Here are five teams that the UCLA Bruins could beat and upset in the upcoming season, based on teams they will not be favored to defeat in their 2025 schedule.
Penn State: This would be a remarkable upset if the Bruins found a way to defeat the Nittany Lions at the Rose Bowl. UCLA has a significant home-field advantage because the game is at the Rose Bowl and Penn State is traveling across the country to take on the Bruins. Penn State has always been one of the best teams in the Big Ten in recent years, but they've had some trouble winning big games on the road, especially against teams in the Big Ten. UCLA's offense, led by quarterback Nico Iamaleava, has a new look and could score points and surprise Penn State. The Bruins' defense, which was strong against the run last year, might be enough to win this game and pull off a big-time upset.
Nebraska: The Cornhuskers are a team with high hopes under head coach Matt Rhule, but they're still working on building a program that can win a championship. The Bruins also have the advantage because the game against UCLA is at the Rose Bowl. Nebraska has a tough schedule, and they might come into this game having lost one or two games, which could hurt their momentum. If UCLA can take advantage of any problems that the Cornhuskers' new offense might have and make big plays, they have a good chance of winning, like they did last season when they defeated Nebraska on the road.
Washington: The Huskies are going through year two of a new coaching staff with a second-year new head coach and a lot of players who left after their recent national championship game appearance that Washington had to replace on their roster. They lost a lot of important players, and even though they've tried to replace them through the transfer portal before last season, there's no guarantee that the new players will fit in right away, even in year two of Jedd Fisch. This game is also at the Rose Bowl, which is a nice place for UCLA to take advantage of any problems that the Huskies might be having this season. The Bruins want revenge for losing to Washington last season, which could be the difference in a game that looks like a toss-up on paper.
USC: This is the biggest rivalry game, and anything can happen. USC is likely to be a talented and explosive team, but rivalry games don't always go as planned. The Bruins' strong defensive line could be crucial in this game because it could put pressure on USC's quarterback, Jayden Maiava, and disrupt their passing game. The game will be at USC, but if UCLA wins, it will show that the perception of the Trojans being back is a false narrative that the national media has been trying to push since Lincoln Riley became the head coach at USC.
Indiana: An away win against Indiana wouldn't be a typical "powerhouse" upset, but it would be a big win for UCLA in Big Ten play. The Hoosiers are a popular dark horse pick in the conference after a surprising college football playoff run last season. They have a talented new quarterback and a strong defense, which will be difficult for the Bruins to overcome for an upset. Playing a road game in the Big Ten is always hard, but if UCLA can stop Indiana's offense and make them make mistakes, they can prove they are one of the best teams in the conference. The Bruins might be an underdog in this game, so a win would be a massive step in the right direction for UCLA.