UCLA Bruins Struggle With Winless Start, Defense Under Pressure

The UCLA Bruins football team is struggling significantly early in the 2025 season, with a 0-2 record and a 33-point loss to Utah highlighting their difficulties. ESPN ranked UCLA No. 4 in its Bottom 10 after their 43-10 defeat, noting poor defensive performance, ineffective third-down conversions, and offensive struggles, including quarterback Nico Iamaleava's inconsistent play. Despite the poor start, the Bruins have promising recruiting efforts under head coach DeShaun Foster, who has built one of the program's best classes in recent history, including multiple four-star prospects from outside California. UCLA faces a critical opportunity to rebound in upcoming games against UNLV, a team that has shown offensive strength but is considered beatable. Foster acknowledges the challenges ahead and emphasizes the need for the team to regroup and improve execution and discipline. Overall, while the current performance is disappointing, the program shows potential for growth with strong recruiting and coaching adjustments.