2023 UCLA Bruins football team explained
The 2023 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles in the Pac-12 Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bruins were led by Chip Kelly in his sixth and final season at UCLA. They played their home games at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The season was the team's last season as members of Pac-12 before joining the Big Ten Conference in 2024.
UCLA finished the regular season with a 7–5 record, losing three of their last four.[1] They won the LA Bowl over Boise State for their first bowl win in Kelly's six-year tenure and the Bruins' first since 2015. UCLA finished 8–5 for their third consecutive eight-win season and the program's second such streak since 1988.
Following the season on February 9, 2024, Kelly resigned to take the offensive coordinator position with Ohio State.[2]
Offseason
On January 24, 2023, UCLA announced that it was hiring Kodi Whitfield as its new cornerbacks coach.[3] On February 27, the school announced that it was hiring D'Anton Lynn as its defensive coordinator.[4] Bill McGovern, director of football administration and former defensive coordinator, died on May 30, 2023.
Incoming transfers
Outgoing transfers
Preseason
Schedule
[5]
Game summaries
vs Coastal Carolina
See also: 2023 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team.
Statistics | CCU | UCLA |
---|
First downs | 21 | 19 |
Total yards | 345 | 417 |
Rushes/yards | 34–56 | 31–153 |
Passing yards | 289 | 264 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 28–43–2 | 17–29–3 |
Time of possession | 34:50 | 25:10 | |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Coastal Carolina | Passing | | 27/42, 271 yards, TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | Reese White | 8 carries, 21 yards |
Receiving | Sam Pinckney | 9 receptions, 139 yards, TD |
UCLA | Passing | | 7/12, 143 yards, 2 TD, INT |
Rushing | | 13 carries, 76 yards |
Receiving | | 5 receptions, 136 yards, TD | |
at San Diego State
See also: 2023 San Diego State Aztecs football team.
Statistics | UCLA | SDSU |
---|
First downs | 26 | 17 |
Total yards | 550 | 259 |
Rushes/yards | 39–254 | 33–63 |
Passing yards | 296 | 196 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18–29–0 | 20–38–3 |
Time of possession | 25:05 | 34:55 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
UCLA | Passing | Dante Moore | 17/27, 290 yards, 3 TD |
Rushing | T. J. Harden | 9 carries, 91 yards, TD |
Receiving | Josiah Norwood | 2 receptions, 87 yards, TD |
San Diego State | Passing | | 19/37, 196 yards, TD, 3 INT |
Rushing | Kenan Christon | 9 carries, 27 yards |
Receiving | Mekhi Shaw | 5 receptions, 54 yards, TD | |
vs North Carolina Central
See also: 2023 North Carolina Central Eagles football team. This is the first meeting between the two schools.
Statistics | NCCU | UCLA |
---|
First downs | 14 | 22 |
Total yards | 245 | 614 |
Rushes/yards | 37–103 | 39–404 |
Passing yards | 142 | 210 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 31–17–1 | 17–10–1 |
Time of possession | 36:13 | 23:47 | |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
North Carolina Central | Passing | Walker Harris | 12/18, 114 yards |
Rushing | Latrell Collier | 14 carries, 48 yards |
Receiving | Quentin McCall | 4 receptions, 39 yards |
UCLA | Passing | Dante Moore | 8/12, 182 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Anthony Adkins | 10 carries, 96 yards, TD |
Receiving | Kam Brown | 2 receptions, 74 yards, TD | |
at No. 11 Utah
See also: 2023 Utah Utes football team.
Statistics | UCLA | UTAH |
---|
First downs | 11 | 13 |
Total yards | 243 | 219 |
Rushes/yards | 32–9 | 48–102 |
Passing yards | 234 | 117 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 15–35–1 | 9–17–0 |
Time of possession | 25:32 | 34:28 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
UCLA | Passing | Dante Moore | 15/35, 234 yards, TD, INT |
Rushing | T. J. Harden | 11 carries, 31 yards |
Receiving | Carsen Ryan | 3 receptions, 69 yards |
Utah | Passing | | 9/17, 117 yards, TD |
Rushing | Jaylon Glover | 25 carries, 85 yards |
Receiving | | 2 receptions, 57 yards | |
vs No. 13 Washington State
See also: 2023 Washington State Cougars football team.
style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
---|
UCLA -3.0 | 60 | |
Statistics | WSU | UCLA |
---|
First downs | 11 | 24 |
Total yards | 216 | 471 |
Rushes/yards | 19–12 | 53–181 |
Passing yards | 204 | 290 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 20–40–2 | 22–44–2 |
Time of possession | 21:45 | | 38:15 | |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Washington State | Passing | Cameron Ward | 22/44, 290 yards, TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | Nakia Watson | 11 carries, 25 yards |
Receiving | Kyle Williams | 8 receptions, 85 yards |
UCLA | Passing | Dante Moore | 22/44, 290 yards,TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | Carson Steele | 30 carries, 141 yards |
Receiving | Moliki Matavao | 3 receptions, 76 yards | |
at No. 15 Oregon State
See also: 2023 Oregon State Beavers football team.
