UCLAs Bob Chesney is bringing major reinforcements into Oregon rematch

With his team having risen to No.21 in the national rankings, UCLA coach Bob Chesney wrote that number where his players could see it.He did not want them to savor it.

He did not want them to even consider it.“If you pay attention to this number,” Chesney said he told them of the program’s highest ranking since November 2023, “it will go away, right? If you pay attention to what you did to get that number, and only focus on that, and improve on that, maybe the number even gets better.”They can certainly enhance their standing Saturday.The Bruins (4-0 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) will face No.13 Oregon (3-1, 1-0) at Autzen Stadium in what amounts to a rematch for Chesney, a large chunk of his coaching staff and 11 transfers from James Madison.The group of former Dukes that lost to the Ducks in the College Football Playoff last December is getting a do-over of sorts, with one exception.They’re bringing reinforcements.These Bruins feature difference-makers at every position.“You know, we have a different caliber of athlete in the Big Ten,” said defensive back Derrick Barksdale, one of the James Madison transfers, “so being here at UCLA, our DBs are much faster, our linebackers are moving sideline to sideline way faster, so I feel like we match up perfectly fine and we’re going to play football at the end of the day.”Star running back Wayne Knight and edge rusher Sahir West are among the other former James Madison players seeking a better showing than they put on in December during a 51-34 loss at Autzen Stadium in the first round of the CFP.Quarterback Dante Moore threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as the Ducks rolled up a 34-6 halftime lead.

What were Chesney’s big takeaways from that experience?“That there are no weaknesses in this team,” Chesney said of Oregon.“And if you leave them something to expose, they will expose it.”The teams have formed a mutual admiration society over the last week, with Oregon coach Dan Lanning gush...