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UCLA Football 2019: 100 things to look for with 100 days until kickoff

By Mike Regalado

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 17: Running back Joshua Kelley #27 of the UCLA Bruins looks over his shoulder as he heads for the end zone during the first second of a football game at Rose Bowl on November 17, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 17: Running back Joshua Kelley #27 of the UCLA Bruins looks over his shoulder as he heads for the end zone during the first second of a football game at Rose Bowl on November 17, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

91. Major depth with the linebackers

UCLA has not had a good stretch with recruiting and developing linebackers (mostly in the Mora era), but that was compounded last season (the first year of the Kelly era) when injuries plagued the LBs. This year, UCLA will get to utilize five seniors in addition to the youth Kelly and Co. have been bringing in. The only problem is that those five seniors are gone after 2019, meaning the coaches have to bring in even more than a handful of linebackers for 2020.

92. The emergence of 4 and 5-star recruits

UCLA Bruins Football
UCLA Bruins Football /

UCLA Bruins Football

Speaking of recruiting, it seems as if the Bruins are on their way to becoming successful, and as we all know, success helps bring in recruits. Though many fans have been underwhelmed by the slump in recruiting (although it has already improved this year), we should start to more elite prospects give their attention to UCLA. I mean, who doesn’t want to be at the most beautiful campus in the nation with an up-and-coming football program? No one, that’s who!

93. Season’s endings against Cal

The regular season once again ends with a game against Cal. I am not sure why the last game is no longer against USC, but it doesn’t matter as UCLA will beat the Trojans any time of the year. Still, the Golden Bears are slowly rising themselves and could give the Bruins trouble. This is going to be a crucial game for several reasons (especially if there is a tight Pac-12 race) so UCLA needs to keep a close eye on Cal.

94. Can UCLA win the South Division?

Though we have already stated that the road to the Pac-12 Championship (most likely) runs through Utah, they are not guaranteed that spot. The South Division is full of teams that are in transition, and if the Bruins can get their act together early in the season, they will be in the hunt to win the South.

95. Postseason: The Final Frontier

What is this postseason you speak of? After a 3-9 season in 2018, UCLA was not eligible to play in a bowl, but that should change this season. It seems very likely that, at the least, UCLA will get six wins, giving them their first bowl game in the Chip Kelly era. Even if it is in the lower tiered [insert corporate sponsor] bowl, it will be nice to have some UCLA football in December once again.