Inside the Matchup: Can Washington's Stop UCLA's Momentum? Previewing UW-UCLA with The Mighty Bruin
Previewing Washington vs. UCLA: Key Matchups, DeShaun Foster’s Impact, and the Bruins' Defensive Edge
SeaTown Sports is a free email newsletter covering Seattle’s sports teams. Click the button below to subscribe:
With a newfound momentum, UCLA heads into Friday night's game against Washington on a three-game winning streak that has revived their season. After enduring a grueling early schedule and starting off 1-5, the Bruins have shown resilience, now claiming wins over Rutgers, Nebraska, and Iowa.
I connected with
from to preview Washington’s Friday night’s matchup with UCLA. Dorlis gave his takes on DeShaun Foster, UCLA’s win streak, and a key matchup between the Bruins and the Huskies.KC: After starting the season 1-5 with an 0-4 Big Ten record, UCLA has now won three straight games against Rutgers, Nebraska, and Iowa. How did the Bruins turn their season around?
DD: I think part of the turnaround has to do with facing teams more at their level. The Bruins ran a gauntlet of Indiana into LSU into Oregon into Penn State to start the season, and even Minnesota right after was the exact type of team that could take advantage of a weakened opponent. The players deserve a ton of credit for not quitting after that streak of games and finally showing that they can compete in the middle of the new Big Ten for now.
KC: DeShaun Foster is in his first season as UCLA’s head coach after serving as an assistant coach for seven years under his predecessors Jim Mora and Chip Kelly. Nine games into his tenure, do you think he has this program on an upward trajectory?
DD: I would say so far that DeShaun Foster has maintained Chip Kelly's program. It is hard to say that the team is necessarily on an upward trajectory because he is on a winning streak, but I think the program would be in the exact same spot it is in now if Chip Kelly was still in charge. By that, I mean recruiting would still be subpar, the NIL fundraising would be weak, and UCLA would still have a competitive, albeit underachieving, team.
KC: In UCLA’s 20-17 win over Iowa last Friday night, the Bruins defense held Iowa star running back Kaleb Johnson to a mere 49 yards on the ground. Who are the key players to watch on UCLA’s defense?
DD: UCLA's defense has been the real strength of the team, especially given some of their weaknesses in personnel. The secondary isn't the best in the world and UCLA has had their struggles in generating a pass rush, which was to be expected when you lose a 1st Round defensive end (thanks for Laiatu Latu the past few years, by the way).
Jay Toia is an absolute monster in the middle of the defensive line and keys so much of the defense with his ability to beat double-teams, while Oluwafemi Oladejo has adapted to his position change to provide some consistent pass rush on the outside.
The biggest strength on the team is at linebacker. Carson Schwesinger is a former walk-on who should get All Big-Ten recognition, as he's an absolute tackling machine and always makes the right play. Kain Medrano is right there with him, providing the athletic cover-everything counter next to Schwesinger, and their combined play was what allowed Oladejo to move up to the defensive line in the first place (the three of them had a case to be the best linebacker grouping in the conference).
KC: Bruins quarterback Ethan Garbers transferred to UCLA after his freshman season at Washington in 2020, on a scale of 1-10, how would you rate his performance at starting quarterback this season?
DD: It's been a 6, if we're being honest. He was way too hyped up early in the season and was trying to do too many things which was leading to a lot of costly turnovers and poor decisions on his part. But part of that does appear to be the result of some wild strategic decisions by new OC Eric Bieniemy, who was treating Garbers like prime Patrick Mahomes with an offensive line that could hold for 4-5 seconds, neither of which are true.
Garbers has looked much better in recent weeks now that the gameplan has been simplified and Bieniemy recognizes the faults of the offensive line, with the pocket moving much more and a greater emphasis on screens and short passes. The last game was a return to the bad Garbers from earlier in the season, so he's still been very coin-flippy even this late in the game.
KC: Are there any standout Husky football players or coaches that you have an irrational (or rational) dislike for after watching UW and UCLA battle it out over the years?
DD: Honestly, not really. I've always liked Washington, even if my allegiance is to Wazzu in the Apple Cup rivalry (my best friend married a Coug, sorry). I wasn't a huge fan of Sark when he was up there, but I'm pretty sure most Husky fans would fall in the same boat on that. If I had to say anyone, it would be Brock Huard, but not for his play, but rather for his abysmal broadcasting ability.
KC: What is one key matchup you’re thinking about heading into this Friday night game between these former Pac-12 members?
DD: Can Washington throw the ball consistently? The teams that have beaten UCLA this year have been able to attack the Bruins vertically throughout the game while neutralizing the UCLA pass rush, so that will be the battle to watch. Jedd Fisch has a history of having his teams ready to play UCLA ever since he was passed over for the UCLA job in favor of Chip Kelly, and I would expect nothing less here.
KC: What’s your prediction?
DD: Washington is the exact sort of team UCLA has been preying on in recent weeks, with the Huskies coming off a body blow game against Penn State on the other side of the country while the Bruins got an extra rest day thanks to playing on Friday this past week. The Bruins are riding a wave of momentum at the moment, and I think it carries them to another victory. I'll say 24-17 Bruins.
You can follow
’ coverage of UCLA on Substack at and on X at (@TheMightyBruin) | A guest post by
|