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UCLA’s 7-0 start has one glaring flaw. Bob Chesney is running out of time to fix it

Bob Chesney has made UCLA the second-half darlings of college football, but the Bruins must address their slow starts if they hope to reach the playoff.

By Mirjam Swanson · LA Times

Published: Sunday, 25 October 2026 at 10:00 AM

Key Things to Know

Mirjam Swanson argues UCLA must fix its sluggish first-half performances to protect its College Football Playoff hopes.
UCLA defeated Michigan State 28-10 to reach 7-0 for the first time since 2005.
The Bruins outscored Michigan State 14-0 in the third quarter after leading just 14-7 at halftime.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Mirjam Swanson argues that despite No. 9 UCLA's 28-10 victory over Michigan State to start the season 7-0, the team's sluggish first-half performances present a critical issue. The Bruins committed two turnovers and two holding penalties before halftime, managing only a 14-7 lead against an injury-depleted Spartans squad.

While head coach Bob Chesney's team dominated the second half by outscoring Michigan State 14-0 in the third quarter, Swanson notes that persistent early errors could endanger UCLA's College Football Playoff hopes given their relatively soft remaining schedule.

Read the full article on LA Times

UCLA’s 7-0 start has one glaring flaw. Bob Chesney is running out of time to fix it

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