The 2022 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by fifth-year head coach Chip Kelly and competed as members of the Pac-12 Conference. After starting the season 5–0 for the first time since 2013, the Bruins made their first appearance of the season in the AP Poll at No. 18.
Offseason
Incoming transfers The Bruins added 6 players via transfer during the offseason:
OT Raiqwon O'Neal - Rutgers DL Laiatu Latu – Washington LB Darius Muasau – Hawaii WR Jake Bobo – Duke (graduate) DL Jacob Sykes – Harvard CB Azizi Hearn – Wyoming
Preseason The Bruins began spring practices on Tuesday, March 29 until Saturday, April 30 The 2022 Spring Showcase will be held on Saturday, April 23 – 9 a.m. and shown on P12 Network Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Zach Charbonnet named to the Maxwell Award watch list Dorian Thompson-Robinson named to the O'Brien Award watch list Zach Charbonnet is listed for the Doak Walker Award Jake Bobo named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list Michael Ezeike named to the John Mackey Award watch list Carl Jones Jr. and Darius named to the Butkus Award watch list Chase Griffin added to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list Kazmeir Allen named to the Paul Hornung Award watch list Pac-12 media day was held on July 29, 2022, at Novo Theater, L.A. Live featuring Chip Kelly (3:00 p.m.), Jon Gaines II (OL) and Stephan Blaylock (DB) UCLA is picked as the 4th place team in the preseason Pac-12 Conference media poll Jack Landherr IV was added to the Patrick Mannelly Award watch list Dorian Thompson-Robinson is named to the Manning Award watch list
Personnel
Coaching staff
Name Position Year at UCLA Alma mater (year)Chip KellyHead coach/offensive coordinator 5thNew Hampshire (1990)Ryan GundersonQuarterbacks 2nd Oregon State (2007)Bill McGovernDefensive coordinator1stHoly Cross (1985)DeShaun FosterRunning backs 5th UCLA (2014)Jerry NeuheiselWide receivers5thUCLA (2015)Chad Kauha'aha'aDefensive line1stUtah (1997)Tim Drevno Offensive line 1st Cal State Fullerton (1992)Ken Norton Jr.Inside linebackers1stUCLA (1987)Brian NorwoodDefensive backsPassing game coordinatorAssistant head coach 3rd Hawai'i (1988)Ikaika MalloeOutside linebackers/special teams1stWashington (1997)Jeff FarisTight ends1stDuke (2011)
Roster
Schedule
Game summaries
vs Bowling Green
This is the first meeting between the Falcons and the Bruins. Quarterbacking for Bowling Green is Matt McDonald, son of former USC All-American quarterback Paul McDonald. UCLA linebacker Shea Pitts is the son of former UCLA defensive back Ron Pitts (1981–84).
27,143 people is the lowest attended game in UCLA history at the Rose Bowl, edging out 1992's Oregon State vs UCLA, which 32,513 people attended.
Statistics BGSU UCLA First downs 9 29 Total yards 162 626 Rushes/yards 25–37 45–269 Passing yards 125 357 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–36–0 35–47–1 Time of possession 25:12 34:48 Team Category Player StatisticsBowling Green Passing Matt McDonald 17/34, 125 yards, TD Rushing Jamal Johnson 10 carries, 45 yards Receiving Christian Sims 4 receptions, 33 yards, TD UCLA Passing Dorian Thompson-Robinson 32/43, 298 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Zach Charbonnet 21 carries, 111 yards, TD Receiving Kazmeir Allen 10 receptions, 85 yards, TD
vs Alabama State First game in program history against a FCS team. Statistics ALST UCLA First downs 18 28 Total yards 310 485 Rushes/yards 36–87 38–220 Passing yards 223 265 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–32–2 23–30–1 Time of possession 35:48 24:12 Team Category Player StatisticsAlabama State Passing Myles Crawley 16/27, 177 yards, TD, INT Rushing Santo Dunn 5 carries, 28 yards Receiving Darius Edmonds 3 receptions, 66 yardsUCLA Passing Ethan Garbers 14/18, 168 yards, INT Rushing T. J. Harden 7 carries, 56 yards, TD Receiving Carsen Ryan 3 receptions, 58 yards
