UCLA Unlocked: Recreation-by-game picks for the way Bruins soccer will fare in 2025 – Los Angeles Occasions

An optimist can see and listen to it, like a dramatic rating accompanying the trail to some inconceivable dreamland.
Late within the season, the wins piling up and the thrill constructing contained in the Rose Bowl, UCLA finds itself in rivalry for the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
New quarterback Nico Iamaleava elevates everyone round him. New offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri is the envy of every other school soccer employees. The protection finds greater than sufficient playmakers. Athletic director Martin Jarmond should combat the urge to take a victory lap over his hiring of coach DeShaun Foster.
After all, there are different views on how issues may go for the Bruins in 2025.
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A pessimist can envision a comedic unraveling. Iamaleava is erratic taking part in behind an offensive line that struggles to guard him. Sunseri’s offense can’t maintain momentum. The protection will get pushed round.
A realist can see a mixture of the chances. Iamaleava has a number of savior moments in main the Bruins to massive wins, however the workforce’s shortcomings preserve it from reaching a really elite stage.
What’s my take? Preferring to maintain it actual, there’s in all probability a sprinkling of every situation in retailer for UCLA throughout what’s in all probability Iamaleava’s solely season as a Bruin. Right here’s my game-by-game prediction for the way issues will go this season:
Utah on Saturday on the Rose Bowl: This might come right down to which workforce has the higher switch quarterback. Utah’s Devon Dampier, a dual-threat dynamo in his first season with the workforce after arriving from New Mexico alongside new Utes offensive coordinator Jason Beck, will problem a UCLA protection successfully changing each starter. Right here’s saying that the Bruins’ “D” will get it performed with an enormous help from Iamaleava, whose glowing debut as UCLA’s quarterback supplies a bit of wiggle room. (Win, Report: 1-0)
Nevada Las Vegas on Sept. 6 at Allegiant Stadium: 4 years after his Florida flameout, Dan Mullen is attempting to revive his profession at what’s historically been a coaches’ graveyard. Barry Odom bucked that development when he received 20 video games during the last two seasons, parlaying that success into the Purdue job. Mullen restocked a barren roster with a bevy of Energy 4 convention transfers, together with quarterbacks Alex Orji (Michigan) and Anthony Colandrea (Virginia). However the backside line is that the Bruins ought to nonetheless have extra expertise. (Win, Report: 2-0)
New Mexico on Sept. 12 on the Rose Bowl: This plucky Mountain West Convention outfit has a brand new coach in Jason Eck, who went a powerful 26-13 in three seasons at Idaho. Profitable with the Lobos shall be more durable, significantly with an virtually completely new offense. New Mexico introduced in Scottre Humphrey and Damon Bankston, working backs who every topped 1,000 yards on the Soccer Championship Subdivision stage. Beating UCLA away from Albuquerque will take a freaky Friday for an undermanned roster searching for one thing near a miracle. Higher name Saul? (Win, Report: 3-0)
Northwestern on Sept. 27 at Martin Stadium: Bizarre issues occur in a soccer season. UCLA will in all probability be driving excessive and favored in its Huge Ten opener in opposition to a workforce that someway assembled a worse offense than the Bruins’ beneath Eric Bieniemy in 2024. However odds and assumptions are removed from foolproof. Northwestern has a prolific quarterback in Preston Stone, a switch from Southern Methodist, and a sturdy working again in Cam Porter, who shall be again for a sixth season, to go together with a stellar line of defense. For UCLA, this could possibly be the ache by the lake. (Loss, Report: 3-1)
Penn State on Oct. 4 on the Rose Bowl: James Franklin is understood for stumbling in massive video games, and this might qualify if the Bruins begin 4-0 and Iamaleava builds vital Heisman Trophy buzz. Likelihood is the Nittany Lions have sufficient expertise in 2025 to beat any shaky selections from the sideline. Veteran quarterback Drew Allar, a backfield that includes a pair of 1,000-yard rushers and a protection with a slew of gamers sure for the NFL will in all probability make this a one-sided affair. (Loss, Report: 3-2)
