What Big Ten football fans should know about the 2024 UCLA Bruins (2024)

Feb 13, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; DeShaun Foster answers questions from media after he was introduced as the UCLA Bruins head football coach during a press conference at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Head Coach: DeShaun Foster (ranked No. 18 in Big Ten)

Offensive Coordinator: Eric Bieniemy (ranked No. 3 in Big Ten)

Defensive Coordinator: Ikaika Malloe (ranked No. 18 in Big Ten)

Nov 25, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Chip Kelly watches from the sidelines in the fourth quarter against the California Golden Bears at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Former head coach Chip Kelly had established a solid baseline of winning at UCLA over the last few seasons. The program took some time to build up with 3-9 and 4-8 records in Kelly’s first two years in charge. But things took off post-COVID. The Bruins went 9-4 in 2022 with losses to top-10 Oregon and USC, then went 8-5 in 2023.

The program was winning on the field, but the temperature was still hot around Kelly. There were media leaks midway through the 2023 season that he was on the verge of getting fired. It wasn’t due to a lack of winning, but moreso an inability to adapt to the new NIL-driven age of college athletics.

But as some leaks go, that became impossible after he and the Bruins upset rival USC. So instead of getting fired or entering 2024 as a lame duck, Kelly left for the vacant offensive coordinator job at Ohio State. It was a true “you can’t fire me, I quit” move.

Here’s where UCLA enters a predicament as it joins the Big Ten: not only is Kelly gone to Ohio State, but star defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn left for the DC vacancy at USC. So new head coach DeShaun Foster must elevate UCLA’s recruiting profile, rebuild an offense without one of the sports’ brightest minds and also maintain a strong defense after losing one of the best coordinators in the sport.

UCLA’s recent history might indicate that a rough patch is on the immediate horizon. All of the reasons behind that success appear to currently be employed elsewhere.

Oregon defensive back Bryan Addison works out during practice with the Ducks Thursday, April 20, 2023 at the Moshofsky Center in Eugene, Ore. Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard-USA TODAY NETWORK

Transfers In: 16

Transfers Out: 15

UCLA’s transfer losses are more significant than its additions entering 2024, highlighted by safety Kamari Ramsey and cornerback John Humphrey following Lynn to rival USC.

Foster and his staff did land four-star transfer QB Dermaricus Davis (Washington) and WR Rico Flores (Notre Dame). The Bruins project to start four transfers on defense in edge Jacob Busic (Navy), safety Ramon Henderson (Notre Dame), safety Bryan Addison (Oregon), and only one on offense: OT Michael Carmody (Notre Dame). Addison is likely the best of the group.

Transfer movement will not define the Bruins’ 2024 season as much as the coaching movement will.

Dec 16, 2023; Inglewood, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Ethan Garbers (4) throws a pass against the Boise State Broncos during the third quarter of the LA Bowl at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

Win Total: 5.5

Pick: UNDER (4-8, with wins over Hawaii, Nebraska, Iowa, Fresno State)

UCLA faces a brutal schedule in its first year in the Big Ten. It plays LSU in the nonconference before Big Ten matchups against Oregon, Penn State, Nebraska, Iowa, Washington and USC. Not only is the team in a transition, but it will face many of the conference’s top contenders.

Nov 18, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Ethan Garbers (4) scrambles to throw a touchdown under pressure from USC Trojans safety Jaylin Smith (19) during the third quarter at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports

UCLA enters 2024 with a few bright spots to monitor. Young QB Ethan Garbers beat out former five-star recruit Dante Moore throughout the 2023 season and decided to stay for the DeShaun Foster era.

He still needs to establish consistency against some of the best defenses in the sport, but his late surge in 2023 gave a glimpse at terrific long-term potential. The variable of UCLA’s offense under Bieniemy instead of Kelly may be more important to the unit’s overall success than Garbers’ talent level.

Aside from Garbers and a few top returning players, the season outlook isn’t a good one for UCLA. The Bruins’ top 2023 rush defense takes a hit after top pass rusher Laiatu Latu left for the NFL, plus the secondary lost its top two players to rival USC.

Again, the coaching movement may be even more detrimental than the player movement.

All of this turnover is occurring at the wrong time as UCLA joins the Big Ten and faces a top-end schedule. The program needs a bigger rebuild than most others coming off an eight-win season.

Nov 18, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Ethan Garbers (4) celebrates after a touchdown during the first quarter against the USC Trojans at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports

Bowl Projection: Misses bowl game (4-8)

UCLA would do extremely well to make a bowl game in 2024. That would mean one of a few things: either Bieniemy and Garbers immediately form a Bieniemy–Patrick Mahomes duo, or the defense is able to build on its 2023 performance despite losing many of its integral pieces.

It’s hard seeing either of those things happening immediately under Foster, let alone both.

UCLA’s performance is on the back burner in the minds of Badgers fans entering 2024. The Badgers and Bruins do not play and there aren’t real program comparisons to be made.

The Bruins’ record in their first year in the Big Ten is more of interest to the general conference landscape. There’s a scenario where the program drops to the tier currently occupied by Purdue and Illinois, giving Wisconsin an easier matchup when the two programs do end up facing each other.

But for now, Badgers fans’ attention should be more focused on USC and Oregon in their respective first seasons in the Big Ten.