big Ten Media Days.

UCLA and Utah will kick off the season in less than three weeks. A new-look Bruins team will hope to show out for the fans in attendance, including the brave first responders.

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Bieniemy, one of the masterminds of the Kansas City Chiefs historic and innovative offenses alongside Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, is coming home to UCLA.

He is headed back to UCLA, where he coached two decades ago. “This is a great opportunity for me to help support DeShaun [Foster] as a new head coach, to work with him and for him as well,” said Bieniemy.

“It is an opportunity for my family and I to return back to a place we once called home. This is a great opportunity for me to utilize all of my experience working with future Hall of Fame players and a Hall of Fame head coach [Andy Reid] to help teach and inspire young men on what it takes to be successful on and off the field.”

The contract is a two-year deal for the 54-year-old. Bieniemy became a hot candidate after his success as the offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs.

He spent 10 seasons with the Chiefs, and he won two Super Bowls with Kansas City before heading to Washington.

This is the man who has the potential to resurrect the flat and inconsistent Bruin’s offense. A feat Chip Kelly failed to reach during his tenure.

UCLA went 8-5 last season but finished 4-5 in conference play. The Bruins will play in the Big Ten next season.

Bieniemy has a reputation as tough as nails, the old school style of coaching which is borderline controversial in this new landscape of sports.

Just ask Patrick Mahomes. “EB is going to be harsh on you,” Mahomes said last August. “He’s going to really try and get the best out of you every single day. He’s going to hold you accountable when you don’t want to hold yourself accountable. [His coaching] made me a better player.”

It’s going to yield success on the gridiron, but the entire Bruins roster is going to have develop an extremely thick skin under him.

It’s important to note that he’s in rare air, having won both a national championship as a player and multiple Super Bowls as a coordinator.

Good luck Coach Bieniemy.

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UCLA hired former star player and longtime assistant coach DeShaun Foster as the school’s next head coach on Monday, February 12.

Foster agreed to a five-year contract.

At Ohio State, Kelly will replace Bill O’Brien, who is becoming Boston College’s head coach.

“Earlier this morning, coach Chip Kelly informed me of his decision to depart UCLA,” athletic director Martin Jarmond said in a statement. “I want to sincerely thank Chip for his service to UCLA football and our student-athletes across the past six seasons.”

After O’Brien weaseled out of his commitment to become the OC for Ohio State, in lieu of becoming the head honcho at Boston College, Kelly jumped at the opportunity.

Ohio State meets Kelly’s needs in a way the Bruins never did. He was never able to deliver on the dynamic offense he invented at Oregon, constantly underwhelming records with no National recognition whatsoever.

Ironically, Kelly helped the Bruins on the other side of the ball. A defense that ranked among the best in the Power Five and Bowl Subdivision.

UCLA scored just seven points in a loss to Utah and scored a combined 17 points in losses to Arizona State and Arizona.

With those inexcusable losses to the Arizona schools, Bruins Nation was more than ready to move on from Mr. Chip Kelly.

To be fair, Kelly was never going to transform the UCLA Bruins into the Oregon Ducks. He refused to schmooze with potential recruits and the boosters, costing him ire with the higher ups.

A quick rule about coaching sports in Los Angeles, you have to love the limelight.

Other legendary coaches who craved the attention, and flourished under the bright lights include Pete Carroll, Tommy Lasord and Pat Riley. Those men juggled being coaches, psychiatrists and above all, Hollywood moguls.

Chip Kelly was either unable or unwilling to adapt and succeed in this ecosystem.

Foster, who had taken a job as the Las Vegas Raiders’ running backs coach earlier this month, is in the UCLA Hall of Fame as a player, served 10 years in various roles at the school and played seven seasons in the NFL.

He emerged among a pool of 11 candidates interviewed by UCLA, many of whom were sitting head coaches. Next season, the UCLA Bruins will be joining the Big 10 Conference this season.

Foster impressed the UCLA brass with his ability to lead and command a room. Per sources, school officials believe Foster can resonate in the Los Angeles market and emphasize recruiting and fundraising, part of the paradigm shift college football is undergoing in the era of name, image and likeness deals.

Foster is beloved by the Bruin players.

Kelly was a gun for hire, who couldn’t quite get the Bruins over the hump. Welcome coach Foster.

The post Chip Kelly Leaves UCLA, Welcome Coach Foster appeared first on Canyon News.

