The UCLA Bruins are gearing up for their 2025 football season, and the anticipation in Westwood is palpable. With the opening game against former Pac-12 rival Utah set for August 30, all eyes are on what head coach DeShaun Foster and his squad can deliver in their second year as members of the Big Ten Conference. The Bruins are coming off a tough 2024 campaign, finishing 14th in the Big Ten with a 5-7 record—their worst since 2019—and struggling to find their rhythm on offense. Yet, as the new season dawns, there’s a renewed sense of possibility, bolstered by fresh faces and a schedule that might just give UCLA a shot at early momentum.
Questions swirl around Foster’s tenure. After fans grew weary of the Chip Kelly era, which ended with a lukewarm 35-34 record and just one bowl win in six seasons, Foster was handed the keys to the program. The former UCLA running back and running backs coach inherited a team desperate for identity and results. While Kelly has since moved on—most recently landing the Las Vegas Raiders’ offensive coordinator job after a stint with Ohio State that culminated in a national championship—Foster’s challenge is to prove he’s the right fit for the Bruins. His first season was rocky: the offense sputtered, quarterback Ethan Garbers co-led the conference in interceptions, and the running game ranked among the nation’s worst, tallying only four rushing touchdowns and the fourth-fewest rushing yards per game.
Despite these setbacks, Foster has worked to instill a culture reminiscent of the Terry Donahue era—a time when Bruin pride was unmistakable at the Rose Bowl. “If you’re someone who believes in chemistry and camaraderie above the X’s and O’s, then Foster deserves your faith,” wrote Connor Dullinger, Sports editor at the Daily Bruin. Still, the jury’s out on whether Foster can translate that culture into wins, especially against the Big Ten’s elite.
One major storyline this offseason has been Foster’s decision to clamp down on media access. Reporters have been barred from practices and player interviews, a move that’s raised eyebrows among fans and journalists alike. When pressed about the policy, Foster explained, “Yeah, you guys film our practice and put it online. If I was an opponent for another team, I’d look right at your guys’ stuff and see what’s going on. ... That’s why it’s closed.” He added that restricting player interviews prevents follow-up questions that could reveal strategic information. Foster isn’t concerned about the marketing impact, insisting, “If you win games, you’re marketed.”
Winning, however, has been elusive for UCLA football. Since 2018, the Bruins have appeared in just two bowl games and haven’t cracked double-digit wins since 2014. The program has only finished in the top 25 once in the past decade, a stark contrast to the school’s storied basketball tradition. Yet, optimism persists, thanks in part to a more favorable opening schedule. The Bruins will face Utah, UNLV, New Mexico, and Northwestern in their first four games—three of whom finished below .500 last season. UNLV, the outlier with 11 wins in 2024, lost head coach Barry Odom to Purdue, potentially weakening their threat.
This opening stretch is a far cry from last year’s gauntlet, which saw UCLA square off against two College Football Playoff teams (Indiana and Oregon) and travel over 22,000 miles in Foster’s debut campaign. The hope is that a softer start will allow the Bruins to build confidence and momentum before they encounter the Big Ten’s heavyweights. The real tests will come midseason, with Penn State and Ohio State—ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in the preseason AP poll—looming in October and November. Both programs have entrenched themselves as national powerhouses, and few expect UCLA to topple them just yet.
But there are reasons for hope. The arrival of redshirt sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava and offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri, who last coached at Indiana, has injected new life into the offense. Iamaleava, a transfer from Tennessee, brings both a powerful arm and dual-threat ability, and his decision to come to UCLA was motivated by a desire to be closer to home in Long Beach, California—despite rumors of financial incentives. He’ll have a strong supporting cast at receiver, including sophomore Kwazi Gilmer, redshirt senior Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, and junior Mikey Matthews.
Gilmer, in particular, is being touted as a potential breakout star. As a true freshman, he amassed 345 receiving yards on 31 catches with two touchdowns, all while playing behind more experienced receivers. “Gilmer has the speed and cutting ability to beat most defensive backs in man-to-man coverage and the hands to make tough combat catches,” Dullinger noted. Paired with Iamaleava’s skills, Gilmer could become a difference-maker.
On the ground, junior running back Jaivian Thomas is another candidate to surprise. A transfer from California, Thomas racked up 626 yards and seven touchdowns last season, averaging an impressive 6.3 yards per carry. He’ll be joined by a talented group of backs, including freshman Karson Cox, redshirt junior Anthony Woods, and redshirt senior Jalen Berger. With Foster’s background as a running back—he ranks fifth all-time in UCLA rushing yards with 3,049—and his experience as the Bruins’ running backs coach from 2017 to 2023, the expectation is that the ground game will see significant improvement.
There’s also a sense of history repeating itself in Westwood. Iamaleava’s transfer echoes the path of Bruin legend Troy Aikman, who joined UCLA after an injury-shortened stint at Oklahoma and led the team to back-to-back 10-win seasons and major bowl victories in the late 1980s. Foster, meanwhile, has assembled a coaching staff with deep UCLA roots, including associate head coach Scott White and assistants Jethro Franklin and Demetrice Martin, all of whom previously coached in Westwood.
As the season approaches, expectations are cautiously optimistic. Assistant Sports editor Grant Walters predicts the Bruins could win each of their first four games, setting the stage for an eight-win campaign and a return to bowl eligibility. While toppling Penn State or Ohio State may be a stretch, every other contest on the schedule appears winnable if the Bruins can harness their talent and chemistry.
For UCLA fans, the 2025 season represents both a fresh start and a test of patience. Foster’s vision for the program is clear: build a culture of pride, develop homegrown talent, and let winning do the talking. Whether that formula will finally spark a football renaissance in Westwood remains to be seen, but the journey kicks off soon—and with it, a new chapter in Bruin football.
