2022 UCLA Bruins football team

The 2022 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by fifth-year head coach Chip Kelly and competed as members of the Pac-12 Conference. After starting the season 5–0 for the first time since 2013, the Bruins made their first appearance of the season in the AP Poll at No. 18.

Incoming transfers
The Bruins added 6 players via transfer during the offseason:


 * OT Raiqwon O'Neal - Rutgers
 * DL Laiatu Latu – Washington
 * LB Darius Muasau – Hawaii
 * WR Jake Bobo – Duke (graduate)
 * DL Jacob Sykes – Harvard
 * CB Azizi Hearn – Wyoming

Preseason

 * The Bruins began spring practices on Tuesday, March 29 until Saturday, April 30
 * The 2022 Spring Showcase will be held on Saturday, April 23 – 9 a.m. and shown on P12 Network
 * Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Zach Charbonnet named to the Maxwell Award watch list
 * Dorian Thompson-Robinson named to the O'Brien Award watch list
 * Zach Charbonnet is listed for the Doak Walker Award
 * Jake Bobo named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list
 * Michael Ezeike named to the John Mackey Award watch list
 * Carl Jones Jr. and Darius named to the Butkus Award watch list
 * Chase Griffin added to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list
 * Kazmeir Allen named to the Paul Hornung Award watch list
 * Pac-12 media day was held on July 29, 2022, at Novo Theater, L.A. Live featuring Chip Kelly (3:00 p.m.), Jon Gaines II (OL) and Stephan Blaylock (DB)
 * UCLA is picked as the 4th place team in the preseason Pac-12 Conference media poll
 * Jack Landherr IV was added to the Patrick Mannelly Award watch list
 * Dorian Thompson-Robinson is named to the Manning Award watch list

vs Bowling Green
This is the first meeting between the Falcons and the Bruins. Quarterbacking for Bowling Green is Matt McDonald, son of former USC All-American quarterback Paul McDonald. UCLA linebacker Shea Pitts is the son of former UCLA defensive back Ron Pitts (1981–84).

27,143 people is the lowest attended game in UCLA history at the Rose Bowl, edging out 1992's Oregon State vs UCLA, which 32,513 people attended.

vs Alabama State
First game in program history against a FCS team.

vs No. 15 Washington
Thompson-Robinson threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another touchdown as UCLA defeated No. 15 Washington 40–32 for the Huskies' first loss of the year. The Bruins extended their winning streak to eight games, dating back to 2021.

vs No. 11 Utah
UCLA won 42–32 over No. 11 Utah, the highest-ranked opponent the Bruins had defeated under coach Kelly. Charbonnet finished with a career-high 198 yards rushing and a touchdown. Thompson-Robinson completed 76 career passing touchdowns, the most in UCLA history.

at No. 10 Oregon
UCLA lost 45–30 to No. 10 Oregon for their first loss of the season. After going up 17–10 in the second quarter, the Ducks recovered an onside kick, a play they had practiced all week after spotting an opening in the Bruins' kickoff coverage. Oregon proceeded to score another touchdown to lead 24–10.

vs Arizona
UCLA lost 34–28 to Arizona, who entered the game as $19 1/2$-point underdogs. The Bruins surrendered 436 total yards and 6.7 yards per play to the Wildcats. UCLA had a chance to comeback on the final play of the game on 4th-and-10 from the Arizona 29-yard line. A scrambling Thompson-Robinson threw under pressure to an open Jake Bobo, who dove but was unable to catch the ball in the end zone.

UCLA played without running back-receiver Kazmeir Allen, who was out due to injury. Their streak of nine consecutive wins against unranked teams ended, while Arizona halted their eight-game road losing streak against ranked teams.

vs No. 7 USC
UCLA was eliminated from conference championship contention after losing 48–45 to No. 7 USC. The Trojans gained 649 yards, the most the Bruins have allowed since giving up 720 yards to Washington State in 2019. USC quarterback Caleb Williams had 503 yards of total offense, passing for 470 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for another. Thompson-Robinson threw for four touchdowns and also ran for two others, but he committed four turnovers, with the last of his three interceptions ending the game.

UCLA jumped ahead 14–0 in the game, and held a 21–20 lead at halftime. The teams exchanged touchdowns in the second half, ending the game with a combined 93 points, five turnovers and over 1,000 yards on offense. It was the first game in the history of their crosstown rivalry that both teams started Black quarterbacks. It was the first time that both teams were ranked entering the matchup since 2014.

Statistics

 * Updated through November 20, 2022

Source:

Awards and honors

 * September 28 – Shea Pitts is a semifinalist for the 2022 William V. Campbell Trophy
 * September 30 – Dorian Thompson-Robinson a Top 25 candidates, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
 * October 12 – Laiatu Latu is listed on the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year Award watch list
 * October 19 – Head coach Chip Kelly was named to the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award watch list
 * November 1 – Dorian Thompson-Robinson was named the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award QB Class
 * November 1 – Zach Charbonnet was the Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week and the Rose Bowl Game Pac-12 Player of the Week; Zach Charbonnet was named a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award
 * November 8 – Kazmeir Allen named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll
 * November 14 – Jack Landherr IV named the Patrick Mannelly Award semifinalist
 * November 15 – Coach DeShaun Foster is placed on the Broyles Award list; Dorian Thompson-Robinson is a Davey O'Brien Award semifinalist; Offensive unit is a Joe Moore Award semifinalist
 * November 16 – Zach Charbonnet is a Walter Camp Player of the Year Award semifinalist
 * November 22 – Zach Charbonnet is a 2022 Doak Walker National Collegiate Running Back Award semifinalist
 * December 9 – Zach Charbonnet is named to the First Team FWAA All-American, the Associated Press College Football All-America second team
 * December 20 – Jake Bobo named to the First Team Academic All-American; Laiatu Latu is a 2022 College Football Comeback Player of the Year Award winner