The 2023 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles in the Pac-12 Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bruins were led by Chip Kelly in his sixth and final season at UCLA. They played their home games at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The season was the team's last season as members of Pac-12 before joining the Big Ten Conference in 2024.
UCLA finished the regular season with a 7–5 record, losing three of their last four. They won the LA Bowl over Boise State for their first bowl win in Kelly's six-year tenure and the Bruins' first since 2015. UCLA finished 8–5 for their third consecutive eight-win season and the program's second such streak since 1988.
Following the season on February 9, 2024, Kelly resigned to take the offensive coordinator position with Ohio State.
The UCLA Bruins football team drew an average home attendance of 47,951 in 2023.
Offseason On January 24, 2023, UCLA announced that it was hiring Kodi Whitfield as its new cornerbacks coach. On February 27, the school announced that it was hiring D'Anton Lynn as its defensive coordinator. Bill McGovern, director of football administration and former defensive coordinator, died on May 30, 2023.
Incoming transfers ATH Anthony Adkins – Army S Jordan Anderson – Bowling Green WR Kyle Ford – USC K Blake Glessner – Montana State LB Jake Heimlicher – Penn IOL Spencer Holstege – Purdue OT Khadere Kounta – Old Dominion TE Moliki Matavao – Oregon LB Femi M. Oladejo – California QB Collin Schlee – Kent State RB Carson Steele – Ball State WR J. Michael Sturdivant – California OL Jake Wiley – Colorado DL Keanu Williams – Oregon
Outgoing transfers
K Nicholas Barr-Mira – Mississippi State OL Baraka Beckett – Campbell RB Christian Grubb – Portland State EDGE Hayden Harris – Montana DB Martell Irby – Arizona DL Tyler Manoa – Arizona LB Jake Newman – TBD WR Matt Sykes – Rice LB Jeremiah Trojan – Northern Arizona CB Jelani Warren – Montana
Preseason Duke Clemens named to the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) 2023 Outland Trophy watch list Laiatu Latu named to the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) 2023 Nagurski Trophy watch list Chase Griffin was named to The Wuerffel Trophy watch list Duke Clemens was named to the Rimington Trophy (most outstanding center) watch list Carsen Ryan named to the Mackey Award (most outstanding tight end) watch list J. Michael Sturdivant was placed on the Biletnikoff Award (outstanding receiver) watch list Carson Steele named to the Doak Walker Award (top running back) watch list Darius Muasau named to the Butkus Award (top linebacker) watch list Laiatu Latu named to the Bednarik Award (defensive player) watch list Kam Brown was named to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award (top offensive player) watch list Laiatu Latu was named to the second-team of The Sporting News' College Football All-America Team Dante Moore was selected to the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award watch list
Schedule
Roster
Game summaries
vs Coastal Carolina
Statistics CCU UCLA First downs 21 19 Total yards 345 417 Rushes/yards 34–56 31–153 Passing yards 289 264 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 28–43–2 17–29–3 Time of possession 34:50 25:10 Team Category Player StatisticsCoastal Carolina Passing Grayson McCall 27/42, 271 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Reese White 8 carries, 21 yards Receiving Sam Pinckney 9 receptions, 139 yards, TDUCLA Passing Dante Moore 7/12, 143 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Carson Steele 13 carries, 76 yards Receiving J. Michael Sturdivant 5 receptions, 136 yards, TD
at San Diego State
Statistics UCLA SDSU First downs 26 17 Total yards 550 259 Rushes/yards 39–254 33–63 Passing yards 296 196 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–29–0 20–38–3 Time of possession 25:05 34:55 Team Category Player StatisticsUCLA Passing Dante Moore 17/27, 290 yards, 3 TD Rushing T. J. Harden 9 carries, 91 yards, TD Receiving Josiah Norwood 2 receptions, 87 yards, TDSan Diego State Passing Jalen Mayden 19/37, 196 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Kenan Christon 9 carries, 27 yards Receiving Mekhi Shaw 5 receptions, 54 yards, TD
vs North Carolina Central
This is the first meeting between the two schools.
