Forget everything you thought you knew about the Big Ten bottom-feeders, because UCLA is officially a serious football team, and potentially, a serious CFP contender. After Curt Cignetti led Indiana to a national title, everyone in college football was asking: who’s next for that kind of turnaround? Well, it turns out it’s UCLA, which honestly feels like a cop-out, right?
Kirby Smart Snaps Alabama “Problem” Like a Twig
For years, it felt like people couldn’t stop talking about Kirby Smart’s supposed “Alabama problem,” but dude just ended that narrative. Smart has now beaten Kalen DeBoer’s Crimson Tide *twice in a row*, including Saturday’s win right there in Tuscaloosa. Let’s not forget he already took down Nick Saban for a national title! We don’t need to cook up fake stakes or weaknesses when these two powerhouses clash anymore. Honestly, Kirby is arguably the best coach in the game right now, and it’s time we stop trying to invent obstacles for him.
Arch Manning’s Picks & Texas’s Cold Offense Spell Trouble
But while some narratives are ending, others are just starting to reveal themselves. Remember when Texas was ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for weeks? We all saw the Ohio State win and understood why, but let’s be real, that offense wasn’t passing the eye test. It was that whole ‘best’ vs. ‘most deserving’ argument, and yeah, rewarding the best win was cool. But I’ve been saying it: the Texas offense left a LOT to be desired. A lot of that lands on Arch Manning, who threw two picks in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s loss to Oklahoma. But you gotta give Steve Sarkisian a good chunk of that blame too. Texas has the highest three-and-out rate in the SEC, tied for second nationally! That screams inconsistency, man. The offense just goes ice cold for stretches. Unless that Texas offense levels up, this team isn’t winning any CFP games, and honestly, they might not even get there with this as their biggest limitation.
So yeah, like Cignetti before him, Coach Chesney brought that winning fire to Westwood. He came from James Madison with a history of success at lower levels, knowing how to win with less, spotting talent, and building a legit winning culture. He even brought key players like Wayne Knight and most of his staff, plus his dad, his “secret weapon,” for good vibes. UCLA is cooking, and the rest of the league needs to take notice. This isn’t just a feel-good story; it’s a team on the rise, and they’re showing everyone what a true turnaround looks like. It’s time to watch if they can keep this momentum rolling and truly lock in that contender status.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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