5 things to watch when UCLA football faces Purdue…
A win over Purdue would keep things rolling for UCLA in the infancy of the Bob Chesney period.
A loss?
Well, that would change things fairly a bit.
The Boilermakers’ last few seasons have despatched their followers in search of boilermakers — pictures of whiskey paired with a beer chaser.
Purdue hasn’t crushed a Power Four opponent since topping Indiana to end the 2023 season. Thank goodness for that victory over Indiana State earlier this month, which snapped a 10-game shedding streak but couldn’t clear up a 21-game skid against major-conference opponents.
Purdue Boilermakers Ryan Browne (15) throws a go against the Indiana State Sycamores during the second half of a recreation at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. Getty Images
The Boilermakers’ victory over Indiana three years in the past was also their last against a Big Ten opponent, which means they’ve dropped 18 consecutive video games against convention foes.
So, yeah, shedding to this group wouldn’t be good for the early Chesney buzz.
Here are 5 things to watch when the Bruins (2-0) face the Boilermakers (1-1) on Saturday night time at the Rose Bowl:
Getting nearer
Showing that it is perhaps on the verge of a breakthrough, Purdue practically snapped that shedding streak against major-conference groups last week.
The Boilermakers took Wake Forest to double additional time before the Demon Deacons bedeviled them with a two-point conversion on the ultimate play of a 38-36 victory.
Purdue regarded loads succesful for most of the sport.
Quarterback Ryan Browne accomplished 32 of 43 passes for a career-high 329 yards, and operating back Fame Ijeboi ran for 114 yards and three touchdowns.
Let’s just say they’ve obtained Chesney’s consideration.
“I think they’re as complete as they can be right now,” said Chesney, who recruited Browne out of high faculty, “and I think that they believe.”
UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava is in search of more consistency and manufacturing as he tries to escape of a two-game drought to start the season. Isabella Serafini/UCLA Athletics
Can’t get proper?
Nico Iamaleava is in a funk.
The UCLA quarterback readily admitted as a lot.
He hasn’t thrown a landing go in back-to-back video games for the first time since 2024 and conceded that he needed to get on the same web page as new offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy.
Kennedy said that was just a matter of time — but how a lot?
“I mean, everything’s about trust, right?” Kennedy said. “And you got to prove that you have their back, and they got to prove that they have your back.”
Facing a Purdue protection that’s giving up 221.5 yards per recreation — ninetieth in the nation — is perhaps just what Iamaleava wants to get going.
Making a run for it
There’s a world in which Iamaleava continues to battle and the Bruins continue to win.
It entails UCLA persevering with to rely closely on a run recreation that’s been its best in years.
The Bruins are averaging 245.5 yards per recreation on the ground — twenty second in the nation — and have already piled up 10 dashing touchdowns, two more than they tallied all of last season.
UCLA operating back Wayne Knight is off to a historic start with six dashing touchdowns in his first two video games with the Bruins. Isabella Serafini/UCLA Athletics
Wayne Knight has led the best way with a historic start in which he turned the first UCLA participant to rush for six touchdowns in his first two video games.
What does Knight need to do now?
“To be honest with you,” Kennedy said, “he just needs to keep being himself.”
Starting quicker
Chesney has continued his sample of dominating late in video games.
A 12 months after his last James Madison group outscored opponents, 261-59, in the second half, his Bruins have outscored opponents by a 49-17 margin after halftime.
Of course, things could be a lot less irritating if UCLA didn’t need late surges to draw back.
Kennedy said gamers struggled in apply the week before the San Diego State recreation, which was mirrored in their play.
By midweek, the Bruins have been back to assembly the usual their offensive coordinator needed.
“The biggest piece for us is starting fast this game,” Kennedy said. “That’s a huge stressing point of putting the foot on the pedal early and often, and for four quarters.”
A new Fab Four
UCLA held San Diego State to 45 passing yards — the fewest the Bruins have given up in a recreation since 2009.
While a big half of that was a crummy Aztecs quarterback, the Bruins also utilized loads of strain.
UCLA edge rusher Sahir West was half of a go rush that helped restrict San Diego State to only 45 yards through the air last week. Isabella Serafini/UCLA Athletics
Defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler said he appreciated what he’s seen from edge rushers Sahir West, Aiden Gobaira, Scott Taylor and Cole Cogshell, who have mixed for 1 ½ sacks and two quarterback hurries in the season’s early going.
“We’re excited about our third-down pass-rush ability, and obviously we give enough exotic looks that creates some issues on third down, as well,” Hitschler said. “They’ve done a good job getting after the passer. They haven’t been rewarded with as many sacks as they would like. But we’ll get ’em, we’ll find ’em.”
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