Garbers completed nine of 12 passes for two touchdowns and was selected as the offensive MVP. Bruins linebacker Darius Muasau was selected as the defensive MVP for making a team-high 11 tackles, including a game-high 2.5 for losses.

Garbers, a redshirt junior from Corona Del Mar High School, started the season opener and five of the six games heading into the LA Bowl, but suffered an arm injury in the 33-7 loss to California Nov. 25 in the regular season finale, with Collin Schlee getting the start Saturday.

Starting when Garbers entered the game facing first-and-goal from the Boise State nine-yard line, the Bruins scored touchdowns on three consecutive drives. Garbers completed his first eight passes, including 39- and 41-yard strikes to J. Michael Sturdivant.

TJ Harden had 105 yards and two touchdowns in 20 carries. This was Bruins Head Coach Chip Kelly’s first bowl victory.

Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk means master of ceremonies Rob Gronkowski had to bring the fun and hijinks. Well, the four-time Super Bowl champion was pumped up for this contest.

Gronk stepped up to the mic in a pregame ceremony and sang the national anthem, accompanied by the New Directions Veterans Choir.

He was a part of everything, from participating in dance-offs during the game to handling the trophy presentation at the end of the night.

The Bruins held the Broncos (8-6) to six points and 130 total yards after halftime – when, by the way, they’d trailed 16-7.

Defensive lineman Laiatu Latu, the Lombardi Award winner as college football’s best lineman and the Pac-12’s Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year, opted out of the game to focus on finishing school and preparing for the NFL draft.

D’Anton Lynn accepted USC’s offer to be its defensive coordinator Dec. 1. In his one season as the Bruins’ defensive coordinator, Lynn elevated UCLA’s defense from ranking No. 87 in 2022 to finishing the 2023 regular season ranked No. 11 among Football Bowl Subdivision teams.

The bowl victory was UCLA’s first since defeating Kansas State, 40-35, in the Alamo Bowl Jan. 2, 2015. UCLA finishes their 2023 season with an (8-5) record.

It will be a truly interesting off season before UCLA joins the Big Ten in 2024.

The post UCLA Wins LA Bowl Over Boise State appeared first on Canyon News.

Fans and alumni joined Boise State and UCLA spirit squads, bands, and mascots at the Pep Rally held in American Airlines Plaza, adjacent to SoFi Stadium.

The Solid Gold Sound of the UCLA Bruin Marching Band provided an electric first-class experience for UCLA students, alumni, and fans.

It was a Battle of the Bands for the ages. Bruins versus the Broncos.

The Pep Rally is a prelude to Saturday’s big game matching the two colleges in the third annual Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk. Fan Fest begins at 2:00 p.m., and Kick-off is at 4:30 p.m.

The UCLA Bruins will face the Boise State Broncos in the LA Bowl on Saturday, December 16 at SoFi Stadium. Gronk will sing the National Anthem.

Adolfo Romero, interim executive director of the L.A. Bowl, said in a statement:

“Rob is one-of-a-kind. He was full of creative ideas to enhance the bowl game for fans and put his mark on it as the host. When he expressed interest in singing the national anthem, we knew this could be a special moment for everyone in attendance.”

The Fan Fest begins on Saturday and is free for ticketed guests. American Airlines Plaza will be transformed into an exciting pregame tailgate atmosphere and will feature music, food trucks, photo opportunities, both teams’ cheerleaders and bands, plus much more to rally fans before kickoff.

Part of what makes college football special is the pagentry and tradition of the school’s. Watching the Solid Gold Sound Marching Band play the iconic 8 Clap-thousands of fans clapped vigorously eight times for a Bruins victory.

Joe and Josephine Bruin, the mighty mascots awoke from their hibernation to ensure a win for their city.

Tune into the LA Bowl on Saturday, December 16 live from the immaculate SoFi Stadium. Kickoff is slated at 4:30 p.m. and will air on ABC.

The post UCLA Holds Pep Rally Before LA Bowl appeared first on Canyon News.

The final chapter of the California Golden Bears UCLA Bruins rivalry is coming to an end. The Golden Bears will join the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), while the Bruins alongside the USC Trojans will be members of the BIG 10 Conference in 2024.

A brief summary of the action; everything went right for the plucky Golden Bears as the victory made them Bowl eligible finishing the season at a mark of 6-6.

In stark contrast, it was a huge letdown on Senior night after the rousing beatdown of Crosstown rival USC 38-20 just a week ago at the Coliseum. Bruins Senior Quarterback Ethan Garbers was injured early, and true freshman Dante Moore struggled while the Bruins running game was held in check all night. Usually a constant for the Bruins, they just couldn’t establish a running game.

