The UCLA football team has one of the hardest schedules in the nation, but which is the hardest? Go Joe Bruin ranks the 2018 games from easiest to toughest.
If you’re like any hard-core UCLA football fan, you probably already know that UCLA has one of the toughest, if not the toughest, schedule in the nation. Not only do the Bruins face some stiff competition in the non-conference season, but the Pac-12 seems to be taking a few steps forward as well.
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So with that in mind, it was actually pretty hard to figure out which of these games would be the easiest and which would be the hardest. They’re all pretty hard, but taking into other factors than just the talent on the other side of the field, Go Joe Bruin looks at divisional matchups, dates of the games, coaching and anything else that stands out in trying to determine which of these is in fact the most difficult.
So let us begin…
Easiest — 1. Cincinnati Bearcats | Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA | Sat, Sept. 1
The game against the Bearcats is by no means the hardest, but it’s not going to be a walk in the park either. Cincinnati is in there second season with head coach Luke Fickell. Last season they had a less than stellar performance in the American Conference as they came in fifth place in the West division. They had a decent offense, but still could not overcome a 4-8 record, their second in two years.
The thing I’m interested in seeing is how, not necessarily UCLA’s offense is out of the gate, but how the Bruins’ defense will perform. During spring we have been hearing about how the defense is becoming more violent and aggressive. This is due to the fact that the new coaching staff is instilling a certain mind set and mix that with the potential talent of several players and things could start off with a bang really quick, igniting the spark that lights the fire under the offense.
Can’t wait.
2. Colorado Buffaloes | Folsom Field, Boulder, CO | Fri, Sept. 28
Just because Colorado is number two on this list of easiest to toughest games, doesn’t mean it’s going to be a walk in the, hang on I already wrote that. The difference and difficulty between Cincinnati and Colorado is quite a jump. Colorado knows what it takes to win the division, which they did two seasons ago, but last season they seemed to underperform as they came in sixth place in the division.
Though the trend looks to keep them at the bottom of the shelf, the game against UCLA presents a lot of problems.
First off, it is the first Pac-12 game of the season, so already, there is a lot of pressure these Bruins fill be feeling. Secondly, it is on a Friday night, which tends to throw teams off just a bit. Fortunately for UCLA, they will have a bye the week before this so Kelly will have extra time to prepare.
Third, it’s being played in Boulder Colorado, which UCLA has occasionally been a place of struggle for UCLA in the last several seasons. Not the toughest, but in no way is it easy either.
3. Fresno State Bulldogs | Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA | Sat, Sept. 15
Gauging the likeliness that UCLA wins this game, it seems a lot of analysts are already handing this to UCLA, and even though I think it will be a win, I don’t think it will be an easy win.
It’s going to be the second home game of the year for UCLA and even though last year’s team miraculously went 6-0 at the Rose Bowl, the schedule is a lot tougher this season, which includes Fresno State.
Last season, first year Bulldog head coach Jeff Tedford, yes, that Jeff Tedford, led Fresno State to a division title and was able to collect 10 wins with impressive victories over BYU, Wyoming, Boise State and Houston
Next season he looks to continue that success as he brings back, which is why I think this will be an extremely tough game (and it is only #3 on this list).
4. Arizona State Sun Devils | Sun Devils Stadium, Tempe, AZ | Sat, Nov 10
This isn’t the fourth easiest game as much as it is the ninth toughest. UCLA and Arizona State have traded blows over the last few seasons when Jim Mora and Todd Graham were in charge of the programs, but that changes this year. At least from a coaching perspective.
No matter what, playing in Tempe is a tough task. At the present time it appears as if UCLA could have the advantage with talent and coaching. But this is going to be late in the season for both teams who will both be beaten up. Although, both could also be in a nice groove at this point in the season.
It also doesn’t help that USC and Stanford are the last two games on the schedule after this one, so no additional pressure there.