Statistics NCCU UCLA First downs 14 22 Total yards 245 614 Rushes/yards 37–103 39–404 Passing yards 142 210 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 31–17–1 17–10–1 Time of possession 36:13 23:47 Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Carolina Central Passing Walker Harris 12/18, 114 yards Rushing Latrell Collier 14 carries, 48 yards Receiving Quentin McCall 4 receptions, 39 yardsUCLA Passing Dante Moore 8/12, 182 yards, 2 TD Rushing Anthony Adkins 10 carries, 96 yards, TD Receiving Kam Brown 2 receptions, 74 yards, TD
at No. 11 Utah
Statistics UCLA UTAH First downs 11 13 Total yards 243 219 Rushes/yards 32–9 48–102 Passing yards 234 117 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–35–1 9–17–0 Time of possession 25:32 34:28 Team Category Player StatisticsUCLA Passing Dante Moore 15/35, 234 yards, TD, INT Rushing T. J. Harden 11 carries, 31 yards Receiving Carsen Ryan 3 receptions, 69 yardsUtah Passing Nate Johnson 9/17, 117 yards, TD Rushing Jaylon Glover 25 carries, 85 yards Receiving Devaughn Vele 2 receptions, 57 yards
vs No. 13 Washington State
Statistics WSU UCLA First downs 1124 Total yards 216471 Rushes/yards 19–1253–181 Passing yards 204290 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–40–2 22–44–2 Time of possession 21:4538:15 Team Category Player StatisticsWashington State Passing Cam Ward 22/44, 290 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Nakia Watson11 carries, 25 yards Receiving Kyle Williams 8 receptions, 85 yardsUCLA Passing Dante Moore 22/44, 290 yards,TD, 2 INT Rushing Carson Steele30 carries, 141 yards Receiving Moliki Matavao3 receptions, 76 yards
at No. 15 Oregon State
Statistics UCLA OSU First downs 2718 Total yards 453415 Rushes/yards 51–287 28–133 Passing yards 166282 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–34–316–26–0 Time of possession 30:15 29:45 Team Category Player StatisticsUCLA Passing Dante Moore 14/33, 165 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Carson Steele22 carries, 110 yards, TD Receiving Logan Loya 5 receptions, 48 yards, TDOregon State Passing DJ Uiagalelei14/24, 266 yards, 2 TD Rushing Damien Martinez15 carries, 90 yards Receiving Silas Bolden5 receptions, 87 yards, TD
at Stanford
Statistics UCLA STAN First downs 32 15 Total yards 503 292 Rushes/yards 54–221 17–24 Passing yards 282 268 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–34–0 27–45–1 Time of possession 36:56 23:04 Team Category Player StatisticsUCLA Passing Ethan Garbers 20/28, 240 yards, 2 TD Rushing Carson Steele 20 carries, 76 yards, 3 TD Receiving J. Michael Sturdivant 5 receptions, 54 yards, TDStanford Passing Ashton Daniels 27/45, 268 yards, TD, INT Rushing Sedrick Irvin 3 carries, 16 yards Receiving Elic Ayomanor 8 receptions, 90 yards
vs Colorado
Statistics COL UCLA First downs 20 26 Total yards 242 487 Rushes/yards 24–25 45–218 Passing yards 217 269 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 27–43–0 20–28–2 Time of possession 26:46 33:14 Team Category Player StatisticsColorado Passing Shedeur Sanders 27/43, 217 yards, TD Rushing Alton McCaskill 2 carries, 14 yards Receiving Xavier Weaver 5 receptions, 86 yardsUCLA Passing Ethan Garbers 20/27, 269 yards, 2 TD Rushing T. J. Harden 20 carries, 78 yards, TD Receiving Logan Loya 7 receptions, 111 yards
at Arizona
Statistics UCLA ARIZ First downs 17 23 Total yards 271 429 Rushing yards 29–114 35–129 Passing yards 157 300 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–33–0 25–33–1 Time of possession 24:46 35:14 Team Category Player StatisticsUCLA Passing Ethan Garbers 13/21, 143 yards, TD Rushing Collin Schlee 6 carries, 46 yards Receiving Logan Loya 3 receptions, 42 yardsArizona Passing Noah Fifita 25/32, 300 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Jonah Coleman 17 carries, 77 yards Receiving Tetairoa McMillan 4 receptions, 81 yards, TD
