No. 7 UCLA Faces Nevada as Bob Chesney Chases First Playoff Berth
The undefeated Bruins host the Wolf Pack on Saturday before closing the regular season against four Big Ten opponents.
By Haruka Ivanov ·
No. 7 UCLA hosts Nevada at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, Oct. 31, with a 1:15 p.m. kickoff on the Big Ten Network and 790 AM. The Bruins are 7-0 in Bob Chesney's first season and 5-0 in Big Ten play. Nevada enters at 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the Mountain West.
The Bruins have not lost this season. They beat Wisconsin and Michigan State in their last two games. A win over Nevada would keep them in position for a College Football Playoff berth, which the program has never reached.
Nevada coach Jeff Choate said UCLA's record reflects real competition. "Coach Chesney's done a fantastic job there. You look at this team, it's a top-10 team. One of the few undefeated teams left," Choate said. "Three undefeated teams left in the country and they're one of them at our level. They're in a real league. It's not like they're beating patsies."
UCLA's ground game has produced 1,327 yards and 22 touchdowns from Wayne Knight, Anthony Woods and Jaivian Thomas. Nevada's rush defense allows 166 yards per game, ranking in the middle of the Mountain West. Quarterback Ty Dieffenbach has started two games since replacing Nico Iamaleava on Oct. 10 against Oregon.
Nevada has used three quarterbacks this season. Luke Duncan, a UCLA transfer, started the Wolf Pack's 15-point win over San Jose State on Oct. 24. Chesney said his staff must prepare for multiple options under center. "They have three different quarterbacks that they've been playing with. We got to figure out which one. We got to have three different plans ready for each one," Chesney said.
UCLA's defense has allowed 131 rushing yards per game across two nonconference games. Linebacker Sammy Omosigho has 53 tackles, five sacks and five forced fumbles this season. Nevada relies on running backs Dominic Kelley and Herschel Turner, and its offense includes power read concepts with pop passes and wheel routes from the backfield.
After Saturday, UCLA closes with games at Minnesota, at Michigan, at home against Illinois and at home against USC. Chesney has no margin for error with those four games ahead.
The Bruins have not announced a starting quarterback for Saturday's game.
Source: Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