Though it is uncertain what Herm Edwards will bring to this Sun Devil team, especially at this point in the season, but UCLA should not let their guard down. Bruin fans are used to this team slipping in important games (from the previous coaching regime), so hopefully the change in the plan of attack by Kelly brings on a more satisfying conclusion.
5. Arizona Wildcats | Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA | Sat, Oct. 20
Let’s face it, Arizona smacked the Bruins last season. Josh Rosen fell short in leading the offense while the defense did an even worse job in the against dual-threat quarterback Khalil Tate.
Tate ran all over the Bruins, finding every available hole to run through as he led Arizona to 457 rushing yards over UCLA.
The good news is, the Bruins’ defense will be a lot more aggressive this season and they will have been going against a dual-threat running offense all season, so they will be a lot more prepared for Tate’s antics.
But they also have to be prepared for the spread offense that Kevin Sumlin and Noel Mazzone are bringing from Texas A&M. Sumlin is a good coach and should keep the Wildcats competitive, so UCLA better not let their guard down.
6. California Golden Bears | Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA | Sat, Oct. 13
Not that the games before this are any less tough, but playing the up-and-coming California Golden Bears in Berkeley will make it extremely hard to get a victory in this game.
In the last nine games between UCLA and Cal played up in the bay area, UCLA has won only one. The last time the Bruins were in Berkeley, Cal put down a serious 36-10 beating to cap off one of the worst seasons since Rick Neuheisel was in charge.
But things are different now. Not only will the Bruins bring a new mentality on both sides of the ball, they also have one key piece from their aggressive defensive front… Jerry Azzinaro.
Azzinaro, the new UCLA DC, was the DL coach for Cal last season and he will be bringing his aggression back to Berkeley on the other side of the field.
Still, new coach Justin Wilcox has been doing a good job rebuilding the Bears and should have them playing at a more competitive level in 2018.
7. Oregon Ducks | Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR | Sat, Oct. 3
“Welcome back to Oregon, Chip Kelly. Now, boo!” Yes it’s going to be quite a return for Chip Kelly to the school that made him famous. Not only is stadium one of the toughest places to play because of the volume, but those fans are going to be off their head trying to get in Kelly’s.
It also doesn’t help that Oregon looks to have a revival this season as new coach Mario Cristobal tries to bring success back to Eugene.
Last season’s contest was a struggle between two middle of the road Pac-12 teams, though it was very entertaining. Remember when Bolu Olorunfunmi surfed on the shoulders of a Oregon defender for a touchdown?
Though both teams did not make much noise last season, that changes this season and when the Bruins travel north for this game, eyes are going to be on Kelly. Will he be bested by the school he once led or will his Bruins ground the Ducks?
Mark your calendars football fans, this is going to be a good one!
8. Utah Utes | Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA | Fri, Oct. 26
Utah had a bad season last year and they’re definitely going to make that up with a good season this year. Kyle Whittingham does not stay down long and with the team he’s returning in 2018, everyone in the Pac-12, not just UCLA, should be wary of the Utes.
There is a lot of change in the Pac-12 South, which is never good for individual programs, but those like Utah that are able to keep consistency should have a leg up, especially after three South Division coaching changes, the loss of USC’s stud QB and, well, Colorado is still Colorado.
With that in mind, Utah is going to take every advantage it can to return to the top of the standings and hopefully get their first South Division title (they are the only team in the South that does not have one).
That is why this games is very dangerous for UCLA, but there are a few variables that make this even tougher. First off, it is on a Friday night, which throws things off just a bit. Secondly, it will only be six days since their last game, which gives UCLA one less day to prepare. Utah will be ready for this game, but so will UCLA, but will the Bruins be in good enough form to go against the Utes?
With that in mind, I do not look forward to this game at all.