vs South Alabama
Statistics USA UCLA First downs 22 23 Total yards 399 407 Rushes/yards 34–162 37–144 Passing yards 237 263 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 26–36–1 20–30–0 Time of possession 32:47 27:13 Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Alabama Passing Carter Bradley 26/36, 237 yards, TD, INT Rushing La'Damian Webb 16 carries, 124 yards, TD Receiving Jalen Wayne 7 receptions, 76 yardsUCLA Passing Dorian Thompson-Robinson 20/30, 263 yards, 3 TD Rushing Zach Charbonnet 13 carries, 78 yards Receiving Jake Bobo 5 receptions, 89 yards, TD
at Colorado
Statistics UCLA COL First downs 25 19 Total yards 515 309 Rushes/yards 34–249 34–51 Passing yards 266 258 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–29–0 26–42–1 Time of possession 25:53 34:07 Team Category Player StatisticsUCLA Passing Dorian Thompson-Robinson 19/23, 234 yards, 2 TD Rushing Zach Charbonnet 9 carries, 104 yards, 3 TD Receiving Jake Bobo 4 receptions, 53 yardsColorado Passing Owen McCown 26/42, 258 yards, TD, INT Rushing Charlie Offerdahl 14 carries, 47 yards Receiving Daniel Arias 4 receptions, 82 yards
vs No. 15 Washington
Statistics WASH UCLA First downs 24 27 Total yards 410 499 Rushes/yards 23–65 39–184 Passing yards 345 315 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 33–49–2 24–33–0 Time of possession 31:24 28:36 Team Category Player StatisticsWashington Passing Michael Penix Jr. 33/48, 345 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT Rushing Wayne Taulapapa 10 carries, 48 yards Receiving Rome Odunze 8 receptions, 116 yards, 2 TD UCLA Passing Dorian Thompson-Robinson 24/33, 315 yards, 3 TD Rushing Zach Charbonnet 22 carries, 124 yards, TD Receiving Jake Bobo 6 receptions, 144 yards, 2 TD
Thompson-Robinson threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another touchdown as UCLA defeated No. 15 Washington 40–32 for the Huskies' first loss of the year. The Bruins extended their winning streak to eight games, dating back to 2021.
vs No. 11 Utah
Statistics UTAH UCLA First downs 31 21 Total yards 479 502 Rushes/yards 43–192 38–203 Passing yards 287 299 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–34–1 18–23–1 Time of possession 33:51 26:09 Team Category Player StatisticsUtah Passing Cameron Rising 23/32, 287 yards, INT Rushing Tavion Thomas 18 carries, 91 yards, TD Receiving Devaughn Vele 6 receptions, 87 yardsUCLA Passing Dorian Thompson-Robinson 18/23, 299 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Zach Charbonnet 22 carries, 198 yards, TD Receiving Logan Loya 1 reception, 70 yards, TD
UCLA won 42–32 over No. 11 Utah, the highest-ranked opponent the Bruins had defeated under coach Kelly. Charbonnet finished with a career-high 198 yards rushing and a touchdown. Thompson-Robinson completed 76 career passing touchdowns, the most in UCLA history.
at No. 10 Oregon
Statistics UCLA ORE First downs 26 31 Total yards 448 545 Rushes/yards 30–186 46–262 Passing yards 262 283 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 27–39–1 22–28–0 Time of possession 26:33 33:27 Team Category Player StatisticsUCLA Passing Dorian Thompson-Robinson 27/39, 262 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Zach Charbonnet 20 carries, 151 yards, TD Receiving Jake Bobo 8 receptions, 101 yards, TDOregon Passing Bo Nix 22/28, 283 yards, 5 TD Rushing Bucky Irving 19 carries, 107 yards Receiving Troy Franklin 8 receptions, 132 yards, 2 TD
UCLA lost 45–30 to No. 10 Oregon for their first loss of the season. After going up 17–10 in the second quarter, the Ducks recovered an onside kick, a play they had practiced all week after spotting an opening in the Bruins' kickoff coverage. Oregon proceeded to score another touchdown to lead 24–10.
