UCLA Bruins Land In ESPN’s Bottom 10

ESPN dropped the UCLA Bruins to No. 4 in its Bottom 10 after the 43-10 loss to Utah, and the metrics back it up.

492 yards allowed, 14-of-16 given up on third down, six scoring drives that bled the clock. UCLA managed 220 total yards and went 2-for-11 on third down. That is a possession and leverage loss, snap after snap.

Nico Iamaleava’s first start had flashes but little rhythm. He finished 11-of-22 for 136 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT, led the team in rushing, and still struggled with timing. Overthrows and slow reads showed up even in clean pockets.

The lone touchdown came on a dump-off to Anthony Woods. Kwazi Gilmer finally appeared in the second half with three grabs for 31 yards, but chunk gains were scarce.

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Utah’s offense dictated every situation. QB Devon Dampier went 21-of-25 for 206 yards and 2 scores and added chain-moving runs on boots and scrambles.

Nate Rogers (16-61-1) and Wayshawn Parker (11-62-1) punished missed fits.

TE Dallen Bentley slipped loose for a touchdown.

When a defense cannot set an edge, fit gaps, or finish tackles, a good offense turns routine calls into eight- and nine-play marches.

New Look UCLA Bruins Struggled Mightily

Cohesion is the issue on defense. Only 8 of 25 starters from last year returned. The secondary had heavy turnover, and it showed: blown coverages, late triggers, poor leverage. That is a sharp drop from a group that was one of the Big Ten’s better run defenses a season ago.

Trim the call sheet, tighten landmarks, and tackle to the sticks. Force a punt, then stack another. Style points can wait.

The offense needs on-schedule answers. Start with quick game and RPOs, pair duo/inside zone with first-window throws, and move the launch point with keepers. Protect the quarterback first, hunt explosives later. Penalties and negative plays turned too many series into obvious passing downs.

UNLV and New Mexico are next. Two winnable games to reset protection rules, third-down plans, and quarterback timing.

Week 1 exposed habits; the response decides whether the Bottom 10 label lingers or disappears by mid-September.