Source: Associated Press
Summary
The No. 12 UCLA Bruins, under coach Bob Chesney, are ranked highest in four years and are 3-0 in Big Ten play. They were picked to finish 13th in the conference but are tied with Ohio State and Indiana. Chesney was named Big Ten coach of the year and UCLA the most surprising team. The Bruins have 46 transfers and 17 freshmen, including starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava. They have a 5-0 start, leading the Big Ten in rushing and have beaten Maryland and Oregon. Northwestern’s Aidan Chiles has led the Wildcats to a 4-1 start. Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith is having a standout season. Indiana’s Josh Hoover has 17 touchdown passes with no interceptions. Oregon’s Dante Moore was injured in a hit and missed the UCLA game.
Our Reading
This one felt recognizable early.
The Bruins were a mess, now they’re a force.
Chesney fixed the mess, but it took a miracle.
Transfers and cash helped, but the real work was done on the field.
The Ducks fell, the Bruins rose — it’s the same story every year.
Author: Evan Null
UCLA’s Rise From the Ashes
Bob Chesney took over a struggling UCLA program and turned it into a top-12 team. The Bruins were picked to finish 13th in the Big Ten but are now 3-0 in conference play. They have a 5-0 start, led by a strong rushing attack and a new quarterback.
Chesney’s success comes after inheriting a team that was 8-16 in the previous two seasons. He managed to keep starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who is now injured, and brought in 46 transfers and 17 freshmen. The Bruins have also benefited from a big infusion of donor cash for name, image, and likeness spending.
The Bruins’ 54-3 win over Maryland was their most lopsided in a Big Ten game and in a conference road game since 1955. Their 17-15 win at Oregon was their first road win against the Ducks since 2004.
Chesney is the first UCLA football coach to start his debut season 5-0. The Bruins lead the Big Ten with 253 yards rushing per game and have a strong defense led by Wayne Knight, a transfer from James Madison.
The success of the Bruins has made them the most surprising team in the Big Ten, according to AP writers. Their rise from the bottom of the conference to the top is a story of resilience and hard work.
Other Big Ten Standouts
Northwestern’s Aidan Chiles has led the Wildcats to a 4-1 start. He has completed 71.4% of his passes for 234.4 yards per game with nine touchdowns and no interceptions. Chiles played one year at Oregon State and two at Michigan State before joining Northwestern.
Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith is having a standout season. He has 48 catches, 916 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns. Smith has gone over 150 yards in four of six games, including two over 200 yards.
Indiana’s Josh Hoover has 17 touchdown passes and no interceptions for the defending national champion Hoosiers. He transferred from TCU, where he threw 33 interceptions in 35 games.
Indiana’s Tobi Osunanmi leads the Big Ten with 9.5 tackles for loss and is tied for first with five sacks. He transferred from Kansas State after missing the second half of last season due to injury.
Southern California’s Luke Wafle has lived up to his billing as a five-star recruit. He has 27 tackles, six for loss, and two sacks, and is among the Trojans’ highest-graded defenders by Pro Football Focus.
Oregon’s Struggles
Oregon’s season has been a mixed bag. They started with a high preseason ranking and brought in a highly regarded class of transfers. However, a loss at Oklahoma State was a red flag.
The Ducks beat Southern California on the road with backup quarterback Dylan Raiola, but a 17-15 home loss to UCLA dropped them to 3-2 and out of the Top 25. Oregon’s Dante Moore was injured in a hit and missed the UCLA game.
Moore was on the receiving end of an illegal hit to the head and chest, which knocked him out in the second quarter against USC. He threw for 30 touchdowns last year and was expected to lead the Ducks to a national championship.
Oregon’s struggles highlight the challenges of rebuilding a program. Despite having a strong class of transfers and a quarterback projected to be one of the first in the 2027 NFL draft, the Ducks have not lived up to expectations.
The Ducks’ performance this season has been inconsistent, and their recent loss to UCLA has raised questions about their ability to compete at the top level.
Maryland’s Struggles
Mike Locksley has managed to survive seven mostly underwhelming seasons at Maryland. This year, however, could be the worst. The Terrapins have only two wins, and one was against a second-tier Championship Subdivision opponent.
If Maryland doesn’t beat Rutgers at home as a 6.5-point favorite this week, they might not win another game. The team’s performance has been disappointing, and fans are starting to lose patience.
Locksley’s job is in jeopardy, and the team’s lack of progress is a concern. The Terrapins have not shown the ability to compete with the top teams in the Big Ten, and their recent performance has been a letdown.
The team’s struggles are a reflection of the overall state of the program. Without significant improvements, Maryland may not be able to keep up with the rest of the conference.
With only two wins and a tough schedule ahead, the Terrapins face a difficult path to success. Fans are hoping for a turnaround, but the current trajectory is not encouraging.
Transfers and Team Building
The Big Ten has seen a lot of transfers this season, with 46 players joining UCLA alone. Many of these transfers have made an impact, helping to rebuild teams and improve performance.
Bob Chesney’s ability to retain key players like Nico Iamaleava and bring in quality transfers has been crucial to UCLA’s success. The team’s performance has shown that the right mix of talent and coaching can make a big difference.
Other teams have also benefited from transfers, with players like Aidan Chiles and Josh Hoover making an immediate impact. The movement of players across programs has created new opportunities and challenges for coaches and players alike.
The success of these transfers highlights the importance of team building in college football. Coaches must not only find the right players but also develop them into contributors on the field.
As the season progresses, the impact of these transfers will continue to be a key factor in determining which teams rise and which fall. The ability to adapt and build a strong team is essential for success in the Big Ten.
