UCLA that season under head coach Terry Donahue, finished in a tie for first place in the Pacific-10 Conference. The team’s only losses were against No. 2 ranked Nebraska on the road where they lost by single digits and on the road against cross-town rival USC where they lost by only four points. The Bruins went on however to defeat No. 10 ranked Florida in the 1987 Aloha Bowl.
UCLA’s offensive leaders in that season were quarterback Troy Aikman with 2,527 passing yards and running back Gaston Green with 1,098 rushing yards. A strong argument can be made that the 1987 Bruins were one of the most talented teams in school history. They featured a number of future NFL players, including Aikman, Green, Flipper Anderson, and defensive back Kenny Easley. They were seen as unlucky that season, very similar to the 1998 team.
Overall Record: 10-2
Conference Record: 7-1
Ranked: No. 9 in the AP Poll