BERKELEY, Calif. — In a matchup of programs with new coaching staffs, UCLA football benefitted from its regime migrating as a pack. The experience of coaching together, throughout a 12-1 season at James Madison in 2025, was present in the adjustments that helped the Bruins defeat Cal 45-24 to kick off the Bob Chesney era.
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Chesney, offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy and defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler adapted as Saturday’s game progressed and learned from their mistakes in real time.
On offense, UCLA (1-0) deployed each of its three running backs, and sought chunk runs, in a timely manner. Kennedy mixed hurry-up tempo with monotonous drives to keep Cal (0-1) guessing. On defense, UCLA struggled to sufficiently pressure quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, but Hitschler’s persistence to continuously disguise where the rush was coming from eventually paid off.
Kennedy has said his goal is to achieve double-digit explosive plays. So for UCLA to produce 12 in its opening game, against a stout Power Four opponent, was a success. The majority of those came through the rushing attack, and all but one behind the left side of the offensive line. The explosive plays generated in the passing game were also the result of elite offensive line play, creating pockets for quarterback Nico Iamaleava to throw from.
“I think the O-line did a great job,” Iamaleava said after Saturday’s game.
On UCLA’s opening drive, the offensive line provided the time to run a nifty end-around to Brian Rowe Jr. as left tackle Jordan Davis’ block allowed Rowe to hit the edge and gain 20 yards, ultimately setting up Iamaleava’s rushing touchdown.
On UCLA’s second scoring drive midway through the second quarter, Davis’ block, again — not to mention Rowe blocking from receiver — made way for Jaivian Thomas to get outside the hashes and run for 15 yards into the red zone. Thomas returned the favor, paving the way for Iamaleava on the following play. Wayne Knight capped that drive with an 8-yard score to give UCLA its first lead.
UCLA extended its lead to 21 after two big plays in the passing game powered a downfield drive that was capped off by a 31-yard rush that was all Anthony Woods’ vision and speed. To get down there, the offensive line gave Iamaleava time to find wide receiver Mikey Matthews on a deep crosser for 33 yards and connect with Landon Ellis for a crucial third-and-13 conversion.
Kennedy created one more explosive before halftime as he remained aggressive after UCLA took over on its own 38-yard line with 13 seconds left and Iamaleava found Matthews for 43 yards to set up a field goal.
But he got a little cute out of the break, with poor playcalling, including a trick play resulting in an injury to Ellis. Cal took advantage with an eight-and-half-minute scoring drive.
“We felt like there were moments we could run by them,” Chesney said. “We weren’t arranging it … . But I thought, the run game, when it was on, it was on. You just can’t run the ball all day long.”
After the quiet third quarter, UCLA rediscovered its pop on the ground to score three unanswered touchdowns. With 8:31 left, Knight broke through the B-gap for a 31-yard touchdown as Carter Sweazie got up to the second level to create a hole. Woods added a 53-yard dash around Davis, Matthews and Josh Phifer on left edge.
Ultimately, three different ball-carriers combined for six rushing touchdowns as UCLA ran for 226 yards.
“We got a lot of guys that can go,” Knight said. “So, any given chance in the moment, you know, it’s your time to shine.”
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For most of the first three quarters, Sagapolutele sat back with as much time to throw or roll out of the pocket as he wished. UCLA rarely rushed more than four. As the game progressed, the Bruins didn’t change the volume of pass-rushers, rather disguising where the pressure stemmed from.
The first effective pressure came midway through the second quarter when Cal identified Scott Taylor as a rusher on the right, but he dropped back in coverage as DJ Barksdale b-lined through the offensive line for the first sack of the game. Later in the second quarter, a soft pressure allowed Sagapolutele to connect with Mason Mini for 23 yards, but on the following play, UCLA disguised pressure and Samuel Omosigho came free to force a fumble.
Cal countered UCLA’s pressure with that meticulous drive in the third quarter, in which 11 of the 14 plays were runs. Ultimately Adam Mohammed scored a three-yard touchdown to tie the game at 24.
But that was the last time Cal scored.
“We sit back and kind of let the quarterback deliver the ball,” Chesney said. “We needed to put pressure on him to make sure we put him in a position where he was a little uncomfortable.”
At first UCLA got lucky as Cal converted two third downs with little resistance, but an errant snap from backup center Ashton Rivera led to a turnover on downs with 11:10 left in the game. Then it was Hitschler dialing up pressures that forced Sagapolutele to roll left in distress.
On third-and-8 from Cal’s 18-yard line with 9:10 remaining, UCLA brought a disguised four-man rush as Omosigho bore down Sagapolutele’s blind side. He felt the pressure and unleashed a risky, but solid throw to Ian Strong, who bobbled the ball into Ta’Shawn James’ hands.
James intercepted Sagapolutele on the following drive after another blindside pressure forced an errant throw.
Sagapolutele had 208 passing yards at halftime, and only 63 in the second half.
“It was good for our first game versus some talented receivers,” James said. “We set the tone… and made plays.”
James’ playing time increased after Tao Johnson left the game with an injury on the opening possession. Johnson didn’t return and UCLA hasn’t provided on update on its starting safety.
In other injury news, Ellis took the brunt of UCLA’s poorly run trick play to start the second half. A targeting call that disqualified Cal’s AJ Tuitele for the second half resulted in Ellis remaining on the ground for minutes. He gingerly walked off the field, but Chesney said after the game that “he’s OK.”
Iamaleava took a cleat to the calf on a first down run with five minutes remaining and was replaced by his brother, Madden, who finished out a drive, concluding a touchdown run by Knight. But Nico Iamaleava returned for the Bruins’ final two drives and confirmed his health in the post-game press conference.
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