vs Stanford
Statistics STAN UCLA First downs 18 26 Total yards 270 523 Rushes/yards 34–145 45–324 Passing yards 125 199 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–31–1 18–29–0 Time of possession 31:27 28:33 Team Category Player StatisticsStanford Passing Tanner McKee 13/29, 115 yards, TD, INT Rushing Ashton Daniels 5 carries, 51 yards Receiving Benjamin Yurosek 5 receptions, 32 yards, TDUCLA Passing Dorian Thompson-Robinson 18/29, 299 yards Rushing Zach Charbonnet 21 carries, 198 yards, 3 TD Receiving Zach Charbonnet 5 receptions, 61 yards
at Arizona State
Statistics UCLA ASU First downs 24 30 Total yards 571 468 Rushes/yards 42–402 31–119 Passing yards 169 349 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–20–1 38–49–1 Time of possession 23:48 36:12 Team Category Player StatisticsUCLA Passing Dorian Thompson-Robinson 13/20, 169 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Kazmeir Allen 11 carries, 137 yards, TD Receiving Jake Bobo 3 receptions, 64 yardsArizona State Passing Trenton Bourguet 38/49, 349 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Xazavian Valladay 20 carries, 92 yards, 2 TD Receiving Xazavian Valladay 10 receptions, 89 yards
vs Arizona
Statistics ARIZ UCLA First downs 22 26 Total yards 436 465 Rushes/yards 36–124 37–220 Passing yards 312 245 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–29–0 26–39–0 Time of possession 34:20 25:40 Team Category Player StatisticsArizona Passing Jayden de Laura 22/28, 315 yards, 2 TD, Rushing Michael Wiley 21 carries, 97 yards, TD Receiving Jacob Cowing 9 receptions, 118 yardsUCLA Passing Dorian Thompson-Robinson 26/39, 245 yards, TD Rushing Zach Charbonnet 24 carries, 181 yards, 3 TD Receiving Hudson Habermehl 3 receptions, 64 yards, TD
UCLA lost 34–28 to Arizona, who entered the game as -point underdogs. The Bruins surrendered 436 total yards and 6.7 yards per play to the Wildcats. UCLA had a chance to comeback on the final play of the game on 4th-and-10 from the Arizona 29-yard line. A scrambling Thompson-Robinson threw under pressure to an open Jake Bobo, who dove but was unable to catch the ball in the end zone.
UCLA played without running back-receiver Kazmeir Allen, who was out due to injury. Their streak of nine consecutive wins against unranked teams ended, while Arizona halted their eight-game road losing streak against ranked teams.
vs No. 7 USC
Statistics USC UCLA First downs 30 27 Total yards 648 507 Rushes/yards 38–178 37–198 Passing yards 470 309 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 32–43–1 23–38–3 Time of possession 35:20 24:40 Team Category Player StatisticsUSC Passing Caleb Williams 32/43, 470 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Austin Jones 21 carries, 120 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jordan Addison 11 receptions, 178 yards, TDUCLA Passing Dorian Thompson-Robinson 23/38, 309 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT Rushing Zach Charbonnet 19 carries, 95 yards Receiving Jake Bobo 4 receptions, 76 yards
UCLA was eliminated from conference championship contention after losing 48–45 to No. 7 USC. The Trojans gained 649 yards, the most the Bruins have allowed since giving up 720 yards to Washington State in 2019. USC quarterback Caleb Williams had 503 yards of total offense, passing for 470 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for another. Thompson-Robinson threw for four touchdowns and also ran for two others, but he committed four turnovers, with the last of his three interceptions ending the game.
UCLA jumped ahead 14–0 in the game, and held a 21–20 lead at halftime. The teams exchanged touchdowns in the second half, ending the game with a combined 93 points, five turnovers and over 1,000 yards on offense. It was the first game in the history of their crosstown rivalry that both teams started Black quarterbacks. It was the first time that both teams were ranked entering the matchup since 2014.
at California
Statistics UCLA CAL First downs 33 15 Total yards 541 361 Rushes/yards 64–352 18–67 Passing yards 189 294 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–30–0 24–34–0 Time of possession 36:50 23:10 Team Category Player StatisticsUCLA Passing Dorian Thompson-Robinson 21/30, 189 yards, TD Rushing Zach Charbonnet 24 carries, 119 yards, TD Receiving Jake Bobo 7 receptions, 62 yards, TDCalifornia Passing Jack Plummer 24/34, 294 yards, 4 TD Rushing Jaydn Ott 13 carries, 55 yards Receiving Jeremiah Hunter 8 receptions, 153 yards, 2 TD
vs Pittsburgh (Sun Bowl)
Statistics PITT UCLA First downs 27 19 Total yards 443 451 Rushes/yards 46–203 27–141 Passing yards 240 310 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–43–1 22–33–4 Time of possession 37:03 22:57