⚡ CFB Dashboard

- 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.

- 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.

- Pick/market: Let 'em know, Jet.

- 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.

- 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.

- 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.

- Injury: UCLA was back on the practice field Wednesday ahead of Saturday's Week 3 clash against Purdue inside the Rose Bowl.

- Injury: In the latest edition of the Word Around Westwood Podcast, Bruin247 writers Connor Morrissette and Jack Savage continue to discuss their takeaways from UCLA's Week 2 win over San Diego State and begin to...

- 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.

- 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.

- Pick/market: PASADENA - It is back to the Rose Bowl as the UCLA football team will take on the San Diego State Aztecs in the home opener.

- 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.

- Coaching: UCLA head coach Bob Chesney met with the media Tuesday ahead of the Bruins' Big Ten opener against 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.

- 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.

- 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.

- Coaching: The UCLA football head coach Bob Chesney talked at Monday's press conference about the development of Nico Iamaleava, the team's second-half success and what he sees from Purdue.

- Defense: The UCLA athletics communications department sets rules for practice coverage.

- OL/LB: Offensive line coach Chris Smith is locked in doing laps around the field with his headphones in.

- 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

- Offense: UCLA football's defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler talked on Wednesday about Purdue's offense, Darold DeNgohe, and his blitzing defense.

- RB: Fun Wayne Knight Notes: He has recorded the first two multi-rushing TD games of his career in his first two games as a Bruin.

- OL: Mack Indestad is in at left tackle for UCLA on its second drive instead of Jordan Davis.

- DL: Big fan of Leilua and he's easily among the top DLs out West in the '28 class.

- KICKER: UCLA football went through its Wednesday practice of Purdue week on campus, and the Bruin247 team was there to cover all of the action.

- Coaching: UCLA edge Scott Taylor talked at Monday's press conference about the UCLA defense, what's contributing to the late-game success, his relationship with ex-UCLA great Anthony Barr, Purdue and more.

- Intel: Thank you for your kind words Larry but Connelly was one of the first stat writers who I really liked and my overall focus is definitely based a lot on his five factors; certainly...

- Intel: Not when my wife says we have "lunch with my mom" and it derails my plans of sitting on the couch and watching football!

- 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...

- Intel: College Football Bowl Projections Week 3: Full list of matchups, playoff predictions Projection of how the 2026 bowl season and College Football Playoff field could play out after week 2 of the season.

- Intel: A look at some key UCLA football team and individual statistics and how they stack up nationally and in the conference after the home opener.

- Intel: On his third touchdown run of the night, @Wayneknight25 crossed 2,000 rushing yards for his career!