2025 UCLA Predictions on the HG
Jake Wimberly
Ross Gaskin Contributing:
What’s to like:
Head Coach DeShaun Foster and his UCLA Bruins did not have a great season in 2024, but they do have high hopes for 2025. Coach Foster and the Bruins were able to go to the portal and pick up a shiny new QB. Nico Iamaleava was the starting QB at Tennessee in 2024, and after some NIL disagreements with Tennessee, Iamaleava transferred to UCLA.
In 2024 Iamaleava threw for 2,616 yards and 19 TDs and rushed for 353 yards and 3 TDs. Nico Iamaleava was able to lead the Tennessee Volunteers to a playoff appearance, and now that he is with UCLA, the Bruins will be expecting more of the same.
What’s not to like:
While the Bruins were able to get a quality QB in the portal, UCLA also lost a significant amount of talent as well. UCLA will be losing their top RB T.J. Harden who will be transferring to SMU. Harden in 2024 rushed for 506 yards and 2 TDs while adding 368 receiving yards and 1 more TD.
The Bruins will be losing a total 14 players to the portal or draft who started in 2024 with 9 of those coming from the defensive side of the ball. Most notably, UCLA will be losing their star LB Carson Schwesinger who will be headed to the upcoming NFL Draft. In 2024 Schwesinger racked up 136 tackles (3rd in the country), 8.5 TFLs, 4 sacks, and 2 INTs.
What does the Hourglass say?
UCLA- Big 10 (5-7)
Power ranking 91.40. 4th toughest schedule in the Big 10.
2025 UCLA Analytics
National recruiting rating (three year metric): #42- outside the boundary of a National Championship Roster.
National Coaching Ranking:
DeShaun Foster- 37th in Power 5 and 10 in the Big 10.
2024 coaching value= 7 (average 2025 Power 5 coaching value=9.3) DeShaun Foster ranks middle of the pack for coaches in college football.
ODE analytics 2024 Nationally:
Offensive Ranking: 64th
Defensive Ranking: 52nd
Quarterback Play: Iamaleava- ranked 17th in the Power 4, 3rd in the Big 10; 2024 QB value= 17.6 (Power 4 average- 14.41)
Impact Ball Catcher Metric: UCLA has an Impact Ball Catcher Metric of 2. This puts the Bruins at the lower level for the Big 10 in this metric.
From Vegas:
UCLA ATS in 2024: 6-6
UCLA at home: 2-4
UCLA on the road: 4-2
UCLA neutral site: 0-0
Final thoughts:
The UCLA Bruins have been struggling for a few years now, but they have a lot of high hopes for the 2025 season. They will have a new star QB Nico Iamaleava who has all of the tools needed to raise the play of an entire team.
However, he is still young, so Head Coach DeShaun Foster will have to develop Nico quickly if the Bruins want to see a quick turnaround. If this does not happen it will be another disappointing year, but there is the possibility that 2025 could be special for UCLA.
2025 Schedule analysis:
Projected Hourglass W/L record: Games in red denote games that could be a one possession game or even a different outcome than projection.
Editors Note: All photos courtesy of 247sports.com
