A New Era for the Bruins
UCLA’s football program endured a turbulent 2025 campaign, finishing with a 3-9 record after head coach DeShaun Foster was dismissed just three games into the season. The early exit left the Bruins with a depleted roster and a coaching vacuum that the administration moved quickly to fill.
Enter Bob Chesney, the architect of James Madison’s recent Sun Belt Championship and College Football Playoff run. Chesney arrives with a reputation for maximizing talent through the transfer portal, and he brings an entire contingent of 42 players from his previous squad, a group ranked 11th by Rivals.
The new coaching staff inherits a roster that will be entirely refreshed for the 2026 season. While the departure of star quarterback Nico Iamaleava left a void — his 1,928 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions highlighted a challenging year — the team now leans on fresh faces and experienced transfers to provide stability.
Transfer Portal Reinforcements
Chesney’s recruiting strategy centers on leveraging relationships forged at James Madison, where running back Wayne Knight and wide receiver Landon Ellis emerged as key contributors. Their familiarity with the offensive scheme could accelerate Iamaleava’s development and give the Bruins a more dynamic passing attack.
Defensively, the Bruins will count on Sahir West and DJ Barksdale, both stalwarts on JMU’s defense, to anchor a unit that aims to tighten up after a season that left the team vulnerable in key matchups.
Despite the influx of talent, analysts predict UCLA will be preseason ranked outside the top 25, a reflection of lingering doubts about chemistry and depth. However, the convergence of proven performers from a championship program and a cohesive coaching philosophy offers a plausible pathway for the Bruins to climb back into the rankings by season’s end.