USA TODAY Sports predicted all 136 college football teams’ records before the 2025 season. The UCLA Bruins were not viewed in high regard in conference play or overall.
In the Big Ten, USA TODAY Sports predicted the Penn State Nittany Lions would lead the conference with an 8-1 record in conference play and 11-1 overall. To find the Bruins, viewers would have to search 11 spots below the Nittany Lions with UCLA located No. 12 out of 18 collegiate programs. The prediction had the Bruins with a 4-5 conference record and 6-6 overall record.
Is this a fair assessment of the upcoming season? Possibly. The Bruins have not done much in recent history and even with acquisitions like their starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava, there is questions with the defense, offense and even coaching to have the Bruins be seen as one of the top contenders in the Big Ten.
Chip Kelly left the Bruins with a 35-34 record and with DeShaun Foster taking over the role of head coach in 2024, they ended the season with a 3-6 conference record and a 5-7 overall record.
The perception of the team was brought upon them by their failures in previous years, but this can change all that by surprising the college football world. UCLA goes against two of the top three ranked teams in the US LBM Coaches Poll, the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes and the No. 3 Penn State.
If the Bruins could pull out a win against one of those teams, things could be headed in the right direction for UCLA. As of right now, the national media should not have high expectations for the team because it is their job to change the narrative.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: USA TODAY Sports predicts UCLA football record
Reporting by Ryan Lorenz, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
