Three games into the Bob Chesney tenure, the UCLA Bruins find themselves at 3-0 with expectations continuing to grow around the program. While UCLA isn’t yet deserving of a Top-25 spot, how close are the Bruins getting?
USA TODAY writer Paul Myerburg ranked all 138 NCAA teams, slotting UCLA at No. 40 after the team’s win a shootout over Purdue on Saturday. The Bruins scored 52 points but the UCLA defense looked leaky, giving the program some reason for concern before the team travels across the country to face Maryland Saturday morning.
UCLA is sandwiched in between North Dakota State at No. 39 and Western Michigan at No. 41. While those may not be sexy programs to be next to, they’re quality programs and it’s seeming like UCLA football has become
a quality program just the same.
Myerburg’s list is topped by Texas, Notre Dame and Georgia. Even with UCLA winning their Big Ten Conference opener, there’s still several Big Ten teams ahead of the Bruins according to Myerburg. The defending champion Indiana Hoosiers lead the way at No. 6 with Ohio State right behind them at No. 7. USC comes in at No. 12, Penn State at No. 15, Michigan at No. 18, Iowa at No. 20, Washington at No. 30, Oregon at No. 32 and Nebraska at No. 37.
It was never going to be a quick rise to the top for the Bruins, who have already matched their win total from 2025, but if UCLA is able to continue to stack wins then they’ll continue to gain more respect nationally.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA ranks at No. 40 in USA TODAY's ranking of all 138 NCAA teams
