Tag: Big 10 football

UCLA football lands in four-star running back’s top ten

The Bruins land in a talented tailback’s top ten.

Since their win over Rutgers last month, the UCLA Bruins have continued to gain momentum on the field. Riding their three-game winning streak in the Big Ten, UCLA’s momentum is translating on the recruiting front as well.

This week, four-star running back Brian Bonner Jr. narrowed his collegiate wishlist down to ten teams, and the Bruins are one of them.

In Bonner Jr.’s post on X, the 2026 Valencia (CA) High School tailback included the Bruins in his top ten alongside Penn State, Washington, Stanford, Nebraska, Georgia, and rival USC.

While the Bruins have some stiff competition, UCLA remains an attractive destination. If the Bruins finish their first season in the Big Ten strong, they could become an emerging program with a winning culture and infectious atmosphere.

Given UCLA’s struggles at the running back position, the 6-foot, 190-pound tailback Bonner Jr. could see playing time early and have an immediate impact on the team, something their competitors can not offer.

How bad has UCLA football’s first season in the Big Ten been?

Why context matters for UCLA’s first season in the Big Ten.

UCLA’s first season in the Big Ten has been up and down. From a first-week win over Hawai’i to several Big Ten blowouts, the 2024 college football season has been a rollercoaster for the Bruins.

That said, as the season rolls on, one thing has become abundantly clear: UCLA’s season is hardly as bad as it looks on paper when in context.

The Bruins have lost to five teams this season: Indiana, LSU, Oregon, Penn State, and Minnesota. Those teams hold an astonishing 37-6 combined record. Though overmatched in each of these losses, the Bruins still showed effort, toughness, and fight.

Now at 3-5, the Bruins have strung together consecutive wins over Rutgers and Nebraska in the Big Ten, proving they can beat Big Ten opponents, not simply compete with them. Though not the most talented roster in the Big Ten, credit is due to DeShaun Foster and his coaching staff as they continue to show signs of improvement. 

The Bruins have only four games remaining on their schedule, none of which are against ranked opponents. While it is unlikely the Bruins will win out, there should be cautious optimism for the direction of the program and their end-of-season win total. 

Having faced a murderer’s row of opponents in their first season in the Big Ten, the Bruins are a better team today than at the beginning of the season. If those improvements can continue, by this time next year, the Bruins could have more than bowl aspirations in the Big Ten as they bring in another talented recruiting class.

UCLA football in the running for four-star wide reciever

UCLA has some stiff competition for a top-tier wide receiver.

The UCLA Bruins have found themselves in another bidding war for a talented prospect. After silencing the doubters following their win over Rutgers, UCLA has a new-found confidence, a confidence they are hoping can translate to the recruiting game.

UCLA landed in four-star wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt’s final ten schools this week. The 6′ 2″ standout from Inglewood, California, has his hometown Bruins in the running for his commitment alongside heavy hitters like Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, Penn State, and Oregon, according to Hayes Fawcett of On3.

Though UCLA’s competition remains stiff, the fact that the Bruins were the only California-based school is significant. Beating out California schools like USC, Cal, and Stanford, UCLA has something brewing behind the scenes in recruiting.

Time will tell if UCLA is truly a viable team in the Big Ten, but as head coach DeShaun Foster and the Bruins look to pick up wins late in the season, they have a puncher’s chance at landing a recruit of Dixon-Wyatt’s caliber by proving themselves this season.

UCLA Bruins football picks up visit from three-star wide receiver

UCLA’s game against Oregon just got a lot more interesting with a recruit coming to the Rose Bowl.

The 2024 UCLA Bruins are trying to keep pace in the Big Ten and improve this season. After a troubling loss to Indiana to open conference play, the Bruins are set to host a three-star recruit later this month at the Rose Bowl.

Kenneth Moore III is a three-star wide receiver from St. Mary’s High School in Stockton, California. Moore III, who will visit Stanford, San Diego State, Oregon State, and Washington this fall, has received offers from SEC, Big Ten, and ACC programs.

According to Brandon Huffman of 247Sports (subscription required), Moore III will visit the Bruins at home against Big Ten foe Oregon on September 28th. As if the Bruins were not already feeling the pressure this season, their game against #9 Oregon has added implications in recruiting.

