This post was updated Aug. 30 at 9:00 p.m.
College football programs often begin their seasons against less elite competition to give themselves an opportunity to prepare for conference opponents.
Of the 18 Big Ten squads, just three are beginning the 2025 season against a Power Four opponent.
And the Bruins are one of them.
UCLA football will kick off its 2025 campaign against Utah at the Rose Bowl Saturday night. The former Pac-12 adversaries last played against each other two years ago, when the Bruins fell 14-7 to the Utes in Salt Lake City. But the Bruins still lead the all-time head-to-head record 12-9.
“[It’s] game week. [We’re] pretty excited about this against a somewhat familiar opponent,” said coach DeShaun Foster. “We played them two years ago, [and I’m] not sure there are many guys on the team from that.”
Just two starters remain on the team from the team’s last matchup – redshirt senior duo defensive lineman Keanu Williams and offensive lineman Garrett DiGiorgio.
DiGiorgio is entering his fourth season as UCLA’s starting right tackle and will earn his 39th start in the blue and gold Saturday – 26 more than any other current player.
“I’ve seen him (Utah defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley) before. This will be my third time playing against Utah,” DiGiorgio said. “We just have to be able to see the looks throughout the week and prep for those.”
When the Bruin offense faced Scalley in 2023, the unit recorded just one touchdown, and its running backs were held to just 60 yards on 22 carries, a rare misstep for a squad that rushed for nearly 200 yards per game that season.
But Foster said he wants to run the ball against Scalley’s defense and showcase a balanced pro-style attack after UCLA featured a ground attack that posted just 86.6 yards per game last season.
“It’s probably one of our deepest running back rooms in a few years,” Foster said. “We’ve got to be able to establish the run, and Tino (offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri) has done a good job of building the confidence in the O-line and in the running backs.”
Junior Jaivian Thomas – who transferred from California – will likely start in the backfield after amassing 626 yards on just 100 carries last season. Behind him, redshirt senior Jalen Berger and former Ute redshirt junior Anthony Woods have combined for 666 carries across their respective collegiate careers.
Saturday’s contest will represent Sunseri’s and redshirt sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s Bruin debuts. Iamaleava is set to make his first start at the Rose Bowl after transferring from Tennessee in the Spring.
Although Utah featured the 102nd-ranked scoring offense in the nation in 2024, it acquired both offensive coordinator Jason Beck and transfer quarterback Devon Dampier from New Mexico. These offensive changes may bolster a team that went 5-7 last season and missed a bowl game for the first time in a non-shortened season since 2013.
Dampier is known for his running ability, throwing 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, but also running for 1,166 yards and 19 touchdowns while averaging 7.5 yards per carry last season.
Dampier will also benefit from an offensive line that is returning every starter.
“We know this group is a veteran group,” said redshirt senior defensive lineman Gary Smith III. “Very strong group, very technically sound. It’s going to be a test. I’m going to enjoy the matchup for sure.”
The Bruins sported the sixth-best rushing defense in the country last season, holding opponents to just 96.2 yards per game.
But UCLA will have to defeat a Utah squad it has only defeated once across its past seven attempts – matchups where Utah has outscored UCLA by 132 combined points.
“We’re probably going against one of the top O-lines in the country,” Foster said. “If we can step up and play against these guys, we should be able to play against anybody.”
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