UCLA (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) is No. 12 in the Week 7 AP Top 25 and one of the few teams still unbeaten in Big Ten play, alongside Ohio State, Indiana and Wisconsin. The Bruins aren’t on Ohio State’s regular-season schedule, so the two could only meet in the Big Ten Championship Game or the College Football Playoff.
A year ago, UCLA went 3-9. Now the Bruins are the surprise story of the Big Ten, and Ohio State fans have started to wonder whether this is the team to watch in December. Here’s what changed, and how worried the Buckeyes should be.
From 3-9 to 5-0: What Happened to UCLA?
The turnaround starts at the top. UCLA fired coach DeShaun Foster early last season and hired James Madison’s Bob Chesney in December 2025. Chesney had just led the Dukes to a 12-win season and a College Football Playoff berth, and UCLA is his first Power Four job.
He rebuilt the roster fast. Chesney signed 62 new players, 42 of them transfers, and brought key pieces from James Madison:
- Offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy and defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler.
- Edge rusher Sahir West, who had seven sacks and 14 tackles for loss last year.
- Running back Wayne Knight, now the Bruins’ most important offensive weapon.
- Three offensive linemen to protect quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
The roster needed it. UCLA’s offense scored just 18.2 points per game last season, and its defense had the fewest sacks and tackles for loss in the FBS.
The Win That Put UCLA on the Map
The statement came October 10 in Eugene, where the Bruins beat No. 13 Oregon 17-15. It was UCLA’s first win there since 2004.
It was not a clean game. The two teams combined for 10 turnovers. Iamaleava left late in the first half with a lower-leg injury after throwing two interceptions. Backup Ty Dieffenbach came in and threw a 9-yard touchdown to Knight in the fourth quarter. Knight ran for 103 yards on 22 carries, and the defense held on as Oregon scored late.
The result dropped Oregon to 3-2 and out of the AP Top 25, which also removes a longtime Big Ten contender from the title picture. As of this writing, I couldn’t find confirmation of Iamaleava’s status for next week.
The Numbers Behind the Hype
UCLA’s offense is averaging 39.2 points per game, per Sports Illustrated, which would rank among the nation’s top 20. Iamaleava has about 980 passing yards and four touchdown passes this season, so a lot of the offense comes from the run game and a strong defense.
That’s a very different team from last year, which won’t surprise anyone who followed Chesney at James Madison. His teams there were built on physical defense and balanced offense.
How Ohio State Matches Up
This is where the debate gets real. Ohio State’s defense has been uneven, struggling against Illinois earlier this season before bouncing back against Iowa and Maryland. Against Maryland, it held the Terrapins to 146 total yards.
UCLA’s formula, a strong run game, a mobile quarterback and a defense that forces turnovers, is the kind of opponent that can make a good team uncomfortable. If these two did meet, Ohio State would need clean football. Eight penalties and two turnovers won’t work against a team that capitalizes.
What UCLA Still Has to Prove
Before anyone crowns the Bruins, a few caveats:
- The schedule is soft. Preseason previews rated UCLA’s difficulty on the easier side, and their only ranked opponent left is rival USC in the finale.
- Iamaleava’s health is a question. The offense changes if he’s out.
- Wisconsin comes next. The Bruins host the Badgers (4-1) on October 17 at the Rose Bowl, a real test.
Ohio State has its own test that day, at Indiana.
My Take
I wouldn’t call UCLA the biggest threat to Ohio State yet. Indiana has that title until the Buckeyes play them, and the Bruins have played a lighter schedule. But UCLA is no fluke. Chesney has a proven formula, the roster fits it, and the defense is winning games.
If UCLA gets past Wisconsin, the “dark horse” label starts to stick.
Is UCLA a real Big Ten contender, or is the schedule hiding the truth? Tell me in the comments, and subscribe for weekly Big Ten and Ohio State coverage.
