LOS ANGELES – The meteoric rise of the UCLA Bruins below head coach Bob Chesney has reached a brand new top.
Per the newest Related Press High 25 Ballot, the Bruins have been elevated to No. 9 within the nation after taking7 on the Rose Bowl on Saturday, led by new beginning quarterback senior h. It's the primary time that UCLA has been ranked within the high 10 since 2022 and now they transfer towards the aim of ending the season ranked inside the High 10 for the primary time since 2014.
UCLA's fast rise inside the rankings was helped by the pandemonium that was school soccer on Saturday, the place 5 of the highest eight ranked groups from final week's ballot have been defeated in upsets, and even a crew like now-No. 1 Miami barely beat their very own opponent, Florida State, in time beyond regulation.
Restoring A Legacy
This new ascension for the Bruins is however one other step towards re-legitimizing this system since Chesney took the UCLA job forward of this season. UCLA is now 6-0 and even when their total schedule has been decried as simpler than most, they've now defeated two robust Large Ten groups in Oregon and Wisconsin in back-to-back video games.
Wanting forward at the remainder of the schedule, the Bruins face comparatively few threats, save for rival USC on the finish of the season.
Ric Tapia – The Sporting Tribune
Bob Chesney of the UCLA Bruins in the course of the recreation in opposition to Wisconsin Badgers at Rose Bowl Stadium on October 17, 2026 in Pasadena, California.
After UCLA's 3-9 end final season that was marked by the firing of head coach DeShaun Foster and each offensive and defensive coordinators, UCLA's standing as a program was in extreme jeopardy.
Rise of Chesney
Then got here Chesney, and an entire host of gifted gamers within the switch portal after him, together with many gamers from Chesney's former program James Madison College like standout senior operating again Wayne Knight. That surge of latest and returning gamers have helped remodel UCLA on each side of the ball and as a tradition as an entire.
Ric Tapia – The Sporting Tribune
UCLA Bruins offense and Cal Golden Bears protection on the line of scrimmage earlier than an additional level try in the course of the recreation at California Memorial Stadium on September 5, 2026 in Berkeley, California.
The crew is linked. They're gifted. They're ride-or-dies for his or her head coach. Now, they're a High 10 crew and the darlings of the faculty soccer world.
Even with this newfound endorsement of their expertise, there's nonetheless extra work to do. These Bruins have been adamant that they don't concern themselves with rankings, numbers and out of doors noise, be it constructive or adverse.
Doesn’t matter, get higher. 🐻📈 R
— UCLA Soccer (@UCLAFootball) 6
They’ve loftier targets forward of them, beginning with profitable a Large Ten championship that appears remarkably inside attain.
UCLA is a High 10 crew, sure, however the job's not completed.