Before long, the UCLA Bruins will be in Eugene for a top-25 matchup against the Oregon Ducks in Week 6. While UCLA brought in former James Madison head coach Bob Chesney this offseason, expectations weren't super high coming off of a 3-9 campaign in 2025.
But through three games, the Bruins have surpassed that total, going 4-0 with victories over California, San Diego State, Purdue and Maryland. It's certainly not a murderers row of opponents, but the Bruins have looked good, posting an average margin of victory of 26 points. Both sides of the ball have had their moments, as the offense scored 45 against California in Week 1 while the defense held Maryland to just three points and forced five turnovers in Week 4.
Just like Oregon, UCLA kicked
their feet up and enjoyed a bye in Week 5, giving them the ability to come into Autzen fully rested and prepared to knock off the No. 13th-ranked Ducks.
Before the teams take the field, let's dive into the five most impactful players for the Bruins — those who could prove to be the difference-makers if UCLA is to hand Oregon it's second loss.
QB Nico Iamaleava
Nico Iamaleava was the talk of college football two seasons ago, as the five-star freshman led the Tennessee Volunteers to their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. He then was reportedly caught in an NIL dispute with Tennessee before landing at UCLA prior to last season — and it's safe to say Iamaleava's first season in Westwood didn't go as planned, as the Bruins won just three games and he passed for just 13 touchdowns to seven interceptions. Despite that, the former five-star is off to a solid start in 2026, amassing 963 total yards and five total touchdowns, as the 6-foot-5, 215-pounder eats up ground in the quarterback run game and on scrambles. Not the most refined passer, Iamaleava has pieced it together this season by leaning on his legs and a strong cast of backs in the backfield.
RB Wayne Knight
"Electric" is a fitting word for Wayne Knight. The former James Madison standout followed Chesney to UCLA and has promptly produced the best four-game stretch of his career despite sharing carries with fellow backs Anthony Woods, Jaivian Thomas and Iamaleava. Standing 5-foot-7 but weighing 193 pounds, Knight is compactly built with elite speed, breaking off nine gains of 40-plus yards in 2025 alone. Now at UCLA with a better supporting cast around him, Knight has exploded, recording 533 total yards on 9.4 yards per touch with nine rushing touchdowns. The Ducks will have to be cognizant of Knight's ability to hide behind the offensive line and suddenly break loose past the scrum.
LB Sammy Omosigho
Transferring in after three seasons at Oklahoma, Sammy Omosigho is another Bruin experiencing a full-on breakout in 2026. His previous career-high of tackles was 50, a mark that he's nearing with 36 through four contests. Also racking up three sacks and four forced fumbles, Omosigho is an absolute playmaker. The former Sooner is deployed all around the defense, drawing from his experience as a middle linebacker at Oklahoma as well as rushing the passer off the edge, something he's done very effectively in 2026.
DB Ta'Shawn James
Ta'Shawn James is the leader of the UCLA secondary, a billing he's earned since joining the team after three seasons at Iowa State. The 6-foot, 211-pound safety has made several splash plays early in the year, picking off three passes (returning one for a touchdown) and recording half a sack. James is also a sure tackler with 24 takedowns thus far, good for third on the team.
DL Sahir West
The Bruins' leading sack-man behind Omosigho, Sahir West is UCLA's top defensive lineman. Operating on the interior, West's 6-foot-3, 279-pound frame allows him to eat up space and have the requisite quickness to squeeze through blocks for his two sacks this season along with two fumble recoveries. Though, a transfer from James Madison, has just 15 tackles on the year, it's his efforts in the middle that make Omosigho and the other second-level defenders' jobs easier.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Five UCLA Bruins for Ducks fans to know heading into Week 6
