A win over Purdue would keep things rolling for UCLA in the infancy of the Bob Chesney era.
asserted
things → keep → era
Well, that would change things quite a bit.
asserted
that → change → things
The Boilermakers’ last few seasons have sent their fans in search of boilermakers — shots of whiskey paired with a beer chaser.
asserted
seasons → send → chaser
Purdue hasn’t beaten a Power Four opponent since topping Indiana to end the 2023 season.
asserted
Purdue → beat → season
Thank goodness for that victory over Indiana State earlier this month, which snapped a 10-game losing streak but couldn’t solve a 21-game skid against major-conference opponents.
asserted
which → thank → opponents
The Boilermakers’ victory over Indiana three years ago was also their last against a Big Ten opponent, meaning they have dropped 18 consecutive games against conference foes.
asserted
they → mean → foes
So, yeah, losing to this team wouldn’t be good for the early Chesney buzz.
asserted
losing → lose → buzz
Here are five things to watch when the Bruins (2-0) face the Boilermakers (1-1) on Saturday night at the Rose Bowl:
Getting closer
Showing that it might be on the verge of a breakthrough, Purdue nearly snapped that losing streak against major-conference teams last week.
uncertain
Purdue → watch → teams
The Boilermakers took Wake Forest to double overtime before the Demon Deacons bedeviled them with a two-point conversion on the final play of a 38-36 victory.
asserted
Deacons → take → victory
Purdue looked plenty capable for most of the game.
asserted
Purdue → look → game
Quarterback Ryan Browne completed 32 of 43 passes for a career-high 329 yards, and running back Fame Ijeboi ran for 114 yards and three touchdowns.
asserted
Ijeboi → complete → yards
Let’s just say they’ve got Chesney’s attention.
asserted
they → let → attention
“I think they’re as complete as they can be right now,” said Chesney, who recruited Browne out of high school, “and I think that they believe.”
asserted
they → think → school
The UCLA quarterback readily admitted as much.
asserted
quarterback → admit → much
He hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass in back-to-back games for the first time since 2024 and conceded that he needed to get on the same page as new offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy.
asserted
he → throw → Kennedy
Kennedy said that was just a matter of time — but how much?
“I mean, everything’s about trust, right?” Kennedy said.
asserted
Kennedy → say → trust
“And you got to prove that you have their back, and they got to prove that they have your back.”
asserted
they → got → back
Facing a Purdue defense that’s giving up 221.5 yards per game — 90th in the nation — might be just what Iamaleava needs to get going.
Making a run for it
There’s a world in which Iamaleava continues to struggle and the Bruins continue to win.
It involves UCLA continuing to rely heavily on a run game that’s been its best in years.
uncertain
that → face → years
The Bruins are averaging 245.5 yards per game on the ground — 22nd in the nation — and have already piled up 10 rushing touchdowns, two more than they tallied all of last season.
asserted
they → average → season
Wayne Knight has led the way with a historic start in which he became the first UCLA player to rush for six touchdowns in his first two games.
asserted
he → lead → games
What does Knight need to do now?
asserted
Knight → need → What
“To be honest with you,” Kennedy said, “he just needs to keep being himself.”
asserted
he → say → you
Chesney has continued his pattern of dominating late in games.
asserted
Chesney → continue → games
A year after his final James Madison team outscored opponents, 261-59, in the second half, his Bruins have outscored opponents by a 49-17 margin after halftime.
asserted
Bruins → outscore → halftime
Of course, things would be a lot less stressful if UCLA didn’t need late surges to pull away.
asserted
UCLA → need → surges
Kennedy said players struggled in practice the week before the San Diego State game, which was reflected in their play.
asserted
which → say → play
By midweek, the Bruins were back to meeting the standard their offensive coordinator wanted.
asserted
coordinator → meet → standard
“The biggest piece for us is starting fast this game,” Kennedy said.
asserted
Kennedy → start → us
“That’s a huge stressing point of putting the foot on the pedal early and often, and for four quarters.
asserted
That → ’ → quarters
A new Fab Four
UCLA held San Diego State to 45 passing yards — the fewest the Bruins have given up in a game since 2009.
asserted
Bruins → hold → 2009
While a big part of that was a crummy Aztecs quarterback, the Bruins also applied plenty of pressure.
asserted
Bruins → apply → pressure
Defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler said he liked what he’s seen from edge rushers Sahir West, Aiden Gobaira, Scott Taylor and Cole Cogshell, who have combined for 1 ½ sacks and two quarterback hurries in the season’s early going.
asserted
who → say → going
“We’re excited about our third-down pass-rush ability, and obviously we give enough exotic looks that creates some issues on third down, as well,” Hitschler said.
asserted
Hitschler → ’re → down
“They’ve done a good job getting after the passer.
asserted
They → do → passer
They haven’t been rewarded with as many sacks as they would like.
asserted
they → reward → sacks
But we’ll get ’em, we’ll find ’em.”
asserted
we → get → ’em
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