The Bruins finish the regular season 7-5 overall and 4-5 in Pac-12 play with Kelly at the helm. UCLA has scored 10 points or less in three out of the last four games and now awaits placement in a bowl game, which will be announced December 3.

Moore completed 28-of-38 passes for 266 yards in the loss and quickly marched the Bruins to the 20-yard line early in the game, but Cal pushed running back Carson Steele back to force a turnover on downs. UCLA’s Kamari Ramsay intercepted quarterback Fernando Mendoza five plays later to get the ball back.

UCLA’s defense gave up 178 total passing yards and 124 rushing yards. Only three other teams gained over 100 rushing yards against the Bruins this season. Jadyn Ott led Cal with 80 yards on the ground.

Moore went on to throw a five-yard touchdown pass to Logan Loya who was waiting just inside the blue turf of the end zone for a 7-6 advantage. It was the one time that UCLA scored in the red zone out of five opportunities.

Cal’s Jaydn Ott returned the ensuing kick 100 yards for a touchdown to pull Cal ahead again. The Golden Bears’ David Reese forced a fumble with just under a minute remaining until halftime and Brett Johnson recovered it. Mendoza connected with Jeremiah Hunter for a 14-yard touchdown and a 20-7 lead with 10 seconds left.

It was disheartening for Bruins fans to watch the Bruins falter in all three phases of the game. What once was home field advantage at the iconic Rose Bowl in the beginning of the season, turned into a disadvantage in the second-half of the season.

One glaring issue was protecting whatever quarterback the Bruins threw out there, the offensive line struggled to gel and protect any of the three QB’s all season.

Cal linebacker David Reese rushed to the Golden Bears’ marching band after the game had ended. He climbed the drum major’s ladder to begin conducting the band, a roaring backdrop to celebrate a gigantic victory.

The post Cal Bears Maul UCLA Bruins In PAC-12 Finale appeared first on Canyon News.

UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers threw three touchdown passes and running back TJ Harden rushed for a career-high 142 yards and two touchdowns in a convincing win after two consecutive disheartening losses to Arizona and Arizona State.

“Today was one of the better days of my life,” Garbers said. “I’ve had some dreams like this as a little kid. Great to see, great to get the win and great to get home.”

USC turned the ball over on downs on its first possession after failing to convert a fourth-and-one. On the ensuing drive, UCLA drove down the field and scored on a one-yard run from TJ Harden to take an early 7-0 lead.

USC is reeling, finishing the 2023 campaign at a mark of (7-5) dropping five of their final six games. Trojans QB Caleb Williams most likely played his final game as a Trojan, going 31-of-42 for 384 yards with a TD throw to a name you might have heard before.

Williams threw an incredible 74-yard touchdown pass to Brenden Rice, son of legend Jerry Rice, in the first half. But UCLA went into halftime with a 14-10 lead.

UCLA mauled USC on the ground, controlling the line of scrimmage from the kickoff. Rumbling and gashing holes with 199 total rushing yards, making it the eighth time the USC defense has allowed at least 190 rushing yards this season.

Even by PAC-12 standards USC was historically awful on defense. Saturday’s loss capped off what has been a brutal second half of the season for Lincoln Riley’s Trojans.

“Very, very disappointing, no other way to put it,” USC coach Lincoln Riley said. “I told the guys in the locker room. I’ve clearly not done a good enough job here in the second half of the season getting this team ready to go.”

As for Bruins Head Coach Chip Kelly, he tuned out all of the rumors and speculation about his future in Westwood. Kelly remained professional, rather than addressing the inane chatter he prepared his players to go out and win. And boy did they respond.

UCLA improves to (7-4) on the season, the second half was dominated by the Bruins, who scored two touchdowns in the span of 16 seconds to see that lead grow from 14-10 to 28-10 midway through the third quarter.

USC’s offense was shut down the rest of the way as the ferocious UCLA pass rush teed off on Williams and his overmatched offensive line.

For last years Heisman Trophy winner, it was a bittersweet way for his college career to most likely come to an end. Caleb Williams will undoubtedly be the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

USC will await its fate and see which bowl game they will play in. UCLA will host California on Saturday, November 25 at the Rose Bowl to conclude their season.

UCLA will love the ringing sound of the Victory Bell in their ear until November 2024.

The post UCLA Crushes USC At The Coliseum appeared first on Canyon News.