vs Arizona State
Statistics ASU UCLA First downs 21 15 Total yards 250 300 Rushes/yards 30–74 37–183 Passing yards 176 117 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–39–1 11–21–0 Time of possession 36:54 23:06 Team Category Player StatisticsArizona State Passing Trenton Bourguet 19/34, 149 yards, INT Rushing Cam Skattebo 12 carries, 61 yards, TD Receiving Elijhah Badger 12 receptions, 116 yards, TD UCLA Passing Collin Schlee 11/18, 117 yards, TD Rushing Keegan Jones 3 carries, 51 yards Receiving Logan Loya 3 receptions, 39 yards, TD
at USC (Victory Bell)
Statistics UCLA USC First downs 19 17 Total yards 354 387 Rushes/yards 45–199 22–3 Passing yards 155 384 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–31–0 31–44–1 Time of possession 32:34 27:26 Team Category Player StatisticsUCLA Passing Ethan Garbers 18/31, 155 yards, 3 TD Rushing T.J. Harden 22 carries, 142 yards, TD Receiving Logan Loya 9 receptions, 60 yardsUSC Passing Caleb Williams 31/42, 384 yards, TD, INT Rushing MarShawn Lloyd 8 carries, 17 yards Receiving Brenden Rice 8 receptions, 147 yards, TD
UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers, who sat out the previous week with a foot injury, returned and passed for 155 yards and three touchdowns in a 38–20 win over the USC Trojans. Running back T. J. Harden ran for a career-high 142 yards on 22 carries, rushing for one touchdown and catching another. UCLA's defense held the Trojans to only three yards rushing and sacked USC quarterback Caleb Williams four times.
vs California
Statistics CAL UCLA First downs 17 23 Total yards 302 379 Rushes/yards 32–124 36–70 Passing yards 178 309 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–30–2 30–47–2 Time of possession 30:01 29:59 Team Category Player StatisticsCalifornia Passing Fernando Mendoza 19/30, 178 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Jaydn Ott 21 carries, 80 yards Receiving Jeremiah Hunter 8 receptions, 101 yards, 2 TDUCLA Passing Dante Moore 23/38, 266 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Carson Steele 12 carries, 53 yards Receiving Logan Loya 9 receptions, 88 yards, TD
vs Boise State (LA Bowl)
UCLA won 35–22 over Mountain West Conference champion Boise State. It was the Bruins' first bowl win in Kelly's six-year tenure and the program's first since 2015. It was UCLA's third consecutive eight-win season, the second such streak in the program since 1988 under coach Terry Donahue.
Rankings
Statistics
Source:
Awards and honors Recipient Award (Pac-12 Conference) Week # Date awarded Ref. Dante Moore Freshman Player of the Week 2 Sept. 11, 2023 Laiatu Latu Defense Player of the Week 6 Oct. 9, 2023 Laiatu Latu Defensive Lineman Player of the Week 6 Oct. 9, 2023 Laiatu Latu Defensive Lineman of the Week 12 Nov. 20, 2023 Laiatu Latu Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year Dec. 5, 2023
November 20, 2023 – Defensive Coordinator D’Anton Lynn was named to the Broyles Award semi-finalist list November 24, 2023 – Laiatu Latu is a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy November 28, 2023 – Laiatu Latu is a finalist for the Bednarik Award December 1, 2023 – Laiatu Latu is a finalist for the Hendricks Award December 6, 2023 – Laiatu Latu is the winner of the Lombardi Award (college football’s lineman of the year) December 7, 2023 – Laiatu Latu wins the Ted Hendricks Award December 11, 2023 – Laiatu Latu is the winner of the Pac-12's Morris Trophy December 16, 2023 – Ethan Garbers (QB) and Darius Muasau (LB) were MVP of the 2023 LA Bowl
References