If the Bruins fall flat in their performance at home, Moore III’s view of the program could plummet. That said, with a strong performance against a top-tier team in their conference, head coach DeShaun Foster and the Bruins could do a lot of good in their recruiting battle.

UCLA offers linebacker from DeShaun Foster’s high school

More offers coming in!

The UCLA Bruins are looking far into the future as they continue their first season in the Big Ten.

Last week, the Bruins made an offer to Taven Epps, a 6′ 4″ and 210 pounds linebacker. The third-ranked class of 2027 linebacker in California, Epps has received offers from several top-rated college programs, including Georgia, Texas, and USC. But the Bruins potentially have an ace up their sleeves in the recruiting battle.

Epps plays for Tustin High School in Orange County, the same school where head coach DeShaun Foster played. Foster was recently inducted into the Tustin Hall of Fame, and clearly still has ties to his alma mater which could play a factor in Epps’ decision.

Though there is still a lot of time before Epps has to decide where he will play next, as long as Foster and Bruins continue to show improvements, they should have as good a shot as anyone in recruiting the young linebacker.

Can Colorado pick up a rare win at Nebraska in Week 2?

Take a look at some of the recent history between the Colorado Buffaloes and Nebraska Cornhuskers in College Football.

The Colorado Buffaloes and Nebraska Cornhuskers got back in action a season ago, but now the long-storied rivalry will pick up again on Saturday in Lincoln. The game kicks off at 7:30 PM ET and will be available on NBC and Peacock.

Both programs come into the game with 1-0 records but have loftier goals than beating their long-time rivals. Both Nebraska and Colorado have seen high-level success, followed by long draughts of struggles. Both coaches Deion Sanders and Matt Rhule are scrutinized every weekend, and their teams are watched like hawks.

The fans in Boulder and Lincoln expect and demand more from their programs. Both the Cornhuskers and Buffaloes have an exciting quarterback, and tools to use on both sides of the football. We are expecting this game to wrap up as one of the best Week 2 games of the season.

Past History

This is the 73rd meeting between these two teams. Nebraska has won 26 out of 35 at home in the long history. Last season, the Buffaloes made quick and easy work of Nebraska winning 36-14. The game started scoreless after one, but Colorado scored all 36 in the next three quarters.

The very first matchup was back in 1898 when Nebraska beat Colorado 23-10. The biggest blowout between these two teams came back in 1981 when the Cornhuskers smashed the Buffaloes 59-0. Before the rivalry ended for a bit, the Buffaloes won a tight one in 2019 by a score of 34-31. Many will remember the shoot-out in 2007 where the teams combined for 116 points in a 65-51 win for Colorado.

We highlighted the Buffaloes’ struggles in Lincoln, but the last time they played there, they won. They beat the Cornhuskers 33-28 in 2018. The stretch of 1968-1985 was dominated by the Cornhuskers. They won 18 straight games during that span.

What to Expect

This should be a Shedeur Sanders against Dylan Raiola battle royale. Sanders was one of the top performers in Week 1.  He finished with 445 passing yards and four touchdowns. He did throw a poor interception, but finished with an 81.9 QBR. Sanders carried the ball six times in the win, for 17 yards, but moving the chains with his legs has been an added plus for the Buffaloes.

Raiola has a ton of hype, and rightfully so. The freshman out of Georgia has a strong arm and can run when needed. He was 19 of 27 for 238 yards and two scores in the blowout win in Week 1. He did not need to run against UTEP, but getting away from Colorado defenders could be in the cards for Week 2.

Raiola will need to look out for Travis Hunter, hunting down passes. Hunter was not only impressive in receiving three touchdowns, but also defending the best pass catchers last week. If the game needs a deal breaker following the quarterback play, Hunter is probably the guy.

In the end, can the offensive line of the Buffaloes hold up with Nebraska coming at them? Can Matt Rhule pick up a big victory, and keep the Cornhuskers alive in potential Big Ten teams to make a run at the Top 12? Who will win the battle of quarterbacks?

These questions and more will all be answered Saturday night in Lincoln.

