UCLA football has taken a lot of hits this season, but few of them have been on the actual football field.
A player failed to report to fall training camp, a key defensive member was arrested and three standout starters went down with injuries early in the season. Now, junior linebacker Jayon Brown is questionable for Saturday’s game against Arizona State after injuring his back.
“It’s a mature team, they’ve been able to overcome some adversity,” said coach Jim Mora in Thursday’s press conference. “They don’t blink. They’re kind of unaffected at this point by what happens around them.”
While the Bruins were able to fill the holes left by those now on the injury list in its 56-30 win over the Arizona Wildcats last weekend, that was only one game. No. 7 UCLA (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12) is just one week into Pac-12 play, and in one of the most competitive conferences in the country the Bruins will need to be operating at full strength.
Saturday’s matchup will be another test of UCLA’s patched-up lineup, and a much-needed one. Following a bye weekend after ASU, the Bruins travel to Cardinal territory Oct. 15 to face Stanford. UCLA has yet to face its toughest opponents of the season – Stanford, Cal, USC and Utah.
The Bruins have a strong track record against the Sun Devils, scorching ASU last season by a score of 62-27. However, the Sun Devils outlasted the Bruins 38-33 last time they visited the Rose Bowl.
“Last year, we played well and had a good victory. Year before they came in here in a really important game for us and got a win and the first game was really down to the wire,” Mora said. “To me it isn’t about where you play but about how you play.”
A big part of how UCLA plays will depend on whether Brown – on whose status Mora refused to comment – will be game-ready. If he won’t, the Bruins will sport yet another new-look lineup. With a rookie quarterback and a rotating cast of characters, anything can happen.
Compiled by Claire Fahy, Bruin Sports senior staff.