College Football Preview 2025: UCLA Bruins

• Head Coach: Deshaun Foster (second season)
• 2024 Record: 5-7
• Strength of Schedule:
• PFF Projected Win Total:
• FanDuel Win Total: 5.5

2024 Recap

Deshaun Foster faced a tough first year as Chip Kelly’s successor, with UCLA finishing 5-7 and ending a run of three straight eight-win seasons. Both sides of the ball struggled, as the offense and defense each ranked outside the top 90 in EPA per play.

Still, there’s reason for optimism offensively after the high-profile transfer of Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, a top-10 quarterback in college football. The defense, however, remains a concern after losing several key contributors and making few impactful additions in the transfer portal.

Biggest Strength: A top-10 quarterback

While much of the attention around Nico Iamaleava centers on the NIL dispute that prompted his transfer from Tennessee, his talent is unquestionable. He enters the season as PFF’s ninth-ranked quarterback and boasts as much arm talent as anyone in the country.

Biggest Weakness: A defense that lacks any true difference makers

UCLA’s defense struggled last season and lost eight of its 10 most valuable defenders, according to PFF’s Wins Above Average metric. While the Bruins brought in several transfers to bolster the unit, none arrive with standout résumés from their previous schools.