UCLA football bowl history: Every bowl game the Bruins have played in

Terry Donahue, Head Coach for the University of California, Los Angeles UCLA Bruins talks to his quarterback #19 John Barnes during the NCAA Pac-10 college football game against the University of California, Berkeley Golden Bears on 31st October 1992 at the California Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, California, United States. The Bears won the game 48 - 12. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr /Allsport/Getty Images) /

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Oct 24, 1987; Pasadena, CA, USA: FILE PHOTO; UCLA Bruins quarterback Troy Aikman (8) in action against the California Golden Bears during the 1987 season at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Long Photography-USA TODAY Sports /

UCLA bowl history

UCLA might be more known for its history on the hardwood, but the Bruins have had a lot of success on the gridiron as well. In 2022, Chip Kelly was finally able to lead the team to a bowl game appearance after a withdrawal after an 8-4 year in 2021. Kelly finally has the program back on track ahead of its arrival in the Big 10 in 2024.

That’s good news because the UCLA Bruins have been regular bowl game participants throughout their history with 37 appearances. The first of which was in 1943 and No. 37 was last season’s Sun Bowl loss to Pittsburgh.

Kelly has just one bowl appearance despite his two winning seasons. Terry Donahue led the program to 13 bowl games, the most of any UCLA head coach and he also authored the longest streak, eight, from 1981-1988. The Bruins have participated in the Rose Bowl 12 times, the most of any bowl game in program history.

This number could also be considered 38 appearances because in 1938 the Bruins played in the Pineapple Bowl and beat Hawaii 32-7, however, the NCAA does not consider it a major bowl because it was a pre-scheduled game.

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