Score Predictions
7
UCLA football vs. Purdue: Spread picks and bold predictions
- Bruin247's writers split on UCLA-Purdue at the quoted 14.5-point spread: Jack backs UCLA -14.5, while Connor takes Purdue +14.5 and projects a 28-17 UCLA win. These are the writers' opposing picks at publication, not a consensus recommendation or a live odds check.
- Connor's preview says UCLA is getting receiver Landon Ellis back this week and expects that to help a passing game he does not fully trust. The supplied article gives no workload, snap limit or medical details, so the anticipated return should not be treated as confirmation of a full role.
- Jack expects UCLA's rushing attack to outperform Purdue's size up front in a strength-on-strength matchup. Connor separately predicts two rushing touchdowns for Nico Iamaleava as his bold call. Both are matchup projections, not reported play-calling changes or established scoring outcomes.
- The preview says Purdue had no turnovers through its first two games and Ryan Browne had played clean football. Jack's prediction of three UCLA takeaways and three sacks is explicitly a bold forecast against that early-season record, not something already observed or evidence of a Purdue injury.
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I want 3-0!
- Pick/market: Let's take another step forward in our rebuild of Bruin football.
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9/17 UPDATES to UCLA availability report ahead of Purdue game
- Pick/market: Today’s updated availability report: UCLA EDGE Ryan McCulloch has been upgraded from questionable to probable for Saturday’s game against Purdue in the latest Big Ten availability report today.
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Culture & WR Blocking
- Pick/market: The body language looks awful by the WR but he made his block regardless.
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Game Breakdown
5
✦ AI Summary · 5 items synthesized
- [on3] UCLA starting safety Tao Johnson is out for a second straight game, with Ta'Shawn James expected to fill in again after effective relief work. Receiver Mikey Matthews is also out, leaving Semaj Morgan to handle punt returns as he did last week. The safety replacement is the writer's expectation; no broader starting-lineup overhaul is announced. - UCLA is...
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- [247] UCLA averages 413.0 total yards through two games, up from 319.9 in 2025. The article's table lists 245.5 rushing yards per game, 22nd nationally, but only 167.5 passing yards, 114th, with no passing touchdowns. The early improvement is concentrated on the ground; the two-game sample does not establish a season-long efficiency level. - UCLA already has 10... [source](https://247sports.com/college/ucla/article/ucla-football-bruins-2026-statistical-progress-and-national-r
- [247] UCLA's Nico Iamaleava carried 13 times against San Diego State, tying Wayne Knight for the team lead and taking repeated hits. Iamaleava says he and coordinator Dean Kennedy are still learning each other's preferences. The writer calls for better decisions and fewer avoidable hits, not a confirmed restriction on quarterback runs or an injury diagnosis.... [source](https://247sports.com/college/purdue/article/purdue-vs-ucla-preview-what-ill-be-watching-for-saturday-insid
- [on3] Game breakdown: I usually have at least one laugh out loud moment while reading Dave's weekly preview.
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- [on3] UCLA has run 75 times versus 45 passes and averages 245.5 rushing yards, using Wayne Knight, Anthony Woods and Jaivian Thomas plus 22 carries by Nico Iamaleava. The passing game is less established: Iamaleava has completed 63% with no touchdowns and two interceptions. The preview questions tackle pass protection despite stronger interior grades. - UCLA has...
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UCLA 2026 Statistical Progress and National Rankings
- UCLA averages 413.0 total yards through two games, up from 319.9 in 2025. The article's table lists 245.5 rushing yards per game, 22nd nationally, but only 167.5 passing yards, 114th, with no passing touchdowns. The early improvement is concentrated on the ground; the two-game sample does not establish a season-long efficiency level.
- UCLA already has 10 rushing touchdowns through two games, surpassing its eight across all of 2025. Wayne Knight accounts for six of the current touchdowns and 168 rushing yards; Anthony Woods has 148 yards and two scores. That shows where the early scoring is coming from, without establishing a fixed future carry split.
- UCLA has allowed 299.5 total yards and 17 points per game through two weeks. Passing yards allowed are down to 168.0 from 196.5 last season, and rushing yards allowed to 131.5 from 190.4. The figures indicate better early defensive results, but compare two games with a full prior season rather than adjusting for opponent strength.
