As the suddenly red-hot 3-5 UCLA Bruins, coming off two consecutive road wins as nearly a touchdown underdog in each, host the 6-3 Iowa Hawkeyes, there is a palpable sense of momentum that a path to at least a 3-1 finish and a bowl berth for UCLA is very much a possibility.
It’s hard to imagine this degree of hope and optimism for the Bruins’ prospects even just three weeks ago. However, to his credit and conviction, head coach DeShaun Foster has remained steadfast in the team’s ubiquitous adoption of his philosophical pillars manifesting in gradual and tangible on-field success.
We grade the team on Foster’s three pillars of discipline, respect, and enthusiasm.
UCLA Bruins Grade For Discipline: F
Harsh? Perhaps. Accurate? Absolutely.
The UCLA Bruins resounding defeat of Nebraska last week was much more comprehensive and dominant than the 27-20 scoreline would indicate, courtesy of three inexplicable unsportsmanlike penalties, each from Femi Oladejo, Ale Kaho, and Sitiveni Havili Kaufusi, that directly led to all three of the Cornhuskers’ touchdowns, and kept Nebraska in the game until the final 30 seconds despite the Bruins dominating all three phases of the contest.
Furthermore, UCLA’s lone loss to a non-top-20 opponent, the Minnesota Golden Gophers, was the direct result of 10 penalties for 105 yards when the defense only allowed 234 yards that night.
Had the Bruins even been moderately disciplined, UCLA would be at the .500 mark with a 4-4 record and the prospect of a postseason appearance almost entirely assured.
Foster will need to address and eliminate the systemic discipline challenge, particularly on a Seattle trip next week against a Washington team riding a 19-game home winning streak along with the always highly contentious and emotionally charged Victory Bell matchup with crosstown rival USC.
Grade For Respect: A-
In the uber transactional age of NIL, transfer portal, and active redshirting that is emblematic of modern college football, the bidirectional level of respect between Bruin players and coaches has been intoxicatingly refreshing.
It took a few weeks, but offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy has demonstrated a healthy respect for the vast capability of UCLA’s skill position players along with the evident limitations of its offensive line.
This has translated into an offense averaging 31 points per game over the past two weeks with Ethan Garbers going 49/63 for 602 yards and seven total touchdowns that led to BIG-10 Offensive Player of the Week honors against Rutgers while enabling phenom Kwazi Gilmer to garner BIG-10 Freshman of the Week against Nebraska.
Also Read: The UCLA Bruins Vs Iowa Game Will Come Down To 2 Key Players
On the other side of the ball, Ikaika Malloe’s defensive strategy of disguise consistently inside of a play clock’s 15 seconds has been a linchpin to the outstanding play of UCLA’s front seven quartet of Carson Schwesinger, Kain Medrano, Jay Toia, and the aforementioned Oladejo.
But beyond the on-field performance, Malloe’s emotional interview during the bye week along with Garbers’ thoughtful postgame conversation in Lincoln has consistently revealed a reverence players have for their coaches, with those coaches cherishing that respect and reciprocating their appreciation by relentlessly preparing to set their players for success regardless of the win/loss record.
Grade For Enthusiasm: A+
It’s hard to overstate how significant and unprecedented the UCLA Bruins’ enthusiasm has been in 2024. I’ve followed college football for over 30 years and I’ve never witnessed a team with such genuine chemistry and culture despite a 1-5 start.
From players genuinely cheering for one another, to a visible thirst for wanting to get better each day, to trusting each individual evolving over the course of the season despite a five-game losing streak and arguably the toughest schedule in all of college football, this has been a remarkable journey unfolding.
If the Bruins make a bowl game in 2024, top business schools, Fortune 500 companies, and political entities should use this team as a case study in cultivating organizational culture.
As the UCLA Bruins prepare to battle the Hawkeyes during an iconic Rose Bowl Friday evening, the game will come down to two fundamental matchups.
First is the Bruins’ 10th-ranked rush defense nationally matching up against the BIG-10’s leading rusher in Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson with his 1,279 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns on a blistering 7.5 yards per carry.
Second is Iowa’s top 20 total defense against arguably the conference’s hottest player in Garbers.
As long as the UCLA Bruins can clean up the discipline and maintain their levels of respect and enthusiasm, a third consecutive win as an underdog is very much a reality. Fours Up.