There’s little doubt that the 2025 UCLA Bruins will be vastly improved in Year 2 of head coach DeShaun Foster’s tenure. In a very tough Big Ten Conference, however, it’ll be a challenge for Foster and Company to stack wins.
Even though the Bruins will have to face the very best teams in the country in Ohio State and Penn State, UCLA should still see an increase of wins from its 5-7 2024 campaign. Let’s predict each game of the regular season to get an idea of what a realistic expectation is for the Bruins.
Week 1: Utah 28, UCLA 24
Utah has consistently produced tough teams and this year figures to be no different. The Bruins will make a strong first impression, but not strong enough to knock off the Utes.
Week 2: UCLA 34, UNLV 27
Nico Iamaleava heads to Sin City and leaves with his first UCLA victory. The Bruins’ new-and-improved rushing attack should also fare better against the Rebels.
Week 3: UCLA 38, New Mexico 16
The Lobos’ defense allowed some points in 2024 and UCLA will make sure that continues in 2025 while moving to 2-1 with a sound home victory. The UCLA offense will put together a sound performance heading into conference play.
Week 5: UCLA 34, Northwestern 20
It will be important for UCLA to begin Big Ten play with a win, especially with a chance against a non-elite program to snag a win away from home. Northwestern ended the 2024 season by allowing 30 or more points in four of their final five games, with the exception being a 26-20 overtime win against Purdue.
Week 6: Penn State 38, UCLA 20
UCLA is still a program that’s growing and just keeping things close against the loaded Nittany Lions would be a moral victory for the Bruins as they grow towards contention.
Week 7: Michigan State 23, UCLA 20
A 9:00AM local time kickoff a week after facing Penn State is not a favorable draw for the Bruins as they’re unable to shake off the malaise until it’s too late, dropping the Bruins to 1-2 in the Big Ten.
Week 8: UCLA 27, Maryland 17
The Bruins get their feet back under them and respond with a strong performance against the Terrapins. It’ll be the first meeting between these two schools since the 1950s, as the Bruins can finally put their 7-0 loss to the Terps in 1955 behind them.
Week 9: Indiana 28, UCLA 20
Tino Sunseri heads back to Indiana, where he served as the Hoosiers’ offensive coordinator last year and the Indiana defense keeps Sunseri under wraps as the Bruins run into another talented Big Ten team.
Week 11: UCLA 34, Nebraska 31
The Corn Huskers travel to Los Angeles and Nico Iamaleava is able to outlast Dylan Raiola and give the Bruins a signature win in a back-and-forth battle at the Rose Bowl. This game against Nebraska is an important one, as it’s sandwiched between Indiana and Ohio State, with UCLA looking to avoid a losing streak.
Week 12: Ohio State 37, UCLA 14
Things come crashing back down to earth for the Bruins as they travel to Ohio to face the defending national champions. While resounding losses to Ohio State and Penn State would be deflating, it’s a reality for most programs.
Week 13: Washington 23, UCLA 20
UCLA is edged by their former Pac-12 rival, who also bounces back from a quiet 2024 season. While the Bruins finish closer than they did last year, where they lost 31-19, the Huskies remain on top.
Week 14: UCLA 21, USC 20
The Trojans roll into the season finale following a trip to Eugene to face the Oregon Ducks. The Bruins will try to kick USC while they’re down and end the regular season in painful fashion, with a one-point loss to their crosstown rivals.
That has the Bruins ending the regular season at 6-6, a marginal step up from 2024 but including some impressive wins for UCLA.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Game-by-game predictions for UCLA Bruins’ 2025 football season
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