- Sammy Omosigho leads UCLA with 21 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss through two games. Jalen Woods has 19 tackles and Malik Hartford 15, while the defense has five sacks and 12 tackles for loss overall. These are current production leaders, not a newly announced defensive rotation.
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Purdue vs. UCLA preview: What I’ll be watching for Saturday inside the Rose Bowl
- UCLA's Nico Iamaleava carried 13 times against San Diego State, tying Wayne Knight for the team lead and taking repeated hits. Iamaleava says he and coordinator Dean Kennedy are still learning each other's preferences. The writer calls for better decisions and fewer avoidable hits, not a confirmed restriction on quarterback runs or an injury diagnosis.
- Kennedy wants UCLA to start faster after needing strong finishes in its first two games. Knight had only three first-half carries against San Diego State, but the suggestion of earlier involvement is the writer's question, not a staff commitment. UCLA also has two red-zone turnovers through two games, another execution issue entering Purdue.
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Matchup Preview: Purdue at UCLA
- UCLA has run 75 times versus 45 passes and averages 245.5 rushing yards, using Wayne Knight, Anthony Woods and Jaivian Thomas plus 22 carries by Nico Iamaleava. The passing game is less established: Iamaleava has completed 63% with no touchdowns and two interceptions. The preview questions tackle pass protection despite stronger interior grades.
- UCLA has allowed 3.4 yards per rush, but the preview calls Purdue's Fame Ijeboi a stronger backfield test than its first two opponents. Pass-defense results have ranged from nearly 300 yards allowed to Cal to only 45 against San Diego State. Ta'Shawn James has two interceptions, and the defense has five sacks; the mixed opponent sample matters.
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UCLA Football vs. Purdue Full Preview and Prediction
- UCLA starting safety Tao Johnson is out for a second straight game, with Ta'Shawn James expected to fill in again after effective relief work. Receiver Mikey Matthews is also out, leaving Semaj Morgan to handle punt returns as he did last week. The safety replacement is the writer's expectation; no broader starting-lineup overhaul is announced.
- UCLA is supporting its defensive tackles with linebackers near the line and aggressive safety run support. Sammy Omosigho and Jalen Woods have been effective blitzers and run defenders, but the base edge rush from Sahir West and Scott Taylor needs more production. The preview expects heavy press-man coverage to challenge Purdue's underneath passing; that is the projected matchup, not a guaranteed result.
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Injuries
9
Playable depth
- Injury: Defensive linemen expend an enormous amount of energy compared to any other position.
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sc loses their best receiver
- Injury: Found this on a yahoo article posted an hour ago: USC star true freshman wide receiver and punt returner Trent Mosley is currently expected to miss multiple games due to a knee injury, sources...
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The Tim Effect?
- Defense: I watch the morning news religiously from 5 am till I head out for work around 8.
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UCLA football injury report: Mikey Matthews, Tao Johnson to miss Purdue game
- UCLA starting receiver Mikey Matthews is out for Purdue after a lower-body injury against San Diego State. The report expects Semaj Morgan to take a larger slot-receiver and punt-return role; he filled in with six catches for 73 yards and a 25-yard punt return last week. Those are prior-game results, not a projection of this week's production.
- UCLA starting safety Tao Johnson remains out after being injured against Cal in Week 1 and has not played since. Iowa State transfer Ta'Shawn James has been filling in for him. The article supplies no return timetable for Johnson.
- UCLA backup left tackle Mack Indestad is out, and starting tight end Josh Phifer is doubtful. Receiver Aidan Mizell, edge Ryan McCulloch and corner Jhase McMillan are questionable on Wednesday's initial Purdue report. These designations are not final game-day clearances, and no replacement assignments for these positions are provided.
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UCLA football injury report: Mikey Matthews, Tao Johnson to miss Purdue game
- Injury: UCLA released its first injury report ahead of Saturday's matchup with Purdue Wednesday, and starting wide receiver Mikey Matthews and starting safety Tao Johnson are listed as out.
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Leland Smith
- Injury: Based on the fact that he has gotten almost zero run and the number of injuries to the WR room you have to figure that he is either injured or fully moved into the...
