The Improvin’ Bruins: What UCLA Football Has To Strengthen From Last Season

Dec 7, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; Stanford Cardinal head coach David Shaw celebrates with his players after beating the Arizona State Sun Devils 38-14 at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Becoming Kings In The Pac-12

The Bruins, despite having some muscles to flex, have not won diddly squat. You read that right. The Pac-12 Championship, Rose Bowl and the coveted National Title are things that are not on Mora’s list of achievements. Although he came damn close to one of those goals in the 2012 Pac-12 Championship Game, losing to Stanford 27-24 in a game that could have easily been a Bruin victory. That game was as close as the score indicates… and that was in Mora’s first year.

But it was still a loss and it was not the only one against the two-time Pac-12 Champions. The Bruins have played the Cardinal three times in Mora’s two-years and though UCLA has come close, close does not punch your ticket to the Rose Bowl. Stanford is King and they are not going away quietly.

Oregon is another road block for the Bruins as the Ducks are the favorite to win both the North Division and the Pac-12 outright. UCLA plays Oregon at the Rose Bowl this year, but beating the fast-paced Oregon football team will always be difficult, no matter where the Bruins play them. Regardless, UCLA will have to get through both of these teams if they want to claim their first Pac-12 title since 1998. As stated before, it is attainable.