11. UCLA Bruins
Key additions: DL Sahir West, RB Wayne Knight, S Tao Johnson
Key departures: DL Gary Smith III, OL Garrett DiGiorgio, WR Kwazi Gilmer
Top incoming recruits: TE Camden Jensen, WR Kenneth Moore, OT Quinn Buckey
Biggest coaching move: The DeShaun Foster era crumbled quickly last season, giving UCLA a head start on a coaching search that targeted and ultimately secured Bob Chesney as the program's next leader. Chesney is a proven winner who guided James Madison to the CFP in 2025 but hasn't worked in the Power 4 or on the West Coast. He brought several top JMU assistants to Westwood, including coordinators Dean Kennedy (offense) and Colin Hitschler (defense). Chesney retained running backs coach A.J. Steward, and brought in Vic So'oto, who has ample West Coast experience, as linebackers coach.
What went wrong: UCLA gained more than it lost in the portal during the coaching transition, but the team couldn't retain defensive starters in cornerback Andre Carter Jr., edge Anthony Jones and tackle Keanu Williams, and several decent depth players, including defensive lineman Siale Taupaki and offensive lineman Oluwafunto Akinshilo. More than half of UCLA's departing transfers landed at Power 4 programs, so there's some talent to replace in Westwood. The bigger hits came in recruiting, immediately after Foster's firing, as UCLA lost commitments from outside linebacker Anthony Jones, ESPN's No. 34 overall recruit who flipped to Oregon, as well as SC Next ESPN 300 prospects Johnnie Jones and Carter Gooden. UCLA's recruiting class fell out of ESPN's top 75 national rankings.
What went right: Chesney is a coaching upgrade and brings in a staff that knows how to develop players. He stocked UCLA's roster with several of James Madison's best players, including West, Knight, nickel DJ Barksdale, offensive linemen Riley Robell and Carter Sweazie, key defenders Aiden Gobaira and Drew Spinogatti, and productive wide receiver Landon Ellis. The Bruins also have strong Power 4 portal pickups in Johnson (Utah), linebacker Samuel Omosigho (Oklahoma), and wide receivers Brian Rowe (South Carolina), Semaj Morgan (Michigan) and Aidan Mizell (Florida). UCLA retained quarterback Nico Iamaleava and his younger brother and backup Madden, as well as promising offensive lineman Eugene Brooks, linebacker Jalen Woods and several experienced defensive backs.