2011 would ultimately be the fourth and final season for Rick Neuheisel. As he just wouldn’t be able to get over the hump and take UCLA to the next level as people had hoped. He would again turn to a rotation at quarterback with Richard Brehaut and Kevin Prince. Leading to the same result as 2010 and struggling to move the ball and score points. UCLA only scored 23.1 points per game, which was good for 88th in the nation. Their defense struggled again and gave up 31.4 points per game which ranked 92nd in the nation.
Hey, Texas Longhorns, only 7 more days, that's just one more week, until football season!
— Longhorn🤘Highlights (@LonghornClips) August 24, 2024
Cody Johnson has a powerful 7 yard TD run
Texas Longhorns at UCLA Bruins
Sept. 17, 2011 pic.twitter.com/nHwETbkUov
UCLA became the first team ever to be in bowl and have eight losses in a season. Due to many sanctions around USC, UCLA snuck their way into the first ever PAC-12 championship game. Losing to Oregon 49-31, which would be Neuheisel’s last game. He did not coach in the Fight Hunger Bowl game which UCLA lost 20-14 to Illinois. With Jim Mora seemingly on his way in, it was best to cut the ties and get to work immediately following that game.
Remember this Terrence Mitchell interception, UCLA’s fourth turnover of the night, that further cemented the victory in the 2011 Pac-12 Championship? #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/VoxuuYBKls
— emilyetaylor (@emilyetaylor23) August 4, 2024
A lot of the season had some controversy surrounded with it. Whether Neuheisel due to the offense struggling badly. Was going to insert true freshman quarterback Brett Hundley. A move that would take out a year of his eligibility if he were to pull the string. He ultimately never made that move and it was a positive. It kept a year of eligibility for Hundley, even though he declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season. That was a positive that Neuheisel had UCLA’s future in mind even knowing he was being let go.
UCLA did have some bright spots on offense. Johnathan Franklin and Derrick Coleman powered the backfield running for over 1,700 yards and 16 touchdowns. Wide receiver Nelson Rosario also had 64 catches for 1,161 yards and five touchdowns. Giving new incoming coach Mora some key pieces to build around his new quarterback Hundley. But again, UCLA was lost in trying to get back to prominent football that Bob Toledo had them at in the late 90’s.