UCLA football kicked off the Bob Chesney era with an impressive 45-24 victory over California on Saturday evening, improving to 1-0 to start the 2026 season. The Bruins’ defense proved instrumental in securing the win, recording three turnovers and three sacks against Bears quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. Despite a competitive first half that saw Cal trailing only 24-17 at intermission, UCLA’s defense took control in the second half to pull away decisively.
The Bruins’ offensive performance was highlighted by a dominant rushing attack that accumulated 279 yards on the ground. Wayne Knight, a transfer from James Madison making his UCLA debut, emerged as a standout performer by scoring three touchdowns. Anthony Woods added to the ground game with two scores and 118 yards on just eight carries. Overall, UCLA’s rushing attack averaged 9.0 yards per carry, showcasing an effective performance from the offensive line that opened holes for multiple runners including Jaivian Thomas and quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
The turning point came in the fourth quarter when UCLA outscored Cal 21-0, capitalizing on crucial mistakes by Sagapolutele. A pair of interceptions by Ta’Shawn James gave the Bruins additional scoring opportunities that extended their lead to 38-24. Iamaleava briefly left the game with a lower-leg injury in the fourth quarter but returned later to help close out the victory, with backup Madden Iamaleava seeing limited action in relief.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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