The 2026 season is still young but the UCLA Bruins’defense has already matched up with some strong quarterbacks. UCLA began the season by facing Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele and then last week the Bruins were torched by Purdue QB Ryan Browne.
The tough sledding doesn’t let up in Week 4 for UCLA's defense, as they’ll face Maryland quarterback Malik Washington. The sophomore signal caller is off to a hot start to begin 2026, having thrown for 892 yards and six touchdowns without an interception over the first three games of the season.
Washington’s success is no fluke either, putting up 2,963 yards as a freshman last year and scoring 21 total touchdowns for the Terrapins. The Maryland quarterback hasn’t used his legs as much to begin
2026. After rushing for 303 yards last year, he’s at just 23 yards through three games this season.
The lack of rushing production hasn’t stopped UCLA head coach Bob Chesney from throwing plenty of praise Washington’s direction, with Chesney calling him the best quarterback that the Bruins have faced this season on the Bruin Insider Show.
“Whatever he was last year in this game, is very, very different than what he is right now,” Chesney said of Washington. “The guy we played in the first week and the guy we just played, this kid is probably better than both. He is accurate. He has a ton of zip on his football, he trusts his receivers.”
Bob Chesney says Maryland QB Malik Washington is the best QB we’ve faced so far. Better than JKS and Browne 👀
— 🌹 (@chesneyera) September 22, 2026
Hopefully the defense is up to task this week. #UCLA pic.twitter.com/keVTmr3ZtR
Last year in the game against UCLA, Washington completed just 23 of his 48 pass attempts, throwing for 210 yards with a touchdown and an interception thrown in a rare win for the 2025 Bruins. UCLA is hoping to move to 2-0 against Washington with another win this Saturday.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Is Malik Washington the best QB UCLA has faced so far this year?
