UCLA Bruins:
With an awkward opening statement at Big Ten media days in late July, new coach DeShaun Foster displayed some doubt about his readiness for the job. Foster’s challenge is considerable because he’s got to replace coach Chip Kelly, handle several personnel changes and make the transition to a tougher schedule in a new league. For the Bruins to reach bowl eligibility, Foster will need to pull off a few upsets. The betting market in the offseason has been flooded with anti-UCLA money.
Offense
Foster, a former star tailback for the Bruins, was on Kelly’s staff and will continue to emphasize a ground attack that topped the Pac-12 in rushing yards each of the past two seasons. New coordinator Eric Bieniemy comes from the NFL. Ethan Garbers returns at quarterback after starting six games and passing for 1,136 yards and 11 touchdowns with three interceptions as a junior. Running back T.J. Harden, who had 827 yards and eight touchdowns, also returns along with receivers J. Michael Sturdivant and Logan Loya. The line is full of senior starters and should be a strength. The Bruins were inconsistent at the end of last season, averaging 36.5 points in victories over USC and Boise State yet scoring only seven in each of their losses to Arizona State and Cal.
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Defense
Two losses will sting on this side of the ball — coordinator D’Anton Lynn left for USC and linebacker Laiatu Latu, the team’s sack leader, was the 15th pick and first defensive player selected in the NFL Draft. Lynn improved a weak unit from 87th to 11th in total defense in one year. The top players will be interior linemen Jay Toia and Keanu Williams and linebacker Kain Medrano.
Outlook
Kelly, obviously fatigued by recruiting hassles in the transfer portal and NIL era, stepped down to become offensive coordinator at Ohio State. Kelly left on a high note, winning 17 games and the LA Bowl in his final two years, but he did not recruit at a high level. The Bruins are breaking in a new coach who’s learning on the job and the schedule includes road trips to Hawaii, LSU, Penn State, Rutgers, Nebraska and Washington — meaning the team will travel a league-high 22,050 miles this season. If UCLA wins all of the games it should (Hawaii, Indiana, Minnesota and Fresno State), five to six wins is a reasonable goal, but don’t bet on it.
Pick: Under 5 Wins