9. USC Trojans | Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA | Sat, Nov. 17
Even if both teams are horrible, this will always be one of the toughest games on the schedule. Everytime the Bruins and Trojans play, both teams turn up the effort and energy as this emotions of this rivalry game unfold. But what happens when both teams are good? Well, we will find out.
We will also find out how the Bruins and Trojans perform as both move on from the Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold eras. UCLA and USC have talented QBs, but will they have what it takes to make their teams successful?
This year, the South Division could be on the line by the time we get to this game which will once again be second to last. For some reason, USC thinks Notre Dame is a bigger rivalry which has bumped the UCLA-USC game from the final spot on the schedule. So be it.
It does not matter if the game is the first of the season, the last or somewhere in between, with the added blood of the rivalry, we could see a UCLA team that runs all over the Trojans. At the same time, if things do not bounce the Bruins’ way, I could see USC taking advantage.
Still, no matter what happens, this game will be the start of something special in the rivalry.
10. Oklahoma Sooners | Gaylord Family Oklahoma memorial Stadium, Norman, OK | Sat, Sept. 8
The competition is tough enough, but when this game hits the airwaves in Week 2, the entire nation is going to be watching this game to see if Chip Kelly can pull out some magic and get a victory or if what he is bringing is just an illusion.
A third option, especially if Kelly and Co. keep the game respectable, is that critics will say that Kelly still needs a few more years to make this team elite, but either way this game is going to be a measuring stick for the Bruins.
Not only will Kelly be going up against a very good coach in Lincoln Riley, but the Sooner roster is still packed with players that went to the college football playoffs last season. Even though Baker Mayfield is gone and there is uncertainty with Kyler Murray, Oklahoma’s going to put up a fight, especially in Norman. The Sooners are not going to let some up-and-coming UCLA Bruin squad show them up, especially since they want to get back to the CFB Playoffs.
Either way, this is going to be a very interesting game to watch, simply to see how Kelly game plans against another top tier coach.
11. Washington Huskies | Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA | Sat, Oct. 6
So here we are with the second toughest game on UCLA’s schedule. It is unfortunate that the majority of the Bruins’ toughest games are the Rose Bowl, but hey, the pendulum swings back and forth and next season the Bruins are just going to have to deal with it.
So here we have the Huskies coming to the Rose Bowl, that is one advantage the Bruins have. Coaching has improved, but even if the Bruins are starting to come together as a team for this midseason game, Washington is miles ahead in stability and foundation. Two seasons ago, UW was in the College Football Playoff. Last season, they stumbled a little bit, but still finished 10-3.
What is going to be interesting is seeing two masterminds coach their teams respective teams.
I have recently gone on the train of thought that Chip Kelly is the opposite of Jim Mora as he will win games he is expected to lose (as opposed to losing games he’s expected to win). This could be one of those games that the Bruins are able to pull out, but it will take a monumental effort.
Toughest – 12. Stanford Cardinal | Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA | Sat, Nov. 17
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Aside from the fact that Stanford has had UCLA’s number for the past decade (the Cardinal have won their last ten meetings), this is going to be a brutal game no matter what, hence the selection as the toughest game in 2018. This is the last game of the regular season and could determine what happens to both teams in the post-season.
If UCLA has a good year, this could determine the winner of the South Division. If UCLA has an average season, then this could determine if they get to a bowl or not (and which one). If UCLA sucks, well, this is going to be a beat down.
Hopefully UCLA ‘s options line up with the first two, though that will not make this game any easier. It doesn’t even matter that this game is at the Rose Bowl, Stanford owns UCLA. The only way to break that is to beat the Cardinal, but that will take some effort. The good news… even though former UCLA coach Jim Mora was 0-7 against David Shaw, Chip Kelly (whilst at Oregon) was 1-1 against the Cardinal mastermind.
Next: UCLA Football: Post spring practice projected 2-deep depth chart
And really, isn’t that why UCLA hired Kelly, because of his coaching genius and ability to take down giants? The answer is yes. See you September 1.