Bob Chesney speaks on what he needs out of his running back room

For the UCLA Bruins to have a successful season this year, they’ll need to be able to get more out of their running game. A productive rushing attack lessens the burden for every other aspect of the game, which UCLA needs after finished last year 12th in the Big Ten with 139.7 rushing yards per game.

UCLA totals were lopsided throughout the season. The Bruins rushed for a combined 507 yards against Penn State and Michigan State but the team had six game last year with fewer than 110 yards on the ground.

Things will look different in 2026. UCLA brought in new offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy and James Madison running back Wayne Knight but Bob Chesney is big on his group of running backs as a collective.

“Everybody has their pluses and minuses. Everybody has things they’re really, really elite at and things they’re mediocre at,” Chesney said of his running backs. “I think our job is, everyday, make sure that we’re taking that mediocre, turn it into good, and then eventually great.”

The Bruins have a dual-threat quarterback with Nico Iamaleava, but UCLA needs the offensive line to protect well enough to have Iamaleava be a threat with his legs, rather than scrambling away from opponents’ defensive lineman, .