Michigan State on Oct. 11 at Spartan Stadium: There are many parallels between Foster and Jonathan Smith, coaches with loads to show of their second season with their respective groups. Smith’s prospects for a 12 months 2 breakthrough don’t appear as promising except quarterback Aidan Chiles can grow to be much more environment friendly than he was in 2024, when he accomplished simply 59.4% of his passes and tallied 11 interceptions, tied for probably the most within the Huge Ten. Right here’s guessing the Spartans come away from this recreation with quarterback envy. (Win, Report: 4-2)
Maryland on Oct. 18 on the Rose Bowl: God bless Mike Locksley. At a time when it appears that evidently nobody desires to take accountability, Maryland’s coach admitted he had misplaced his locker room final season over animosity relating to who made what in title, picture and likeness compensation. It turned out that nobody was value a lot contemplating the workforce completed 4-8. Among the many newcomers this season is UCLA switch Justyn Martin, who shall be decided to beat his previous workforce if he wins the beginning quarterback job. (Win, Report: 5-2)
Indiana on Oct. 25 at Memorial Stadium: Fairly than sneak up on anybody, the Hoosiers might simply outright bludgeon them. That’s how a lot expertise coach Curt Cignetti has amassed going into his second season after making Indiana the breakthrough story of 2024. Fernando Mendoza, the switch quarterback from California, is poised to choose up the place predecessor Kurtis Rourke left off, setting offensive information and making opposing defenses look overmatched. (Loss, Report: 5-3)
Nebraska on Nov. 8 on the Rose Bowl: UCLA’s protection made Dylan Raiola seem like a Division III quarterback final season, continually pressuring the freshman into shaky passes and unhealthy selections. Including high-end transfers on the offensive line in guard Rocco Spindler (Notre Dame) and sort out Elijah Pritchett (Alabama) ought to assist Raiola elevate his recreation. The massive query surrounds the Cornhuskers protection following the departure of defensive coordinator Tony White to Florida State; can his alternative, John Butler, maintain the workforce’s success on that aspect of the ball? (Win, Report: 6-3)
Ohio State on Nov. 15 at Ohio Stadium: UCLA followers who had been trying ahead to heckling Chip Kelly from the stands misplaced the chance as soon as the failed-Bruin-turned-successful-Buckeye headed to Las Vegas to hitch Pete Carroll’s employees with the Raiders. One factor that hasn’t modified is a stocked Ohio State roster led by star huge receiver Jeremiah Smith that options All-Huge Ten candidates at each place. The Bruins would do nicely to maintain this recreation shut at halftime. (Loss, Report: 6-4)
Washington on Nov. 22 on the Rose Bowl: Former UCLA offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch has been a thorn within the Bruins’ aspect lately, guiding Arizona to wins over UCLA in 2022 and 2023 earlier than beating the Bruins throughout his debut season at Washington in 2024. Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr., making simply his second profession begin, regarded like a future star after throwing for 374 yards and 4 touchdowns in opposition to Louisville within the Solar Bowl. Fisch additionally restocked the protection with playmakers from the switch portal. Searching for an vital late-season win to spice up their bowl standing, the Bruins might need to “Go Fisch.” (Loss, Report: 6-5)
USC on Nov. 29 on the Coliseum: In a rivalry oddity, the house workforce has misplaced each recreation because the Trojans routed the Bruins on the Coliseum in 2019. Lincoln Riley seeks some stability going into his fourth season after a glowing debut was adopted by two years of maddening mediocrity, however he’ll want much more consistency out of quarterback Jayden Maiava to come back anyplace near the CFP. Right here’s betting that Iamaleava is the most effective quarterback on the sphere and the Bruins revive requires Riley’s dismissal with extra rivalry street revelry. (Win, Report: 7-5)
Las Vegas Bowl vs. Washington State on Dec. 31 at Allegiant Stadium: The Bruins tackle an previous Pac-12 rival that bears no resemblance to current predecessors. The Cougars are anticipated to unleash a relentless speeding assault after hiring coach Jimmy Rogers from South Dakota State and importing tailbacks Angel Johnson and Kirby Vorhees, who mixed for greater than 1,100 yards on the bottom final season on the FCS stage beneath Rogers. This could possibly be UCLA backup quarterback Luke Duncan’s massive second with Iamaleava in all probability sitting out in preparation for the NFL draft. (Win, Report: 8-5)
You may see the soccer workforce stroll into the Rose Bowl on Saturday in snazzy mild blue fits and tan laser wingtip Oxfords, questioning how a lot all that haberdashery value.