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JuJu Johnson update
- Injury: The UCLA commit and Long Beach Poly CB told me just now that he is expecting to make his return to the field Oct.
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Quarterbacks
7
Brady Edmunds
- QB/LB: There is no question that Edmunds has the arm to be successful at the next level.
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- QB/LB: @UCLAFootball Preview: Bruins Will Need to Keep @BoilerFootball QB Ryan Browne in Check #GoBruins #8Clap #UCLA @UCLA
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Its getting salty in Eugene
- QB/LB: Unclear to me how you got transferring out to have anything to do with what I said.
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When did BBS turn into
- QB: Very good and honest assessment, I appreciate the civil exchange of opinions.
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Depth Chart
2
✦ AI Summary · 2 items synthesized
- [on3] Intel: Looking at the depth chart and the number of 4th year players we have, I had a quick question regarding the most recent eligibility rules.
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- [on3] Practice: Here's a one-stop listing for the UCLA/Purdue game, with all the practice reports, interviews, analyses, previews, podcasts, depth charts and more.
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UCLA v. Purdue Game Week Central
- Practice: Here's a one-stop listing for the UCLA/Purdue game, with all the practice reports, interviews, analyses, previews, podcasts, depth charts and more.
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Coaching / Pressers
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Everything Bob Chesney said Monday after UCLA's 28-10 win over SDSU and looking ahead to Purdue
- In Monday's review, UCLA coach Bob Chesney said being short roughly four receivers disrupted passing-game timing against SDSU. He praised Nico's RPO decisions and late throws to Semaj, who also helped on punt returns. Medical evaluations were still pending then, so this interview did not establish recovery dates or this week's receiver availability.
- Chesney attributed UCLA's early run-defense openings to misheard or misexecuted calls that sent linemen the wrong way and exposed both A-gaps, rather than a deliberately called front. He also noted that SDSU managed only 45 passing yards but UCLA missed two interception chances: better results still left assignment and takeaway corrections.
- Chesney credited UCLA's late rushing push to sustained OL effort, pulling blocks and strong tight-end blocking from Brayden. He cited rotation depth and in-game adjustments as contributors to stronger second halves; that does not establish that UCLA will wear down Purdue's front in the same way.
- Chesney said UCLA edge Cole Cogshell's improved confidence and consistency are earning him more opportunities after Week 2. He praised the passing-down rush group's repeated effort while maintaining lanes; the comments support a developing role, not a confirmed new starter or a specific future snap count.
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Everything Bob Chesney said Tuesday ahead of UCLA's Big Ten opener against Purdue
- UCLA coach Bob Chesney pushed back on a suggestion that Nico was being held out Tuesday: he said the QB participated in team periods and was fine. Chesney described the extra hip work as a longer warm-up, not a newly disclosed injury or a confirmed practice restriction.
- Chesney highlighted Purdue RB Fame Ijeboi's balance, contact strength and ability to catch out of the backfield. UCLA is stressing low tackling posture and solid contact because Chesney does not expect arm tackles to work; that is an opponent-specific preparation concern, not a projected rushing total.
- UCLA is giving defensive-end and tight-end upbacks repeated kickoff-fielding work to prepare for high short kicks and squibs after successful returns. Chesney said players get roughly seven to 10 repetitions on Tuesdays and Thursdays; he clarified these were not offensive linemen becoming the main returners.
- Chesney said UCLA self-scouts individual pre-snap tells as well as formations and signals, including tackle sets and receiver habits. The staff can use screens, draws or play-action counters when tendencies cannot be fully removed; he did not identify a specific current UCLA tell or disclose a new Purdue game-plan call.
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Everything Colin Hitschler and Dean Kennedy said Wednesday ahead of UCLA's Big Ten opener against Purdue
- UCLA OC Dean Kennedy said the prior week's Tuesday-through-Thursday practices fell below standard and the offense took several quarters to get moving. WR injuries required second-half adjustments; WR and OL rotations also change the calls. He reported better preparation this week but identified Thursday as the key integration day, without announcing receiver return dates.
