#7 UCLA facing unique 3-headed attack as CFP bid…
Bob Chesney is an element coach, half revitalizer, half historian.
In the midst of reviving UCLA’s inanimate soccer program in just a handful of video games, he also put the transformation in its correct context.
“You raised the standard,” Chesney told his gamers last week, “of what it means to play football here – the physical nature, the disciplined nature, the tough and nasty f—ing nature that will play all the way to the whistle on every single play.”
UCLA head coach Bob Chesney stands on the sidelines during an NCAA faculty soccer sport against Michigan State on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Pasadena, Calif. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
That means no more of the tender, just-happy-to-be-here garbage that has plagued this place for most of the last quarter century.
Fall behind early? No drawback. We’ll roll off the next 28 factors.
Two first-half fumbles? No biggie. We’ll power three turnovers ourselves.
Chesney’s message was captured on one of the crew’s epic weekly videos that’s launched a few days after each sport.
The good instances continue to roll for the seventh-ranked and unbeaten Bruins (7-0), with no end in sight, heading into a uncommon midseason nonconference sport against Nevada (3-4) on Saturday at the Rose Bowl.
Ty Dieffenbach #14 of the UCLA Bruins throws a cross against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at the Rose Bowl Stadium, Oct. 24, 2026. Getty Images
Here are 5 issues to watch in a sport that kicks off at 1:15 p.m. PDT on the Big Ten Network as the Bruins search to improve their possibilities of making the College Football Playoff:
Start me up
Slow begins have plagued the Bruins in a number of video games now.
They fell behind against California, couldn’t rating in the first half against San Diego State and gave up a landing on the first play from scrimmage against Purdue.
But nothing might match the checklist of issues that plagued them last weekend in the first half against Michigan State.
There had been two misplaced fumbles, two dropped passes and two holding penalties.
While the Bruins rallied to beat the overmatched Spartans, that variety of start might doom them against a better opponent.
UCLA Bruins runner Wayne Knight (3) runs for a first down against the Michigan State Spartans during a sport at Rose Bowl Stadium on Oct. 24, 2026. Getty Images
“You can’t do it, you just can’t do it if you want to win really close games,” Chesney said. “We’re taking three, four touchdowns off the board by doing that. Never going to let this happen again.”
Ty the King?
The stats inform only a small half of the story.
What is perhaps most spectacular about Ty Dieffenbach since he’s taken over as UCLA’s beginning quarterback is his demeanor.
“If you watch him at practice, he’s walking around like he’s the king, which he is, right?” offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy said. “That’s how you’ve got to do it at the quarterback position and that’s such a huge piece is his confidence, and it bleeds into other people.”
Dieffenbach gained a new military of admirers last weekend when he turned into a keen defender after the Bruins’ two turnovers, stopping a landing by getting in the way in which of a Michigan State participant making an attempt to rating on a fumble recovery. That supplied the additional second teammates needed to arrive and make the sort out.
Dieffenbach also continued to show confidence in guiding the offense, finishing 18 of 31 passes for 198 yards and 1 landing with no interceptions.
UCLA Three-headed attack
Nevada has an uncommon offensive strategy that might contain utilizing as many as three quarterbacks.
One of them has already thrown passes at the Rose Bowl.
UCLA switch Luke Duncan led the Wolf Pack to a 28-13 victory over San Jose State last weekend, finishing 18 of 29 passes for 178 yards and 2 touchdowns without an interception.
The other quarterbacks who might play are Carter Jones and A.J. Bianco.
“We’ve got to have different plans ready for each one,” Chesney said, “and not schematically crazy different plans, just the intent of how we’re going to play within those calls of, is this quarterback a runner or is he not?”
Bianco is the best runner of the trio, averaging 5.8 yards per carry.
The late show
If the sport is tight going into the fourth quarter, then the Bruins might need the Wolf Pack precisely where they need them.
UCLA has dominated the fourth quarter this season, outscoring opponents, 90-29.
Nevada? The Wolf Pack haven’t had a lot chew late in video games, getting outscored, 57-55, in the fourth quarter.
Injury report
With UCLA enjoying a nonconference opponent, the Bruins didn’t submit availability reviews required for Big Ten video games.
Chesney said operating back Wayne Knight, who left the sport against Michigan State after taking a shot to the facet of his physique, wished to come back against the Spartans and in all probability might have.
If Knight is unable to play against the Wolf Pack, the Bruins will lean on operating backs Anthony Woods and Jaivian Thomas, who mixed for 153 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground last weekend.
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