UCLA departs for Hawai’i ahead of Week 1 showdown

Wheels up!

There has been a lot of anticipation for the 2024 UCLA Bruins season, with an abundance of storylines from the team joining the Big Ten to DeShaun Foster’s hiring.

But the wheels are up for the Bruins, who on Thursday headed west for the Aloha State, according to a post by the team on X.

Taking on unraked Hawai’i, who took down Division II Deleware State in Week 0, the Bruins have their first test of the season. With many counting out the Bruins and predicting a sub-.500 record on the year, Saturday’s game at Hawai’i is the perfect opportunity to quiet some of their doubters.

With a recipe for success, the Bruins have a path to start their season 1-0, potentially string together some early momentum.

Predicting what the Bruins will look like in 2024 is impossible until seeing them on the field for the first time. Though expectations are low, the Bruins could very easily exceed them. On the other hand, they sink far below them.

Bruins fans are hoping it is the former.

Big 12 commissioner appears to throw shade at ACC a month before college football season

A weak ACC has hurt its cause as a premier conference in college football. Hear which conference the Big 12 commissioner called the sport’s best.

Which conference truly is the best in college sports – with a narrowed focus on football?

It’d be easy to say the SEC, based on the success of Alabama and Georgia alone, but an SEC school hasn’t won the CFP National Championship in two seasons.

Is it the Big 10, with Michigan beating Washington in the National Championship on New Year’s Day? How about the ACC, with Clemson winning the 2016 and 2018 titles?

I wish the North Carolina Tar Heels could add to the ACC’s football argument, but late-season collapses don’t help their cause.

According to Big 12 commissioner Brett Yorkmark, none of the above conferences I mentioned are the best in college sports.

Despite the Big 12 not winning a National Championship in college football since 2006, when a Mack Brown-led Texas Longhorns squad beat USC, Yorkmark says the Big 12 is college football’s deepest conference.

Please, make it make sense. The success doesn’t add up.

“We solidified ourselves as one of the top three conferences in America,” Yormark said during Big 12 Media Day. “There has never been a better time than right now to be part of the Big 12. We are truly a national conference in 10 states, four time zones and all eyes are now on the Big 12 for all the right reasons. I think it’s safe to say we are more relevant now than ever before.”

In a recent story published on ESPN, which contains the above quote, Yormark points to the SEC and Big 10 being second and third interchangeably. He said nothing about the ACC.

In Yormark’s defense, the Big 12 did grow in the offseason with additions of Utah, Arizona, Colorado and Arizona State. Utah and Arizona enjoyed solid years in 2023 and the Buffaloes improved, but them and Arizona State finished in the Pac-12’s cellar.

Can another conference step up and be college football’s “best?”

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

#8 Penn State vs. Indiana: NCAA college football live stream, TV channel, start time, odds, predictions

The Penn State Nittany Lions will face the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday from Memorial Stadium in Big 10 football action.

The Penn State Nittany Lions will face the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday from Memorial Stadium in Big 10 football action.

This is the first game of the season for both teams, Penn State is coming off a solid 11-2 season and won the Cotton Bowl last year.  Indiana is much improved and went 8-5 last year and earned a trip to the Gator Bowl, where they lost to Tennessee.

This should be a great matchup, tune in and catch the action this afternoon.

#8 Penn State vs. Indiana

  • When: Saturday, October 24
  • Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: FS1
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

Prediction: While we don’t know who will show up or how these teams will look until the game starts, you have to give a second look at the Nittany Lions. They are just a stronger team and school than Indiana. I can see Penn State winning by a touchdown or more

Bet: Penn State -6.5

NCAA Football Odds and Betting Lines

NCAA Football odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Saturday at 3:00 p.m. ET.

Penn State (-6.5) vs. Indiana

Want some action on College Football? Place your legal sports bets on this game or others in CO, IN, NJ, and WV at BetMGM. 

We recommend interesting sports viewing/streaming and betting opportunities. If you sign up for a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

Additional college football coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:

Alabama football / Auburn football / Florida football / Georgia football / LSU football / Michigan football / Michigan State football / Notre Dame football / Ohio State football / Oklahoma football / Tennessee football / Texas football / USC football / Wisconsin football