style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
---|
UCLA -3.0 | 53.5 | |
Statistics | UCLA | OSU |
---|
First downs | 27 | 18 |
Total yards | 453 | 415 |
Rushes/yards | 51–287 | 28–133 |
Passing yards | 166 | 282 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 15–34–3 | 16–26–0 |
Time of possession | 30:15 | 29:45 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
UCLA | Passing | Dante Moore | 14/33, 165 yards, TD, 3 INT |
Rushing | Carson Steele | 22 carries, 110 yards, TD |
Receiving | Logan Loya | 5 receptions, 48 yards, TD |
Oregon State | Passing | DJ Uiagalelei | 14/24, 266 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Damien Martinez | 15 carries, 90 yards |
Receiving | Silas Bolden | 5 receptions, 87 yards, TD | |
at Stanford
See also: 2023 Stanford Cardinal football team.
style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
---|
UCLA -17.0 | 51.5 | |
Statistics | UCLA | STAN |
---|
First downs | 32 | 15 |
Total yards | 503 | 292 |
Rushes/yards | 54–221 | 17–24 |
Passing yards | 282 | 268 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 25–34–0 | 27–45–1 |
Time of possession | 36:56 | 23:04 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
UCLA | Passing | | 20/28, 240 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Carson Steele | 20 carries, 76 yards, 3 TD |
Receiving | | 5 receptions, 54 yards, TD |
Stanford | Passing | | 27/45, 268 yards, TD, INT |
Rushing | Sedrick Irvin | 3 carries, 16 yards |
Receiving | | 8 receptions, 90 yards | |
vs Colorado
See also: 2023 Colorado Buffaloes football team.
style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
---|
UCLA -17.0 | 62.5 | |
Statistics | COL | UCLA |
---|
First downs | 20 | 26 |
Total yards | 242 | 487 |
Rushes/yards | 24–25 | 45–218 |
Passing yards | 217 | 269 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 27–43–0 | 20–28–2 |
Time of possession | 26:46 | 33:14 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Colorado | Passing | | 27/43, 217 yards, TD |
Rushing | | 2 carries, 14 yards |
Receiving | | 5 receptions, 86 yards |
UCLA | Passing | Ethan Garbers | 20/27, 269 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | T. J. Harden | 20 carries, 78 yards, TD |
Receiving | Logan Loya | 7 receptions, 111 yards | |
at Arizona
See also: 2023 Arizona Wildcats football team.
style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
---|
UCLA -2.5 | 49.5 | |
Statistics | UCLA | ARIZ |
---|
First downs | 17 | 23 |
Total yards | 271 | 429 |
Rushing yards | 29–114 | 35–129 |
Passing yards | 157 | 300 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 17–33–0 | 25–33–1 |
Time of possession | 24:46 | 35:14 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
UCLA | Passing | Ethan Garbers | 13/21, 143 yards, TD |
Rushing | Collin Schlee | 6 carries, 46 yards |
Receiving | Logan Loya | 3 receptions, 42 yards |
Arizona | Passing | | 25/32, 300 yards, 3 TD, INT |
Rushing | | 17 carries, 77 yards |
Receiving | | 4 receptions, 81 yards, TD | |
vs Arizona State
See also: 2023 Arizona State Sun Devils football team.
style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
---|
UCLA -14.0 | 45.5 | |
Statistics | ASU | UCLA |
---|
First downs | 21 | 15 |
Total yards | 250 | 300 |
Rushes/yards | 30–74 | 37–183 |
Passing yards | 176 | 117 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 22–39–1 | 11–21–0 |
Time of possession | 36:54 | 23:06 | |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Arizona State | Passing | | 19/34, 149 yards, INT |
Rushing | | 12 carries, 61 yards, TD |
Receiving | | 12 receptions, 116 yards, TD |
UCLA | Passing | Collin Schlee | 11/18, 117 yards, TD |
Rushing | Keegan Jones | 3 carries, 51 yards |
Receiving | Logan Loya | 3 receptions, 39 yards, TD | |
See also: 2023 USC Trojans football team, UCLA–USC rivalry and Victory Bell (UCLA–USC).
style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
---|
USC -5.0 | 62.5 | |
Statistics | UCLA | USC |
---|
First downs | 19 | 17 |
Total yards | 354 | 387 |
Rushes/yards | 45–199 | 22–3 |
Passing yards | 155 | 384 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18–31–0 | 31–44–1 |
Time of possession | 32:34 | 27:26 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
UCLA | Passing | Ethan Garbers | 18/31, 155 yards, 3 TD |
Rushing | T.J. Harden | 22 carries, 142 yards, TD |
Receiving | Logan Loya | 9 receptions, 60 yards |
USC | Passing | | 31/42, 384 yards, TD, INT |
Rushing | | 8 carries, 17 yards |
Receiving | | 8 receptions, 147 yards, TD | |
UCLA quarterback
Ethan Garbers, who sat out the previous week with a foot injury, returned and passed for 155 yards and three touchdowns in a 38–20 win over the
USC Trojans. Running back T. J. Harden ran for a career-high 142 yards on 22 carries, rushing for one touchdown and catching another. UCLA's defense held the Trojans to only three yards rushing and
sacked USC quarterback
Caleb Williams four times.