We’ve some solutions.
Final yr, when Foster outfitted gamers in fits with customized lining, a wrinkle-resistant shirt and tie — together with the identical jackets that advertising and marketing officers stated gamers wore for the CFP nationwide championship recreation — the tab was $65,625, in keeping with paperwork offered from a public-records request. That accounted for 125 fits at $525 every, with defensive sort out Jay Toia’s customized swimsuit in a distinct material going for an extra $400.
The 174 pairs of Cole Haan gown footwear the workforce ordered value $72 every — a discount, contemplating they had been lately on sale for $139.95 on-line — for a complete of $12,528.
Offensive sort out Garrett DiGiorgio stated at Huge Ten media day that returning gamers would re-wear their fits from final season, although with 55 newcomers on the roster, there shall be loads of new material unveiled Saturday.
UCLA basketball coach Mick Cronin has three extra seasons left on the contract extension he signed on the eve of the 2022 NCAA match, however it seems that he’ll in all probability have the choice to place pen to paper as soon as extra to safe a good longer future with the Bruins.
Throughout a recent conversation with The Occasions, Jarmond indicated his satisfaction with Cronin and his hopes to carry onto the coach who has taken the college to at least one Ultimate 4 and two Candy 16s.
“I need Mick to be right here a very long time — Mick is aware of that,” Jarmond stated. “We speak about that, so you already know, we’ll work on that when we have to work on it. However I need him to be right here a very long time. I like what Mick is doing in our program.”
Adam Wright deserves a statue on campus.
Not solely has the UCLA males’s water polo coach received 5 nationwide titles, he’s received all of them in opposition to rival USC, maximizing the glory.
The Bruins enter this season with designs on a repeat after successful their thirteenth NCAA championship behind the unbelievable play of freshman Ryder Dodd, who scored 102 objectives on the best way to turning into the primary participant to win each Mountain Pacific Sports activities Federation participant and newcomer of the yr in the identical season.
Six of the highest seven scorers return for a workforce that opens the season Friday in opposition to Navy at Coronado Excessive.
Many school soccer pundits have fawned over Iamaleava earlier than he’s thrown a single move for the Bruins, signaling that he may lead his new workforce someplace particular. However there are actually eventualities wherein Iamaleava stars for a workforce that may’t match his prowess.
How do you see the season taking part in out for UCLA and its new quarterback?
Iamaleava leads UCLA to the CFP
Iamaleava leads a resurgence to a bowl recreation
Iamaleava performs nicely however his workforce struggles
Iamaleava struggles for a shedding workforce
Click here to vote in our survey.
We requested, “Which UCLA soccer recreation are you trying ahead to most?”
After 563 votes, the outcomes:
Utah on Aug. 30, 32.2%
USC on Nov. 29, 31.3%
Penn St. on Oct. 4, 22.6%
Ohio St. on Nov. 15, 13.9%
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Judge’s ruling effectively blocks two players from competing for USC and UCLA this season
Do you’ve gotten a remark or one thing you’d prefer to see in a future UCLA e-newsletter? Electronic mail me at ben.bolch@latimes.com, and observe me on X @latbbolch. To order an autographed copy of my ebook, “100 Issues UCLA Followers Ought to Know & Do Earlier than They Die,” ship me an e mail. To get this article in your inbox, click here.
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You might sometimes obtain promotional content material from the Los Angeles Occasions.
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Ben Bolch has been a Los Angeles Occasions employees author since 1999. Twice awarded top-10 finishes in characteristic writing by the Related Press Sports activities Editors, he started his second stint because the UCLA beat author in 2016. His first stint, through the 2010-11 season, ended with one more crushing loss to Florida within the NCAA match. Over his 25 years at The Occasions, Bolch has additionally coated the Lakers, Clippers, Dodgers, Angels, USC males’s basketball and excessive colleges. His favourite athletes to cowl had been Dave Roberts, Jamal Crawford, Jose Lima, David Eckstein, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Thomas Welsh, Josh Kelley and Aday Mara. Bolch can also be the writer of the ebook “100 Issues UCLA Followers Ought to Know & Do Earlier than They Die.”
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