- Kennedy credited UCLA backup QB Madden's rise to a quick release, sound decisions, checkdowns and willingness to throw the ball away under pressure. He said Nico has looked good this week, but UCLA still needs more explosive gains from QB runs and scramble drills; this was not an announced quarterback change.
- UCLA DC Colin Hitschler emphasized fresh pass-rush rotations and disguised third-down pressures, saying the rush has generated disruption without the sack totals desired. He expects DT Darold DeNgohe's situational role to grow; that is an anticipated role expansion, not a confirmed starting change.
- Hitschler said Purdue's two slot receivers lead its targets and its four-WR sets could challenge UCLA's man coverage; more zone would depend on how those matchups unfold, not a preannounced switch. He credited improved receiving weapons for Ryan Browne's interception-free start through two games.
- Kennedy identified Purdue's defensive front as unusually large, disciplined and quick off the snap, calling it potentially the biggest UCLA will face this season. UCLA is repping answers to that get-off and relying on its experienced interior OL and center's identification calls; he did not disclose a specific blocking adjustment.
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Offensive Updates
12
Purdue vs. UCLA Official Game Thread
- OL/LB: Offensive line coach Chris Smith is locked in doing laps around the field with his headphones in.
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MJD to be honorary captain
- RB/LB: Former UCLA running back Maurice Jones-Drew will be the honorary captain and honored during the first timeout of the first quarter for Saturday’s Big Ten opener against Purdue
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- WR/DL: UCLA EDGE Ryan McCulloch has been upgraded from questionable to probable for Saturday’s game against Purdue in the latest Big Ten availability report today.
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Mathews
- WR: I don’t know if in years past we would’ve had enough capable bodies to have 4 WRs in the rotation with our top 4 WRs out.
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Passing Offense Fixable?
- QB/LB: It sounded to me like this offense puts a lot of decision making on Nico.
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UCLA’s offensive line…
- Pick/market: If Nico is just average through 2 games were looking much better on offense and not starring at 8-9 men in the box for games going forward.
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Everything
28
Anyone Awake?
- Intel: You’ll need a siesta (or two), and still have time to rally for the midnight kickoff!
Jayshon Gibson is special
- Intel: The kid is absolutely ridiculous 709 rushing yards 12 rushing tds 118 receiving yards 1 receiving TD really gives me Prime Kareem hunt vibes
Morgan Freeman
- Intel: Indeed, I suppose I still clicked on this thread, so I was intrigued — But I was simultaneously wondering why someone would generate a thread on game day about an illustrious actor.
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Wske
- Intel: They were driving then run it 3rd and 5 in the red zone and get stopped cold..then nothing on 4th..
Interactive data visualization of UCLA's season to date
- Intel: What up y’all, you might remember me from other side projects I’ve abandoned liked the CFB transfer portal map - I started Outside Zone recently, a project to ingest, transform, and visualize stats for...
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Bettors beware
- Intel: I used to notice that we would always lose the first game with students back on campus though I stopped tracking that the last few years.
To Connor and team
- Intel: Let me start out by saying that it’s a very competitive business and you, Jack, Blair have done a yeoman’s job in developing this site.
Freeway Billboards
- Intel: I saw the USC football billboard at the intersection of Sepulveda and Santa Monica yesterday, where the Lauren Betts salsa one used to be.
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Calling my shot with Nico
- Intel: I really don't give a rats *** who catches Nico's touchdown passes just as long as he throws some DAMN TOUCHDOWN PASSES SATURDAY....
Evening Practice Today?
- Practice: The equipment manager is driving the truck out here with supplies of snooze alarms and cases of Jolt cola for the 4th quarter.
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4th Quarter Chesney
- Intel: I read this in the USA Today, that UCLA is looked at as a strong 4th quarter team.
I love this graph
- Intel: In a nutshell, it’s an efficiency measure that shows how well a team does at consistently getting into 2nd and medium and either avoiding 3rd down altogether or getting into and converting 3rd and...
AP Poll
- Intel: Then send your resume to all 32 NFL Teams I'm sure with your EXPERT KNOWLEDGE OF FOOTBALL TALENT you'll get all 32 teams to offer a position to you.
Latest UCLA weekly award winners
- Practice: Some college teams have a scrimmage the day after a game for scout team guys & other players that did not get the opportunity to participate in the game.
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