[6] vs California
See also: 2023 California Golden Bears football team and California-UCLA football rivalry.
style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
---|
TBD | TBD | |
Statistics | CAL | UCLA |
---|
First downs | 17 | 23 |
Total yards | 302 | 379 |
Rushes/yards | 32–124 | 36–70 |
Passing yards | 178 | 309 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 19–30–2 | 30–47–2 |
Time of possession | 30:01 | 29:59 | |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
California | Passing | | 19/30, 178 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | | 21 carries, 80 yards |
Receiving | Jeremiah Hunter | 8 receptions, 101 yards, 2 TD |
UCLA | Passing | Dante Moore | 23/38, 266 yards, TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | Carson Steele | 12 carries, 53 yards |
Receiving | Logan Loya | 9 receptions, 88 yards, TD | |
vs Boise State (LA Bowl)
See also: 2023 Boise State Broncos football team.
See main article: 2023 LA Bowl.
UCLA won 35–22 over
Mountain West Conference champion
Boise State. It was the Bruins' first bowl win in Kelly's six-year tenure and the program's first since
2015. It was UCLA's third consecutive eight-win season, the first such streak in the program since
1988 under coach
Terry Donahue.
[7] Statistics
Source:[8]
Awards and honors
Recipient | Award (Pac-12 Conference) | Week # | Date awarded | Ref. |
---|
Dante Moore | Freshman Player of the Week | 2 | Sept. 11, 2023 | |
Laiatu Latu | Defense Player of the Week | 6 | Oct. 9, 2023 | |
Laiatu Latu | Defensive Lineman Player of the Week | 6 | Oct. 9, 2023 | |
Laiatu Latu | Defensive Lineman of the Week | 12 | Nov. 20, 2023 | |
Laiatu Latu | Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year | | Dec. 5, 2023 | |
|
- November 20, 2023 – Defensive Coordinator D’Anton Lynn was named to the Broyles Award semi-finalist list
- November 24, 2023 – Laiatu Latu is a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy
- November 28, 2023 – Laiatu Latu is a finalist for the Bednarik Award
- December 1, 2023 – Laiatu Latu is a finalist for the Hendricks Award
- December 6, 2023 – Laiatu Latu is the winner of the Lombardi Award (college football’s lineman of the year)
- December 7, 2023 – Laiatu Latu wins the Ted Hendricks Award
- December 11, 2023 – Laiatu Latu is the winner of the Pac-12's Morris Trophy
- December 16, 2023 – Ethan Garbers (QB) and Darius Muasau (LB) were MVP of the 2023 LA Bowl
Notes and References
- News: Ben. Bolch. UCLA to play Boise State in L.A. Bowl at SoFi Stadium as Chip Kelly forges ahead. December 3, 2023. Los Angeles Times. December 5, 2023.
- News: Ben. Bolch. Chip Kelly leaves UCLA to become Ohio State’s offensive coordinator. February 9, 2024. Los Angeles Times. February 10, 2024.
- UCLA Football . UCLAFootball . 1617960670800285698 . January 24, 2023 . ! @KodiWhitfield rejoins the UCLA staff as Cornerbacks Coach! #GoBruins : https://t.co/6UbCh0YcB3 https://t.co/qtGnxig3hX . en . March 28, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230130141230/https://twitter.com/UCLAFootball/status/1617960670800285698 . January 30, 2023 . live.
- UCLA Football . UCLAFootball . 1630281770993057793 . February 27, 2023 . ! NFL coaching veteran D'Anton Lynn joins UCLA Football as Defensive Coordinator! #GoBruins : https://t.co/cyYQtfMefV https://t.co/p2iXzpsKxZ . en . March 28, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230307115507/https://twitter.com/UCLAFootball/status/1630281770993057793 . March 7, 2023 . live.
- Web site: 2023 UCLA Football Schedule. FB Schedules. December 21, 2022.
- News: Ben. Bolch. UCLA pulls off a stunning win over USC, but is it enough to save Chip Kelly’s job?. November 18, 2023. Los Angeles Times. November 19, 2023.
- News: Thuc Nhi. Nguyen. Ethan Garbers proves he has the ‘it’ factor, delivering UCLA to LA Bowl win. December 16, 2023. Los Angeles Times. February 10, 2024.
- Web site: 2023 Football Cumulative Statistics. UCLA Athletics. October 6, 2022.