It was a sloppy, odd game that UCLA dominated in a 28-16 win on Saturday, October 28.

The Bruins improved to 6-2, clinching bowl eligibility and keeping them alive in the Pac-12 race with a 3-2 league mark.

UCLA marked the special occasion by donning beautiful powder-keg blue uniforms with the white striped curled over-the-shoulder pads pay respect to a the throwback UCLA Football jerseys.

Two hours prior to kickoff, cars were stuck in gridlock traffic inching their way towards a parking spot. The place was packed as if the Bruins were about to take on the USC Trojans.

What brought fans in droves was “Primetime,” himself. Deion Sanders is both a beloved and polarizing figure in the world of sports, everyone had to go out and watch him roam the sidelines.

It’s hard to recall a game where the head coach, not a player mind you, is the main selling point. A testament to this iconic sports figure who has the innate gift of entertaining sports fans.

Now, let’s get to the game. Junior Ethan Garbers started in place of Freshman Dante Moore. Moore had thrown a pick six in his last three starts, so Chip Kelly was forced to bench him.

Bruins’ QB Ethan Garbers passed for 269 yards and two touchdowns. He and Collin Schlee combined for two interceptions in UCLA’s first-half turnover-fest. It had four, including two fumbles by Carson Steele. Luckily for Kelly, his team fixed the issue and did not have any turnovers in the second-half.

Logan Loya became his favorite target in the second half, and Loya finished with seven receptions for 111 yards.

UCLA has one of the best defenses in the Nation. Colorado Quarterback Shedeur Sanders was mauled for seven sacks by the Bruins D.

A game ball should go to the Bruins fans. Not typically known as a rabid environment, the Bruins fans created an incredible home field advantage with the wild passion and noise. The enthusiasm and joy makes this one of the signature victories of this decade alongside LSU and USC.

UCLA still has a chance at reaching the PAC-12 Championship, the next opponet is the Arizona Wildcats in Tuscon.The Arizona Wildcats face the UCLA Bruins in a Week 10 Pac-12 college football game on Saturday, Nov. 4 at Arizona Stadium.

Arizona (5-3) is coming off a 27-24 upset of Oregon State. Last year, Arizona upset UCLA 34-28 in a pivotal game which sent the Bruins into a tailspin for the remainder of the season.

Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. and will air on FS1.

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Thankfully, the Bruins defense remains one of the Premier defenses in college football, and UCLA Running Back Keegan Jones made his comeback in scoring the final two touchdowns in the Bruins, 25-17 win over the Washington State Cougars at the Rose Bowl, on Saturday October 7.

UCLA’s run game overshadowed Washington State; the Bruins finished with 180 rushing yards to the Cougars’ 12. Junior Carson Steele finished as UCLA’s leading rusher, compiling 140 yards on 30 attempts. Senior Keegan Jones made his presence felt late in the game.

The Bruins forced five turnovers in the game and converted three of those into scoring opportunities; UCLA scored 16 points off Washington State turnovers. The final forced turnover on downs helped UCLA prevent a last-minute scoring drive by the Cougars late in the fourth.

UCLA moves to (4-1) on the season earning their first Pac-12 victory of the year in Saturdays win. It was a boost for the Bruins morale who lost a heartbreaker to Utah last week.

UCLA Quarterback Dante Moore made a fatal error in the first half for the second consecutive game in a row: A pick 6 interception.

Star QB, Dante Moore, threw his second pick-six of the season. This time, it was returned for a whopping 88 yards, giving the Cougars the lead just before the half.

The Bruins defense roared in the second half, easily the bright spot of the program in 2023. The Bruins were constantly in Washington State Quarterback Cameron Ward’s face, delivered blanket coverage in the secondary and pushed to poke the ball out frequently while still delivering fundamentally sound tackling.

UCLA forced multiple turnovers and turned squandered opportunities in the red zone resulting in three field goal attempts, one which was blocked by the Cougar special teams.

After Oluwafemi Oladjedo picked off Ward on the first play of the ensuing drive, Jones scored four plays later from 22 yards out to make it an eight-point lead. The touchdown was the final nail in the coffin for Washington State.

In the 4th quarter and with the game on the line, the Bruins found the end zone and managed to escape a formidable Washington State program.

The Bruins finally have a defense that can take over games for the first time in Chip Kelly’s six seasons in Westwood.

As for UCLA, we Face our third consecutive top 25 program in a row next week. The Bruins travel to No. 15 Oregon State next Saturday.

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