The pathway to UCLA football becoming bowl eligible

UCLA has five games left, and they need to win four of them to become bowl eligible.

For UCLA to secure a spot in a bowl game in 2024, they must have at least six victories by the end of the regular season. They have a record of 2–5 and must secure victories in four of their next five matchups. This will be no easy feat for the Bruins, as two of their remaining games are on the road, but their last six games appear to be less difficult than the stretch of games for their second game of the season to their sixth game of the year. UCLA has shown some promising developments recently with their road win against Rutgers and, before that, a close four-point loss to Minnesota, and it's still within the realm of possibility for them to secure a spot in a bowl game for the 2024 season.

UCLA's chances of qualifying for a bowl game are not high, but several key factors may determine whether they become bowl-eligible.

This season, UCLA's offense has struggled with consistency. However, their last game against the Rutgers showed a glimmer of hope that the Bruins offense is improving and that they are ready to take the next step. Improving their ability to score touchdowns in the red zone and continue improving in the passing game is essential for their chances to become bowl eligible.

UCLA's defense has stood out this season compared to its offense. They must stop allowing big plays and focus on playing as they did against Minnesota and Hawai'i and not as they did against Indiana and Oregon. It sounds simple, but if the Bruins are going to make a bowl game this season, the UCLA defense needs to create multiple turnovers a game and keep their opponents to 24 points or less a game.

Given UCLA's roster, which features quarterback Ethan Garbers, running back TJ Harden, and wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant, these three upperclassmen must consistently produce big plays and touchdowns in these upcoming games. They need to be leaders by example on the football field to get the underclassmen to produce offensive production for the second half of the season.

When many Bruins fans gave up on the idea of the football team making a bowl game this season, UCLA showcased resilience, securing much-needed road and conference victory against Rutgers despite a challenging schedule thus for this season. They must get four wins to play a bowl game in 2024.

As discussed earlier, if UCLA wins in four of its last five games, it will qualify for a bowl game. For the Bruins to secure a spot in a bowl game come 2024, they must clinch at least six victories. With a record of 2–5, they must secure victories in four of their next five matchups, which will not be easy. UCLA has been showing signs of improvement recently, making it a possibility for them to still contend for bowl games, but they must win, starting with their road game

There are crucial obstacles and factors that will influence their ability for a bowl game.

This season, UCLA's offense has struggled with inconsistentness, especially in the passing game. Improving their running game is critical, and increasing their scoring percentages in the red zone are very important to win four more games this season

UCLA's defense has stood out this season, but it has given up more points than you may think. Part of that is the offense's inability to control time of possession for the Bruins and the offense and special teams, giving the opposing offenses a good field position.

UCLA's offense must score 28 or more points a game down the stretch. Had they done so earlier in the season, it is feasible to think that the Bruins could be 4-3. They need to elevate their scoring output and put points on the scoreboard moving forward.

Despite a challenging schedule, UCLA has a legitimate opportunity to secure six victories by the end of the regular season. Reaching a bowl game itself isn't necessarily the most important part, but the extra practices that go along with it to help continue to develop the younger, inexperienced players are important for the long-term success of the program.

Here is a look at the predictions of UCLA's upcoming games in order for them to qualify for a bowl game this season.

UCLA even of the road, should be well rested from the bye week playing against a team that had a heartbreaking loss to Ohio State. The Bruins in their pathway to a potential bowl game, finds a way to win this game on a fourth quart field goal.

This game is one that many will predict Iowa to win but if the Bruins want to go bowling, UCLA needs to find a way to stop Iowa's run game and win at home. Look for this game to go into overtime, but the Bruins need to win this game and they find a way to do so late.

It is not realistic to predict that the Bruins are going to finish the season on a six game winning streak. Playing on the road against a Washington team that has shown the ability to improve through out the season and after a rough couple of the games for the Huskies, look for Washington to defeat the Bruins at home.

The battle for Los Angeles continues as the Bruins host USC. UCLA will look to win three of the last four games against the Trojans and do so by Garbers playing like he did against Rutgers.

The Bruins hosts Fresno State for their final regular season scheduled game. The Bulldogs has won four straight games against UCLA but they will not win a fifth one. UCLA wins this game and becomes bowl eligible.